Arkansas

Lincoln Talks Health Reform with President Obama

June 2, 2009 -- Washington – Following her meeting with President Obama at the White House today, U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln said that she was committed to crafting health reform legislation that lowers costs, improves quality of care, and provides access to quality and affordable coverage for all Arkansans.    » read more »

Jun 2, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has sent a letter to President Obama requesting a major disaster declaration for 37 Arkansas counties impacted by storms and flooding throughout the month of May. The letter includes requests for Arkansas, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Drew, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Prairie, Saint Francis, Saline, Searcy, Stone, and Union Counties.    » read more »

390 New Jobs Expected

May 29, 2009 -- Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and Representative Marion Berry today announced that the City of Batesville has been awarded a $1.8 million economic development grant to convert Emerson Climate Technologies’ White-Rodgers facility, a former machining facility, into a manufacturing plant, a process that is expected to create hundreds of jobs for the region.

Last August, Emerson announced that the company planned to expand and re-tool the former White-Rodgers facility to produce components for the company’s air conditioning compressor manufacturing facilities. The ultimate $120 million investment is expected to bring 390 new full-time jobs to Batesville at an average wage of $14.51 per hour.    » read more »

390 New Jobs Expected

May 29, 2009 -- Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and Representative Marion Berry today announced that the City of Batesville has been awarded a $1.8 million economic development grant to convert Emerson Climate Technologies’ White-Rodgers facility, a former machining facility, into a manufacturing plant, a process that is expected to create hundreds of jobs for the region.

Last August, Emerson announced that the company planned to expand and re-tool the former White-Rodgers facility to produce components for the company’s air conditioning compressor manufacturing facilities. The ultimate $120 million investment is expected to bring 390 new full-time jobs to Batesville at an average wage of $14.51 per hour.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representative Marion Berry (AR-01) today announced that Delta Regional Airport in St. Francis County will receive a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to construct a new airport, including completing grading and drainage needs, installing perimeter fencing, and completing paving.

“These funds will help modernize Delta Regional Airport, enhancing safety and security of air travel while also boosting the local economy. I remain committed to ensuring Arkansas receives the resources and support it needs to stay strong,” said Lincoln.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln today said America’s automakers must be held accountable for their decisions to restructure and close franchise dealerships, which will eliminate thousands of jobs across the country, including Arkansas.

Last week, Chrysler LLC sent letters to eight dealerships in Arkansas informing owners they would be forced to close, affecting hundreds of Arkansas families and communities that depend on those businesses.

In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee leaders today, Lincoln said that auto companies, which have been the recipients of an extraordinary level of financial support from American taxpayers, should answer to dealership owners and their tens of thousands of employees regarding their restructuring process.    » read more »

May 20, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today declared Ashley, Cleburne, Greene, Howard, Jackson, Marion, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike and Polk Counties state disaster areas, taking the total of flood-related county declarations to 42. Last week, Beebe declared Arkansas, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Drew, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Lonoke, Jefferson, Miller, Monroe, Perry, Phillips, Pope, Poinsett, Prairie, Saline, Searcy, Stone, St. Francis and Union Counties.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln last week highlighted three initiatives included in her “Arkansas Plan” tax package that are designed to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, resulting in job creation in Arkansas and lessening our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

“As an agricultural state, Arkansas is in a position to utilize tremendous renewable energy resources and be a leader as our nation strives for greater energy independence,” Lincoln said. “Alternative energy sources, such as biomass and biofuels, offer job creation opportunities for new and expanding small businesses in our state. I will continue to push for incentives that will help build a strong alternative energy industry in Arkansas.”    » read more »

May 12, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has declared Arkansas, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Drew, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Lonoke, Jefferson, Miller, Monroe, Perry, Phillips, Pope, Poinsett, Prairie, Saline, Searcy, Stone, St. Francis and Union Counties state disaster areas due to the damage caused by heavy rains and flooding that began on April 27.

The declaration also authorizes $200,000 in individual assistance from the Governor's Disaster Fund for flood victims in Clark, Dallas, Jefferson, Garland, Lonoke, Miller, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, and Saline Counties.    » read more »

May 6, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management want to remind those with damages from the severe storms and tornadoes of April 9 that loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are not just for businesses. The low-interest loans are also available for residents in the disaster-designated counties of Miller, Polk and Sevier counties.    » read more »

Apr 28, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe received word Tuesday afternoon that the Obama administration has granted Arkansas's request for a public-assistance disaster declaration in Ashley, Howard, Miller, Polk and Sevier Counties. The declaration brings with it federal money to cover 75 percent of the damages to public infrastructure in the affected counties, including utility systems, roads and bridges, water-control facilities and debris removal.    » read more »

Apr 14, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe this afternoon sent a letter to President Obama asking him to declare a major disaster in Miller, Polk and Sevier Counties in response to last Thursday's tornadoes. The declaration would provide financial assistance for storm victims, as well as temporary housing, disaster unemployment insurance, crisis counseling, and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

Assessment teams tallied 659 damaged homes in the three counties, including 157 homes destroyed. Another 140 homes suffered major damage.

Teams from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management continue to assess the extent of storm damage to public infrastructure. That work may lead to an additional request for public assistance.

Source: Arkansas Governor

Apr 13, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe today declared Ashley and Miller Counties as state disaster areas due to damage caused by last Thursday's severe storms. Beebe previously declared Howard, Polk and Sevier Counties on Friday.

Teams from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management are continuing their preliminary assessments of storm damage. Governor Beebe expects to request federal aid for individual storm victims within the next few days.

Arkansas 2-1-1 stands ready to help storm victims who need information about disaster services, as well as Arkansans who wish to volunteer or to provide help. The call to 2-1-1 is free.

Source: Arkansas Governor

Wireless-Only Phone Use Varies Widely Across United States

March 11, 2009 -- Oklahoma leads the nation in the percentage of households with cell phones only, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than a quarter of households (26.2 percent) in Oklahoma had only wireless and no landline phones in 2007. On the other end of the spectrum, only 5.1 percent of households in Vermont were wireless–only in 2007.

The report from CDC′s National Center for Health Statistics, “Wireless Substitution: State–level Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, January–December 2007,” is the latest report on wireless substitution in the United States.    » read more »

Mar 9, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - The Web site established by the State of Arkansas to helps citizens track the spending of federal stimulus money is now active at http://recovery.arkansas.gov.

The interactive site will be updated daily with new information about program funding through Arkansas. Users can click through graphs to better pinpoint where money is being spent and to sign up for notifications when programs are introduced or changed. The Web site is designed to give Arkansans full transparency and accountability for how their taxpayer dollars are being invested.    » read more »