News-2021

12/22/21 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is assessing whether the weed killer dicamba can be sprayed safely . . . without the procedure posing "unreasonable risks" to other crops . . .CONTINUE READING

12/22/21 - Car Rentals Available? What do you expect will happen when you walk into a rental-car office? For more info, click HERE.

12/9/21 - Phone companies to shut down 3G cellular networks in 2022. Significant impact will be on cars using 3G networks. For more info, click HERE (msn.com link)

(Virtual) National Wilderness Workshop

11/15 to 11/19/21 - The 2021 National Wilderness Workshop, originally planned to be held in Roanoke, VA, will be held virtually from November 15-19, 2021. The program lineup focuses on advocacy for wilderness and wilderness stewardship and will have themes covering wilderness science, management issues, culture, and partnerships. For More info, CLICK HERE.

11/7/21 - Move to solar energy creating crop, economic opportunities - Check today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, pages 1G & 8G for interesting article.

11/7/21 - Chinese firms set sights on world's wind power niche - Check today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, page 2G for article that may be of interest.

11/7/21 - Move to solar energy creating crop, economic opportunities - Check today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, pages 1G & 8G for interesting article.

6th Annual Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit

11/5/21 – F – Noon to 4:30 pm - This *free* event will be held online, and registration information is coming soon. Sponsored jointly by Arkansas Sierra Club, Audubon Delta, Arkansas Interfaith Power & Light, Citizens Climate League, and the Arkansas Public Policy Panel. Agenda and registration information can be found at this link: https://ar.audubon.org/2021policysummit

9/25/21 – Sa – 10:30 am to 2 pm - National Drive Electric Week - The City of Little Rock will join communities across the country in recognizing the 11th annual National Drive Electric Week with a kickoff celebration at 600 Pleasant Valley Drive. The event will feature several electric vehicles (EVs) on display, with opportunities for participants to test drive EVs and ask questions of EV owners. Vendors will be on hand, and there will also be giveaways, including a chance to win $250. Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., will deliver opening remarks at 10:30 am, including a proclamation of Sept. 25-Oct. 3 as Drive Electric Week in Little Rock.

The Little Rock Sustainability Office and Today's Power are local sponsors of the event. NDEW is presented by national organizers Plug In America, the Electric Auto Association, the Sierra Club, and EVHybridNoire. Nissan LEAF® is the exclusive automotive sponsor of NDEW 2021 and Wells Fargo is the exclusive banking sponsor of NDEW 2021. ClipperCreek and Electrify America are silver level sponsors. Edison International and Enel X are bronze level sponsors. IBEW 11 is a green level sponsor. For more information, check out the event's Facebook link at: https://bit.ly/3ku8NuB

[posted] 11/xx/2021 - 1,023-Mile High Country Bike Race - 10/8-13+/22 - For the ultimate achiever who is looking for another challenge, here is one you have probably not heard about: A greuling 1,037-mile High Country bicycle race which takes competitors on a loop that encompasses much of the toughest mountain terrain in Arkansas. (A shorter 500-mile loop is also available.) The race, which takes at least five days for the fastest racers to complete, consists of a loop of gravel roads and highways with a brief jog into Missouri. If you are not ready for this by 2022, the race will likely be repeated in 2023. For more info and a map, click on PRESS RELEASE.

9/19-10/3/21 – AR-DoT Online Virtual Public Meeting (pre-recorded) to gather public input on feasibility study of Hwy 70 (Broadway Street) in Pulaski County from Hwy 365 to I-630. For more info, go to ardot.gov/publicmeetings.

8/29-10/3/21 – AR-DoT Public Meeting/Public Input - AR-DoT is gathering public input about the Western North-South Connector Study, which will consider a new highway connection from Highway 612 (Springdale Northern Bypass) to Highway 549 (Bella Vista Bypass) in Northwest Arkansas. For more info, go to wnsconnector.transportationplanroom.com

6/18/21 - Historic Drought in the West – Go to
Historic drought in California and the West is getting biblical: What to know (msn.com) - or https://msn.com/en-us/news/technology/historic-drought-in-california-and-the-west-is-getting-biblical-what-to-know/ar-AALbUYq?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531

UN Special Report on Drought – Go to GAR Special Report on Drought 2021 | UNDRR - or https:// undrr.org/publication/gar-special-report-drought-2021

5/23/21 - Su - This Friday 5/28 is deadline for hundreds of soybean producers expected to file claims from Bayer's $300M dicamba settlement. Check today's (5/23/21) Democrat-Gazette page 1G for more information.

5/17/21 - For results of the 5/2 meeting (below), check out the following: https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2021/05/06/the-dicamba-battle-rolls-on-with-supreme-court-decisions-legislative-hearing-today and https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com//arkansas-state-plant-board-votes-to-change-current-dicamba-rule-2/

5/2/21 - Plant Board Hearing on Dicamba - The state Plant Board will hold a ZOOM! public meeting Monday starting at 9:30 am. For access, go to https://tinyurl.com/b4y5w4tf. Public comments will be limited to the 31 people already registered. For more info and a history of happenings, check Sunday 5/2/21 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette pages 1A and 7A.

5/xx/21 - Who Owns America’s Wilderness? - The May 2021 issue of The Atlantic magazine includes an interesting – and perhaps controversial – article: Return the National Parks to the Tribes - The jewels of America’s landscape should belong to America’s original peoples. Story by David Treuer (The Atlantic Editor’s note: This article is part of a new series called “Who Owns America’s Wilderness?” The article may be available at https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/05/return-the-national-parks-to-the-tribes/618395/ This link is provided for info only and the content should not be viewed as representing established views of the Chapter or the Sierra Club.

Clean Energy Settlement (Recording)
4/29/21 - Th - Entergy Arkansas Taking Steps Toward More Clean Energy As Part Of Settlement . (By MICHAEL HIBBLEN) - This local NPR story ran during afternoon drive time yesterday and morning drive time today. You can read/listen at the link below ((GLEN)) https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/entergy-arkansas-taking-steps-toward-more-clean-energy-part-settlement

Sierra Club Board of Directors Election

Final Notice: Wednesday April 28 at 11 am CDT is the deadline for casting your vote.

Award for Excellence in Environmental Writing

4/19/21 - The Sassafras Award was launched by the Ozark Society Foundation this month. The award seeks new voices and new perspectives on environmental issues linked to the Ozark region, but the submission can come from anywhere. Additionally, the award is open to books published within the past three years or to new, unpublished manuscripts. For more info, click HERE.

Electric Car Market - Breakout Year

4/18/21 - For a review of what is happening to the Electric Car Market this year, check out the centerfold (pgs 10-11) of the April 12-18 issue of the Daily Record - www.dailyrecord.us > Past Issues, April 12-18.

Arkansas Sierra Club Urges Governor to Veto HB 1570

4/2/21 - Press Release - In the wake of multiple pieces of legislation that negatively impact Arkansas's transgender community… CONTINUE READING

Agreement to Close Entergy's Polluting Power Plants is Finalized

3/11/21 - Press Release - LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Today, Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association’s settlement with Entergy Arkansas to close two massive coal plants and a gas plant and build solar power was finalized by a judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas… CONTINUE READING

2/27-28/21 - Conway's Log Cabin Democrat today reported that state park visitor centers will be open 7 days a week from 8 am to 5 pm starting 1 March. See page B4 of today's paper for more info.

2/8/21 - I-430 Freeway Closure - The southbound lanes of I-430 (including the bridge across the Arkansas River) will likely be closed from I-40 to past Cantrell Rd (Hwy 10) from Friday evening Feb. 12 until Monday morning Feb.15. Expect congestion on I-40 near the I-430 intersection. Northbound lanes of I-430 will be closed from Rodney Parham to Cantrell. For more info, go to www.arkansashighways.com and click on the 02/02/21 link

2/8/21 - Hwy 365 (old NLR-Conway highway) at times may be down to one lane (alternating between north and south) during maintenance or construction at the Palarm Creek bridge (Pulaski-Faulkner County line). Be on the lookout for a new (temporary) signal light or workers directing traffic.

1/29/21 update - All Outings and events are cancelled through July 4, 2021. The Sierra Club (National organization) is developing guidance for restarting outings, including the possibility of piloting some local outings prior to July 4 - and will continue to set guidance for these activities based on feedback from volunteers, staff and what the organization recommends. Contact the CAG Chair for info on future on-line meetings.

1/22/21 - To see the Biden Administration order on drilling on federal lands and in federal waters, go to so-3395-signed.pdf (doi.gov)

Dicamba Settlements - 1/17/21 - For article on proposed settlement offers, check page 1G of today's Democrat-Gazette.

Revenue Office Business Hours - 1/17/21 - Seventeen offices with extended hours will return to the standard 8 to 4:30 hours starting 1/25. For more info, see page 6B of today's Democrat-Gazette.

1/7/21 - Articles recently published in periodicals (that may be of interest: Arkansas Times Jan.21: page 9-Tippi McCullough Sees Hope for State Democrats; pages 22-26 - Injection of Hope [COVID-19 Vaccines]; pages 31-33 - A Walk in the Woods in the City [Urban hiking trails in Central Arkansas]. Arkansas Wild Nov. 20: pages 18-20 - Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area description