First of Three Arkansas Minimum Wage Hikes Kicks in Jan. 1

First of Three Arkansas Minimum Wage Hikes Kicks in Jan. 1

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas’s first minimum wage increase, passed by voters in November 2018, will take place on January 1, 2019. Beginning in January, the minimum wage will increase from $8.50 to $9.25 an hour. More increases to the state’s minimum wage will happen over the next three years. The state wage increases to $10 an hour in 2020, then $11 in 2021. The proposal is the second minimum wage hike increase Arkansas voters have approved over the past four years. Voters in 2014 approved a plan to gradually raise the state’s previous minimum wage from $6.25 an hour.

Report: Arkansas Ranks

Low in Overall Health

LITTLE ROCK – A new report shows that one in four Arkansan adults smoke. That stat alone played a big role in moving the Natural State from 46th in overall health nationwide to 48th. According to America’s Health Rankings, Arkansas’ biggest challenge is smoking. Using the state’s all-payer claims database, the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement found the state spends $795 million on tobacco-related illnesses. The state’s $1.15 per pack tax on cigarettes brings in $ 165 million in revenue. That means Arkansans who don’t smoke pick up the rest of the bill, which is $630 million. “I think it is fair to say that nonsmokers are paying for the harm caused by tobacco among our fellow citizens,” said Dr. Joe Thompson with the Arkansas CenterforHealth Improvement. The new report also lists a high cardiovascular death rate and a low rate of dentists as the state’s other biggest challenges.

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Springdale Woman Embezzles $400,000 from Church

SPRINGDALE – Andrea Smith, 40, was arrested Dec. 15 on suspicion of felony theft of property, according to a probable cause affidavit. The board members of Assembly of God Church in Springdale initially estimated that at least $312,000 had been stolen, going back to 2012. Detective Justin Ingram received an email from Pastor Keith Underhill from the church on July 27, informing him that a church official went through all the financial statements and found that a total of $413,701 had been embezzled. Underhill confronted Smith and demanded she produce reconciled bank statements. Within an hour, Smith gave Underhill a letter stating she had stolen approximately $10,000 in church funds, and that she began stealing in 2016. The church board investigated and found a far greater theft amount. Smith was released on $1,500 bond.