Attorney General says scammers targeting school sports fans

LITTLE ROCK — The state Attorney General’s office is contacting school districts statewide to warn them of a predatory marketing scheme that dupes local businesses into paying hundreds of dollars for sports merchandise, T-shirts, and athletic event items such as banners and cups.

These scammers tell businesses that the promotional products help sponsor or support their local teams, but the scammers are the only ones winning money in this game.

“Communities rally around their school sports teams and while these scammers may seem to be cheerleaders – they are really crooks,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

“Preying on the generosity of Arkansans is unacceptable and hurts our legitimate businesses’ ability to support their local schools, boosters and charitable organizations. I will not let scam artists win this game.” The office has received reports of an out-of-state company that is using predatory and deceptive tactics to sell local businesses promotional items that are promised to support local schools and their booster clubs, according to a news release issued Wednesday.

These unsolicited items are often delivered directly to the Athletic Director or simply addressed to the “Cheer Coach” or someone similar who can never use the items. As a result, the scammed business’s merchandise remains in the box where it does not benefit the school or the local business.

The Attorney General issued the following warnings: • School districts do not accept unsolicited “gifts” of spirit wear such as banners, posters, footballs, and stadium cushions.

• Contact your local school’s athletic program or booster club to confirm that any items you are ordering are going to support the school’s programs.

• Get confirmation from the school that the items you ordered were delivered.

A school’s name, insignia, and sports team logo are often trademarked.

Unauthorized use can result in civil liability.

If your business has been scammed contact our office at 800-482-8982 or visit ArkansasAG.gov. to file a complaint.

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ACHI site now tracking COVID-19 in Arkansas nursing homes

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement on Monday launched a new feature on its website to track COVID19 cases, deaths, and vaccination rates in Arkansas nursing homes.

ACHI posted the new interactive dashboard to the COVID-19 in Arkansas page on its website at achi.net/covid19. The information in the dashboard is taken from publicly available data on the website of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as self-reported by Arkansas nursing homes to CMS.

The dashboard is intended to aid families as they seek placement for their loved ones in need of long-term care. It also is intended to help target outreach and education efforts to facilities with low vaccine uptake.

“Nursing homes should join with many Arkansas hospitals in requiring vaccinations among employees,” said ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson.

“Health care workers need to step up and do the right thing for the protection of the vulnerable Arkansans in their care. And if your loved ones are in jeopardy because of a nursing home with a low vaccination rate, you deserve to know it.”

Some key points: Of the 222 Arkansas nursing homes reporting, as of Aug. 1 only 27 percent had at least 75 percent of their personnel fully vaccinated.

Arkansas nursing homes averaged 61 percent of their health care personnel fully vaccinated, in line with the national average of 60%.

Ten Arkansas nursing homes have reported that more than 50 percent of their residents infected with COVID-19 have died: The Waters of West Dixon (Little Rock) Jamestown Nursing and Rehab (Rogers) Chapel Woods Health and Rehabilitation (Warren) Dermott City Nursing Home (Dermott) Allay Health and Rehab (Little Rock) The Waters of Newport (Newport) Fianna Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Fort Smith) Westwood Health and Rehab (Springdale) Hickory Heights Health and Rehab (Little Rock) Lakewood Health and Rehab (North Little Rock) Jamestown Nursing and Rehab, LLC, reported seven COVID-19 deaths among staff and 114 among residents, the most reported at a single facility in Arkansas.

Some Arkansas nursing homes have been successful in getting high percentages of their residents and health care personnel vaccinated.

For example, Colonel Glenn Health and Rehab, LLC, in Little Rock has consistently reported that more than 90 percent of residents and health care personnel are fully vaccinated, with 95 percent of residents and 96 percent of health care personnel reported as fully vaccinated as of Aug. 1.