Quorum Court Courthouse

7:00 p.m.

MAY

4-6

Revival

Dickinson Baptist Church Evangelist Luke Hockenjos Pastor Paul Outlaw

7:00 p.m.

MAY 11

City Council City Hall

5:00 p.m.

MAY 19

School Board Meeting

High School Conference Room

6:00 p.m.

MAY 18

Quorum Court Dr. Rhine Park

7:00 p.m.

MAY 25

Memoral Day

Working in Congress to represent my friends and neighbors across the Fourth District, it is essential that we work closely with local and state entities to ensure that the legislation that is advocated for – and passed – in Washington addresses issues that meet the needs of Arkansans. That’s why it’s always a privilege to welcome the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce to Washington D.C. every year for their annual visit.

The dedicated state chamber representatives who journeyed to our nation’s capital this week share my interest in bettering our communities and laying a firm foundation for future generations to build their success upon.

Whether it’s hearing more about the needs of our cattle, livestock, and row crop farmers or learning more about what our communities need for more reliable infrastructure and economic growth, each of these needs have direct and deep impacts for the Fourth District.

These visits also help serve as a great reminder that the work we do in Congress matters. Oftentimes a spotlight is placed on the division and discord in Washington. But every single day, Members of Congress are showing up, ready to work together to enact good, commonsense policy. It may not always be legislation that piques everyone’s interest or is especially glamorous to discuss, but it’s legislation that builds a framework for a better future.

With all four Arkansas congressmen – and both Senators – holding a gavel, our state swings well above its weight in the House of Representatives. Because of this, across multiple House committees, a lot of the legislation produced has direct impacts on the Natural State. And when we welcome groups like the Arkansas State Chamber to town, not only do we get the opportunity to build better relationships, but we get the opportunity to put what we’ve learned to work and truly make a difference not only for Arkansas, but for America.

Senator Greg Leding honored the late Senator Uvalde Rex Lindsey for his contributions to the state and his community. Senator Lindsey served the 4th District in the Arkansas Senate from 2013 to 2019, after previously serving in the House from 2009 to 2013. He passed away in July 2025.

Senator Reginald Murdock honored the Earle High School basketball teams. The Earle Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs are both 2026 Class 1A State Champions. It’s rare for both the boys’ and girls’ teams from the same school to win the state championships!

The Senate approved the introduction of a bill to increase the Homestead Property Tax Credit, an Industrial Development Authorities Expansion bill, and a Protection from Sharia Law Property Rights bill.

Senator Matt McKee congratulated students from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts on their science fair competition accomplishments. The students will compete in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May. It is the world's largest STEM competition, featuring nearly $9 million in awards.

The Joint Budget Committee passed the report of the Special Language subcommittee. Among other items, the report included language added to HB1007 to manage separation funding for isolated school districts. Proposed by Senator Missy Irwin, this addition deals with funding and asset division for small, isolated schools that are separating from larger districts with which they were previously consolidated.

The Senate wrapped up the third week of the Fiscal Session by approving appropriation bills, including those related to the University of Arkansas, the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind, and departments and state agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the Division of Career and Technical Education, and more.

Senator Jim Petty honored Justin Tate, a Special Olympian from Arkansas. Justin is one of only eight Special Olympians chosen as Guardians of the Flame in the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Justin will carry the Flame of Hope to the opening ceremonies. He will run across the United States starting May 30, 2026 until the beginning of the opening ceremonies in Minneapolis on June 20, 2026.

The legislature’s sessions are open to the public. You can attend in person at the State Capitol complex in the committee rooms or in the public galleries of the Senate and House chambers. You can also watch meetings live and on demand at https://senate. arkansas.gov.

You can read and download PDFs of the bills that have been filed for the session at https:// arkleg.state.ar.us/. Click on “Bills” in the menu, where you can search by keyword or filing date.

M

The early 1800s brought rapid changes across the frontier. Farms, communities, schools, and churches were established. Some thrived while others faltered. One of the leaders in these efforts was Rev. Cephas Washburn, a New England transplant who founded one of the first schools and the first Presbyterian mission in the Arkansas Territory.

Cephas Washburn was born in Vermont in 1793. He spent most of his early life working on his father’s farm. A serious injury at a young age limited his abilities on the farm, so he turned his energies to education.

He attended both the University of Vermont and the Andover Theological Seminary in Connecticut. Washburn was formally ordained in January 1818. Not long afterward, he was assigned to a Presbyterian mission to the Cherokees in eastern Tennessee.

Many of the Cherokees had already seen the writing on the wall and knew that their time in the Appalachians was limited. By the 1810s, many were already moving West, settling in what is now western Arkansas and portions of eastern Oklahoma.

As many Cherokees moved west, Washburn moved with them, arriving in Arkansas in 1819. A number of Cherokee leaders requested that the Presbyterian Church establish a mission school, and the church directed Washburn to do so. Washburn dutifully founded the Dwight Mission School near what is now Russellville in August 1820, naming the school after Rev. Timothy Dwight, a respected minister and president of Yale College and a founder of Washburn’s alma mater, Andover Seminary. In the process of founding the mission school, Washburn founded the first Protestant school in Arkansas, even ahead of the territorial capital then at Arkansas Post. In 1821, Washburn also delivered the first Presbyterian sermon in Little Rock.

Though many of these missionary schools provided as satisfactory an education as could be found on the frontier of that period, the tribes learned that the price was often that of their language and their heritage. Many of these schools shunned tribal beliefs and shamed any attempt to speak any language except English. Though Cherokee culture was not a part of the curriculum, the Dwight Mission School was an exception in many ways. Washburn treated Cherokee culture and the people with a respect rarely seen in the early nineteenth century as he worked with the Cherokee community and defended Cherokee claims to the area.

While the school was relatively successful with the education of the children, their parents remained wary of the school’s intentions and attempts to convert their children to Christianity. Nevertheless, they continued to send their children to the school. Washburn actively worked to ease their misgivings and learned all that he could about the Cherokees while recording his findings.

By 1824, the school had expanded to a campus of two dozen buildings, offering lessons in skilled trades as well as math, reading, and writing. However, events continued to turn against the Cherokees, and the tribe had to move again as pressures by settlers and government authorities grew. The mission relocated to an area near Sallisaw, Oklahoma, in 1829, as the Cherokees’ time in Arkansas neared an end.

In 1831, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, forcing all remaining Native American tribes in the Southeast to move to the new Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma), which was created by splitting the Arkansas Territory in half. The eastern band of Cherokees attempted to fight removal in federal court, even getting the Supreme Court to agree in the case Worcester v. Georgia in 1833 that the tribes had a legal right to their lands through treaties with the federal government. Congress and President Andrew Jackson ignored the ruling and forced the tribes out, initiating what became known as the Trail of Tears. The remaining tribes in Arkansas were also stripped of their territories. By 1835, all the Native American tribes had been pushed out of Arkansas.

He continued to work with the tribe until 1850. At that point, he began serving as the preacher at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith. He held this position for six years as the community and church grew.

Washburn was active up to his final days. In early 1860, he began a long trip across the state for a church meeting in Helena. The long journey in the unforgiving elements of late winter were too much for a man just shy of 67. He contracted pneumonia and was forced to stop in Little Rock. He died in Little Rock on March 17. A historical marker today sits at the site of the first school near Lake Dardanelle. The mission school he founded continued to operate off-and-on until 1949 and continues today as a museum and Presbyterian summer camp. Nine years after his death, Washburn’s memoirs of his years with the Cherokees, Reminiscences of the Indians, were published. The record of the missionaries was mixed, but the efforts of Washburn helped give valuable insights into the Cherokee community of the time and the early settlement of the Arkansas Territory.

Quorum Court Courthouse

7:00 p.m.

MAY

4-6

Revival

High School Conference Room

6:00 p.m.

Dickinson Baptist Church Evangelist Luke Hockenjos Pastor Paul Outlaw

7:00 p.m.

MAY 11

City Council City Hall

5:00 p.m.

MAY 19

School Board Meeting

MAY 25

Quorum Court Courthouse

7:00 p.m.

Some highlights: The Joint Budget Committee directed the legislative staff to draft a reappropriation measure that would bar the Department of Corrections from spending any of the $73.7 million in state funds for construction of a prison in Franklin County. The funds were left over from a previous prison expansion in Calico Rock.

The committee also approved a $1 million appropriations bill for the Department of Corrections for a pilot program designed to detect, identify, and terminate illegal cell phones used by inmates in state prisons. It is estimated that one out of every four inmates have access to an illegal cell phone. Prisoners are using these phones for a wide range of criminal activity.

Over the last several years, Arkansas prison officials have recovered over 6,500 illegal phones from inmates, but not all of them can be found because prisoners hide them in many places. This system will find any phone as soon as it connects with cell service for calls, messaging, or other apps. A similar program in Georgia eliminated 10,000 contraband phones from its prison system. The pilot project will take place at the Cummins and Varner units.

The Senate convened Tuesday afternoon to honor the late Senator Gary Stubblefield with a memorial resolution recognizing his many contributions to the state and to his community.

After serving one term in the Arkansas House, Sen. Stubblefield represented his district in the Senate from 2013 until his passing in September 2025. Senators also joined together to commission a portrait of Sen. Stubblefield by artist Barry Thomas. The painting will hang in the Senate through the remainder of what would have been his term, after which it will be presented to the Stubblefield family.

Following adjournment, senators lined up to visit with and embrace members of the Stubblefield family, reflecting the deep respect and affection felt throughout the chamber.

On Wednesday, Senator Mark Johnson presented the Senate Memorial Resolution honoring former Senator Luther Boyd “Lu” Hardin, who passed away in August 2025. He was elected to the Arkansas Senate in 1983, where he served for 14 years. After his legislative career, he served on Governor Mike Huckabee’s cabinet as the Director of the State Department of Higher Education. He later served as the President of the University of Central Arkansas. His son Scott Hardin delivered thanks to the chamber.

The legislature’s sessions are open to the public. You can attend in person at the State Capitol complex in the committee rooms or in the public galleries of the Senate and House chambers. You can also watch meetings live and on demand at https://senate. arkansas.gov.

You can read and download PDFs of the bills that have been filed for the session at https://arkleg.state.ar.us/. Click on “Bills” in the menu, where you can search by keyword or filing date.

i R

A Nation of Second Chances

This week, I was proud to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that recognizes April as Second Chance Month. This resolution raises awareness for unlocking opportunities for successful reentry into society following incarceration that ultimately reduces recidivism rates.

Arkansas’ ranking as the third highest for recidivism rates in the nation highlights the need for us to look at opportunities to enact real change and ultimately create a more prosperous future for our state. According to the Arkansas Department of Corrections, forty-six percent of those released from prison in the state are readmitted within three years.

Offering incarcerated Arkansans the opportunity to succeed by reducing the barriers that keep them from establishing good-paying jobs and earning sought-after respect after being released is proven to be a critical key to reducing recidivism rates. Investing in these individuals who have proven to be committed to rectifying their mistakes is ultimately an investment in the future success and safety of our communities.

While the true hope is that crimes are not committed, it remains an unfortunate reality. Over twenty years ago in his State of the Union Speech, President George W. Bush said, “We know from long experience that if [incarcerated individuals] can’t find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit more crimes and return to prison…. America is the land of the second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.”

The United States of America stands apart from the rest of the world. Other countries and nations have centuries of history and stories to tell. But we are a young nation – only 250 years old – so what makes us so revered by the world?

There are many ways to answer this question, but there is one constant theme that has been woven like a thread into the fabric of our nation’s history: the hope of a second chance. The dream of starting over and building a new life that isn’t weighed down by past mistakes. We know this to be called the “American Dream.”

A concept first penned by James Truslow Adams in 1931, the term was described as, “not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”

We are the living legacies of men and women who desired a second chance and the opportunity to experience the American Dream. Because of that, giving a second chance to those who are committed to reconciling with society and looking to contribute positively to their communities after serving their sentence is one of the most American things we can do.

It’s a privilege to work in Congress on efforts that truly lead to the betterment of our communities. Getting down to the root of the issue and learning how we can apply real opportunities for real change is a great honor that I look forward to continuing to work toward.

M INUTE

“We must either hang together or be hanged separately.” Ben Franklin warned of the need for unity among the colonists as they declared independence in 1776. He was a keen observer. His wit and his intelligence had made him respected and successful, and he spent decades serving his community and the nation. Franklin would be responsible for such a wide array of accomplishments, including the idea of the Gulf Stream in 1770, the first use of the pro and con list in 1772, the lightning rod, bifocals, and even creating schools and hospitals. Of the many inventions and innovations Franklin created that would change the world, the creation of the independent United States with the other Founding Fathers would further cement his place in history.

For over a year, Franklin had already been serving as postmaster general of the colonies, devising what would become the US Post Office. This was after several years of serving as a colonial agent in England, warning Parliament of its disastrous policies. Now as the Continental Congress prepared for independence in Philadelphia in June 1776, Franklin joined Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston in a committee tasked by Congress to make a statement to the world why the colonies were moving for independence. Though the Declaration of Independence was overwhelmingly the work of Jefferson, Franklin made important suggestions and contributions. Most notably, where Jefferson repeated philosopher John Locke’s assertion that a government’s responsibility is to protect “life, liberty, and property,” Franklin suggested the change to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” saying that the new nation was more than just about possessions but was about letting people live their own lives on their own terms under freedom.

Shortly after the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, Franklin, now past 70, left for France as the nation’s first ambassador to that nation. France had already been quietly supplying gunpowder to the Continental Army, but Franklin’s job was to secure recognition for American independence and to persuade the French to join the cause. He did the slow, careful work of building relationships that diplomacy requires, working to charm the French public and nobility. The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 convinced France that America was a winning cause. In February 1778, France became the first nation to recognize American independence and signed an alliance, bringing the French army and navy into the fight.

At the end of the fighting in 1781, he led the American delegation for the treaty negotiations. The Treaty of Paris of 1783 secured British recognition of US independence and a border set at the Mississippi River, among other concessions. In 1785, he returned to the US and was elected to the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, becoming one of the three governors of the state, serving until 1788. In 1787, he became president of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society.

In 1787, delegates gathered in Philadelphia to devise a new constitution. At 81, Franklin was the oldest delegate. He offered insights and ideas, for he still believed in the importance of imagination, integrity, and fairness in government. Independence Hall, where debate took place, was just a few blocks from his home. Franklin had built a successful career based on freedom of the press and speaking his mind. He understood the necessity of free thought to preserving a free nation. “Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech,” he wrote.

After months of negotiations, the Constitution was drafted and sent to the states for ratification. When asked what kind of government the new Constitution created, Franklin is said to have replied, “A republic. If you can keep it.”

The Constitutional Convention would serve as Franklin’s last major public role. He continued to correspond and visit with friends and even sent a petition to Congress calling for the end of slavery. However, his health was declining.

He died in April 1790 at age 84. Almost the entire population of Philadelphia attended the processional at his funeral. Though he was not much of a churchgoer, he openly supported Christian and Jewish congregations throughout Philadelphia. At his funeral, every minister and rabbi in the city led the march in honor of their beloved neighbor. As the years passed, dozens of communities and counties would be named for him as well as many schools and colleges.

Even at the end, Franklin was still thinking ahead. In his will, he set up trust funds for Boston and Philadelphia to be used for future education training — a trust he designed to mature in 200 years. Philadelphia devoted what came to be a $2 million fund for scholarships for high school students. In 1908, Boston used what became a $5 million fund to create the Franklin Institute of Boston, a trade school.

2. In 2 Kings 13, what prophet ordered a king to shoot arrows out of a window? Paul, Job, Elisha, David 3. How many books of the Bible are only three letters long when spelled?

0, 1, 2, 3

4. What prophet saw “the tents of Cushan in affliction”? Japheth, Noah, Hezekiah, Habakkuk 5. Who said, “Lord, increase our faith”? Jonah, Apostles, Moses, Israelites

6. From Joel 2:6, what shall all faces gather? Sunlight, Blackness, Fear, Warmth

ANSWERS: 1) Old, 2) Elisha, 3) One, 4) Habakkuk 5) Apostles, 6) Blackness

Find expanded trivia online with Wilson Casey at www.patreon.com/ triviaguy. FREE TRIAL!

© 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

Lakeside Cemetery Annual Meeting Lakeside Church

6:00 p.m.

APRIL 21

School Board Meeting

High School Conference Room

6:00 p.m.

APRIL 27

Quorum Court Courthouse

7:00 p.m.

Submit Dates to:

calhouncountynews@gmail.com (870)798-3786

TUESDAYS

Pack 159 Club Scouts Calhoun County Library

4:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS AA Meetings

Hampton Methodist

6:30 p.m.

H.E.L.P. Life Recovery Meeting Hampton First Assembly of God Gym

6:30 p.m.

GODoit Evangelistic Ministries Evangelist Wallace Montgomery, Jr.

870-814-4980

836 8th Street

6:30 p.m.

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new City of Hot Springs Water Plant that will be responsible for delivering clean, reliable, and safe drinking water for thousands of Arkansans.

Exciting celebrations like these are timely reminders of just how important – and vital – water infrastructure is to the wellness of our local communities. For thousands of years, civilizations have been built around abundant water sources. A key element in urban growth, water still plays a vital role in shaping and sustaining our modern-day society.

Whether it’s a drinking water storage facility, treatment plant, wastewater system, flood mitigation, or even a navigable waterway like the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), reliable water infrastructure not only ensures residents have the supply they need for their own households, but it also ensures a thriving ecosystem and economy.

Oftentimes, the word “infrastructure” takes our thoughts directly to the roads we drive on, the buildings that house our local businesses, and the power grids that keep our homes lit and warm. These are the tangible, physical structures that support our economic activity and transportation needs.

On the other hand, water infrastructure often goes unnoticed, either because of its literal inability to be seen or because we come to expect what they produce so readily, it tends to be forgotten. These systems allow our daily lives to function so smoothly that when working properly, they’re hardly noticed and often taken for granted. But when failure occurs, dysfunction and disruption can be felt almost immediately.

Arkansas is a water-rich state. According to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, we proudly hold over 600,000 acres of surface water. With 4.8 trillion gallons of water in our lakes, 200 trillion gallons in the ground, and Arkansans using an average of 157 gallons of water a day, our state relies heavily on a robust infrastructure system that can meet our demands and support this incredibly abundant resource.

Our growing state demands water infrastructure that can keep up with its pace. I’m grateful to our state and local leaders for their proactive investment in updating our infrastructure to ensure safer drinking water while also supporting our economic and environmental needs. Their dedication to mitigating flood risk to protect families, property, agriculture, and other economic infrastructure is also greatly welcomed, and I am always dedicated and proud to partner with their efforts on the federal level to build a more prosperous, sustainable Arkansas.

During Hog Skin Holidays this past weekend, a large gathering in the 8th Street area produced music so loud it could be heard across town. My family and I endured it for approximately two hours, assuming that at a reasonable hour—particularly after 10:00 PM—it would be addressed. It was not.

After contacting authorities, I was told multiple complaints had already been received. Yet no meaningful action was taken. When an officer was finally engaged, his response was not to enforce the law, but to dismiss the situation entirely based on his personal opinion that the noise “wasn’t that bad.”

Let’s be clear about what a nuisance is. A nuisance is any activity that unreasonably interferes with the use and enjoyment of someone else’s property. When music can be heard across large portions of a town and multiple citizens have taken the time to call and complain, it is no longer a matter of personal preference—it is, by definition, a nuisance.

An officer does not have the privilege of deciding that such a situation is acceptable simply because, in his opinion, the bass “wasn’t too loud.” The law is not subjective. It is not based on personal tolerance levels.

It is based on whether the actions of one group are infringing upon the rights of others.

Yes, I raised my voice. Yes, I called the officer an idiot. I regret the tone, but I do not regret calling out statements that were, in fact, idiotic. When those entrusted to enforce the law instead choose to ignore it, frustration is not only understandable—it is inevitable.

I am not opposed to community events or neighbors enjoying themselves. But when that enjoyment comes at the expense of an entire town’s peace—especially late into the night—there must be accountability. Laws that are not enforced are meaningless.

The bigger issue here is not one loud night. It is a pattern of disregard. When citizens cannot rely on their police department to enforce even the most basic nuisance standards, trust erodes quickly.

If this is the kind of police department our tax dollars are supporting—one that picks and chooses when to enforce the law based on personal opinion—then it raises a serious and uncomfortable question: what exactly are we paying for?

And if this is the standard we are expected to accept, then perhaps it is time to consider whether a department that refuses to enforce the law should continue to exist at all. Sincerely, Charles McBryde

The Arkansas General Assembly convened the fiscal session on April 8th and will spend the rest of the month finalizing a state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2027.

Fiscal sessions last up to 30 days, although a session can by extended by 15 days with a three-fourths vote in each chamber.

Overall, the governor’s proposed budget totals $6.7 billion, reflecting a three-percent increase in state spending. Arkansas does not deficit spend or borrow to fund day-to-day government operations, so each year’s budget must be balanced.

When the first Senate session gaveled in, the body officially installed Sabrina Lewellen as the Director and Secretary of the Senate. She replaces

State Senator Matt Stone Ann Cornwell, who served the Senate for 45 years. Sabrina has held a variety of roles in the upper legislative body for 23 years.

Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court Karen R. Baker gave the ceremonial oath of office to Senator Brad C. Simon, who represents District 26. He was previously sworn in after the February special election to replace Senator Gary Stubblefield, who passed away in September 2025.

The Senate then adjourned and joined the House of Representatives for Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ State of the State address.

In her address, the Governor urged legislators to think about everyday Arkansans as they deliberate over her proposed budget during this session. That proposal includes boosted funding for Educational Freedom Accounts and increased pay for law enforcement officers.

Governor Sanders said she will convene a special session following this year’s fiscal session to review a proposal to reduce state income taxes. Her plan calls for a two-tenths-of-a-point cut, returning roughly $180 million to taxpayers.

After the joint legislative session, the Senate reconvened to recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Arkansas and to commend members of CASA for their work. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a national network of volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court.

The day ended with the first Joint Budget Committee meeting of the session. During the fiscal session, this committee will pore over appropriation bills and budget proposals.

The legislature’s sessions are open to the public. You can attend in person at the State Capitol complex in the committee rooms or in the public galleries of the Senate and House chambers. You can also watch meetings live and on demand at https://senate. arkansas.gov.

You can read and download PDFs of the bills that have been filed for the session at https://arkleg.state.ar.us/. Click on “Bills” in the menu, where you can search by keyword or filing date.

With an area covering over 20,000 square miles, the Fourth District is the largest Congressional District in the state. From the Ouachita Mountains to the Delta, our district’s unique natural landscapes boast some of the most beautiful and iconic locations in Arkansas.

This expanse, however, really underscores the need for multiple district offices, allowing folks from all over to access their representative in Congress without driving hundreds of miles.

That’s why I have offices located in Russellville, Hot Springs, El Dorado, and Pine Bluff. The staff in these offices live and work in these communities, too. They’ve built their lives around investing in the future of their local schools, churches, and the folks who live there. They understand the needs of the surrounding communities better than just about anyone and are wellequipped to assist with any federal issue you may be facing.

While my offices in Washington, D.C., or across Arkansas are only a phone call or email away, we still understand the great value of meeting the folks we serve faceto- face. That’s why my office will be hosting mobile office hours in various locations across the Fourth District during April to meet with you in your home county.

No appointment is necessary to attend these mobile hours, and a member of my staff will be available to assist you with any federal issue you’re currently dealing with. Whether it’s a passport issue, challenges with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Medicare and Medicaid, or Social Security Administration (SSA), my team is ready to help!

To view all upcoming mobile office hour times, dates, and locations, please visit my website at Westerman.house. gov/mobile-office-hours.

It remains an honor to serve every one of my constituents in Congress. Being raised right here in the Fourth District, my Arkansas roots run deep, which is why I cannot imagine any greater privilege than working on behalf of my friends and neighbors in our nation’s Capital on the issues that matter most to them and their families.

The Arkansas Autism Legislative Task Force met this week to review significant updates and developments related to autism services and support in the state.

The task force includes members of the Arkansas General Assembly, autism experts, and representatives from state agencies and organizations. It is co-chaired by Senator Justin Boyd of Fort Smith and Representative Denise Jones Ennett of Little Rock.

The group is charged with examining how Arkansas responds to autism spectrum disorders, identifying best practices and efficient methods of treatment, and recommending strategies for securing additional federal funding for autism services and special education. The task force also advises the General Assembly on potential statutory changes aimed at improving treatment and education for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The panel meets quarterly at the State Capitol complex.

This week’s meeting featured a presentation from the University of Arkansas’s Programs Supporting Students with Autism and Other Disabilities.

UA has two distinct programs: EMPOWER (Educate, Motivate, Prepare, Opportunity, Workplace readiness, Employment, Responsibility). EMPOWER is a four-year, nondegree, inclusive postsecondary education program (IPSE) for young adults with intellectual disabilities requiring limited supports. It is approved by the U.S. Department of Education as a Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (“CTP”). The program’s three core goals are to provide a college experience, enhance independent living skills, and improve work readiness skills.

UA also offers the Autism Support Program, which offers comprehensive support for degree-seeking undergraduate students with autism. The program’s academic coaches provide support in academics, executive functioning skills, transitioning to independent adult roles, and social skills.

Members also heard from the University of Arkansas– Pulaski Technical College’s 3D Program. The 3D Program provides post-secondary education and workforce preparation for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering certificatebased training in culinary arts, hospitality, and baking while supporting the development of life and technical skills. This academic year alone, students have achieved becoming ServSafe Handler certified, becoming Certified Fundamentals Cooks, becoming Certified Fundamentals Pastry Cooks, preparing dishes for special family events, and being employed full-time at restaurants across the greater Little Rock area.

In addition, the task force received an update on the Supporting Lifelong Success (SLS) Community. SLS serves Northwest Arkansas as a growing Medicaid waiver provider offering home- and community-based services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization is pursuing a holistic approach to supporting neurodivergent adults throughout their lives.

According to SLS, its long-term vision is to create an inclusive community that integrates housing, employment opportunities, clinical services, and recreational options within a 230-acre development in south Fayetteville known as Cato Springs. The project aims to build a connected neighborhood that enhances quality of life for both the region and the neurodivergent community.

SLS leaders describe their mission as establishing “a community that surrounds neurodivergent adults with opportunities to thrive through independence and choice and fuels each individual’s ability to contribute their skills, explore their dreams, have relationships, and find purpose in everyday living.”