Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas Healthcare Struggles to Keep Pace with Population Growth
![Northwest Arkansas Healthcare Struggles to Keep Pace with Population Growth Northwest Arkansas Healthcare Struggles to Keep Pace with Population Growth](https://arkansasbusiness.wppcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DSC07281.jpg)
NorthWest Arkansas Community College has expanded its nursing program to help keep pace with the growing demand in northwest Arkansas. (Provided)
Health care officials say the strain on northwest Arkansas’ workforce is improving, but the area’s continuing growth will keep the demand for medical workers from slowing down any time soon.
Northwest Arkansas, made up primarily of Washington and Benton counties, surpassed 560,000 in population in 2022 and is expected to approach 1 million by 2045. All those citizens need medical care in one form or another, and the health care industry can’t keep pace.
There are more than 1,200 reported openings for health care practitioners, including physicians and nurses or technicians, in northwest Arkansas. There are another 1,500 openings for health care support positions.
“We are better than we were last year, overall,” said Ryan Cork, the vice chancellor for the northwest Arkansas region at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “The challenge is a good and bad challenge to have. We are constantly growing so that means our health care workforce has to be able to sustain at that same rate. Our growth rate is surpassing our staffing.”
The personnel needs run the gamut, from the front-desk receptionist at a walk-in clinic to the brain surgeon in the hospital operating room. Nurses are in particularly high demand, with 352 openings for a registered nurse and 152 for a licensed practical nurse.
The medical community has been united in its response. NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville has significantly expanded its nursing program in recent years and now can accommodate more than 200 nursing students in various programs annually. Other medical and academic institutions have expanded programs to increase the workforce pipeline.
“It is really moving,” said Carla Boyd, NWACC’s director of nursing. “We know that nursing is needed, so we have expanded to make sure we can meet those requirements.”
Long-Term Fix
Many of the initiatives undertaken in northwest Arkansas may take some time to see their full effect, such as increasing the number of residencies for physicians or the opening of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville.
In the short term, hospitals and clinics — as well as assisted living facilities, public schools and a host of other places that require medical personnel — manage the best they can. Mercy Hospital in Rogers has added more than 50 physicians and 75 nurse practitioners, cause for guarded optimism.
“We have been actively and aggressively recruiting, particularly in northwest Arkansas because it is hard enough to just keep up with the population growth,” said Scotty Cooper, Mercy’s regional physician executive. “Word has gotten out and the attraction of the area has worked in our favor. I hesitate to say that without knocking on wood.
“I don’t want to sound complacent because I’m not; it’s going to continue to be a challenge as long as the population continues to grow. We have had a certain amount of success in northwest Arkansas. It’s a dynamic situation.”
Cooper said some specialties are harder to fill than others, with the demand for neurologists and rheumatologists almost impossible to keep pace with, for example. Cork said the goal is to keep access times to less than 30 days, meaning if someone wants to make an appointment with an oncologist, he or she can get in to see one within that time.
The access stress has led to medical out-migration to the tune of almost $1 billion annually in the past for northwest Arkansas, as people seek services elsewhere. The nonprofit Northwest Arkansas Council will release its 2024 health care report in November and those numbers are expected to have improved.
“A lot of those activities are going to take a lot longer before we see significant impact,” Council CEO Nelson Peacock said. “We need lots of RNs, medical techs and CT scans and imagers. Pretty much if it is working in health care, we need more of it. We are really catching up and getting up to speed. There is a lot of work that needs to be done.
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Arkansas
Arkansas Takes Opponent to ‘Hawg City,’ Invites Vandy to Take Hated Team There Also
![Arkansas Takes Opponent to ‘Hawg City,’ Invites Vandy to Take Hated Team There Also Arkansas Takes Opponent to ‘Hawg City,’ Invites Vandy to Take Hated Team There Also](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_705,h_396,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/all_hogs/01j6tpej9s8zjxb9c122.png)
FRISCO, Texas — In the Week 1 episode of “SEC Roll Call,” the Arkansas Razorbacks sport a new, more confident look as they tout a new destination for future opponents to visit.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma and Texas get roughed up a bit verbally as the news guys while the rest of the SEC lays into them. The Sooners show they just might fit in, but the Longhorns aren’t capable of keeping their thoughts to themselves.
As a result, the league decides to feed them to the next great SEC power — Vanderbilt and the Hogs can’t resist jumping in. It’s time for the Commodores to follow Arkansas’ lead and take Texas to “Hawg City.”
HOGS FEED:
• Pittman got unique perspective watching Oklahoma State on TV
• SEC Shorts honors Hogs, then slights them on earned awards immediately after
•Green looks good during pop quiz, but can he pass real test against Oklahoma State?
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Arkansas
Arkansas high school football Top 25 rankings (9/2/2024)
![Arkansas high school football Top 25 rankings (9/2/2024) Arkansas high school football Top 25 rankings (9/2/2024)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_600,h_337,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/high_school/01j53bxym2twqxb47q8y.jpg)
We survived the first week of Arkansas high school football season. There were lighting delays, cancellations, surprises and thrillers. We got a little bit of everything in Week Zero. Eight of the teams in the Top 10 won last week. Five other ranked teams lost, but three of the four were either to ranked teams or teams that were in a higher classification.
Below is this week’s SBLive/High School on SI Arkansas Top 25.
- Little Rock Parkview(1-0)
The Patriots represented Arkansas well in defeating Melissa High School, one of Texas’s top Class 5A Division II teams on their home field.
Senior running back Monterrio Elston scored two rushing touchdowns to fuel the 27-20 Saturday night.
Elston, a Kansas State commit, rushed for a game-high 158 yards on 13 carries and scored on runs of 68 and 61 yards.
Parkview will be a favorite in every game they play the rest of the season, including next week’s home opener against Class 5A upstart Maumelle and the week after at home against 7A power Bryant.
2. Fayetteville (1-0)
The Bulldogs had little problem with Cabot, running past the Panthers 48-13. Senior transfer QB Garyt Odom passed for more than 300 yards in the road win. Fayetteville hits the road one more time this nonconference season to play Broken Arrow, Okla. in the Tulsa area this week.
3. Bryant (1-0)
Three Jordan Walker touchdown passes in the fourth quarter saved the Hornets in a 52-42 win vs. Saline County rival Beton in the Salt Bowl. Despite forcing seven turnovers, Bryant trailed 28-24 to start the fourth quarter, but Walker promptly connected with Kamauri Austin, on the first of two TD strikes, and Bryant never trailed again. The Hornets make the long trip to St. Louis this week to face Christian Brothers College. CBC, who played for a state title last fall, rolled past Sacred Heart-Griffin 45-0 last week.
4. Greenwood (1-0)
The Bulldogs flexed their offensive muscle in a 70-35 win at Bentonville West. Four-star junior QB recruit Kane Archer led the way completing 25-of-29 passes for 287 yards and 3 TDs. He also ran 11 times for 113 yards and a TD. Senior receiver Isaiah Arrington, who received a scholarship offer to Southeast Missouri State this summer, caught 9 passes for 142 yards and a TD. Junior running back Wesley Raggio ran 9 times for 142 yards and three scores.
Greenwood travels to River Valley Rival Fort Smith Northside Friday night where they will be the heavy favorite.
5. Conway (1-0)
The Wampus Cats officially welcomed senior transfer QB Grayson Wilson to the lineup with a 42-20 win at Jonesboro. Wilson, a University of Arkansas commit, was 9 of 13 passing for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns. The win was a nice tune-up for a big early showdown against No. 6 Bentonville at home this week.
6. Bentonville (0-1)
The inexperienced Tigers showed some resolve falling behind Oklahoma large-school power Union last week and eventually dropping a 42-35 overtime decision. We give Bentonville the grace of playing a tough out-of-state opponent and leave them at No. 6.
The Tigers don’t have time to hang their heads, as they travel to central Arkansas to play No. 5 Conway Friday night.
7. Pulaski Academy (1-0)
PA continued its dominance of Joe T. Robinson in a 35-21 season-opening win. It gets a bit tougher this week as the Bruins travel to Mississippi to face Magnolia State private-school power Madison-Ridgeland. PA knocked MRA off 45-43 with a last-second field goal last season. MRA is already 3-0 on the season with an early start to the season on Aug. 15.
8. Benton (0-1)
When the Panthers took a 28-24 lead on Bryant in the Salt Bowl game, things were promising. However, Benton, who coughed up seven turnovers, allowed Bryant to complete three TD passes and take control of the game. Benton made the final score 52-42 with a TD with no time left, but Bryant had control of the game after taking the lead. Benton has this week off and faces a struggling North Little Rock team in its home opener Sept. 13.
9. Shiloh Christian (1-0)
The Saints smoked Farmington 42-6 to avenge last season’s 31-28 loss which ended a 40-game conference winning streak. Shiloh travels to west Little Rock for the second time in as many years to face Little Rock Christian Friday night.
10. Harding Academy (0-0)
The Wildcats were idle last week. They kick off the 2024 season at Class 6A Marion, who barely hung on to beat Wynne in its opener.
11. Little Rock Christian
LRCA moves up a spot after edging El Dorado, 21-14 in the opener. The Warriors will have to play better to beat Shiloh Christian next week. The Saints invaded west Little Rock last year and won 43-22.
12. Bentonville West (0-1)
The Wolverines drop two notches after the lopsided loss to Greenwood. The Wolverines hope to rebound this week against Cabot, who took it on the chin to Fayetteville last week.
13. For Smith Southside (1-0)
The Mavericks came from behind to beat rival Northside, 34-27. Southside should remain undefeated aft this week as they play host to hapless Little Rock Central.
14. Wynne (1-0)
Class 5A Wynne proved it was improved after leading the Patriots 14-0 early and 20-14 at halftime. Marion did rally to win 34-28. They will have to play better to beat Harding Academy at home on Friday night.
15. Cabot (0-1)
A lighting delay and blowout made Cabot’s home opener unpleasant. They head Northwest Arkansas to play Bentonville West, who is also licking its wounds. This will be a welcome victory for whoever can secure it.
16. Mountain Home (1-0)
The Bombers started the season with a 43-21 drubbing of West Plains, Mo. The schedule gets a bit more difficult this week playing at rival Harrison, whose game with Branson, Mo. was canceled due to lightning after the Goblins took an early 7-3 lead.
17. Lake Hamilton (0-1)
For the second straight season, Hot Springs Lakeside stung their city rivals. This time, the Wolves fell 34-29. Lake Hamilton entertains struggling Little Rock Southwest this week hoping to even its record.
18. Jonesboro (0-1)
There is no shame in losing to Conway and JHS hung in for a while. The Hurricane welcome another ranked team to Cooksey-Johns Stadium. This week it is Joe T. Robinson.
19. Little Rock Catholic (1-0)
The Rockets came from behind to beat Class 5A Arkansas High 20-15 last week. They are off this week and host Nolan Catholic (Texas) High School at 2 p.m. Saturday Sept. 14.
20. Maumelle (1-0)
The Hornets looked strong blanking Sylvan Hills 36-0. They face a stiff test this week hosting Little Rock Parkview. This game will be a good barometer of how much improved they are from last season.
21. Joe T. Robinson (0-1)
The Senators fought hard in a loss at PA. They face another challenge playing up in class on the road against Jonesboro. These nonconference games will only make Robinson better in the 5A-Central Conference.
22. Valley View (1-0)
The Blazers scored on two turnovers and set up another TD with a turnover in a dominant 42-14 blowout of Poplar Bluff, Mo. The Blazers return home to face Searcy. The Lions routed Batesville 42-18.
23. Pine Bluff (0-1)
The Zebras lost a neutral site game to Millwood (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 14-0, at DeSoto, Texas. Pine Bluff hosts Kibmall (Dallas) Saturday.
24. Warren (0-1)
The Lumberjacks lost a hard-fought game to Class 5A Greenbriar, 41-34. Warren plays host to White Hall, who lost at Sheridan last week, Friday night.
25. Prescott (1-0)
The Curley Wolves rolled over Crossett, 53-10. They play Salem in a 3A showdown Thursday night at Hendrix College at Conway.
Arkansas
Jinger Duggar Shares Selfies From Jana Duggar’s Arkansas Wedding
![Jinger Duggar Shares Selfies From Jana Duggar’s Arkansas Wedding Jinger Duggar Shares Selfies From Jana Duggar’s Arkansas Wedding](https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Snapinsta.app_458195597_18356963263117195_6658021658665147935_n_1080-Jinger-Duggar-and-Jana-Duggar.jpg?crop=0px%2C8px%2C1080px%2C568px&resize=1200%2C630&quality=86&strip=all)
Jinger Duggar and Jana Duggar Courtesy of Jinger Duggar/Instagram
The good times of Jana Duggar and Stephen Wissmann’s wedding continue to roll, with younger sister Jinger Duggar posting a string of selfies from the happy occasion.
Jinger, 30, took to social media on Sunday, September 1, to share some of her favorite memories from her big sister’s wedding, which took place in Arkansas on August 15.
Posting a carousel of snaps, professional photos and a video via Instagram, Jinger reflected fondly on the major family event.
“We celebrated the happy couple @janamduggar & @stephenwissmann, enjoyed lots of sweet time with family and friends & ate lots of delicious food. Until next time AR! ❤️” Jinger captioned the post.
The carousel featured selfies of Jinger alongside the bride, 34, her mother, Michelle Duggar, her brother Joseph Duggar, her sister Jill Duggar, and several other siblings, family members and friends. It also included photos of Jana and Wissmann, 31, sharing a kiss and posing with Jinger and her husband, Jeremy Vuolo.
Michelle Duggar and Jinger Duggar Courtesy of Jinger Duggar/Instagram
Jana and Wissmann married two months after getting engaged. They tied the knot in front of 500 guests at Arkansas’ The Grand at Willow Springs, as Jessa Duggar Seewald served as Jana’s maid of honor and bridesmaids included Jinger and her fellow sisters Joy-Anna Forsyth, Johannah Duggar and Jordyn Duggar, as well as Jana’s sister-in-law, Abbie Duggar.
Jana, whose family rose to fame through the reality TV series 19 Kids and Counting, told People two days before the wedding took place, “I think it is one of those things that all girls envision someday. For me, it felt like, ‘Okay, it’s never coming.’ But now it’s starting to sink in. Reality is starting to set in. And I’m like, ‘Wow, this truly is something that I’ve dreamed of.’ And just to see it coming about is incredible and kind of hard to believe. It’s a dream come true.”
As the Duggar children’s young families continue to flourish, Jinger hinted during the Wednesday, August 28, episode of the “Jinger and Jeremy” podcast that she is keen to add to her brood. Jinger and Vuolo, 36, already share two daughters: Felicity, 6, and Evangeline, 3.
“That would be fantastic,” Jinger said while answering fan questions on the podcast. “If we had another kid, had twins, I’d be down for it.”
![Snapinsta.app_458082025_18356963428117195_3685705036457136567_n_1080 Jinger Duggar and Jill Duggar](https://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Snapinsta.app_458082025_18356963428117195_3685705036457136567_n_1080-Jinger-Duggar-and-Jill-Duggar.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all)
Jinger Duggar and Jill Duggar Courtesy of Jinger Duggar/Instagram
Jinger reflected further on her brother Jedidiah Duggar and his wife, Katey Duggar, announcing in July that they are expecting twin girls. “I feel like it would be a lot of work initially but then you also just … it’s a faster way to have babies.”
Jinger and Vuolo were first linked in 2015 before getting engaged the following year.
Just a few months after announcing their engagement, the pair married in an Arkansas ceremony in November 2016.
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