Arkansas
Southern Arkansas University begins negotiations with Bruno Hicks as next president | Camden News
Southern Arkansas University begins negotiations with Bruno Hicks as next president
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by Ryan Anderson
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Submitted photo of Bruno Hicks, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Dalton State College and finalist for Southern Arkansas University president.
Southern Arkansas University’s board of trustees voted unanimously Monday to begin negotiations with Bruno Hicks — provost and vice president of academic affairs at Dalton State College in Northwest Georgia — to become SAU’s next president.
If Hicks can agree to terms, he has indicated he could start his new duties as early as June 17.
The SAU board selected Hicks over in-state finalist Phillip Wilson, the chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain since 2011.
Laura Winning, chairperson of the board of trustees. called it “a very important decision” and said SAU was “excited about what (Hicks) can bring to” the 5,127-student university in Magnolia.
Before starting his tenure at Dalton State College in 2020, Hicks was the founding dean of the school of education from 2016-2020 at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts.
He spent nearly two decades at the University of Maine at Fort Kent as a professor of education and environmental studies. He also served as chairman of the education department for 12 of his 18 years there.
Former SAU President Trey Berry departed at the end of last year to become chancellor of Henderson State University on Jan. 1,.
David Rankin, who retired as SAU president on June 30, 2015 and is SAU President Emeritus — is filling in temporarily as SAU president.
Nate Evers, the board of trustees’ vice chairman, said he made the motion “with much enthusiasm” to begin negotiations with Hicks.
Winning, the board of trustees’ chairperson, expressed gratitude to everyone who helped with the search, from faculty and staff, to the search committee led by fellow trustee Monty Harrington, and to members of the community.
CORNING, Ark. (KATV) — Regulatory Enforcement Agents with the Department of Finance and Administration, along with local police, seized a significant amount of illegal THC products from Pacific Green in Corning on Tuesday.
According to the DFA, more than a dozen agents joined the City of Corning Police in the day-long operation that resulted in two arrests.
DFA agents seized more than 25 pounds of illegal products consisting of flower, vapes, and edibles.
Owner Ben Bennett and employee Sharia Shipman were arrested and both charged with the following:
- Delivery of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Class D Felony)
- Possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with the purpose to deliver (Class B Felony)
- Controlled substances – Offenses relating to records, maintaining premises (Class C Felony)
- Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class D Felony)
- Unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes (Class C Felony)
Bennett’s bond was set at $150,000, while Shipman’s bond was set at $100,000.
“In addition to selling illegal products, investigators confirmed violations involving underage access at this location,” said David Potter, Director of the Regulatory Enforcement Division. “This retailer, which was located within 1,000 feet of a school, presented significant public health and safety concerns. We are proud to partner with the Corning Police Department in addressing these violations. We seized a substantial quantity of illegal products, including flower, vapes, edibles, and other items, during the operation. We appreciate the cooperation of local law enforcement and information received from the community that led to yesterday’s operation and stopped this blatant disregard of the law.”
Note: All suspects accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
The Department of Finance and Administration said Arkansans can use Apple Wallet to present their license or ID in person, online and in apps at select organizations, including at more than 250 Transportation Security
IDEMIA Public Security North America and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles have launched Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet, allowing residents to securely store and use their credentials on an iPhone or Apple Watch.
The new feature gives Arkansans the ability to present their identification at participating businesses and venues, at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in more than 250 airports, and online or within apps when age or identity verification is required.
The launch builds on Arkansas’ ongoing efforts to expand digital identification options. In March 2025, the state introduced the Arkansas Mobile ID app, and officials say adding IDs to Apple Wallet offers residents another secure and convenient way to access their credentials.
“We’re proud to build on our partnership with the Arkansas DFA’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles, expanding on the launch of the Arkansas Mobile ID app in March 2025. The launch of ID in Apple Wallet in the state provides Arkansas residents a new, secure way to store and present their digital credentials, with transparency and control over how their information is shared at the forefront,” said Rob Gardner, CEO, IDEMIA Civil Identity.
To add an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, users can tap the plus sign at the top of the Wallet app on their iPhone, select “Driver’s License or State ID,” and follow the verification process.
Officials say privacy and security were central considerations in the rollout. Information stored in Apple Wallet is encrypted on a user’s device, and users control when and how their information is shared. When presenting an ID, only the information necessary to verify age or identity is provided.
Apple and the Arkansas Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles also do not receive information about when or where residents use their digital IDs.
The technology is also designed to make verification easier for businesses. Participating businesses can use IDEMIA’s Mobile ID Verify app to accept and verify mobile IDs directly from an iPhone without requiring customers to hand over their devices or use additional hardware.
The launch marks another step toward broader adoption of digital credentials in Arkansas, giving residents a secure alternative to carrying a physical driver’s license or state ID while maintaining control over their personal information.
For information on the launch of IDs in Apple Wallet in Arkansas, click here.
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