Inspector who failed to catch interstate bridge crack fired
By ANDREW DeMILLO and ADRIAN SAINZMay 17, 2021 GMT
This photo shows the Interstate 40 Bridge linking Tennessee and Arkansas on Friday, May 14, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. The bridge has been closed since a crack in the span was found May 11. Arkansas transportation officials said Tuesday that an inspector who failed to discover the crack has been fired. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
This photo shows the Interstate 40 Bridge linking Tennessee and Arkansas on Friday, May 14, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. The bridge has been closed since a crack in the span was found May 11. Arkansas transportation officials said Tuesday that an inspector who failed to discover the crack has been fired. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A U.S. Senator from Tennessee is calling on President Joe Biden to take an “urgent, all-hands” approach to the shutdown of a bridge that connects Tennessee and Arkansas. Republican Sen.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) The Arkansas National Guard has ended its work at a warehouse in North Little Rock where it helped distribute personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.
Little Rock drops mask mandate following new CDC guidance
May 14, 2021 GMT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) Arkansas’ capital city is dropping its requirement to wear a mask to combat the coronavirus following loosened federal guidance and a new state law that will ban local mandates, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott said Friday.
Scott said the city’s mask mandate will end Saturday, though private entities, hospitals and churches can still enforce their own requirements on employees and patrons. People entering City of Little Rock indoor facilities will still be required to wear a mask, the mayor said.
“We strongly encourage residents to continue wearing face coverings in public until we reach the desired vaccination rate in our city, as outlined by healthcare professionals,” Scott said in a statement.
9,000 employees sick as COVID overwhelms Arkansas workplaces
By MARY HENNIGAN, ABBY ZIMMARDI AND RACHELL SANCHEZ-SMITH/The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism May 12, 2021 GMT
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) Poultry giant Tyson Foods Inc., the third-largest employer in Arkansas, reported 2,866 COVID-19 cases at its workplaces, nearly one-third of the state’s 9,065 sickened workers across all industries from May 19, 2020, to April 8, 2021, according to an Arkansascovid.com analysis of Arkansas Department of Health data.
The state health department publishes COVID-19 occupational illness reports that show businesses with five or more active cases. In less than one year, Tyson had 281 appearances in these reports. Comparatively, Walmart Inc., the largest employer in the state, had two appearances that totaled 12 sick workers.