Opinion - Newton County Times

Americans rediscover the summer picnic

It’s a positive trend that I hope continues: the resurgence of summer picnics. According to Mental Floss, the Covid pandemic caused a picnic boom beginning in 2020 that is showing no signs of … more

By TOM PURCELL | 6/4/23

State Capitol Week in Review

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Medicaid program is re-examining the cases of hundreds of thousands of recipients to determine whether or not they remain eligible for services. By the end of April … more

From SEN. BREANNE DAVIS | 5/31/23

REAP the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act

Rural small businesses and agricultural producers looking to save money by reducing energy costs may be eligible for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). With a boost in funding from the … more

By LINDSAY MOUW Center for Rural Affairs | 5/31/23

Curing our loneliness epidemic

There is a loneliness epidemic in the United States, but there are some simple ways we can address it. A few weeks ago, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report titled “Our Epidemic of … more

By TOM PURCELL | 5/31/23

As planting season surges, barriers remain for organic farmers

If you are a farmer or live in a rural area, you know that planting season is in full swing. Planting rates are ahead of last year. On May 22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that … more

By KATE HANSEN, senior policy associate, Center for Rural Affairs | 5/31/23

Are you a drive-in theater enthusiast?

I still remember one of the houses that my parents almost bought back in 1970. The domicile was memorable because it was right next door to the Hi-Way 50 Drive-in Theater and filled my young mind … more

By DANNY TYREE | 5/31/23

State Capitol Week in Review

LITTLE ROCK – As soon as the 2023 legislative session adjourned, the Senate and House Committees on Education began work on school funding in preparation for the 2025 session. Every two years … more

From SEN. BREANNE DAVIS | 5/31/23

Strengthening Arkansas’s role in cybersecurity

Robust cybersecurity is increasingly important as cyber threats continue to evolve and target vital services. In recent years we’ve experienced disruptions to pipelines, key food suppliers and … more

By US SEN. JOHN BOOZMAN | 5/31/23

Combatting the fentanyl crisis

In Fiscal Year 2023 alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized over 14,000 pounds of fentanyl coming across the southern border. That’s enough to kill the entire U.S. population ten … more

By CONG. BRUCE WESTERMAN Arkansas's Fourth District | 5/31/23

Expanding access to mental health services

According to findings from a Kaiser Family Foundation/CNN poll in October 2022, 90 percent of adults think there is a mental health crisis in the United States. That makes investing in mental health … more

By US SEN. JOHN BOOZMAN | 5/24/23

State Capitol Week in Review

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Medicaid program is re-examining the cases of hundreds of thousands of recipients to determine whether or not they remain eligible for services. By the end of April … more

From SEN. BREANNE DAVIS | 5/21/23

REAP the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act

Rural small businesses and agricultural producers looking to save money by reducing energy costs may be eligible for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). With a boost in funding from the … more

By LINDSAY MOUW Center for Rural Affairs | 5/21/23

America’s biggest threat was not 1/6

What was the biggest threat to America in the last seven years? If you have swallowed the party line of the Democrats, it was the storming of the Capitol by dangerous Trump … more

By MICHAEL REAGAN | 5/21/23

All in a day’s deletions

I spend the first half hour of my day reading — or, to be more accurate, deleting — emails. Lacking the nerve to “unsubscribe” for fear I’ll miss something of moderate … more

By PETER FUNT | 5/21/23

National Police Week

Every day, law enforcement officers put on their uniforms, say goodbye to their families, and leave their homes to risk their lives to ensure the safety of their communities. During National Police … more

By CONG. BRUCE WESTERMAN Arkansas's Fourth District | 5/21/23

Border security is national security

The Biden Administration’s failure to enforce our border laws has led to an unprecedented national security, ecological, and humanitarian crisis at our border. Since President Biden took … more

By CONG. BRUCE WESTERMAN | 5/14/23

Commemorating National Police Week

Law enforcement officers put on their uniform knowing the risks that come with the public duty to serve and protect. It takes a special person to take on that responsibility. As we commemorate … more

By US SEN. JOHN BOOZMAN | 5/14/23

Everyone wins when we support small businesses

Small businesses play a critical role in creating jobs, driving economic growth, and contributing to the overall well-being of rural communities. In many areas, they are the backbone of the local … more

By Kim Preston, lending services director, Center for Rural Affairs | 5/14/23

AOC and the war on our appliances

AOC and her Green New Deal buddies in the Biden government are not just winning their crusade against fossil fuels. They’re also wrecking the country – appliance by appliance. … more

By MICHAEL REAGAN | 5/14/23

A good day to celebrate an extraordinary mother

She was only 18 when rheumatic fever damaged her heart. The doctors said she’d be lucky to live into her 40s — that she was no longer strong enough to bear children. Lucky for … more

By TOM PURCELL | 5/14/23