Profiling Barry Brown
Profiling Barry Brown
Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce, ArkansasNewsroom.com to sponsor candidate forum on Oct. 14; Upcoming events; Friday Night Lights plus sports and headlines
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Meetings: The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The school board for the North Little Rock School District will meet tonight.
Events: There’s a host of things to do this weekend, keep scrolling for more.
Tickets for sale: Tickets are now for sale for this fall’s Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock. To buy tickets, click here. Daily tickets start at $30. Packages will eventually be available as well but not yet. For more on the event, keep scrolling.
Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce, ArkansasNewsroom.com to sponsor candidate forum on Oct. 14
The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and ArkansasNewsroom.com will be sponsoring a local candidates forum on Monday, Oct. 14 at the Maumelle Country Club. It will start at 5:30 p.m.
Municipal candidates invited to attend are Wes Booker, Barry Brown, Michael Chastain and LJ Wesley with legislative candidates being Brandon Achor and Cassandra Green.
Maumelle candidate profiles: Barry Brown
Maumelle will have only one contested race in this November's election, for Ward 1, Pos. 1 on the City Council.
ArkansasNewsroom.com sent a questionnaire to each of the three candidates who have declared and will be running them weekly through September.
The order in which they will run, is the order in which they were submitted.
The Q&A has been lightly edited and formatted for publication. This is the third and final installment.
Previous coverage
Now up is Barry Brown, below.
What motivated you to run for City Council?
I’m excited to share why I’m running for Alderman. I want to ensure that Maumelle continues to thrive as a safe and vibrant community. Having witnessed our city’s growth over the past 30 years, I’m deeply committed to addressing the needs of residents of all ages. Having over three decades of management experience with Fortune 100 companies and extensive volunteer service in our community, I bring a unique perspective and practical know-how to navigate Maumelle’s challenges. My focus is on prioritizing safety, promoting thoughtful development, and maintaining and expanding fiscal responsibility so that Maumelle remains a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. I’m driven by a deep-rooted commitment to making a positive impact on the future of our city."
Have you run for office before?
No, this is my first time running for office, but I'm eager to continue to give back to my community and bring fresh ideas and a strong commitment to our city's future serving on the Maumelle City Council. My extensive experience in community service and management roles has prepared me to be an effective advocate for the people of Maumelle.
What have you done in the community to be involved in Maumelle happenings?
I’ve been actively involved in the Maumelle community for many years through a variety of roles. I’ve served as an Assistant Scoutmaster, soccer coach, ran the concession stand to raise funds for the Maumelle Marlins Swim Team, and a past participating member of Maumelle Residents United. I’ve also supported the “Yes, Yes, Yes” petition and campaign for our Baseball Fields, Aquatic Center, and the Maumelle Jess Odom Community Center. Additionally, I have volunteered for The Nature Conservancy and aided Hurricane Katrina victims with communication, food, and housing support in nearby Little Rock. Currently, I’m serving as a Board Member and Treasurer for Counting On Each Other, where I dedicate at least fifteen hours of active service per month to support our senior citizens.
Through these roles, I’ve gained a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of our residents, which drives my commitment to help keep Maumelle a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.
We’re nine-ish weeks out, and what kind of campaign events have you done and what do you have planned?
Over the past few weeks, my campaign has been focused on connecting directly with the residents of Maumelle through neighborhood canvassing and strategic campaign sign placement and display. I recently attended the Pulaski County Board of Election Commissioners ballot position draw meeting on August 23rd, and I’m pleased to share that I am in the first position on the election ballot.
Looking ahead, we’ve got a busy schedule planned. We will be executing a robust multi-part mail campaign to Maumelle residents. We will continue with neighborhood canvassing to reach out to voters directly. Friends and neighbors are hosting several meet-and-greet events in their homes in the coming weeks, where I can listen to the concerns and ideas of our community members and share my vision for our city. We have a community meet-and-greet planned at the Hampton Inn in Maumelle on September 28. Additionally, I’ll be attending various community events, from local sports games to charity functions, to stay engaged with our residents and continue building relationships. I recently attended the opening game of the Maumelle Hornets football team against our rival, Sylvan Hills, where the Hornets shut out the Bears 36-0. My goal is to keep the momentum going and make sure every voice in Maumelle is heard as we approach election day.
If elected, what are some priorities for you and your ward, and do you have plans to sponsor any legislation in your first few months in office?
If elected, my top priorities for Ward 1 will be enhancing safety, first, promoting thoughtful development, and ensuring fiscal responsibility, always. Supporting our first responders with up-to-date equipment and technology is essential to maintaining and improving the safety of our neighborhoods. Thoughtful development is also crucial; I want to ensure that any new projects in our ward align with the character and needs of our community while also contributing to the city’s long-term growth and sustainability.
Fiscal responsibility, always, is a key focus for me. I will work diligently to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and effectively, prioritizing essential services
and avoiding unnecessary expenditures. I also believe in advancing transparency within our local government. I will push for clearer, more accessible communication regarding city budgets, projects, contracts, and decision-making processes, so that residents are fully informed and can actively participate in the governance of our community.
In terms of initial legislation, I plan to sponsor a builder tree replacement initiative to ensure that trees removed by builders are replaced somewhere in the community nearby.
You’re running for Steve Mosley’s seat, and did you agree or disagree with his approach to service on the city council?
I appreciate the work Steve Mosely has done for our community during his three four-year terms on the City Council. While I might not have always agreed with every decision that Steve made, I respect the thorough way he approached his service and the care he took in addressing issues he felt were important to our community.
I am running to be the next Alderman, Ward 1, Position 1, for the City of Maumelle. I plan to work for the residents of Ward 1 to listen to their issues, bring those relevant up for debate before the council, and work to get legislation passed that supports those ideals. I’m really focused on enhancing safety, promoting thoughtful development, and making sure we’re always fiscally responsible. I’m all about giving residents a voice about the issues that they have and being open and transparent in everything I do. My goal is to continue making Maumelle a fantastic place to live, work, and raise a family, and I’m excited about the opportunity to serve Ward 1 in that effort.
As you’ve been out on the campaign trail, what are some of the complaints or concerns you’ve heard from your ward?
As I’ve been out on the campaign trail, I’ve had the chance to talk with many residents of Ward 1, and several common concerns have come up. One of the main issues people have mentioned is traffic and road maintenance. Residents are worried about the condition and transition of some of our roads and the need for better traffic management, especially during peak hours. I understand, being a long-time resident who currently works outside of Maumelle, that traffic flow is an ongoing issue and is a matter whose resolution affects both Maumelle and North Little Rock. Another big concern is related to development and growth. While many people are excited about the growth Maumelle is experiencing, there’s also a common concern that it needs to be managed thoughtfully to preserve the character of our community. This translates into trees and the lack of them in finished new developments.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I appreciate the opportunity you are providing to allow the citizens of Maumelle to get to know a little bit about me. They can contact me directly by email at votebarrybrown@gmail.com. They can also get more information on my website at www.votebarrybrown.com.
I am a happily married man to my lovely wife LaDonna. We recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of our first date. We are blessed to have one son. His name is Jason. Jason is a graduate of UALR.
Personal file
Family: I am a happily married man to my lovely wife LaDonna. We recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of our first date. We are blessed to have one son. His name is Jason. Jason is a graduate of UALR.
Education: I was born in Atlanta, Georgia. I graduated from Ridgeview High School in Atlanta, Georgia. graduated from UALR with a BBA degree– With Honors – Major - Management Information Systems
Employment history: I currently work for a well-known national financial trading company as an IT professional.
Veteran: I am not a veteran of the armed forces but appreciate the service of those who are currently serving, as well as those who have served.
Community extracurriculars: I’ve been actively involved in the Maumelle community for many years through a variety of roles. I’ve served as an Assistant Scoutmaster, soccer coach, ran the concession stand to raise funds for the Maumelle Marlins Swim Team, and a past participating member of Maumelle Residents United. I’ve also supported the “Yes, Yes, Yes” petition and campaign for our Baseball Fields, Aquatic Center, and the Maumelle Jess Odom Community Center. Additionally, I have volunteered for The Nature Conservancy and aided Hurricane Katrina victims with communication, food, and housing support in nearby Little Rock. Currently, I’m serving as a Board Member and Treasurer for Counting On Each Other, where I dedicate at least fifteen hours of active service per month to support our senior citizens.
Any other personal information you’d like out there? ’My name is Barry Brown. I want to continue to serve the residents of Maumelle. I can do the job of Alderman and will do it well.
Upcoming community events
The 6th Annual NLR free Shred & Recycle Event is Saturday.
The Hispanic Heritage Festival in downtown North Little Rock is Saturday
Career Connection is Oct. 2
UNITY PINK Breast Cancer Awareness Walk is Oct. 12
Maumelle food truck festival is Nov. 2
Union Pacific’s Big Boy makes North Little Rock stop
As part of its tour across the country, Union Pacific's Big Boy made a stop and then overnight in North Little Rock this past week before heading on to Texas.
The public viewing of the steam engine brought out a crowd of thousands, despite a persistent rain on Sunday.
No one seemed to mind as everyone gawked at the 1941 steam engine and then plugged their ears when the whistle went off
The visit brought to mind when another UP steam engine and I was along for the ride in 2010.
Here’s the coverage from them, as printed in The Times of North Little Rock and other papers that got Stephens Media coverage.
UP's last steam engine passes through NLR
April 29, 2010 | Times, The (North Little Rock)
By Jeremy Peppas; Staff Writer
RUSSELLVILLE — In towns from North Little Rock to Russellville, people lined the streets and stood near railroad crossings with cameras flashing as Engine No. 844 rolled through.
The last steam-powered engine operating in the United States was completing its first excursion through Arkansas on Friday since slicing the state en route to the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans.
After nearly three days on display in North Little Rock, the train and its crew of 11 headed back to Cheyenne, Wyo., as part of a nearly monthlong tour of the country that began April 2 and is scheduled to end Thursday.
Penny Braunschweig, who helps with concession sales on the train, said the tour is the first of seven scheduled this year. The train came to Arkansas after making its deepest excursion ever into the South.
"We went all the way to Brownsville [Texas]," she said. "That's on the border of Mexico."
She said Border Patrol agents boarded the train there, ostensibly to search for illegal immigrants.
"Everybody wants to look at the train, especially the engine," Braunschweig said, laughing. "But we're all Wyomingites though, so having them come aboard was a new one for us."
The engine, with two passenger cars and eight others in tow, made its way to Arkansas on the tour billed as "The Valley Eagle" in honor of the former Missouri Pacific train of the same name that operated between Houston and Brownsville.
Old No. 844, built in 1944, is the last of the steam engines built by the company, now Union Pacific.
The engine arrived in North Little Rock on Wednesday and spent a full day available for tours Thursday. Braunschweig said the plan had been to be open 12 hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. But the doors stayed open until 9 p.m. and still some people were turned away.
They got the chance to come back Friday morning before the train headed west with a good crowd onboard.
Among them was Little Rock lawyer Paul B. Benham III, who does legal work for Union Pacific. Benham brought along his grandchildren for a train ride to Russellville.
Benham, a train-riding veteran, appeared as excited to make the trip as his granddaughters.
A host of elected officials also spread out in the two passenger cars, including state Reps. Richard Carroll, D-North Little Rock, himself a Union Pacific employee, and John Hoyt, D-Morrilton. State Senate President Pro Tem Bob Johnson, D-Bigelow, was also along for the ride.
Riding in the engine was North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hays, the son of a railroad man, Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines and state Rep. Barry Hyde, D-North Little Rock.
The engine-riding politicians hopped off at Conway for a brief whistle stop. Hays, with his hair pushed back from hanging his head out the window, said it wasn't his first time to ride in the engine, but he could not turn down the opportunity to do so again.
With the politicians off, others, including some media, made their way to the engine for a ride to Russellville.
Riding in the engine, rocking back and forth, was like being in a boat on a choppy Greers Ferry Lake. One just had to hold a handy railing to keep his balance. Numerous passengers waved to the people lined up along the tracks.
It was also noisy, but didn't seem to bother the engineers running the train. Communicating almost entirely in hand signals, they didn't seem to have any problems.
Schools in Mayflower and Conway's St. Joseph School let out classes to allow students to line the tracks and wave as the train sped by; even some police officers hopped out of their cruisers to watch as the steam engine passed.
Russellville sent a bus of elementary students to greet the train when it arrived there for a brief maintenance stop. A fire department ladder truck was also there. Braunschweig said the crowd was typical for what they had seen on the tour.
"People want to see the train," she said. "Hard to blame them."
Sanders says Medicaid extension for new moms isn’t needed
By Sarah Varney / KFF Health News
Six weeks after an emergency cesarean section, with her newborn twins still in neonatal intensive care, Maya Gobara went to a pharmacy in west Little Rock to fill a prescription.
“The pharmacy told me I didn’t have insurance,” Gobara said.
Arkansas is the only state that has not taken the step to expand what’s called postpartum Medicaid coverage, an option for states paid for almost entirely by the federal government that ensures poor women have uninterrupted health insurance for a year after they give birth. Forty-six states now have the provision, encouraged by the Biden administration, and Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin either have plans in place to enact legislation or have bills pending in their legislatures.
Federal law requires states to provide pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage through 60 days after delivery. But maternal health advocates say Arkansas often begins the process of moving women out of the program after six weeks, or 42 days.
Gobara said she thinks that’s what happened to her: She was transferred to another health plan with a different slate of doctors, and she didn’t receive notice of the change.
Gobara, who is 38 and a freelance copywriter, said the health plan switch happened to her just as a cascade of previous health problems — an autoimmune disorder, postpartum depression, and rheumatoid arthritis — flared up.
“Everything that I had before hit me like a ton of bricks at once after I had the boys,” she said.
Maternal health advocates say many lower-income women in Arkansas have fallen into that familiar health care gap.
Arkansas is the only state that has not taken the step to expand what’s called postpartum Medicaid coverage, an option for states paid for almost entirely by the federal government that ensures poor women have uninterrupted health insurance for a year after they give birth. Forty-six states now have the provision, and Idaho, Iowa, and Wisconsin either have plans in place to enact legislation or have bills pending in their legislatures.
Arkansas has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the nation, a grim tally of women who die from any cause related to pregnancy or childbirth, including weeks after delivery. In Arkansas, 20% to 29% of women are uninsured at some point over the period before they conceive to after they give birth.
In March, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, signed an executive order creating a committee of experts charged with improving the state’s dismal maternal health outcomes and better educating women about their health insurance options.
At a press conference announcing the initiative, Sanders said, “This specific group that we’re establishing through the executive order, they’re going to look at every option on the table.”
When asked by reporters at the press conference about whether she would support expanding postpartum Medicaid to 12 months of coverage as other states have done, the answer was a firm “no.”
“I don’t believe creating a duplicative program just for the sake of creating a program is actually going to fix the issue,” she said. “We already have so many women who aren’t taking advantage of the coverage that exists. Creating more coverage doesn’t get more women to the doctor.”
Sanders, 42, is the youngest governor currently serving, and she is the parent of three school-age children.
In Arkansas, postpartum women can apply for other insurance coverage in Arkansas six weeks after delivery, but they must send in a paper application, said Zenobia Harris, executive director of the Arkansas Birthing Project, a mentor program that works with pregnant and postpartum women.
“Women get told things like their paperwork got misplaced or lost or they have to resubmit paperwork. They get put on hold when they make phone calls in trying to connect with people,” Harris said. “So, some people, they quit trying.”
Lower-income women, like Maya Gobara, are shifted into ARHOME, a state program touted by Sanders, that uses Medicaid funding to buy private health insurance.
The shift to new health coverage happened to Gobara while her twins, Amir and Bryson, were on breathing tubes and needed multiple brain surgeries and she required urgent gallbladder surgery.
“I was supposed to have my gallbladder taken out in one week, but with this new plan I needed a referral for that surgery, but I no longer could see my primary care doctor because she wasn’t under that plan that they put me under,” she said.
Seized with gallbladder pain, Gobara spent days sorting out what had happened to her postpartum Medicaid coverage.
“It felt like the system was set up so I would give up,” Gobara said. “And, honestly, if it was not for my mother sitting next to me and helping me go through step by step by step, I probably would have given up.”
New mothers shouldn’t be shuttled from plan to plan or uninsured when they are dealing with their own health and their newborns, said Camille Richoux, health policy director for Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families, a nonprofit advocacy and policy group. Richoux is part of the governor’s maternal health initiative, a committee tasked with developing recommendations to improve maternal health and increase access to maternal health services.
Richoux said the switch to a new health plan can disrupt the continuity of care when health care is vital. “Especially when so many pregnancy-related deaths occur after that 60-days-postpartum coverage,” she said.
The committees tasked with making recommendations to Sanders have been meeting this summer and recently prepared draft recommendations.
But missing from the list is an expansion of postpartum Medicaid coverage, despite widespread agreement by health organizations and the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee that doing so would reduce pregnancy-related deaths.
One of the tasks of the maternal health initiative is “making sure Medicaid does a better job of educating women postpartum on their health insurance options that already exist today, to ensure they get enrolled and have the coverage they need,” said Alexa Henning, the now former communications director for Sanders in an emailed statement last month.
“The data indicates that most women have continuous coverage, they just need to access it,” Henning said. “But if we identify gaps, the Governor is open to all options to help moms and babies.”
The final recommendations are expected to be released this month.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
Friday Night Lights: Maumelle beats Vilonia
Maumelle 32, Vilonia 21
Last week: Maumelle never trailed in beating Vilonia, 32-21, last week as the Hornets worked without starting quarterback Andrew Bjork, injured last week against Parkview. Filling in was sophomore Levi Warrior, who lived up to his name, and threw for 133 yards, two touchdowns and in interception on a 17 of 27 night. The offensive leader was again junior running back Jacob Henry who rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Henry has now rushed for 396 yards and six touchdowns on the season. The Maumelle defense also stepped up as Austin Timmons returned an interception 31 yards for the pick six that put the Hornets up 20-0 with 11:30 remaining in the third quarter.
This week: No. 7 Maumelle has the week off.
Record: Maumelle, 2-1
Maumelle schedule
Aug. 31`: ... Maumelle 36, Sylvan Hills 0
Sept. 6 … Parkview 51, Maumelle 6
Sept. 13 … Maumelle 32, Vilonia 21
Friday, Sept. 20 … Bye week
Friday, Sept. 27 ... at Beebe
Friday, Oct. 4 ...at Pine Bluff
Thursday, Oct 10 … vs. Watson Chapel
Friday, Oct. 18 ... at Jacksonville
Friday, Oct. 25 … vs. White Hall
Friday, Nov. 1 ... at Searcy
Thursday, Nov. 7 … vs. Robinson
Friday, Nov. 15 … First round of playoffs
For the online roster, click here.
Benton 42, North Little Rock 13
Last week: North Little Rock continued to struggle this season after losing to Benton, 42-13, last week. The problems have mostly been offensive as it was the defense that blocked a punt and Travis Young came up with the scoop and score to account for one of the two 'Cats touchdowns last week.
This week: North Little Rock is unranked in Class 7A and will face Little Rock Catholic this Friday in a game at War Memorial Stadium. This is North Little Rock's second consecutive game against a Class 6A school. The Rockets won last week in a game played at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys glitzy practice facility in Frisco in what was dubbed the "Fourth Annual Catholic Bowl." While this game isn't called the Jones Bowl, maybe it should be as Jerry Jones is quite famously from Rose City and a North Little Rock grad, while son Stephen Jones is a Catholic alum, and also the reason the Rockets played where they did last week. The game is the Class 6A Game of the Week by hootens.com as the Rockets are ranked No. 8. It also quite the rivalry and should be a good one.
Records: North Little Rock 0-2, Catholic 1-1
North Little Rock schedule
Aug. 31... Rogers 43, North Little Rock 0
Sept. 6 … Bye
Sept. 13 ... Benton 42, North Little Rock 13
Friday, Sept. 20 ... at Catholic (War Memorial Stadium)
Friday, Sept. 27 ... vs. Pulaski Academy
Friday, Oct. 4 ... at Conway
Friday, Oct. 11 ... vs. Little Rock Southwest
Friday, Oct. 18 ... at Little Rock Christian Academy
Friday, Oct. 25 ...at Little Rock Central
Friday, Nov. 1 ... vs. Bryant
Friday, Nov. 8 ... vs. Cabot
Friday, Nov. 15 … First round of playoffs
For the online North Little Rock roster, click here.
Harding Academy 53, CAC 20
Last week: Things got ugly fast last week for the Mustangs as they took one on the chin from fellow CofC school Harding Academy, 53-20, as CAC fell to 0-3 on the year. The good news is that the Mustangs are off this week and will have some extra time to prepare for Heber Springs, who comes to Mustang Mountain on Sept. 28
This Week: CAC has the week off.
Record: CAC 0-3
CAC schedule
Aug. 31 … DeWitt 31, CAC 7
Sept. 6… Stuttgart 41, CAC 7
Sept. 13 ... vs. Harding Academy 53, CAC 20
Friday, Sept. 20 … Bye
Friday, Sept. 27 ... vs. Heber Springs
Friday, Oct. 4 ... vs. Riverview
Friday, Oct. 11 ... at Hall
Friday, Oct. 18 ... at Lonoke
Friday, Oct. 25 ... at Bald Knob
Friday, Nov. 1 ... vs. Mills
Friday, Nov. 8 ... at Forrest City
Friday, Nov. 15 … First round of playoffs
All games kickoff at 7 p.m. unless noted
Rankings from hootens.com
Sports
Upcoming Travs games
At Springfield, Texas League Playoffs
The Travs lost game one on Tuesday night and now head to Springfield, Missouri to face the S-Cards in Game 2 at 6:35 p.m. The third game, if necessary, would be Friday. The Travs would have to win both to make next week’s Texas League Championship, against either Frisco or Midland.
The South winner would host game one, with games two and three, if necessary, at Dickey-Stephens Park on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and Wednesday, Sept. 25,
Saturday's SEC schedule
Florida (1-2, 0-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (1-2, 0-0 SEC): 11 a.m. • ESPN, SiriusXM: 374 - 106/190
Ohio (2-1) at Kentucky (1-2, 0-2 SEC): 11:45 a.m. • SEC Network, SiriusXM: 119/191
UCLA (1-1) at LSU (2-1, 1-0 SEC): 2:30 p.m. • ABC, SiriusXM: 94/192
Arkansas (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at Auburn (2-1, 0-0 SEC): 2:30 p.m. • ESPN, SiriusXM: 374 - 106/190 | Live Statistics: https://www.secsports.com/scores/football?start_date=2023-08-25&end_date=2024-01-08
Vanderbilt (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at Missouri (3-0, 0-0 SEC) : 3:15 p.m. • SEC Network, SiriusXM: 380 - 119/191
Tennessee (3-0, 0-0 SEC) at Oklahoma (3-0, 0-0 SEC): 6:30 p.m. • ABC, SiriusXM: 82 – 84
Bowling Green (1-1) at Texas A&M (2-1, 1-0 SEC), 6:30 p.m. • SEC+ / ESPN+, SiriusXM: 94/192
Akron (1-2) at South Carolina (2-1, 1-1 SEC), 6:30 p.m. • ESPNU, SiriusXM: 374
Georgia Southern (2-1) at Ole Miss (3-0, 0-0 SEC), 6:45 p.m. • SEC Network, SiriusXM: 119/191
UL-Monroe (2-0) at Texas (3-0, 0-0 SEC), 7 p.m. • SEC+ / ESPN+, SiriusXM: 106/190
Open: Alabama (3-0, 0-0 SEC); Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health is back to some familiar BS as the state’s dashboard has not been updated for the week. There’s currently 320 Covid-related deaths in 2024, previously the number was 294. The virus has now killed 13,964 Arkansans since the pandemic began four years ago. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.
Covid toolkit
There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.
If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:
Get vaccinated
Get boosted
Wear a mask
Avoid crowds
NOTE: The new Novavax vaccine is available at Costco in west Little Rock. Your insurance should cover the cost but there might be out-of-pocket expense as the federal program that previously paid for vaccinations has been discontinued.