Arkansas

Top stars, best performances in the Arkansas high school football state championships and semifinals

Published

2 years ago

December 5, 2022

Top stars, best performances in the Arkansas high school football state championships and semifinals

By Steve Andrews | Photograph by Braeden Botts

Listed under are a number of the prime stars and greatest performances from Week 14 of the Arkansas highschool soccer season.

Gideon Motes, Bryant QB

The junior accomplished 13-of-22 passes for 197 yards and 4 touchdowns and ran for 67 yards within the Hornets’ 36-7 win over Bentonville within the 7A championship sport.

James Martin, Bryant, RB

The junior ran 19 instances for 107 yards within the Hornets’ 36-7 win over Bentonville within the 7A championship sport.

Mytorian Singleton, Bryant, WR

The junior caught 7 passes for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns within the Hornets’ 36-7 win over Bentonville within the 7A championship sport.

Logan Robertson, Bentonville, LB

The junior tallied 5 complete tackles, a quarterback hurry and recovered a fumble in the long run zone for Bentonville’s lone rating within the Tigers’ 36-7 loss to Bryant within the 7A championship sport.

Kel Busby, Pulaski Academy, QB

The junior accomplished 19-of-31 passes for 262 yards, and ran 12 instances for 51 yards and three touchdowns, within the Bruins’ 42-35 win over Greenwood within the 6A championship sport.

Kenny Jordan, Pulaski Academy, RB

The sophomore ran 35 instances for 208 yards and three touchdowns, caught 2 passes for 48 yards and added 30 yards in kick returns, within the Bruins’ 42-35 win over Greenwood within the 6A championship sport.

Jaylin McKinney, Pulaski Academy, WR

The senior caught 12 passes for 118 yards and added 68 yards in kick returns within the Bruins’ 42-35 win over Greenwood within the 6A championship sport.

Hunter Houston, Greenwood, QB

The senior accomplished 28-of-43 passes for 369 yards with 3 touchdowns within the Bulldogs’ 42-35 loss to Pulaski Academy within the 6A championship sport.

L.J. Robins, Greenwood, QB

The junior caught 6 passes for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns within the Bulldogs’ 42-35 loss to Pulaski Academy within the 6A championship sport.

Brady Mackey, Greenwood, FS

The junior recorded 17 tackles, together with 7 solos, whereas including a sort out for a loss, an interception and a cross breakup, within the Bulldogs’ 42-35 loss to Pulaski Academy within the 6A championship sport.

Darien Bennett, Little Rock Parkview, RB

The senior rushed 21 instances for 90 yards within the Patriots’ 31-21 win over Shiloh Christian within the 5A championship sport.

Eric McGehee, Little Rock Parkview, RB

The junior accomplished 7-of-12 passes for 144 yards and a pair of touchdowns and ran for 26 yards within the Patriots’ 31-21 win over Shiloh Christian within the 5A championship sport.

Omarion Robinson, Little Rock Parkview, QB/WR

The sophomore accomplished his solely cross for a 7-yard landing and caught a 69-yard cross for an additional rating, whereas including 18 yards on a punt return, within the Patriots’ 31-21 win over Shiloh Christian within the 5A championship sport.

Eli Knowledge, Shiloh Christian, QB

The senior accomplished 21-of-38 passes for 220 yards and a landing, whereas dashing 17 instances for 52 yards, within the Saints’ 31-21 loss to Little Rock Parkview 5A championship sport.

Bo Williams, Shiloh Christian, RB

The junior carried 15 instances for 115 yards and a pair of TDs and picked off a cross on protection within the Saints’ 31-21 loss to Little Rock Parkview 5A championship sport.

Cole Glenn, Shiloh Christian, LB

The senior tallied 18 complete tackles, together with 5 solos and 1.5 tackles for a loss, within the Saints’ 31-21 loss to Little Rock Parkview 5A championship sport.

Braylan Anderson, Hazen, RB

The junior rushed 7 instances for 134 yards and three touchdowns, and caught a 12-yard cross, within the Hornets’ 44-6 win over Carlisle within the 2A championship sport.

Luke King, Hazen, QB

The senior accomplished 11-of-17 passes for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns and ran for 16 yards within the Hornets’ 44-6 win over Carlisle within the 2A championship sport.

Justin Schlenker, Hazen, WR

The junior caught 3 passes for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns within the Hornets’ 44-6 win over Carlisle within the 2A championship sport.

Collin Key, Hazen, LB

The senior racked up 14 tackles, together with 8 solos and added 2 tackles for a loss and a cross breakup within the Hornets’ 44-6 win over Carlisle within the 2A championship sport.

Jason Sullivan, Carlisle, RB

The senior rushed 28 instances for 158 yards within the Bison’s 44-6 loss to Hazen within the 2A championship sport.

Holden Jones, Carlisle, QB

The junior accomplished 9-of-17 passes for 131 yards and a landing, and rushed for 48 yards, within the Bison’s 44-6 loss to Hazen within the 2A championship sport.

David Hayes, Carlisle, WR

The senior caught 4 passes for 72 yards and a landing, and ran for 8 yards, within the Bison’s 44-6 loss to Hazen within the 2A championship sport.

Wyatt Buchanan, Izard County, QB

The sophomore accomplished 24-of-35 passes for 331 yards and 5 touchdowns, and rushed for 63 yards, within the Cougars’ 36-26 win over Rector within the 8-Man championship sport

Malachi Cruz, Izard County, WR/LB

The senior hauled in 13 passes for 144 yards and 4 touchdowns. He additionally piled up 24 complete tackles on protection, together with 20 solos and three tackles for a loss. within the Cougars’ 36-26 win over Rector within the 8-Man championship sport.

Tyler Hill, Izard County, WR/DB

The senior caught 8 passes for 159 yards and a landing and picked off a cross within the Cougars’ 36-26 win over Rector within the 8-Man championship sport.

Drew Henderson, Rector, QB

The junior ran 37 instances for 163 yards and 4 touchdowns, whereas finishing 5 of seven passes for 33 yards, within the Cougars’ 36-26 loss to Izard County within the 8-Man championship sport.

Jacob Cox, Rector, RB

The junior carried 24 instances for 135 yards and caught 2 passes for 18 yards within the Cougars’ 36-26 loss to Izard Countyin the 8-Man championship sport.

Jacob Mooneyhan, Rector, LB

The junior tallied 19 tackles, together with 7 solos, and had a sort out for a loss, within the Cougars’ 36-26 loss to Izard Countyin the 8-Man championship sport.

Cedric Simmons, Malvern, QB

The senior threw for five touchdowns and ran for an additional within the Leopards’ 56-37 win over Nashville within the 4A semifinals.

Heath Griffin, Harding Academy, RB

The senior ran 29 instances for 101 yards and three second-half touchdowns within the Wildcats’ 31-28 win over Arkadelphia within the 4A semifinals.

Brandon Scott, Charleston, QB

The senior accomplished 13-of-17 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns, and added a dashing TD, within the Tigers’ 27-0 win over Rison within the 3A semifinal.

Brevyn Ketter, Charleston, RB

The senior had 10 carries for 106 yards and a landing, whereas additionally hauling in a TD cross, within the Tigers’ 27-0 win over Rison within the 3A semifinal.

Cody Elliott, Booneville, RB

The senior rushed 37 instances for 184 yards and 5 touchdowns within the Bearcats’ 41-36 win over Melbourne within the 3A semifinals.

Trey Wren, Melbourne, QB

The senior accomplished 38 of fifty passes for 428 yards and 4 touchdowns within the Bearkatz’ 41-36 loss to Booneville within the 3A semifinals.

Kyle Ferrie, Harding Academy, Okay

The senior Mississippi State recruit hit a 31-yard subject aim as time expired to beat Arkadelphia 31-28 in a Class 4A state playoff semifinal sport.

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Arkansas

Viewer pictures: The Natural State transforms into a winter wonderland

Published

3 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Viewer pictures: The Natural State transforms into a winter wonderland

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A winter storm rolled into Arkansas Thursday and brought with it snow to the majority of western and central Arkansas.

Many from around the Natural State sent in pictures of their area covered in snow.

Courtesy: Greg Harrison, Little Rock
Courtesy: Mark Cover, Little Rock
Courtesy: Mark Burfeind, Hot Springs
Courtesy: Terrell and Yolanda Moseley, Traskwood
Courtesy: Stella Harthcock, Little Rock
Courtesy: Res, Beaver Lake
Courtesy: Steve Barnett, Hot Springs
Courtesy: Bud Hughes, Hot Springs
Courtesy: John Webb, Conway
Courtesy: Shelly Zuber, Paron

Though Arkansas is already full of natural beauty, there’s something about the state covered in snow that makes it even more of a winter wonderland.

Several kids from around the state got out and took advantage of the day off of school by throwing snowballs, digging up the snow, sledding and of course making snow angels.

Courtesy: Jack Moore, Little Rock
Courtesy: Nikiya Simpson, Benton
Courtesy: Drew Griffin, Hot Springs
Courtesy: Mark Edwards, Little Rock Air Force Base

Many who got out in the snow had enough accumulated to make snow men.

Share your snow day pictures at KARK.com/winter-pics.

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Arkansas

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

Published

11 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

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

18 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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