City Council to meet
The Pine Bluff City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Detective Kevin Collins Center at the Civic Center, at 200 E. Eighth Ave.
The agenda includes the first reading of a proposed ordinance to abolish the Urban Renewal Agency and first reading of a proposed ordinance changing the classification of personnel within the Police Department.
For the full agenda and other details, visit https://www.cityofpinebluff-ar.gov/city-council-meetings.
Caregiving group cancels meeting
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas won’t hold its Caregivers/Alzheimer’s Support Group meeting Monday, according to a news release. Details: Carolyn Ferguson at Area Agency, (870) 543-6309.
MLK panel promotes literacy
The Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission launches the MLK ‘LEAD to Read’ Reading Initiative, a statewide program designed to promote reading and literacy among third-grade students across Arkansas during King Week, Jan. 12-16.
The commission will continue this effort through May 2026.
“This program targets third-grade students in alignment with the LEARNS Act, helping to support strong foundational reading skills to encourage long-term reading success,” according to a news release.
The commission will host community-based reading sessions throughout the state to encourage students to dream big through literacy.
The program will address reading gaps and strengthen literacy by supporting students where they are academically and nurturing a life-long love of reading while reinforcing the values of education, leadership, and service that King championed.
“The “MLK LEAD to Read” Reading Initiative honors Dr. King’s enduring legacy by inspiring young readers to think critically, dream boldly, and use their knowledge to create positive change in their communities and beyond,” according to the release.
For more information about the “MLK LEAD to Read” Literacy Initiative or to learn how your school can participate, contact the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission at 888-290-KING or www.arkingdream.org.
Entergy gives Easterseals incentives
Entergy Arkansas recently awarded Easterseals of Arkansas more than $18,000 in incentives for energy efficiency projects completed as part of the Entergy Solutions CitySmart program’s mission-based offering.
Easterseals completed construction on its new academy campus in West Little Rock earlier this year, welcoming the first students to the space in August.
Easterseals Arkansas is a nonprofit organization serving children and adults with special needs, fulfilling their mission to empower people with disabilities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. Entergy Arkansas knows that many nonprofit organizations may not have extra funds to devote to energy efficiency programs, which is why Entergy Solutions is focused on reducing barriers for mission-based organizations and delivering accessible energy-savings solutions for those who need it the most, according to a news release.
As a CitySmart program participant, Easterseals worked with the Entergy Solutions team and partners to be sure they were maximizing efficiencies during construction of the new facility.
Through the program, the organization focused on energy-efficient LED lighting, lighting controls and HVAC systems. These projects resulted in $18,378.05 in total incentives, and Easterseals has saved 73,512.17 kilowatt hours of energy through its participation in the program.
The CitySmart program is an Entergy Arkansas offering of the Entergy Solutions program that strives to help schools and municipal institutions run more efficiently through updates such as upgraded HVAC systems, commercial Wi-Fi thermostats and new lighting to save energy and money.
The program helps to identify energy savings specific to their facilities, prioritize a range of energy conservation measures, and achieve significant, long-term electricity savings.
Organizations earn incentives for completing qualifying energy efficiency projects and help improve efficiencies throughout their facilities.
Details: entergyarkansas.com/citysmart and entergysoluionsar.com.