Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas crime reflects area’s growth

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2022

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Northwest Arkansas crime reflects area’s growth

The violent crime fee in Northwest Arkansas usually grew with its inhabitants from 2012 to 2020.

The speed plummeted final 12 months, nevertheless, a change owed largely to Fort Smith’s drop in violent crime.

Legislation enforcement officers are taking a look at completely different approaches to maintain folks secure because the area’s inhabitants rises.

An evaluation of complete violent crime numbers within the area confirms what many public security directors have been saying for a number of years: Violent crime has elevated over the previous decade, and 2020 was the worst 12 months shortly.

Most police departments classify violent crime as murder, rape, theft and aggravated assault. Knowledge compiled by the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette from 2012 to 2021 additionally included sexual assault for the sake of uniformity as a result of some departments embody sexual assault with the numbers for rape.

Figures got here from the police departments in Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, Fort Smith and the College of Arkansas’ Fayetteville campus.

Violent crime fee is calculated by dividing the full variety of violent crimes per 100,000 in inhabitants.

TRENDS

The nationwide violent crime fee has had peaks and valleys during the last 10 years, whereas the speed in Northwest Arkansas has trended usually upward. The violent crime fee in the USA dropped sharply from 2012 to 2014, rose from 2014 to 2016, dipped barely from 2016 to 2019 and hit the very best fee in 10 years in 2020, in line with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s crime knowledge explorer.

The speed of violent crime in the USA in 2020 was 398.5 per 100,000 residents, in line with the FBI’s figures. Solely two cities in Northwest Arkansas — Rogers and Bentonville — persistently stayed beneath a fee of 400 since 2012, in line with info compiled from regional police departments.

In Northwest Arkansas, violent crime dropped from 2012 to 2013 and rose steadily from 2013 to 2017. The speed went barely decrease in 2018 and 2019 earlier than hitting its peak in a 10-year interval in 2020. By final 12 months, violent crime had fallen to its lowest stage since 2013.

The drop largely was due to Fort Smith’s numbers.

The area’s inhabitants elevated all through the 10-year interval. The 5 largest cities in Northwest Arkansas mixed for 332,652 residents in 2012, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Neighborhood Survey. By 2021, the inhabitants had grown 20% to 400,261.

Violent crime charges in Northwest Arkansas aren’t essentially corresponding to nationwide statistics as a result of the FBI usually analyzes knowledge in cities with greater than 100,000 residents, mentioned Grant Drawve, affiliate sociology and criminology professor on the College of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The inhabitants of the area could exceed 100,000, however there’s vital distinction among the many cities, and smaller cities can have crime charges that fluctuate extensively, he mentioned.

An growing violent crime fee is just not an inevitable aspect impact of a surging inhabitants, Drawve mentioned. Complete numbers will go up, however the fee relative to the inhabitants can differ, he mentioned.

Police nationally have taken a extra evidence-based method to what they do, Drawve mentioned. Bringing in civilian workers to do deep knowledge dives or tackle social work will assist departments grow to be more practical at serving to to stop violent crime, he mentioned.

A major share of calls that police reply to are unrelated to crime, Drawve mentioned, and the best departments alter personnel and insurance policies accordingly.

Violent crime jumped throughout the nation in 2020 because the pandemic set in and closures at public locations prompted folks to remain in additional, resulting in extra situations of home violence.

It is sensible the violent crime fee in Northwest Arkansas would differ from the nationwide fee as a result of the area is a development space and a vacation spot, with transient populations corresponding to college students and vacationers affecting the general habits of the group, Drawve mentioned.

“We hear about what police do a whole lot of the time by way of attempting a brand new tactic or specializing in a sure space, however we have to know if it is working or not,” Drawve mentioned. “I believe that is the place we’re coming in now with evidence-based policing.”

FRUITS OF LABOR

Because the violent crime fee in Fort Smith has gone, so has the area. For the previous 10 years, when the town’s fee went down, so did the area’s, and when the town’s fee went up, the area adopted swimsuit.

The violent crime fee from 2020 to 2021 went up barely in Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers. Bentonville’s dropped and the town by far has had the bottom crime fee total within the area for the previous decade.

Fort Smith skilled the very best crime fee of any main metropolis in Northwest Arkansas in 2020 and adopted it up with the bottom fee it had within the 10-year interval by a big margin in 2021.

The division is seeing the fruits of its efforts to ascertain a disaster intervention unit and alter the best way it trains its officers, spokesman Aric Mitchell mentioned. In response to the division’s figures, there have been 704 violent crimes in Fort Smith in 2020. In 2021, the division recorded 323 — a 54% drop.

The division began placing collectively a disaster intervention unit in January 2020, earlier than the onset of the pandemic. The unit, consisting of two officers and a peer restoration assist specialist, responds to folks experiencing psychological well being or substance use crises and connects them with assets or helps them get into diversionary applications to keep away from jail.

Officers lately even have taken on a brand new methodology of coaching, Mitchell mentioned. The ICAT program, which stands for integrating communications, evaluation and ways, from the Police Government Analysis Discussion board emphasizes deescalation and strategies apart from using lethal pressure. The discussion board is a nationwide analysis group that advises police departments.

The mixture of disaster intervention, deescalation and diversion resulted in a big discount in violent crime as a result of professionals within the division and companion organizations intervened in folks’s lives earlier than conditions might get to the purpose of violence, Mitchell mentioned. Implementation of these insurance policies simply occurred to observe a pandemic 12 months, he mentioned.

“I might be pleasantly stunned, however I would not count on a 54% drop yearly,” Mitchell mentioned.

Violent crime typically occurs as a result of folks attain the purpose of desperation, mentioned Cheri Taylor, an officer with the town’s disaster intervention unit. Members of the unit spend their time sifting by means of police incident experiences and reaching out to individuals who seem like in tough conditions. Residents get related with nonprofits and rehabilitation applications all through the area, and members of the unit keep related with them to make sure long-term success, she mentioned.

“Individuals get determined for lots of issues, and so they could do issues in that desperation they may not in any other case do,” Taylor mentioned.

KEEPING UP

Springdale and Fayetteville additionally applied disaster intervention applications with social employees. Springdale has a summer season social work intern with the College of Arkansas College of Social Work and can get one other when faculty begins in August.

Fayetteville has had a grasp’s stage paid internship program, additionally by means of the College of Arkansas College of Social Work, since January 2021. Proper now, the division has one full-time social employee, a summer season intern and an officer to type a disaster intervention staff, with plans to rent a second social employee and a second intern in August, mentioned Lt. Tim Shepard, this system’s supervisor.

There have been 628 situations of violent crime in 2020 in Fayetteville and 633 final 12 months based mostly on figures from the town’s Police Division in addition to College of Arkansas police. Fayetteville began its disaster intervention efforts later than Fort Smith, however Police Chief Mike Reynolds mentioned he is hopeful for the same outcome. To this point there’s been a 20% discount in violent crime this 12 months in comparison with final 12 months, he mentioned.

Fayetteville officers additionally started coaching within the ICAT program this 12 months, Reynolds mentioned. The Metropolis Council added six officer positions to the finances final 12 months, and the division is ready to listen to phrase on a federal grant that may result in the creation of a violent crimes process pressure with 5 extra officers, he mentioned.

Reynolds mentioned his concern has been hiring sufficient officers to take care of a rising crime fee related to an growing inhabitants. The town’s inhabitants has grown practically 24%, from 76,892 residents in 2012 to an estimated 95,230 final 12 months, in line with the Census Bureau. In that point span, the violent crime fee elevated from about 580 situations of violent crime per 100,000 folks in 2012 to just about 665 per 100,000 folks — an increase of practically 15%.

Even when the crime fee within the metropolis stays stage, the variety of violent crimes doubtless will enhance with the inhabitants simply because there are extra folks, which is why Reynolds mentioned he wants extra officers. Having extra personnel specialised in sure duties, corresponding to investigating violent crime or responding to psychological well being crises, will unlock time for different officers to work patrol and get to know their communities extra, he mentioned.

“That is one thing as a chief you need to take note of. Your crime fee can go down based mostly upon your inhabitants, however the variety of requires service and the variety of violent crimes that you simply’re responding to are going up,” Reynolds mentioned. “In the event you’re not including extra officers, and you are not specializing in these areas of crime it’s essential to fight, it is growing the workload on your officers.”

Cheri Taylor (proper) and Vicki Loyd (not pictured) with the Fort Smith Police Division’s Disaster Intervention Unit go to with Parcita Freeman (from left), Dion Sisk, 9, and Halle Freeman, 10, on Friday, July 15, 2022, outdoors Freeman’s house in Fort Smith. Whereas many cities in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley noticed violent crime surge in 2020 and proceed in 2021, violent crime dropped considerably in Fort Smith throughout that point largely due to efforts associated to disaster intervention and de-escalation, in line with the division. Go to nwaonline.com/220717Daily/ for right now’s picture gallery. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Hank Layton)

Vicki Loyd and Cheri Taylor (not pictured) with the Fort Smith Police Division’s Disaster Intervention Unit work on Friday, July 15, 2022, of their workplace at FSPD in Fort Smith. Whereas many cities in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley noticed violent crime surge in 2020 and proceed in 2021, violent crime dropped considerably in Fort Smith throughout that point largely due to efforts associated to disaster intervention and de-escalation, in line with the division. Go to nwaonline.com/220717Daily/ for right now’s picture gallery. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Hank Layton)

Cheri Taylor (left) and Vicki Loyd with the Fort Smith Police Division’s Disaster Intervention Unit work on Friday, July 15, 2022, of their workplace at FSPD in Fort Smith. Whereas many cities in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley noticed violent crime surge in 2020 and proceed in 2021, violent crime dropped considerably in Fort Smith throughout that point largely due to efforts associated to disaster intervention and de-escalation, in line with the division. Go to nwaonline.com/220717Daily/ for right now’s picture gallery. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Hank Layton)

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Arkansas

Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield Lays Off About 75 Workers, Reports $100M Loss

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2025

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Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield Lays Off About 75 Workers, Reports 0M Loss

The Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield building in Little Rock (Michael Pirnique)

Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield sent layoff notices to 2% of its workforce — about 75 employees — on Thursday after reporting a loss of more than $100 million in the first three quarters of 2024, the state’s dominant health insurance carrier confirmed.

The Little Rock nonprofit had 3,375 employees as of April 2024, and its $3.14 billion in 2023 revenue put it at the top of Arkansas Business‘ most recent list of the state’s largest private companies.

But revenue in the first three quarters of 2024 was down by almost 7%, and the company (officially USAble Mutual) reported to the Arkansas Insurance Department a net loss of $100.5 million for those nine months. That compares with net income of $94.7 million for the same period in 2023, although the year finished with net income of just $13.2 million.

“The reduction in workforce was due to changing conditions in the market and increasing financial pressures primarily due to health care costs jumping to the highest levels in more than a decade,” Max Greenwood, an ABCBS spokeswoman, said in response to email questions Thursday afternoon.

ABCBS also has seen “large increases” in the use of all medical services, especially prescription drugs.

“These situations have caused necessary shifts in business strategy across the health care and health care insurance industries,” she said.

In addition, the insurance company lost tens of thousands of members as result of the state’s disenrollment of tens people on Medicaid in 2023.

As part of the Obama-era Medicaid expansion, the state pays private insurers to provide health insurance policies to qualifying Arkansans under the Arkansas Health & Opportunity for Me program, or ARHOME. This program had been known as the “private option” and Arkansas Works.

In January 2023, ABCBS had about 207,000 ARHome members. By December 2024, it was down to 108,729, Greenwood said.

“We’ve also seen a drastic increase in the claims amounts among our ARHome population,” she said. “Remember, since we were the first company who offered ARHome policies statewide when the program began, our block of members in that program is older and most likely unhealthier than what other carriers may be experiencing.”

ABCBS’ premium revenue fell during the first three quarters of 2024. It reported $2.2 billion premiums collected net of reinsurance through Sept. 30, a 4.8% drop from the same period in 2023.

The insurance company’s total members also fell from 630,444 on Dec. 31, 2023, to 598,492 on Sept. 30. The biggest drop came from its comprehensive individual plan. In that group, the total members fell nearly 17% to 132,596 members.

ABCBS also laid off 85 employees in January 2024. Those positions have not been refilled, Greenwood said.

She said it was too early to tell what the financial numbers will look like for the fourth quarter, which ended Dec. 31. No additional layoffs are planned at this time.

“Every executive vice president was asked to make reductions in their areas,” she said.

Greenwood said the insurance company has made several other budget-tightening moves for 2025. “We’ve reduced our budget by more than 7% including cuts to consulting and outside vendor costs, contract labor, software and equipment and facility costs,” she said. “We’ve also had to implement substantial premium increases on our small and large groups.”

Greenwood said the company has a strong balance sheet and has no concerns about its liquidity.

Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield offers health and dental insurance policies for individuals and families.

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Arkansas

Topping out ceremony for new $33.9 million Arkansas Tech University Ferguson Student Union set for Tuesday in Russellville | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Published

11 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Topping out ceremony for new .9 million Arkansas Tech University Ferguson Student Union set for Tuesday in Russellville | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech University and Kinco Constructors will host a topping out ceremony for the $33.9 million Ferguson Student Union at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Attendance will be open to the public. Those in attendance will have an opportunity to sign the final steel beam before it is put in place atop the facility. Refreshments will be served in Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room following the ceremony.

Construction on Ferguson Student Union on its Russellville campus began last year after the ATU Board of Trustees accepted the guaranteed maximum price for building the facility during its meeting on June 20.

Kinco Constructors submitted a final price of $33,946,865 for the project. That figure includes the cost of demolishing the Administration Building and Tomlinson Hall, constructing Ferguson Student Union and parking lot development on the south side of the new building

Parking for the event will be in the lot between Rothwell Hall and Doc Bryan Student Services Center with overflow in the Tucker Coliseum parking lot. Golf cart shuttles to and from the ceremony site will be available.

Those unable to attend the ceremony who wish to sign the steel beam may do so from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday through the ceremony at 2 p.m. that afternoon. The beam will be located on the east side of the construction site near Rothwell Hall and Dr. Robert Charles Brown and Jill Lestage Brown Hall.

Construction of Ferguson Student Union began in July 2024 and is scheduled to be complete in early 2026.

Located on the parcel of land between Chambers Cafeteria and the Hull Physical Education Building, Ferguson Student Union is named for ATU benefactors Cindi and Jimmy Ferguson.

Ferguson Student Union will provide student meeting spaces, lounge spaces for students to enjoy during their free time, fast casual dining, an e-sports gaming lab, basketball courts, a location to check out outdoor recreation gear and workout areas for cardiovascular and strength fitness training.

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Arkansas

Get to know: Arkansas O-line signee Bubba Craig | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Published

19 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Get to know: Arkansas O-line signee Bubba Craig | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas offensive line signee Bubba Craig is expected to report Fayetteville this weekend for the spring semester.

Craig, 6-6 and 315 pounds, of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College picked the Hogs over Temple, Liberty, Texas -San Antonio and others.

On3.com industry ranking list him the No. 1 interior offensive lineman and No. 23 overall junior college prospect.

Nickname: Bubba

Favorite thing about playing on the O-line: Moving people

Football has taught me: Patience

My parents stay on me to: Be great at whatever I do

My favorite childhood memory: Building a fort in my yard. It fell over because I was like 10 years old and my siblings and I didn’t know we were doing but ut was still cool.

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