August has been quite a month at Arkansas PBS. The network received 18 nominations for the 47th annual Mid-America EMMY Awards/NATAS and was a finalist for 11 Public Media Awards in the National Educational Telecommunications Association’s 55th annual competition. I can’t take credit for those — the recognition is just another example of the incredible caliber of work produced by colleagues who I’ve gotten to know since starting here at the beginning of the year.
Each month, Arkansas PBS produces a promo showcasing what will be airing that month. For August, Mackenzie Holtzclaw and I recorded this preview of what was ahead.
We also had a couple of especially strong episodes of Arkansas Week, which I oversee production of. We had important topics with hosts Steve Barnes and Dawn Scott doing a great job of interviewing the guests.
On August 25, two days after former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson took part in the highly anticipated first Republican presidential debate, he joined us on Arkansas PBS to discuss his performance and what’s next in his long shot bid for the White House. He only narrowly met the minimum qualifications to participate in the debate, with his campaign announcing on the Sunday before Wednesday’s event that he had received enough individual donations. Then in the second segment, Democratic political consultant Michael Cook, Republican political consultant Bill Vickery and UCA political science professor Dr. Heather Yates offered analysis of the debate.
A key question now is whether Hutchinson’s exposure in the first debate, along with his campaigning, will be enough to expand support and enable him to meet requirements to participate in the second debate, scheduled for Sept. 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in California.
On the August 18 episode of Arkansas Week, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman was a guest to discuss the potential economic boom that south Arkansas could experience as companies, including ExxonMobil, are expanding the extraction of lithium. The metal is a key ingredient for electric vehicle batteries. Some projections suggest up to 15% of the world’s lithium could come from the Upper Jurassic Smackover Foundation that runs through the extreme southern end of the the state.
Then the second segment delved into a loosening of state child labor laws during the most recent session of the Arkansas General Assembly. There are concerns the changes could lead to kids being exploited and injured or killed in workplace accidents. Attorney Cara Butler with the Mitchell Williams law firm explained the two laws passed by the legislature, while Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families Keesa Smith discussed her concerns.
Director of Public Affairs at Arkansas PBS, 35-year broadcasting veteran, photographer, interested in radio, TV and railroad history, author and host of the book and podcast series Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
