Hutchinson Allows Cities to Enact Mask Mandates
Arkansas' governor allows cities to enact measures requiring masks in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, relenting after opposing such mandates at the state or local level. read more >
Tagged: Coronavirus
Arkansas Reports Biggest One-day Spike in Coronavirus Cases
Arkansas reported its biggest single-day increase in coronavirus cases on Thursday, as the state's governor said concerns about the virus will be a valid excuse to vote absentee in the November election. read more >
Report Shows Arkansas Revenue in June Better Than Forecast
State tax officials say Arkansas' June net available general revenue was $589.7 million, down 9.6% from the same month last year and 16.1% above forecast. read more >
US Adds Record 4.8M Jobs in June, Unemployment Rate Falls to 11%
The U.S. unemployment falls to 11.1% as the country added a record 4.8 million jobs in June, but the COVID-19 pandemic dims the outlook for further gains. read more >
Video: Misty Orpin of ArkansasCOVID Talks Data, What Businesses Should Watch
People paying close attention to the COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas have likely encountered ArkansasCOVID.com, a website founded and edited by Misty Orpin of Springdale that is closely tracking data tied to the outbreak. read more >
Governor: Arkansas Ends Fiscal Year with More Money Than Expected
Arkansas will finish its fiscal year with $360 million more in revenue than was expected, Gov. Asa Hutchinson says. read more >
US Consumer Confidence Rises to 98.1 in June
U.S. consumer confidence rose in June, reflecting the partial re-opening of the country but the concern is that rising coronavirus cases in many states could jeopardize future gains. read more >
Powell Says US Economy Facing Heightened Uncertainty
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says the outlook for the U.S. economy is “extraordinarily uncertain” and the success of the recovery effort will depend in large part on the country’s ability to contain the spread of the coronavirus. read more >
Billions of Dollars in Aid for Small Businesses Go Unclaimed
Billions of dollars offered by Congress as a lifeline to small businesses struggling to survive the pandemic are about to be left on the table when a key government program stops accepting applications for loans. read more >
Asa Hutchinson Says He Will Encourage, Not Require, Masks
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday that he will encourage people to wear face masks in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus but indicated that he doesn't plan to enact a statewide requirement. read more >
Schwyhart Trial Marks First in Pandemic Timeline
The recent fraud trial of Bill and Carolyn Schwyhart represented a first for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. read more >
Roger Williams Waxes Philosophical
Roger Williams was on the phone with a reporter, discussing COVID-19, the energy industry’s future, and his own plans as CEO of Energy Security Partners to build the state’s largest economic development project ever. But first, a sidetrack into semantics. read more >
Sensemaking During a Crisis (Brian Jones Commentary)
While many organizations had plans for emergencies, few anticipated a pandemic or the mixed messages that have followed from both the government and health professionals. read more >
Remote Work: Pandemic & Beyond (Regina Young Commentary)
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that technology has made remote work viable for positions previously considered not suitable for such arrangements. And many employees who were previously apprehensive about remote work have now embraced it. Will employers now consider making remote work permanent for such positions? read more >
Arkansas Industries Attempt to Divine The Post-Pandemic Future
Some, like the hospitality industry, are bracing for a long, slow return to pre-COVID vitality. Others, like the energy sector, see a quicker recovery after the early swoon. Some trends seem baked into expectations, like reliance on home-based employees and the technology they use. read more >
Pandemic-Infused Demand Puts Enviro Tech In 24-7 Mode
Making hand sanitizer is nothing new for Enviro Tech Chemical Services Inc. of Modesto, California. But three months ago, the product was swept up in an unexpected surge in popularity thanks to COVID-19. read more >
Arkansas Cattlemen Refuse to Run With The Herd
The cattle ranching industry may undergo some changes in the turbulent wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the changes may not include the one cattlemen fear the most: loss of independence. read more >
Dr. José Romero Ready to Call Shots at Health Department
Dr. José Romero, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, is chief medical officer at the Arkansas Department of Health and in May was appointed as the state’s interim secretary of health, effective July 1. read more >
Governors Who Quickly Reopened Backpedal as Virus Surges
When Texas began lifting coronavirus restrictions, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott didn't wear a mask. He wouldn't let mayors enact extra precautions during one of America's swiftest efforts to reopen. He pointed out that the White House backed his plan and gave assurances there were safe ways to go out again. read more >
Arkansas Reports 678 New COVID-19 Cases, 7 More Deaths
Arkansas on Friday reported its largest single-day increase yet in cases of the coronavirus among those who are not in prison, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. read more >
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