UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FACULTY COMMITTEE

May 30 2026HEALTH

Bats and rabies: what you should know after a recent case

Officials found a bat carrying rabies in Irvine Regional Park last weekend. This case led to warnings about how easily the virus can spread to people. Rabies is almost always deadly once symptoms show up. But quick action after exposure can prevent illness. The virus can enter the body through smal

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May 30 2026ENVIRONMENT

Why Wyoming’s Huge Energy Plan Stirs Up Big Concerns

Officials in Wyoming are debating a massive $4 billion project that promises to store energy using water. The plan involves building a giant reservoir near Seminoe Reservoir to pump water uphill when electricity is cheap and let it flow back down to generate power when demand rises. Sounds smart, ri

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May 28 2026POLITICS

Arkansas Pushes for Less Federal Rules in Schools

Arkansas wants to change some federal rules that guide its public schools. The state says these rules slow down progress for students and make it hard to use money wisely. In April, the state’s education department sent a letter to the U. S. Department of Education asking for three special permissi

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May 28 2026TECHNOLOGY

Arkansas makes digital IDs available in Apple Wallet

Arkansas has joined a growing number of states allowing residents to store their driver’s license or state ID digitally in Apple Wallet. The move follows the state’s earlier launch of a mobile ID app in 2025, initially meant for downloading IDs to phones. Now, those digital copies can be used alongs

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May 28 2026POLITICS

Arkansas voters push back on new laws that could silence their voice in making laws

Arkansas gives its people a special power—voting directly on new laws through signatures. For years, this has let citizens push for changes like better pay or healthcare, even when politicians said no. But now, those in charge are trying to make it much harder for regular folks to do this. Last year

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May 27 2026HEALTH

Plans for a U. S. health post in Kenya during Ebola fears

Officials in Washington want to open a small quarantine station in Kenya for Americans returning from Ebola-hit parts of Central Africa. Instead of setting up the site at home, they’re looking abroad—just in case someone gets sick after possible contact with the virus. A group of U. S. public health

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May 18 2026WEATHER

Rain on the Way: What Arkansas Can Expect This Week

Arkansas residents should prepare for a mixed bag of weather this week. Forecasters predict scattered thunderstorms starting Tuesday morning, with another possible round later in the day. A cold front pushing through the region will bring the chance of heavy rain that could last into Wednesday. Whil

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May 13 2026ENTERTAINMENT

New Plans for a Big Entertainment Zone Near Oklahoma City

Officials in Oklahoma and Norman have just launched building work for a huge entertainment area called the Rock Creek Entertainment District. This isn’t just another construction project—it’s a major step toward giving the area a fresh, lively boost. The plan isn’t just about building more stores or

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May 09 2026EDUCATION

New Dean Leads Arkansas State Nursing College

Arkansas State University has officially named Stacy Walz the dean of its College of Nursing and Health Professions, ending her interim status that began in 2025. Walz, who has a long history with the college as associate dean and chair of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, will take over full responsibi

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May 08 2026POLITICS

How Arkansas politics is shaping what students learn in college

Arkansas colleges are facing growing pressure from state lawmakers to drop programs and remove professors they disagree with. In one recent case, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock agreed to cut its gender studies minor after Republican lawmakers threatened to block its budget. They argued th

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