AGP Executive Report

AI & Infrastructure: Google confirmed a $1B-plus data center plan in Clarksville (Johnson County), aiming for about 1.2 million sq. ft. and starting with 150 MW of power capacity—more jobs, more electricity demand, and a bigger footprint for Arkansas’ AI buildout. Lithium Supply Chain: The Venture Center launched the fourth Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator cohort, starting Sept. 8 in Magnolia, with a statewide push to connect startups to producers, researchers, investors, and manufacturers. Water Quality & Public Health: Colorado lifted the E. coli recreation advisory for John Martin Reservoir after multiple safe readings following a massive Pueblo sewage spill; downstream advisories remain in effect along parts of the Arkansas River corridor. Recycling & Waste: Jonesboro was named Arkansas Recycling Coalition’s 2026 Government Recycler of the Year for expanding recycling access and diverting more materials from landfills. Extreme Weather Watch: Labor Day forecasts flag persistent central heat plus severe storms and flash-flood risk in parts of the country. Local Environment Ops: Arkansas recycled old I-30 concrete in place on a 20-mile project, avoiding quarrying 95,000+ tons of new stone and cutting truck fuel use. Policy & Conservation: House Republicans announced probes into environmental groups, alleging “radical lawfare” tied to litigation funded through fee-shifting.

Sewage Spill Update (Arkansas River): Colorado lifted the recreation and water-contact advisory for John Martin Reservoir after repeated E. coli tests returned to safe levels following a 4.2-million-gallon untreated sewage spill from Pueblo. Public Health (Downstream): A separate advisory remains downstream along the Arkansas River for communities including Blende, Avondale, Fowler, Manzanola, Rocky Ford, La Junta and Las Animas, where the latest E. coli readings still vary widely. Wildlife & Water Safety (Arkansas): The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment issued a harmful algae bloom advisory for Lake Poinsett near Harrisburg, warning of cyanobacteria toxins and urging extra caution for kids, pets and livestock. Private Land Conservation (Arkansas): The AGFC honored six landowners and partners at the Natural State Private Lands Expo, including awards for wildlife habitat improvements and prescribed fire advocacy. Local Government Recycling (Jonesboro): Jonesboro was named Arkansas Recycling Coalition’s 2026 Government Recycler of the Year for expanding recycling access and reducing landfill waste. Energy & Climate Policy (National): Republicans in Congress announced a probe into environmental nonprofits, while courts upheld challenges to New York’s climate “superfund” style law. Banking (Mid-South): Simmons Bank plans to close 26 branches, including six in Arkansas, citing more customers using digital and self-service options.

Arkansas River Health Watch: After a massive raw sewage spill into the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife expanded water-contact advisories and reported E. coli levels still unsafe downstream, including around John Martin Reservoir and multiple state wildlife areas. State Forestry & Research: Arkansas lawmakers move to preserve the Crossett Experimental Forest under state ownership to keep long-running forestry research and education going, with UAM tied to the mission. New Research Facility: UAM will hold a ribbon-cutting Oct. 2 for the Arkansas Forest Health Research Center, funded with federal and state dollars to tackle forest diseases, invasive insects, and climate threats. Clean Energy Deal: Microsoft signed a long-term power purchase agreement for a Washington solar project, following Google’s earlier anchor role for an Arkansas solar project—another sign of big tech backing renewables. Recycling Win: Jonesboro earned “Government Recycler of the Year” for expanded drop-offs and junk disposal events, though only about a third of residents recycle. Food Safety: Walmart frozen berries were recalled in Arkansas and 15 other states over possible E. coli contamination. Heat & Climate Impacts: A warming climate is pushing marathon organizers to shift dates and routes to keep runners safer in hotter conditions.

Water Safety Crisis: Colorado Parks and Wildlife extended advisories after a massive raw sewage spill into the Arkansas River, with E. coli still far above safe levels and warnings to avoid contact at multiple sites and wildlife areas downstream. Public Health Alert (Arkansas): Arkansas DEQ issued a harmful algal bloom advisory for Lake Poinsett in Poinsett County, urging residents to keep children, pets, and livestock away until the bloom fully dissipates. Local Recycling Win: Jonesboro earned 2026 Government Recycler of the Year for expanding drop-off options and junk disposal events, boosting recycling volumes—though only about a third of residents recycle now. Lithium & Jobs Pipeline: The Venture Center launched the fourth Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator cohort, connecting companies with producers and researchers to grow the state’s battery supply chain. Climate & Drought Watch: A flash drought expanded into the Ozarks and parts of Arkansas, stressing forage and raising fire danger concerns.

Arkansas River Health Alert: Colorado Parks and Wildlife expanded its water contact advisory to 10 state wildlife areas after a massive raw sewage spill into the Arkansas River near Pueblo, with E. coli readings reported up to 24 times above normal; officials warn people to avoid swimming, wading, tubing, paddleboarding, fishing, and to keep pets away, including at John Martin Reservoir and the Las Animas Fish Hatchery. Drought Watch: A “flash drought” is spreading from the Southern Plains into the Ozarks, with Missouri and parts of Arkansas seeing worsening dryness and forage impacts, including reports of supplemental feeding and hauling water. Conservation & Community: GARNA marked its 30th anniversary and honored longtime volunteer Alan Robinson with a new Legacy Creator Award for decades of environmental education and stewardship in the Upper Arkansas River Valley. Local Leadership: UAMS Schmieding Kids First in Springdale named Jennifer Ivy as its new director, bringing nearly a decade of experience in early childhood development services. Flood Resilience Funding: E2I2 and VOTE SoAR won Climate Smart Communities Initiative support for “Where It Floods Matters,” a grassroots-led flood resiliency effort in Hempstead and Lafayette counties. Green Jobs Pipeline: UAFS RoarCorps is expanding a community service program with an environmental stewardship component, supported by Engage Arkansas and private funding.

Arkansas River Health Alert: Colorado officials say a 4.2-million-gallon raw sewage spill in Pueblo has stopped, but E. coli remains dangerously high downstream, prompting expanded water-contact advisories along the Arkansas River and at John Martin Reservoir and multiple state wildlife areas. Community Flood Resilience: Two Arkansas groups, Environmental Equity Information Institute (E2I2) and VOTE SoAR, won over $3 million in Climate Smart Community Initiative funding for a year-long, community-led flood resiliency project in Hempstead and Lafayette counties. Conservation Career Pipeline: A Northwest Arkansas workforce program is building a pipeline of conservation professionals, pairing training with local nonprofit work. Local Water & Wastewater Oversight: ADEQ and a Little Rock-area wastewater operator reached a consent order over alleged permit renewal timing issues. Wildlife & Public Safety: A Fairfield Bay restaurant temporarily closed after raccoons caused major damage, with cleanup and sanitization underway. Outdoor Heat Impacts: Arkansas anglers and hunters are dealing with extreme heat that’s reshaping outdoor plans and conditions.

Wastewater Watch: ADEQ and Tisdale Properties & Development reached a July 2 consent order over a Little Rock non-municipal wastewater plant’s Clean Water Act permit renewal timing, with a $1,000 civil penalty and requirements to stay in line with the NPDES permit while renewal is finalized. Clean Water & Public Health: A major sewage dump into the Arkansas River near Pueblo, Colorado—4.2 million gallons of untreated wastewater—has triggered downstream water contact advisories as E. coli levels remain high, with officials warning people to avoid affected river areas. Forestry & Land Stewardship: The “Forestry Forward” conference is set for Sept. 23-24 in Texarkana, bringing Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas leaders together to tackle forest market shifts and push sustainable management. Jobs & Infrastructure: Eaton plans a $242+ million North Little Rock facility to build modular electrical enclosures, aiming to create about 1,200 jobs—an energy-grid boost with ripple effects for data centers and utilities. Drought-Resilient Farming: Arkansas State University is leading an NSF-funded, multi-university project on drought tolerance in rice and wheat using mycorrhizal inoculants. Wildlife & Health: Arkansas researchers are also tracking alpha-gal syndrome’s spread, with suspected cases rising sharply in the state.

Sewage Spill Health Alert: Colorado officials say more than 4.2 million gallons of untreated sewage, including E. coli, entered the Arkansas River near Pueblo and contamination was measured up to 24 times above normal; public health warnings urge people to avoid the river east of key areas as bacteria die off with sunlight and dilution. Water & Land Stewardship: Arkansas Game and Fish is taking applications for a feral hog trap reimbursement program through Sept. 11, offering 75% cost share (up to $20,000) for approved trapping systems on qualifying private land. Drought-Resilient Crops Research: Arkansas State University leads a multi-institution NSF project on drought tolerance in rice and wheat, testing mycorrhizal inoculants to help crops handle water stress through 2030. Clean Energy for Schools: A national roundup highlights how solar is cutting costs for schools, with SEIA spotlighting multiple campuses using rooftop power to strengthen local energy resilience. Local Climate Resilience: Fort Smith residents can register for e-bike vouchers through the Arkansas Tri-Region E-Bike Incentive Program before the Sept. 15 random selection.

Arkansas River Sewage Spill: Colorado officials urged people to stay out of the Arkansas River east of Confluence Park after a raw sewage spill of more than 4 million gallons; testing found E. coli up to 24 times above safe levels, with contamination moving downstream and raising food-safety concerns for rural communities relying on the river. Feral Hog Control: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is taking applications for a feral hog trap reimbursement program through Sept. 11, offering 75% cost coverage (up to $20,000) for approved trapping systems on qualifying private land. Lithium Supply Push in Arkansas: LG Energy Solution signed a long-term deal with Smackover Lithium to secure U.S.-produced lithium carbonate for battery materials, with deliveries beginning in 2029 from Smackover’s South West Arkansas project. Lower Mississippi Habitat Grants: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced nearly $5 million in grants to restore forests and wetlands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, aiming to improve habitat and water quality across seven states. Healthcare & Rural Tech Funding: Johnson Regional Medical Center received $974,455 through Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program to expand telecardiology access and modernize cybersecurity and network infrastructure. Cybersecurity for Housing: HUD tightened cyber-incident reporting rules as ransomware attacks on housing authorities rose, prompting new training support efforts for public housing agencies. Climate Superfund Court Win: Republican-led legal challenges helped strike down New York’s $75 billion Climate Change Superfund Act, blocking state penalties on energy producers.

Arkansas River Health Alert: Colorado health officials extended a public health advisory after a 4.2–4.25 million gallon untreated sewage spill near Pueblo sent E. coli levels soaring downstream, with warnings to avoid contact with the Arkansas River and John Martin Reservoir area activities as the contamination moves. Lithium Supply Boost for Arkansas: Smackover Lithium’s Southwest Arkansas project landed a major 10-year offtake deal with LG Energy Solution for 8,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually (80,000 tons total, about $1.5B estimated), using low-carbon direct lithium extraction and aiming to strengthen U.S. battery supply chains. More Lithium Customers: The LG deal marks a second major customer commitment for the South West Arkansas project, following Trafigura’s earlier agreement. Soot Pollution Fight in Court: Republican attorneys general, including Arkansas, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision upholding tighter EPA soot limits from the Biden era. Heat on the Farm: Northeast Arkansas rice harvest is being pushed by triple-digit temperatures, with growers racing to manage drying and quality. Wildlife Education: The Arkansas 4-H Food Plot Project is open for youth ages 9–19, teaching hands-on wildlife habitat planting and maintenance.

Red Wolf Conservation: Jonesboro’s Craighead Forest Park will host the third annual Red Wolf Renaissance Fair in October, with proceeds supporting the endangered American red wolf; organizers say about 22–23 adults and 14–15 pups remain in the wild, while roughly 295 are in captivity. Water Pollution Alert: A major sewage spill in Pueblo, Colorado—about 4.2–4.25 million gallons of untreated wastewater—has triggered downstream advisories along the Arkansas River, including warnings for John Martin Reservoir State Park visitors to avoid any direct water contact as bacteria levels remain extremely high. Lithium Supply Chain: Smackover Lithium (Standard Lithium and Equinor) signed a second binding offtake deal with LG Energy Solution for battery-quality lithium carbonate from the South West Arkansas project—8,000 metric tons per year over 10 years, estimated at $1.5 billion. Public Health & Environment: Alpha-gal syndrome is spreading rapidly in the region, with Arkansas cases nearly doubling year-over-year, highlighting growing tick-borne allergy risks tied to local outdoor conditions. Community Stewardship: UAFS’s RoarCorps is expanding youth service with a new grant, including an environmental stewardship track aimed at improving literacy and wellbeing in Fort Smith-area youth.

Sewage Spill Alert (Arkansas River): Colorado officials say about 4.25 million gallons of untreated sewage from Pueblo is moving downstream, with John Martin Reservoir and the Arkansas River expected to be affected Monday. Visitors are told to avoid swimming, wading, tubing, paddleboarding, fishing, and even keeping pets away from the water as E. coli levels remain dangerously high. Public Health & Water Safety: Health agencies also advise anyone who contacts the water to wash with soap and clean water and watch for symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever, and stomach illness. Rural Health Funding (Arkansas): Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced $149.3 million in Rural Health Transformation Program grants for 50 recipients, with Arkansas expecting roughly $1 billion over five years to expand telehealth, specialty care, and emergency readiness. Heat Dome & Storm Risk: A heat dome is keeping Arkansas and the Southeast extremely hot while boosting severe storm and flooding threats farther north. Community Cleanups (Keep El Dorado Beautiful): Keep El Dorado Beautiful is gearing up for the Great Arkansas Cleanup starting Sept. 12, with support for litter pickups and recycling across the state.

Sewage Spill Watch: Colorado health officials issued an advisory for the Arkansas River downstream of Pueblo after about 4.25 million gallons of untreated sewage spilled from the city’s wastewater plant, with E. coli levels found at extremely high levels—impacting areas near the Fountain Creek entry through John Martin Reservoir and prompting warnings for recreation and water use. River & Farms Response: Colorado agriculture agencies say they’re working with local partners to mitigate effects for produce growers along the Arkansas River Valley under FDA Produce Safety Rule requirements. Heat Dome Risk: A powerful heat dome is keeping Arkansas and the South in extreme late-summer heat while also boosting severe storm and flooding risk farther north and east, with unusually warm nights making recovery harder. Conservation & Wildlife: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announced deer-season open houses in Grant and Sevier counties to help hunters with deer management updates. Rural Health Funding: Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center received more than $1 million through the Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program for an emergency generator, telemedicine expansion, emergency teleconsultation, and behavioral health support.

Sewage Spill Threatens Arkansas River: Colorado health officials issued an advisory to avoid the Arkansas River downstream of Pueblo after a “significant accidental release” of untreated sewage contaminated the water with high E. coli levels, with the warning covering areas near John Martin Reservoir and towns including La Junta and Rocky Ford. River Cleanup Efforts: Colorado agriculture and public health agencies say they’re working with Pueblo officials and partners to mitigate impacts to farms and ranches that rely on the river, with more lab results expected. Wildfire Watch in Union County: The Pine Tree Road Fire was previously reported 100% contained after burning 2,102 acres, but officials say it flared up again while staying within containment lines; no homes were lost and no injuries were reported. Conservation Spotlight: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s first woman full-term commissioner, Anne Marie Doramus, highlighted habitat and wildlife initiatives like Lake Conway restoration and Generation Conservation. Deer Season Prep: AGFC will hold deer hunting open houses in Grant and Sevier counties with experts available for questions. Local Water/Health Funding: Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center received over $1 million through the Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program for emergency power, telemedicine, and behavioral health support.

Wildlife Watch: Tennessee reports black bears are slowly recolonizing Middle and West Tennessee, likely pushed by expanding populations from neighboring states including Arkansas and Missouri. Water & Public Health: Colorado officials are working to limit impacts after about 4.25 million gallons of untreated sewage spilled into the Arkansas River in Pueblo, with mitigation focused on farms and produce growers downstream. Rural Health Funding: Arkansas is rolling out major Rural Health Transformation Program awards—$149.3 million statewide—plus Mercy Fort Smith receiving more than $19 million and Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center getting over $1 million for emergency power, telemedicine, and behavioral health. Ag Tech in Arkansas: The AI in Agriculture Symposium is set for Sept. 21 at the Don Tyson Center in Fayetteville, highlighting how researchers are using AI for farming and food production. Local Food Security: Jonesboro-University Rotary Club presented a $5,000 check to the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas to support a school pantry at the HWES Magnet School. Education & Oversight: Microschools are growing under the Arkansas LEARNS Act, with critics pointing to limited state oversight as enrollment rises.

Rural Health Funding: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced $149.3 million in first-round Rural Health Transformation Program grants for Arkansas, with $1B expected over five years, including major support for telehealth, emergency preparedness, and specialty access. Southwest Arkansas Hospital Boost: Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center is set to receive more than $1 million for a new emergency generator, telemedicine “virtual physician carts,” emergency teleconsultation, and behavioral health support. Mercy Fort Smith Award: Mercy Fort Smith Communities won over $19 million to expand telehealth and rural hospital capacity, including “SMART rooms,” monitoring and imaging, and patient navigation. Water Pollution Watch: Colorado officials are working to limit impacts after about 4.25 million gallons of untreated sewage spilled into the Arkansas River near Pueblo, raising concerns for farms and produce growers downstream. Local Governance & Schools: Little Rock adopted new zone lines for a new West Little Rock high school and approved a resolution for parents to choose their high school regardless of where they live. Education Oversight: Microschools are growing in Arkansas with limited state oversight under the Arkansas LEARNS Act, even as enrollment rises. Food & Health Safety: Arkansas Department of Health posted recent retail food inspection findings, including sanitation and storage issues at a White Hall food establishment.