ROGERS – When Margaret Lockhart attended the school-wide assembly at 11 a.m. Monday morning at
Lingle Middle School, she thought the entire faculty and student body had turned out to see Arkansas
Education Commissioner Dr. Ken James on his first stop in a tour of the state’s schools. As it turned
out, the assembly was for her.

Lockhart is a winner of…[more]

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The quality of oak stands in Arkansas forests can be degraded by pests or by “high-grading,” a timber practice in which the best or biggest trees are removed, leaving only inferior or undesirable trees.

Scientists in the University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture are evaluating techniques for rehabilitating degraded forests to increase the value of timber and improve wildlife habitat.[more]

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A University of Arkansas scientist who studies constructs of a protein that are associated with the cell transformation that causes cancer has received a five-year, $661,018 grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand his research.

Paul Adams, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry in the J.…[more]

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today joined with House Republicans to put forward a compromise plan to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which expands the program, guarantees needy children are first in line, and strengthens citizenship requirements for beneficiaries.

“After two weeks of delay, we…[more]

Arkansas experienced seven fewer train derailments and collisions during the first half of 2007 — a 19 percent reduction — compared to the same period last year. Nationwide, U.S. railroads recorded the lowest accident rate — 3.07 per million train miles — in a decade, according to preliminary data released by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Arkansas was one of 34 states that saw a reduction in incidents.…[more]

Members of the Fort Smith, Van Buren and Siloam Springs batteries of the 2nd Battalion, 142nd Fires Brigade touched down at the Lawton – Fort Sill Regional Airport on October 8 and 9 to begin the process of demobilization.

“It’s great to be home,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin Mendoza, of Fort Smith. “The past year was probably one of the hardest years of my life.” [more]

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today issued the following statement on news of a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll published Tuesday which shows over half of Americans believe children’s health insurance should benefit needy children first, while holding large concerns that the current program will lead to many Americans dropping private insurance:

“The…[more]

Young drivers in Arkansas may face tougher restrictions if a proposed bill makes it through the legislature.

Rep. Gene Shelby, D-Hot Springs, is planning to introduce a new bill during the 2009 regular session that aims to further strengthen the state’s graduated licensing system. Shelby said he is concerned that Arkansas continues to rank high among all states with respect to fatalities involving teens in car accidents.

Bentonville, AR - Mark Stanley has some unique designs on an 1,837 square foot home he is building. Not only is Stanley designing the home to heat and cool itself so he does not have to relay on costly utilities like gas and electric, but he is also building the first tire-bale house in Arkansas.

What’s a tire bale? It’s a block made from up to 100 used…[more]

From Governor Beebe:

In Arkansas each year, $280 million in benefits and tax refunds, the majority of which are federal, are left unclaimed. Sadly, the major reason is the complexity of the benefit-application process. Most people seeking benefits are working or are looking for employment, and since benefit-application offices are typically open only during business hours, many eligible persons find it extremely difficult to apply. Others seeking benefits…[more]