Joyce Elliott scholarship available
The Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus established a scholarship to increase the number of qualified, underrepresented minority college students entering public service. For her 30 years of dedication as an educator and 22 years as a legislator, the scholarship is named after former state senator Joyce Elliott.
A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student during the King Kennedy Awards, according to a news release.
The applicant must be enrolled at one of the following historically black Colleges and universities (HBCUs) — Arkansas Baptist College, Philander Smith College, Shorter College or the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Applicants must be Arkansas residents with a minimum 2.5 grade point average and have completed 24 credits toward an undergraduate degree (leading to a career in public service). They should also be registered to vote.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 1. Applications are available at https://form.jotform.com/243275050833150. Details: Scholarship Chair Miriam Bernard at mebernard1@comcast.net or (501) 258-8111.
USACE waives fees for MLK Day
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will waive day use fees at recreation areas nationwide in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 20.
The waiver covers fees for boat launch ramps and swim beaches. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services or fees for specialized facilities and events, according to a news release.
Other agencies that manage recreation areas on USACE lands are encouraged, but not required, to offer the waiver in the areas they manage.
To make a campsite reservation please visit www.recreation.gov. Visitors should contact USACE projects prior to visiting to ensure recreation areas are open. Details: https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/status.cfm?state=AR or www.swl.usace.army.mil.
Human-trafficking victim site launched
The Department of Public Safety and Arkansas State Police launched a new webpage dedicated to assisting victims of human trafficking.
The launch coincides with National Human Trafficking Month, emphasizing the state’s commitment to supporting victims and educating the public on how to recognize signs of human trafficking, according to a news release.
“I signed an executive order in my first few months in office to prevent human trafficking because no Arkansan should face the horror of this terrible crime,” said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “The working group that executive order brought together played a key role in developing this webpage and I know this resource will help leaders, advocates, and victims across our state combat trafficking in their communities.”
The webpage includes a way for the public to report potential trafficking to the ASP and a county-by-county resource map that enables victims to search for resources closest to them. The page is the result of a collaborative effort with the Arkansas Human Trafficking Council, the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services.
“Prevention is the first step toward action,” said Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar. “Our sincere hope is that this new webpage will help to empower Arkansans to recognize the signs of trafficking and that it will serve as a way for victims to connect with critical resources. The Department of Public Safety and Arkansas State Police are committed to protecting those at risk and holding traffickers accountable.”
The Arkansas Human Trafficking Council (AHTC) was established in 2023 with a $1.5 million, 3-year grant from the Office of Victims of Crime, brings together various stakeholders to develop a victim-centered approach to address human trafficking.
Currently, there are 108 missing children under the age of 18 in Arkansas, with 11 missing for over two years.
Report trafficking at https://dps.arkansas.gov/law-enforcement/arkansas-state-police/divisions/criminal-investigations/human-trafficking/submit-a-tip/ or email ReportHT@arkansas.gov or call (501) 516-5896.