Public News Service

Some 36,000 Arkansas Medicare beneficiaries used insulin in 2020. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

AR seniors to benefit from Medicare prescription drug cap

Arkansans who are on Medicare will see big savings next year thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. The Act will cap prescription drug costs…

Food deserts are regions where people have limited access to healthful and affordable food due to income, location, or transportation issues. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

AR officials consider new ways to address food deserts

By Daniel Breen and Josie Lenora for Little Rock Public Radio.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the Little Rock …

According to the Urban Institute, low-income people with medical debt are likely to forgo needed medical care, have difficulty meeting other basic needs and face an increased risk of bankruptcy. <br />(Andy Dean/Adobe Stock)

Routine medical care out of reach for some low-income AR residents

By Tess Vrbin for The Arkansas Advocate.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Advocate-Winthrop Rockefe…

Advocates said Arkansans who lost Medicaid coverage are missing vital doctor's visits. (AnnaStills/Adobe Stock)

Medicaid troubles continue for many AR residents

In preparation for the upcoming legislative session, workers at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families are interviewing Arkansans about their …

Every county in the Land of Opportunity has at least one food desert, putting the state's food insecurity rate at 15.5%, well above the national average of 10.4%. (Danieldzura/Adobe Stock)

AR governor addresses food insecurity among students

By De'Stani Clark for the Arkansas Delta Informer.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-…

Various institutions offer resources to promote financial wellness but additional hurdles remain as institutions debate how to extend resources within diverse communities. (kerkezz/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas banks reach out to 'unbanked' residents

By De'Stani Clark for the Arkansas Delta Informer.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-…

Brian Burton with the Arkansas Food Bank said children experiencing malnourishment have a tougher time learning in the classroom. (fotokitas/Adobe Stock)

Hunger is another struggle for Arkansas 'ALICE' residents

By Mary Hennigan for The Arkansas Advocate.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Advocate-Winthrop Rock…

Mental health professionals said therapy can play a crucial role in helping ALICE populations cope with mental health issues. (ibreakstock/Adobe Stock)

Financial strains create mental-health issues for AR ALICE population

By LaGanzie Kale for KLEK-FM.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the KLEK-FM-Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation-Publi…

Save the Children works in more than 300 of rural America's most impoverished communities, helping kids prepare for kindergarten and reach grade-level goals. (peopleimages.com./Adobe Stock)

Save the Children works to end 'summer slide' for Arkansas students

During the summer months, children can lose up to 40% of the information they learned in school, in a phenomenon called the "summer slide." The …

A tax-cut package, passed in an Arkansas special legislative session, also increased the homestead property tax credit in Arkansas from $425 to $500. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Opponents of latest state tax cuts say they benefit wealthy Arkansans

Leaders of some nonprofit organizations in Arkansas are not happy with a recent tax cut package passed by the Legislature. The law reduces the tax …

Over the last three years, the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund's CityStart program has focused specifically on racial wealth equality. (JonoErasmus/Adobe Stock)

AR capital receives grant money to improve Black wealth equity

The City of Little Rock is part of a national grant program designed to improve the financial status of Black communities. The Cities for Financial …

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the Arkansas State Guard could be called in to help with cleanup if necessary. (jetcityimage/Adobe stock)

Arkansans continue to clean up after deadly tornadoes

The National Weather Service continues to survey damage across northern Arkansas after tornadoes ripped through the state over the weekend. Crews …

Arkansas is among eight states disenrolling so many children in 2023 that fewer were enrolled at year's end than before the pandemic in early 2020. (Nina Lawrenson/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR among top states for children losing health coverage post-COVID

A new report showed the number of children covered by Medicaid varies widely between states as pandemic-era protections were lifted, with Arkansas …

The 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation Data Book ranked Arkansas 37th in the nation for education, and said 56% of young children were not in preschool programs to help get them ready for school. (Adobe Stock)

Program gives AR early education workers 'Career Pathways'

The need for child care and early learning is critical, especially in rural Arkansas. One nonprofit is working to fill those gaps by giving providers …

More than 400,000 people live in poverty in Arkansas, according to the Center for American Progress. (W.Scott McGill/AdobeStock)<br />

'Day on the Hill' in Arkansas calls for investment in families

Family advocates are at the State Capital for a "Day on the Hill" rally today, to voice their concerns to lawmakers about issues affecting Arkansans' …

In Arkansas, more than 133,000 people 35-49 years old owe more than $43,000, totaling $5.77 billion. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi)

Student loan debt relief on way in Arkansas

Student-loan borrowers in Arkansas and nationwide could have their debt reduced or eliminated through a new one-time adjustment by the U.S. …

When part-time and part-year workers are included in the comparison, Latinas were typically paid only 52 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men in 2022. (Sanele Gobinduku/peopleimages.com)

Equal Pay Day sheds light on AR women's wage disparities

Today is Equal Pay Day, which calls attention to the wage gap between women and men - a disparity that's even more pronounced in the Natural State…

More than 2,900 students who have earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas are currently employed, with an average salary of more than $90,000. (Gift Culture Media/KOTO)<br />

University of Arkansas tackles affordable housing crisis with prototype home

By Matthew Moore for KUAF-FM.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Arkansas News Service reporting for the KUAF/Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation-Publ…

In Arkansas, an estimated 467,550 people do not always have enough nutritious food for regular meals. Almost 135,000 of them are children. (Allistair F/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas expands summer food access to combat childhood hunger

Arkansas wants to tackle childhood hunger this summer, by opting into a summer food program for kids. One in five children in the Natural State …

Report: 72% of jobs will require postsecondary education in 2031

In Arkansas and across the country, getting a college degree will become increasingly important in the job market of the future. A report from …

A shared community activity building would provide educational services for Bentonville residents, students and members of the school district. (Allison/Adobe Stock)

Bentonville Schools tackle affordable housing for teachers, staff

The Bentonville School Board has taken a significant step to address Northwest Arkansas' pressing issue of affordable housing for teachers and staff m…

Arkansas' income tax rate drops from 4.7% to 4.4% on Jan. 1, 2024, and there are efforts to eliminate it completely. (Eyegelb/Adobe Stock)

Report outlines options to eliminate Arkansas' state income tax

Arkansas is set to reduce income tax rates for individuals and corporations starting next year. Opportunity Arkansas is advocating for the …

Prior to the start of this 2024 open enrollment period, about 1.5 million more people enrolled in marketplace coverage nationwide from March to Sept. 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.<br />(STOATPHOTO/Adobe Stock)

Arkansans still have time to sign up before ACA enrollment deadline

In Arkansas and across the nation, open enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act ends on December 15 at midnight. The …

University of Central Arkansas President Houston Davis announced the launch of the UCA Commitment. Incoming Freshman students will start fall 2024. (University of Central Arkansas)

One Arkansas school offers ‘debt-free pathway’ to graduation

By Olivia Sanchez for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public New…

In the Natural State, 33% of children from birth to age 6 are eligible for a Child Care & Development Block Grant subsidy under federal rules, on average, each month. (Bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)<br />

AR Adds 260 Child Care Providers, But Funding Crisis Looms

Across the country and in Arkansas, some day care providers face the threat of closure when federal government aid initiated during the pandemic …

A person who is blind or has a qualifying disability who applies for SSI may get special services to help them work. These services may include counseling, job training, and help in finding work.<br />(Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

SSA Expands Outreach for SSI Benefits to Rural Communities

The Social Security Administration has taken a proactive step to bridge the gap between critical financial assistance and the people who may be eligib…

According to Bankrate, the current mortgage interest rate in Arkansas is 7.22% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.51% for a 15-year fixed mortgage. (seanlockephotography/Adobe Stock)

Bridging the Gaps in Homebuyer Education in Arkansas

Despite the roller coaster housing market over the past few years, a recent Gallup Poll reported nearly 28 million Americans, including people in …

The Kids Count Data Book reports in 2020-21, 15% of children from birth to age 5 in Arkansas lived in families in which someone quit, changed, or refused a job because of problems finding or affording child care. (ShunTerra/Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Ranks 43rd in Child Well-Being

A new report found Arkansas consistently ranks toward the lowest 10 states for child well-being. The annual Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

The EPA said the spread of Lyme disease, carried by black-legged ticks, is influenced by changing temperatures and rainfall patterns. (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/AdobeStock).

Report: EPA Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in Arkansas

In Arkansas and across the country, children's growing and developing bodies are uniquely vulnerable to climate change, according to a new report …

A new report revealed a steady decline of enrollment and completion among Black learners across all sectors of higher education since 2011, threatening decades of economic gains and the vitality of Black families. (Daniel Ernst/AdobeStock)

Arkansas College Works to Retain Black Students In Higher Ed

A new report from the Lumina Foundation called "Level Up" report showed a steady decrease in enrollment and completion rates among Black students nati…

In Arkansas, more than 400,000 people face hunger, and 138,410 are children, according to Feeding America. (Oksana Kuzmina/AdobeStock)

March is 'School Breakfast Month' in Arkansas

Better health and educational outcomes are being touted as Arkansans recognize March as School Breakfast Month. Research has proven providing …

In recognition of Women's History Month, AARP celebrates Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. Her passion for working with retirees grew into her becoming the founder of AARP in 1958. (Robert Kneschke/AdobeStock)

AARP Provides Resources for Caregivers During Women's History Month

In celebration of Women's History Month, AARP Arkansas is sharing resources and information affecting women ages 50 and up, specifically women who …

A new study from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families notes continuous coverage protection nearly eliminated churn, protecting children from gaps in health coverage. <br />(Robert Kneschke/AdobeStock)

Arkansas Children's Uninsured Rate Could Rise if Health Emergency Ends

A pandemic-era law to help keep children and families continuously covered is set to expire this spring, and advocates are worried the state's …

In 2021, Arkansas had about 27,900 people working as registered nurses, which is about 76% of the number required (36,900) to provide the national average level of care. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Needs More Healthcare Workers

A new report reveals hospitals in Arkansas are having critical staffing challenges for some occupations. The problem is not new, and it is getting …

The most recent Arkansas Food Desert Working Group report found the state has

Grocery Chain Mega-Merger Could Affect Rural Arkansas

The proposed merger between the grocery chains Albertsons and Kroger has antitrust laws in the spotlight, as the supermarket companies are already …

The Sales and Use tax in the Natural State has stayed the same, at 6.5%, since 2013, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. (Zimmytws/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Analysis: The Longer-Term Effects of AR's Lower Tax Rates

Arkansans will owe the state fewer tax dollars this year, due to tax cuts that have just gone into effect. The General Assembly met for some special …

More than 444,000 Arkansans are not always sure where their next meal is coming from, according to Feeding America, and more than 138,000 of them are children. (Monkey Business/AdobeStock)">

Report: Group Works to Alleviate Arkansas Food Deserts

A recent report shows Arkansas has a "food desert" issue in urban and rural communities. Gov. Asa Hutchinson formed the Arkansas Gov.'s Food Desert …

It's estimated 19 million children under 17 who do not receive the full Child Tax Credit are disproportionately Black, Latino and American Indian or Alaska Native, due to their families' incomes being too low, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

AR Group Urges Congress to Reinstate Expanded Child Tax Credit

An Arkansas nonprofit is adding its voice to the calls for Congress to bring back the expanded Child Tax Credit for families in place during the pande…

Arkansas began exempting military retirement pay from state income taxes in 2018, making the state an attractive destination for veterans looking to relocate. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas Chosen for Military Apprenticeship Hub Program

In Arkansas, thousands of people leave U.S. military service each year and start searching for their next job, and some face difficulty because their …

Arkansas ranks fifth for the per capita number of households with children that reported not having enough food in their homes this past year, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey. (Oksana Kuzmina/AdobeStock)

Group Develops Ways to Combat Rural Child Hunger

Save the Children's Rural Child Hunger Research and Innovation Lab aims to help communities design and test new, creative ways to reduce rural child …

People facing hunger in Arkansas would need additional income of more than $200 million in order to actually meet their food needs, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

AR Group Reduces Food Waste to Provide Hunger Relief

September is National Hunger Action Month, and groups across Arkansas are part of a nationwide push to get more people involved with reducing food …

In April 2021, the Arkansas Department of Education's Division of Elementary and<br />Secondary launched an Academy to Address Critical Teacher Shortages in Special Education. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)<br />

Arkansas Teachers Spend Their Summer Asking for Pay Raises

When the new school year starts mid-August, many Arkansas teachers will have spent the summer in a frustrating bid to convince legislators they …

The government is allowing all federal loan repayments to count toward PSLF requirements, regardless of the payment plan, for those who have applied to the program before Oct. 31, 2022. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

AR Group Touts Benefits of Federal Student-Loan Forgiveness

A report from the Center for Responsible Lending says women with student loans to repay were hit hard by the pandemic. An Arkansas nonprofit wants …

In Arkansas, nearly 500,000 people face food insecurity, with almost 150,000 of them children, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Ark. Grants to Help Address Food Insecurity in Pulaski County

A new initiative in Arkansas' most populous county focuses on increasing healthy options at food pantries to help families experiencing challenges as …

Arkansas is short more than 50,000 affordable rentals for extremely low-income households, according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition. (Adobe Stock)

Second Round of American Rescue Plan Dollars Heads to Arkansas

Arkansas is poised to receive its second round of American Rescue Plan funds, more than $786 million, to help residents still facing the pandemic's …

Households with children in Arkansas are more likely to rely on SNAP benefits, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Worried More Rural AR Kids May Go Hungry This Summer

Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households…

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families says more children would have health insurance if the state provided 12-month continuous eligibility for kids on Medicaid. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Number of Uninsured Arkansas Children is Rising

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- With the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace open-enrollment period just around the corner, advocacy groups are gearing up to …

The grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Arkansas' workforce training program also covers support services for students, such as day care, transportation and internet access. (Adobe Stock)

AR Offers Career Training for Job Seekers Affected by COVID-19

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A training program in Arkansas is helping people jumpstart new careers after feeling the economic impacts of COVID-19. The …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

2024Talks - September 18, 2024

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AR: Livable Wages/Working Families