Feds: Grocery chains achieve record profits before and after pandemic Consumer groups are claiming big grocery retailers such as Kroger and Walmart have been unfairly raising prices, both during the pandemic and now. The allegation of corporate greed comes after a new report from the Federal Trade Commission found profits for grocery chains jumped sharply at rates that supply-chain disruptions could not justify. Angela Huffman is president of the nonprofit Farm Action. ...(Read More ..read more

Lawsuit seeks protection for imperiled Arkansas mudalia snails An environmental group is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Arkansas mudalia snail under the Endangered Species Act. In Arkansas and Missouri, including along the North Fork River, mudalia are critically endangered freshwater snails. ...(Read More ..read more

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 a chance to get more education. The Career Pathways Program with Save the Children partners with universities to grow the workforce of child care and preschool providers. ...(Read More ..read more

Arkansas group raising awareness during Black Maternal Health Week Arkansas is taking critical steps to address its high maternal mortality rate, especially among women of color. In the Natural State, Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than are white women. Angela Duran, executive director with Excel by Eight, partners with families and communities to improve health and education outcomes for children up to age eight. ...(Read More ..read more

'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' quality of life. The Arkansas Coalition for Strong Families and other organizations would like to see more investments in programs such as preschool, disability services and affordable housing. Syard Evans, CEO of the Arkansas Support Network and co-chair of the coalition, said it wants to raise awareness and ensure marginalized communities have a voice in state budgeting. ...(Read Mo ..read more

Arkansans encouraged to observe birds, wildlife behavior during solar eclipse On Monday, Arkansans will have the opportunity to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event, a total solar eclipse. It will be visible along a narrow track and will briefly put parts of the United States, Mexico and Canada in complete darkness. Uta Meyer, center manager for the Little Rock Audubon Center and Audubon Delta, said her group is providing Little Rock residents with an observation form to track birds and other creatures' activity throughout the eclipse. ...(Read More ..read more

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. Department of Education. The department will give Arkansans credit toward loan cancellation through the adjustment if the loan is federally managed. ...(Read More ..read more

Migratory bird species will soon flock to the Natural State Spring marks the season for annual migrations for numerous bird species, with Arkansas hosting a total of 428 avian varieties. Experts said birdwatchers are encouraged to be vigilant, as they may encounter countless species ranging from waterfowl and songbirds to shorebirds, herons, egrets and raptors. Erik Johnson, director of conservation science for Audubon Delta, said he recently saw Prothonotary warblers in South Louisiana, and they should be flying to Arkansas in a few weeks. ...(Read More ..read more

AR city director speaks with national leaders about housing for rural areas An Arkansas city director is back home after joining other leaders from across the country for the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C. this week. They discussed some of the most pressing issues facing communities, from public safety to affordable housing. ...(Read More ..read more

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. Full-time working Arkansas women are paid roughly 80 cents for every dollar paid to men, compared with 84 cents nationally. Sarah Javaid, research analyst with the National Women's Law Center, explained that Equal Pay Day symbolizes how much longer women typically need to work into this year to earn what men earned last year, and added that the gender wage gap creates financial disadvantages ..read more