pandemic
A Delicate Dance (Hunter Field Editor’s Note)
An influx of federal cash has propped up several industries; now eyes are on the Fed. read more >
by Hunter Field -
US Air Travel Continues Rebound
Aviation revenue passenger-miles, a measurement of the volume of air passenger transportation, stood at 91.8 million in January in the United States, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of 91 million reached […] read more >
US Sues West Memphis School District for Denying COVID Accommodations to Asthmatic Teacher
When the district returned to in-person instruction in August 2020, it allegedly told the teacher that she couldn't work remotely. read more >
A New Kind of Hospital is Coming to Rural America. To Qualify, Facilities Must Close Their Beds
The government, which classifies hospitals by type, rolled out the rural emergency option in January 2023. Only 19 hospitals across the U.S. received rural emergency hospital status last year. read more >
by Associated Press -
Ruling Favors Surgery Centers in Reimbursement Fight With Arkansas Blue Cross
More: A deeper look at what led to the lawsuit is available here. A Pulaski County Circuit Court judge Thursday ruled mostly in favor of two Little Rock surgery centers […] read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Baptist Health Could Be Out of Insurer’s Network If Rate Impasse Continues
The state's largest health provider is the latest to battle UnitedHealthcare over reimbursement rates, which it says are among the lowest in the nation. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Damgoode Pies Closing Last Little Rock Location
Founder Jeff Trine said the pizza chain took on "enormous debt" to survive after the COVID-19 pandemic. read more >
Restaurant Wages Up 21%
Arkansas Division of Workforce Services shows wages have grown almost 21% since the pandemic. read more >
Lab Owner Gets 15-Year Prison Sentence for $134M Medicare Scheme
Authorities say Billy Joe Taylor of Lavaca used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, purchasing luxury automobiles including a Rolls Royce. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Names Geoffrey Robson as Music Director
Robson, who was previously the symphony's artistic director, said being chosen for the role is "the honor of a lifetime." read more >
by Will Newton -
Big Cities See Rare Decrease In Population in 2020-21
In 2020-21, large cities in the United States, those with populations of 250,000 and above, experienced a population loss of 1%, the first year in the 21st century in which large cities saw a decline. read more >
Dillard’s Highlights COVID Recovery at Annual Shareholders Meeting
CEO William Dillard II touted a $1.8 billion return for shareholders over the past three years. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Nonprofits Scramble for Help Amid Dearth of Volunteers
Researchers, nonprofit professionals and volunteers offer a variety of explanations for the decline, including the COVID-19 pandemic and economic woes. read more >
Baptist Health Reports $12.9M Operating Loss
Patient revenue increased in 2022, even though patient volume hasn't quite returned to pre-pandemic levels. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
UAMS Selected for National Program to Address Employee Well-Being
After the trauma and burnout caused by the covid-19 pandemic, the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare developed an initiative for health care leaders improve employee health, patient care. read more >
by ABPG Staff -
Montrose Losses Widen in Q4, Full Year
The news wasn't received well by investors. Shares of the company plummeted 30% Wednesday morning. read more >
US Population Center Trending Toward South This Decade
Experts aren't sure at this point if the dramatic pull of the South is a short-term change spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic or a long-term trend, or even what impact it will have on the reallocation of political power through redistricting after the 2030 census. read more >
Pandemic’s Toll: UAMS Study Says 1 in 4 Lost Friend or Family Member
More than 70% of Arkansans who died from COVID-19 since February 2021 were not fully vaccinated. read more >
Construction Firms Adapt To New Era Of Planning
Construction company executives say demand for projects has remained robust, and they have learned to cope with now-predictable complications like higher materials costs and labor shortages. read more >
by Marty Cook -
Pandemic Cited as Student Math Scores Plummet
Among fourth graders, 36% were proficient in math compared with 41% in 2019. In Arkansas, the results were even worse. read more >
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