Arkansas State Briefs
Arkansas State Briefs Arkansas State Briefs Check out this story on baxterbulletin.com: http://www.baxterbulletin.com/story/news/2014/12/21/arkansas-state-briefs/20739825/
MountainHome Published 6:14 p.m. CT Dec. 21, 2014
Arkansas state news.(Photo: File)
Circuit courts owed millions in fines
LITTLE ROCK (AP) – Millions of dollars in fines, costs and restitution from felony criminal cases are owed to circuit courts throughout Arkansas.
The amounts include $10 million in Craighead County, $6 million in Washington County, $5.4 million in Benton County and $2.8 million in Carroll County. Those numbers include debts dating back to the 1980s.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that much of that debt can't be collected because the debtors have died or are in prison.
Collection of circuit court fees, costs and restitution has been a problem statewide. In 2012, Arkansas Chief Justice Jim Hannah met with circuit judges from across the state and encouraged them to begin collecting outstanding debt.
Gas prices at lowest level since 2009
LITTLE ROCK (AP) – Holiday shoppers in Arkansas are spending less to drive to their favorite stores these days.
AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge shows the average price in Arkansas at $2.31 a gallon, down from $2.70 last month.
Drivers nationwide are paying less than $2.50 for the first time since 2009, and in at least 25 states — including Arkansas — some gas stations are offering fuel for less than $2 a gallon.
The national average price at the pump for regular-grade gasoline was $2.45 a gallon on Friday, which is down from $2.86 a month ago.
Gasoline prices are cheapest in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro area, where the average was $2.07 a gallon on Friday. The state's highest average gasoline prices were in Pine Bluff, at $2.45 a gallon.
Hospital says patient had Legionella exposure
LITTLE ROCK (AP) – An Arkansas hospital has reported that a patient there was exposed to Legionella bacteria sometime within the past year.
The Fayetteville Veterans Affairs hospital reported the exposure on Friday. Spokeswoman Wanda Shull says the patient was transferred from a community hospital to the veterans hospital on Dec. 8 with pneumonia and remains hospitalized.
Hospital staff members have given the patient a presumptive diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia based on a positive Legionella antigen test. Shull says a positive antigen test does not confirm the presence of the disease but does indicate the patient's exposure to it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Legionella bacteria can cause a mild infection known as Pontiac fever and a more serious infection known as Legionnaires' disease.
Mid-South C.C., ASU consider merger
WEST MEMPHIS (AP) – Officials say progress is being made toward a merger agreement between Arkansas State University and Mid-South Community College.
Both the ASU board of trustees and the MSCC board of trustees have scheduled meetings on Jan. 9 to consider the plan.
ASU President Charles L. Welch says MSCC officials have done an excellent job of outlining their expectations and vision for the institution. Welch says officials are enthusiastic about the system's ability to help achieve their goals in education and workforce training.
If approved by the boards of the two schools, the merger would be effective July 1 following approval of the Higher Learning Commission.
Regional farm to school summits set
LITTLE ROCK (AP) – The Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute plans to host several farm to school summits in the new year to help schools create healthier meals using local produce.
The summits are being made possible by grants of almost $50,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The funds will help the institute build on the work of their Arkansas Grow Healthy Study by convening local farmers, child nutrition staff, city administrators, health professionals, education professionals and members of local communities.
The Arkansas Grow Healthy Study is a five-year farm to school feasibility pilot program, aimed at assessing and building capacity for farm to school in Arkansas. The study is culminating in a yearlong farm to school pilot during the 2014-2015 academic year.
The summits will be held in the fall of 2015.
Record number of students in rural consortium
LITTLE ROCK (AP) – A record number of students have been accepted into the Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium.
The consortium is a group of eight community colleges that collaborate to provide students an opportunity for an associate degree in Registered Nursing.
This is the first year that the program has accepted 280 students. Classes start in January and will include course work as well as on-site clinical work in nursing homes, hospitals and clinics.
The program is fully approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Students earn an Associate Registered Nursing degree and are then eligible to take the examination that a student must pass in Arkansas in order to receive his or her nursing license.
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