The timing of the drought coincided with the height of harvest season for farmers, causing potentially big losses for those who didn’t have storage for crops that could not be loaded onto barges.

At Poinsett Rice & Grain’s port near Osceola, more than a hundred trucks — double the usual number – have been arriving daily this December to try to offload crops that weren’t shipped earlier this year.

Water levels are higher now but the fallout from the drought will be felt for months as farmers, and the supply chains responsible for transporting their goods, recover losses.

Capitol & Scott visited Poinsett Port where Jeff Worsham, port manager, discusses how the extreme weather event continues to impact business. Hunter Biram, an assistant professor and agricultural economist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, also joins the show to discuss what 2022’s historic drought means for commodity markets now and in years to come.

Additional reading:

Drought snarls Mississippi River transit in blow to farmers

Arkansas farmers paying price of low water

Record low Mississippi River levels have Arkansas farmers dealing with challenges

Let us know what topics would you like to hear about in future episodes: arkansasonline.com/capitol-and-scott/

Stuttgart, and the Arkansas Delta, are famous nationally for renown waterfowl hunting grounds. Private jets fly into the local airstrip carrying celebrities, politicians and business moguls who stay in expensive hunting lodges around the town. Local businesspeople estimate the industry generates about $1 million in economic benefits per day during the hunting season. But there is concern the seasonal hunting economy could be in jeopardy because the trees that provide the acorns and seeds ducks feed on are dying in droves.

The wetland habitat in the Delta has been under threat or mostly disappeared over the past century. Those flooded bottomland hardwood forests were chopped down to make way for farms. Around the middle of the 20^th century, local landowners and conservationists began re-creating the flooded forests, resulting in wooded areas where trees are covered with water almost year-around instead of only a couple of months per year. What was once a boon for duck hunting emerged as problematic as tree species not adapted to year-around flooding have been dying – tree species that produced the food ducks and geese fly hundreds of miles for annually to feed on throughout the winter.

There are efforts to turn back the tide and save the wetlands. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is mitigating flooding in the Delta’s green tree reservoirs, or GTRs, while working to bring back habitat that’s been declining. There’s hope that it is not too late to reverse the damage.

On this week’s Capitol & Scott, host Lara Farrar travels to Stuttgart to meet with organizers of the Wings Over the Prairie Festival and learn about they’re concerns about wetland preservation. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Luke Naylor, head of the agency’s Wildlife Management Division, also joins the show to talk about efforts to save some of the most valuable waterfowl hunting habitat in the country.

Background reading: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/nov/27/tennessean-captures-duck-calling-title/

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Arkansans woke up to the state’s first female governor after Sarah Huckabee Sanders beat Democratic opponent Chris Jones. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge defeated liberal opponent Kelly Krout to become the first female lieutenant governor here. Republicans maintained firm control of the state’s legislature.

Voters did not pass an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. Constituents in Craighead County voted in favor of decreasing funding for public libraries there, which could pave the way for similar movements in Arkansas and elsewhere in the U.S. 

To break down the results, the surprises and what it all could mean for the 2024 presidential election, Skip Rutherford, dean emeritus of the Clinton School of Public Service, joins Capitol & Scott the day after Election Day.

Rutherford served as a key advisor to former President Bill Clinton’s presidential campaigns and is an expert election pundit.

Get live updates on Arkansas election results: arkansasonline.com/elections

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Early voting has already started. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The four measures would all amend the state’s constitution and cover a range of issues, including the legalization of cannabis for recreational use and the protection of religious freedoms.

Kristin Higgins, a program associate with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Public Policy Center, joins Capitol & Scott to discuss what this year’s ballot issues are and what they could mean for voters now and in the future.

The Public Policy Center has published a 2022 voter guide that details each of the ballot issues, which can be downloaded here.

For information on the 2022 general election check out the Democrat-Gazette’s 2022 voter guide at: arkansasonline.com/voter-guide/

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The first week of the trial wrapped up Friday, Oct. 21, in Little Rock where U.S. District Judge James M. Moody Jr. heard testimony from parents, their children and physicians who are challenging the law. Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union are representing the parents and children. Act 626 is not yet in effect after Moody issued a preliminary injunction last summer.

Democrat-Gazette federal courts reporter Dale Ellis covered last week’s proceedings. He joins Capitol & Scott host Lara Farrar to discuss highlights from plaintiff testimony, the significance of the case nationally and what likely will happen when the defense resumes testimony Nov. 28.

Catch up on the legal procedings:

Trial will decide fate of Arkansas law banning transgender care for minors

Second day of transgender care trial features testimony by patients’ fathers

Teen’s testimony highlights third day of transgender care trial

State to finish putting on its case in transgender care trial late next month

State’s request to dismiss Arkansas transgender case denied, trial adjourns until late November

 Let us know what topics would you like to hear about in future episodes: arkansasonline.com/capitol-and-scott/

The National Education Association has estimated a shortage of more than 300,000 teachers and staff across the country. In Arkansas, data from the state’s Education Department indicates the worst shortages are in rural districts. 

Shay Loring, executive director for secondary schools with the Little Rock School District, and Jennifer Cobb, senior vice president and executive director at City Year Little Rock, join host Lara Farrar on this week’s episode of Capitol & Scott to talk about the shortage.

Loring and Cobb discuss how districts are retaining and recruiting educators while adapting their programs to ensure a continued stable environment for students. 

Suggested reading:

ACT scores fall for state, nation

Arkansas lawmakers discuss ideas for increasing teacher pay

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The drug, which is deadly in very small amounts, is appearing in fake pills as well as street drugs, like cocaine, heroin and ecstasy. The latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that fatal overdoses increased more than 40% in Arkansas between 2019 and 2020 — largely driven by an increase in fentanyl.

Convicting those who sell the drug is also difficult. In the case of deadly overdoses, prosecutors must tie the victim to the dealer or source of the drug and prove that the lethal fentanyl dose was distributed by that individual. As little as 2 milligrams can be fatal, the CDC says.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette federal courts reporter Dale Ellis and Chris Givens, deputy criminal chief for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Little Rock, join Capitol & Scott to discuss the fentanyl crisis, what is driving it and how authorities are working overtime to try to stop its spread.

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At the end of August, Arkansas’ 15-member American Rescue Plan steering committee recommended approval of the state Department of Human Services’ request for the money that would be funneled to hospitals at risk of closing within months, or even weeks.

Bo Ryall, Arkansas Hospital Association president and CEO, joins Capitol & Scott host Lara Farrar to discuss the ongoing challenges rural hospitals are facing in Arkansas and what it would mean for the state’s health-care system should such facilities have no choice but to close.

The clip, which has millions of views, garnered widespread public outrage as well as coverage from state and national news organizations. The FBI, the Arkansas State Police and other agencies are conducting criminal investigations into the three law-enforcement officers involved in the arrest: Crawford County sheriff deputies Zack King and Levi White and local Mulberry police officer Thell Riddle. 

Suspect Randal Worcester, 27, was treated at a local hospital and released on bond. He faces a number of charges, including resisting arrest and 2^nd degree battery.

Tom Carpenter, Little Rock city attorney, joins host Lara Farrar on today’s special episode of Capitol & Scott to discuss the use of excessive force by law enforcement, how such cases are investigated and why they can be challenging to prosecute.

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Farmers will begin assessing the toll of the extreme weather in coming weeks as they prepare to harvest crops. Yields will determine the impact not only on the crops but also on farmers' bottom line. The estimated loss for livestock farmers is already coming it at around $100 million.

In Capitol & Scott’s two-part series on the impact of climate change on agriculture in Arkansas, our second episode centers on the economic impacts and risk assessment of droughts.

University of Arkansas agricultural economist John Anderson joins host Lara Farrar to talk about how the sector has been affected so far and projections for the second half of 2022.

Check out last week’s episode featuring Hallie Shoffner, a sixth-generation farmer in the Arkansas Delta, who shares the story of how extreme weather conditions are changing the way her family’s farm does business.

Extreme heat and dry weather have plagued the industry this summer, causing Gov. Asa Hutchinson to appeal to the federal government for emergency assistance for the more than dozen counties now classified as disaster areas because of the excessive heat paired with no rain.

This year’s summertime drought is a weather event that forms part of a larger climate change pattern that’s impacting farmers in Arkansas. Wetter springs and hot, dry summers are shifting planting times, increasing operating costs and reducing profits as crop yields decline from the unpredictability of weather patterns.

As part of a two-part series exploring the impact of climate change on the state’s most important industry, Capitol & Scott host Lara Farrar visits SFR Seed, a 1,500-acre family farm in Jackson County established in the 1800s. The farm’s chief executive officer Hallie Shoffner explains how weather is changing the sector and the challenges farmers face in mitigating climate risks and staying in business. 

John D. Anderson, head of the University of Arkansas’ agricultural economics and agribusiness department and director of the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence will discuss economics, risk management and drought impact issues for part two of Capitol & Scott’s series focused on climate change and agriculture. 

That episode will air Wednesday, Aug. 17.  

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Two teachers and nineteen students died there.

In the wake of that shooting, Gov. Asa Hutchinson asked the Arkansas School Safety Commission to review protocol for active shooters on K-12 campuses after multiple, systemic failures were identified in Uvalde in the aftermath of that tragedy.

The commission released its interim report Tuesday during a news conference at the state Capitol. It included a broad range of recommendations, including increased mental health care for students and a statewide school safety tip line.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette capitol reporter Stephen Simpson has been covering the commission. He joins Capitol & Scott host Lara Farrar to share the major takeaways from the interim report.

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While the last confirmed sighting of the bird was about 80 years ago, a kayaker floating through bottomland hardwood forests in the Arkansas Delta collected evidence of the woodpecker’s existence in 2004. The footage was credible enough that researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology traveled to the Delta to continue the search.

Many believe the species still exists.

Since then, ornithologists, scientists and bird watchers have continued to search for the ivory-billed, which has assumed a somewhat mythical status in the South. Despite recordings, photos and videos of supposed sightings, evidence produced has not been enough to convince U.S. Fish and Wildlife that the ivory-billed is alive.

As the window closes to find more evidence to prove the bird is endangered rather than extinct, those who’ve been searching for the woodpecker are doubling down efforts to stop it from being relinquished to the pages of history books.

As part of a 30-day public comment period, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife is accepting “evidence of the presence of the ivory-billed woodpecker” that is received or postmarked on or before 11:59 p.m., Aug. 8, 2022.

Long-time ivory-billed searcher David Luneau joins Capitol & Scott host Lara Farrar to discuss the legacy of the search for the ivory-billed, current efforts to prove it’s still alive and what it would mean should it officially classified as gone.

Special thanks to the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for granting permission to Capitol & Scott to include the 1935 recording of the ivory-billed woodpecker’s “kent” — a distinct nasal tooting sound made by the species — collected in Louisiana by ornithologists Arthur A. Allen and Peter Paul Kellogg. Allen founded the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University. Kellogg was a professor there.

The use of material from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is protected by copyright. Use is permitted only within stories about the content of this release. Redistribution or any other use is prohibited without express written permission of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or the copyright owner. 

Harrison shares what is slated for the 2022-2023 season and provides insight on how the arts scene continues to evolve and grow in Little Rock and other parts of the state.

The report described how top leadership within the organization not only ignored, but also at times treated with disdain, the individuals who approached them to report instances of child molestation and other forms of sexual abuse at the hands of pastors and church staff.

During the 2022 convention, delegates passed measures to combat sexual abuse, including the creation of a database of those involved as well as a resolution encouraging lawmakers to make it a crime for pastors to sexually abuse parishioners. There was also an apology to victims.

New SBC leadership was also announced, including the election of Arkansas native Bart Barber as president of the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.

Democrat-Gazette religion editor Frank Lockwood, who attended the Southern Baptist Convention, joins Capitol & Scott host Lara Farrar to share insights into this year’s annual meeting as the leadership continues to grapple with nearly two decades of reports of sexual abuse that were buried to protect those at the top.

Email Frank Lockwood: flockwood@adgnewsroom.com

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The snails are concerning because they could carry parasites that harm other wildlife as well as disrupt native ecosystems.

The mystery snails aren't the only invasive aquatic species in the state. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has identified at least 37 invasive species in the state's rivers and lakes.

Matt Horton, Arkansas Game and Fish aquatic nuisance species program coordinator, says the growing number of animals, plants, even pathogens, that are not native to Arkansas is concerning because of the negative impact on the environment. They also could threaten lucrative industries, like tourism, hunting and fisheries; not to mention boaters who unwittingly transport them on watercraft could face hefty fines if they're discovered on board.

Horton joins Capitol & Scott host Lara Farrar this week to talk about mystery snails, zebra mussels and other invaders in Arkansas.

Arkansas Game & Fish aquatic nuisance species program: https://www.agfc.com/ans/

Background reading:

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/aug/16/chinese-mystery-snail-pops-uninvited-rive-20090816/

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Traditionalists have historically upheld provisions in United Methodist doctrine prohibiting the ordination of gay ministers and the solemnizing of gay marriage by Methodist clergy or inside Methodist churches, while progressives have sought more inclusion for LGBTQ Methodists.

As the divide has grown, some traditionalist congregations are pushing to leave the United Methodists to join another evangelical body.

Last week, at the United Methodist Church in Arkansas’ annual convention in Hot Springs, delegates voted to delay legislation that would make it easier for traditionalist congregations to leave the church.

Frank Lockwood, religion editor for the Democrat-Gazette says the disagreements within the church are not going away anytime soon and, regardless of the outcome, each side stands to face negative impacts from the doctrinal schism.

Lockwood joins Capitol & Scott host Lara Farrar to discuss the divide and what could come next for the United Methodists in Arkansas.

Email Frank Lockwood: flockwood@adgnewsroom.com

Let us know what topics would you like to hear about in future episodes: arkansasonline.com/capitol-and-scott/

Government programs that were expanded or created during the covid-19 pandemic helped fill in the gaps, but now many of those have been scaled back or have ended altogether. Meanwhile, inflation, rising gas prices and other economic challenges have continued to fuel the plague of food insecurity across Arkansas, a state where some hunger relief organizations estimate one in five people do not have enough to eat.

On this week’s episode of Capitol & Scott, Kathy Webb, head of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, provides an update on how food banks are faring in Arkansas, the impact of food deserts in rural areas and her concerns for the future, specifically issues of child hunger and access to healthy, affordable food in both urban and rural communities.

Let us know what topics would you like to hear about in future episodes: arkansasonline.com/capitol-and-scott/

Hospitals are scrambling to find ways to attract new nurses and retain existing staff. The surge of travel nurses, who can make double or triple what they would earn at a full-time nursing position, has made staffing issues more difficult.

On this week’s episode of Capitol & Scott Patricia Cowan, dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing, discusses how the covid-19 pandemic affected the field of nursing and what the future might look like for an industry that continues to experience ongoing turmoil.

Background Reading: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/mar/28/new-nurses-step-up-to-care-for-arkansans-families/

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As districts across the state near the end of the school year – nearly two years after they had to abruptly close – teachers are reflecting on how their jobs have, for better or for worse, changed because of covid-19. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette education reporter Cynthia Howell asked teachers to share what their classrooms are like now and how they look back on one of the most disruptive events in education in recent American history. Howell discusses her reporting on this week’s Capitol & Scott.

Background: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/apr/03/car-parades-front-porch-lessons-online-learning/

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It’s unclear whether efforts to curtail the crime epidemic have been effective. There are different perspectives on what is driving the violence and how to address it, with some local officials advocating for more law enforcement while others believe education and community programs could offer solutions.

Ken Richardson, a member of the Little Rock Board of Directors who represents Ward 2, discusses the latest crime wave, what he believes is causing it and how he thinks it might be stopped. Richardson is a nationally recognized expert in youth violence prevention.

Background Reading: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/apr/18/little-rock-police-report-violence-spike-in/

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/apr/17/little-rock-police-town-hall-meeting-draws-some/

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Following a brief sentencing hearing, Davis was sentenced to the maximum of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Davis was initially charged with felony manslaughter Sept. 17 following the death of Brittain. 

Since 2005, five law enforcement officers in Arkansas have been charged in on-duty shootings. Of those five, Davis is the only defendant to be convicted.

This week on Capitol & Scott, reporter Teresa Moss talks about covering the Davis trial and what the conviction means for police shootings in the state.

Brent Renaud, who often worked alongside his brother Craig Renaud, grew up in Little Rock. The Renaud Brothers were the recipients of numerous awards for their work, which focused on shedding light on disenfranchised populations in the United States and around the world.

The documentary film community in Arkansas and across the United States is mourning the loss of Brent Renaud who was known for his generosity, humility and unflinching desire to portray difficult subjects via an authentic and compassionate lens.

On this episode of Capitol & Scott, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette critic and columnist Philip Martin joins Amman Abbasi, an award-winning Pakistani American director, editor and composer from Little Rock who worked on several film projects with the Renaud brothers, to share Brent’s impact on the documentary film industry in Arkansas and beyond.

The funeral service for Brent Renaud will be held this Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m. in the sanctuary of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock

Music for this episode, "Fragmented Earth" by Amman Abbasi, was provided by Amman Abbasi. 

Hoge was involved with coverage of mega-stories, like Bill Clinton’s ascent to President of the United States, and horror stories, such as the father who murdered 16 people, including 14 members of his own family.

She also was witness to the great newspaper war between the Arkansas Democrat and the Arkansas Gazette throughout the 1980s. That war ultimately resulted in the merger of the two papers to form the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Hoge shares with Capitol & Scott what she hopes to accomplish in her new role, as well as her concerns for the fate of local news in the age of social media, razor-thin margins and waning interest in working in the field among young people.