Page Index (date of latest change):
- 11/30/17 - Net Metering - APSC Public Meeting
- 11/28/17 - Arkansas Public Policy Panel Fundraising Party
- 10/29/17 - CAG Outing - Crystal Prong Hike
- 10/27/17 - Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit
- 10/24/17 - Proposed Fee Increase at National Parks
- 9/24/17 - CAG Outing - Nancy Mtn Shelter Hike
- 8/21/17 - Solar Eclipse
- 6/4/17 - Ticks in Arkansas (help wanted)
- 6/4/17 - New I-40 Exit in Conway
- 5/12/17 - National Monuments Under REview
- 5/11/17 - Hanford WA Nuclear Waste Site Tunnel Collapse
- 4/29/17 - People's Climate March in DC - Report From a Member
- 4/22/17 - Earth Day - March for Science - From Glen Hooks
- 3/28/17 – Glen Hooks statement: …EPA.....while rolling back protections on clean air and water (MORE).....
- 3/2017 - New Broadway Bridge Completed Ahead of Schediule
- 1/8/17 - Club Launching Videos Challenging (EPA Head) Nomination
- 1/5/17 - EV Initiative
- 1/3/17 - Victory in Washington (coal)
Net Metering - APSC Public Hearing
11/30/17 - Th at 9:30 am - Arkansas Public Service Commission Public Hearing on Net Metering
Arkansas Public Policy Panel
11/28/17 Tu – 5:30 – 7 pm - You are invited to a party benefiting the Arkansas Public Policy Panel. Join us for a house party this #GivingTuesday. Engage with like-minded people and learn about our work to protect the Natural State on this global day of giving. Click HERE for flyer.
10/29/17 - CAG Outing - Crystal Prong Hike - We had a good group of Sierrans who hiked on the Ouachita trail from Flatside Pinnacle to the trail crossing of Crystal Prong (photos below), about four miles roundtrip.. Great fall hiking weather on a moderately strenuous section of the trail.
Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit - Little Rock
10/27/17 - Sponsored by the Arkansas Sierra Club and other organizations. This year's event - the 2nd annual - will be held at the Clinton Presidential Library and we want YOU to join us. Come hear from national, state, and local experts on climate disruption, our energy future, state water issues, CAFOs, and more. The cost is only $10, which includes lunch. Event registration is required. NOTE: Last year's event completely sold out, and we've moved to a larger venue in anticipation of another sellout. RSVP quickly at this link: https://arpanel.networkforgood.com/events/3691-arkansas-environmental-policy-summit
The Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit is brought to you by Arkansas Audubon, Arkansas Environmental Defense Alliance, the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, the Arkansas Sierra Club, and the Clinton School of Public Service.
National Park Service Proposes Targeted Fee Increases at Parks to Address Maintenance Backlog
10/24/17 - During the peak season at specific parks, the entrance fee would be $70 per private, non-commercial vehicle, or $30 per person on bike or foot. Comment period ends November 23. For more information, go to https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/10-24-2017-fee-changes-proposal.htm
9/24/17 - CAG Outing - Nancy Mtn Shelter Hike - Sierra Club members hiked from the Highway 9 access on the Ouachita trail to the Nancy Mountain Shelter (photo below). It was a warm day but this part of the trail is completely shaded. This is an easy hike to make in any weather.
Solar Eclipse
8/21/17 - What event that will occur on this date may be seen by more people than any other event in history? For answer, click HERE and check for 8/21.
Ticks in Arkansas (help wanted)
6/4/17 - Ticks in Arkansas - The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is conducting a statewide study to find out (1) what species of ticks live in Arkansas and where and (2) what diseases they carry and where these diseases are found in Arkansas. They are asking for citizen scientists to help gather the needed specimens to get a full picture of what types of ticks are causing diseases in our state. To help with this project or for more information, go to https://www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/arkansas-tick-project.aspx
New I-40 Exit in Conway
6/4/17 - Conway - The new I-40 freeway exit south of Conway now has signs indicating it is Exit 132 and connects to Baker-Wills Parkway that will eventually extend west and connect to Hogan Lane (forming a southern bypass around Conway). For now, the interchange connects to Sturgis Road at the eastern end of Round Mountain Road, which provides a connection to Donaghey (and on to Salem and beyond).
National Monuments Under Review
5/12/17 - National Monuments Under Review (Comment deadline 7/10)
Hanford WA Nuclear Waste Site Tunnel Collapse
5/11/17 - Sinkhole that developed after tunnel collapse has been filled.
4/29/17 - People's Climate March in DC
Comments from a new Club member - As a new member, I learned of the People's Climate March and the Science March through the Sierra Club emails. I felt I had to express my opinions through some sort of venue. After consulting my sister, we decided to attend the Science March in Little Rock and the People's March in DC.
The Science March in Little Rock was enlightening. There appeared to be perhaps something near a thousand participants. The speakers were excellent. My son attended the march with us.
Flying to DC, marching, and getting back home was a chore for this 65 y/o guy and his 69 y/o sister, but it was gratifying expressing ourselves for the environment. We met lots of friendly supportive people. I talked extensively to a couple of fellow marchers. one was a plant scientist involved to chestnut blight research, another was a retired navy veteran who was a lobbyist for environmental causes. The latter had attended the science march in DC the previous week and the Women's March in January. We saw people of many ethnicities and all ages. I appreciated the youth involvement. The signs were clever and most were unique.
Fittingly, the temperature on the day of the march was the hottest day ever in DC for the month of April. Several older participants were affected by the heat, including myself and my sister. We were able to finish the march. It was particularly satisfying to march past the Trump Hotel and the White House singing "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME..." Of course, Mr Trump had just flown out of the White House to attend one of his campaign rallies in Pennsylvania. He really did not want to see 200,000 people disagree with his policies………..Larry S Price
4/22/17 - Earth Day - March for Science
After Event Report
From Glen Hooks - Hi folks--
I'm happy to report that last weekend's "Arkansas March For Science" was a gigantic success. An estimated 2000 people gathered in downtown Little Rock and marched to the State Capitol steps in support of science and in support of lawmakers relying on science when making public policy decisions. The Sierra Club was the lead organization putting together this event, along with Dr. Michele Merritt of Arkansas State University and Kyle Sanders of Science Riot. Together, we put together a solid panel of speakers and a fantastic after-march event at the Arkansas Museum of Discovery (attended by more than 300 people) that featured a dozen community groups tabling and five science-related presentations.
Our speakers at the event were outstanding and diverse in terms of gender, science area, race, age, and geography. They included Dr. Gwendolyn Carter of UAMS, Johnny Sain of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation, PhD student Haleigh Eubanks, 9th grade public school science teacher Aly Signorelli, disability rights activist Sarah Thomas, psychology professor Dr. Amy Pearce, and Kevin Delaney of the Science Channel's "Street Science" show.
Here are some pics so you can see how big the event was:
(above text) March for Science
3:30 Workshop: “Why science outreach has failed and what you can do about it”
– - - Kyle Sanders, Executive Director of Science Riot
3:45 “Hands-on science adventures for 11-12 year olds”
- - – Barry Haas, Arkansas Audubon Society Halberg Ecology Camp
4:00 “A unified voice for environmental education”
– - - Sarah DeVries, Arkansas Environmental Education Association
4:15 “Greening Arkansas; moving the natural state from dirty coal to clean energy”
– - - Glen Hooks, Directror of the Arkansas Sierra Club (and March organizer)
4:30 “The Peer Revue: Teaching scientists to communicate through stand-up comedy”
- - - Kyle Sanders, Executive Director of Science Riot
I want to thank the ExComm for sponsoring the event, and am proud to say that we raised enough money in donations to more than offset our costs for the event.
Thanks also to Chairman George Wise for volunteering at the event along with numerous other Sierra Club members from the Central Arkansas Group. We now have literally hundreds of names/contacts that I am entering into a database today.
I was also very pleased to see so many Sierra Club members in attendance: including Dr. Bob Allen in full wizard regalia.
We got some great media coverage out of this event. Here are some links:
http://www.thv11.com/news/local/hundreds-in-little-rock-march-for-science-saying-science-isnt-fake-news/433399874
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/apr/23/rally-at-capitol-promotes-science-20170/
http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2017/04/22/healthy-crowd-descends-on-capitol-for-march-for-science
http://www.thv11.com/news/little-rock-holds-march-for-science-/433397286
http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/more-than-a-hundred-people-gather-on-capitol-steps-for-march-for-science/697418183
My job this week is to invite all of those who registered to take the next step and keep the momentum going.
Great work, everyone!((GLEN))
--
Glen Hooks, J.D.
Director
Arkansas Sierra Club
1308 West 2nd Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
glen.hooks@sierraclub.org
(501) 301-8280
(501) 744-2674 (cell)
March for Science - Plans
March 31: From Glen Hooks - Hi folks--on April 22nd, Sierra Club and others are sponsoring the Arkansas "March for Science!" It's going to be a great event, aimed at making sure that our elected officials pull back from efforts to cut science, and that they use sound science in their policy-making decisions. Whether we're talking about farming, hunting/fishing, energy, clean air, clean water, health care...they all rely on science. It matters. I'd love to have you join us! RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/916395661831082/
A few details:
1. We'll be congregating at the corner of Capitol & Pulaski Streets in downtown Little Rock on April 22nd. The march will begin at 1:00 p.m., and we'll head to the steps of the State Capitol for speakers and rally time.
2. We welcome your enthusiastic and creative signage, in support of all kinds of science. Think clean air, clean water, safe foods, public health, farming, hunting, fishing, solar and wind energy...the list of important science areas go on and on. Get creative and fun with it. NOTE: please do not mount your signs or banners on sticks. Those are prohibited at State Capitol events.
3. The grand marshal and keynote speaker is KEVIN DELANEY, of the Museum of Discovery and the Discovery Channel's "Street Science" show. Other speakers are now being confirmed.
4. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, we have some needs in the areas of:
- Registration Team--walking around with clipboards, making sure we capture everyone's contact information
- Post-event tabling crew: helping with an activism/tabling event to follow the March.
- Cleanup Crew: making sure we leave the area litter-free
- Outreach: inviting groups and individuals around the state to attend
- Fundraising/Sponsorships
- Social Media--promoting up to and at the event
Please contact Michele Merritt or Glen Hooks (or respond below) if you are interested in helping with one of these key areas.
Thanks! We've got about 3 weeks to go! PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AND INVITE ALL YOUR FACEBOOK FRIENDS.
Statement on EPA Action
3/28/17 - Glen Hooks, Director of the Sierra Club’s Arkansas Chapter, released the following statement:
“Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt are doing what they do best - enriching their friends in oil and gas while rolling back protections on clean air and water for the rest of us. The roll back of the Clean Power Plan and other clean air and clean water protections will cost us our lives and our health, as well as money and savings for Arkansans who are sick of propping up Entergy’s aging and dirty coal plants with their hard-earned money.
“No matter Trump or Pruitt’s shortsighted actions, coal is on the decline in Arkansas. The economics do not favor these aging plants. We’ll keep moving ahead on a community level to organize and build a thriving clean energy economy in Arkansas and a responsible path forward with new, family-sustaining opportunities for communities historically dependent on coal.”
New Broadway Bridge Completed Ahead of Schedule
March 2017 - Broadway Bridge opens for traffic ahead of schedule.
W 9/28/16 - The Broadway Bridge in Little Rock closed today. Here is a final view of the old bridge: ...plan your driving to avoid the area as conjestion is expected.
...and here is a look at the first of two spans that will be lifted into place to complete the new bridge which is expected to open in 6 months.
The image below shows the first (north) of two spans for the new bridge in place:
1/8/17 - The Sierra Club will also be launching a series of videos this week challenging the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt's confirmation hearings have not been scheduled, but we expect them soon in front of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Around all these nominees that we oppose we will be doing social media, press, lobbying, and urging our supporters to contact committee members to challenge and oppose the nominations.
1/5/17 - EV Initiative - US electric vehicles sales were up by a record amount in December 2016.
1/3/17 - Victory In Washington- Here's some good news - a site once proposed for a coal-export terminal - will be spared from any development. Congrats to the Lummi Nation!