'Taste of the South' tickets gobbled up
WASHINGTON -- Tickets sold out quickly for Saturday night's "Taste of the South" fundraiser in Washington, which draws thousands of people and raises large sums of money for Southern charities.
Arkansas and 12 other states participate in the gala, which features regional cuisine from across the South (and a couple of border states).
Since its start in 1982, Taste of the South has raised more than $4 million. A portion of the proceeds this year go to First Step Inc., an Arkansas group that serves people with developmental disabilities and delays.
The Arkansas food offerings included rice from Riceland Foods, turkey from Butterball and Sarah Lee desserts from Tyson Foods. Tyson also provided State Fair Classic All Meat Corn Dogs and Tyson Bites of Fire Boneless Buffalo Chicken Wings, Taste of the South organizers said.
Cotton delivers GOP radio address again
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton delivered this weekend's weekly radio address for Republicans. It was the third time party officials have given him the assignment.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tapped the Dardanelle Republican to tape the five-minute speech, which focused on "Defeating the Threat from Islamic Radicalism."
The address was recorded Thursday.
Cotton also gave the weekly address in February 2014 and November 2014 while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Other Arkansas Republicans have been featured in the weekly spots, including 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers in July 2014 and U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Rogers in June 2015.
Videos of the addresses by GOP senators are posted at youtube.com/user/gopweeklyaddress.
Arkansan delivers tech-training input
Charisse Childers, director of the Arkansas Department of Career Education, joined a panel discussion in Washington on Thursday afternoon titled: "Today's Career and Technical Education (CTE): A Dead-End Track or a Path to the Middle Class?"
The event was organized by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, which describes itself as "the nation's leader in advancing educational excellence for every child through quality research, analysis, and commentary."
Fordham's director of external relations, Alyssa Schwenk, said the institute recently released a report about career and technical education that looked at Arkansas' "robust program" and "the study itself had some really positive outcomes from Arkansas that could apply to other states as well."
According to the institute, "Arkansas students with greater exposure to CTE are more likely to graduate, enroll in a two-year college, be employed, and have higher wages. Furthermore, those students are just as likely to pursue a four-year degree as their peers."
Nucor exec speaks to 'State of Steel'
Chad Utermark, executive vice president of Nucor Corp., was one of the scheduled speakers Thursday morning at the Congressional Steel Caucus. The group was holding its "2016 State of Steel" hearing on "cheap foreign imports that have led to mass layoffs and plant idlings and closings," Roll Call newspaper reported.
According to the company's website, Utermark "began his career with Nucor as a utility operator at Nucor Steel-Arkansas in 1992, became shift supervisor in 1995 and was promoted to Hot Mill Manager in 1999. In 2003, he transferred to Nucor Steel-Texas as their Roll Mill Manager and was promoted to General Manager in 2008 and Vice President in 2009. Mr. Utermark has served as Vice President and General Manager of Nucor-Yamato Steel Company since 2011."
The Charlotte, N.C.-based company is one of Mississippi County's largest employers and its stock has risen sharply since the start of the year.
Huckabee, O'Malley promote war drama
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley traveled to Washington last week to help promote Turn: Washington Spies, a Revolutionary War-era drama that airs on AMC.
Turn's third season is set to debut April 25.
Dressed in business suits and surrounded by men in 18th-century military garb, the Republican Huckabee and the Democrat O'Malley posed for pictures with Ian Kahn, an actor who has portrayed George Washington on the program.
Huckabee and O'Malley both ran for president in 2016; both dropped out after lopsided losses in the Iowa caucuses.
Arkansas students get tour of Capitol
Students from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science and the Arts traveled to Washington last week with members of the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, visiting Capitol Hill and meeting with lawmakers from Arkansas.
For three of the students, it was their first trip to the nation's capital.
"This trip has been the most amazing experience for just a little girl from Arkansas," said Leah Riley, 16. The junior said she was especially impressed with the congressmen she met and with one of the world-famous statues she visited. "The Lincoln Memorial was really, really amazing. It was incredible and he's a lot bigger than I thought he would be," she said.
Another junior, 17-year-old Asa Dillahunty, said it was "really inspirational to see all these people from Arkansas in the nation's capital having these amazing jobs. That's something I've always dreamed of doing, really, just having an important role and leading people."
Malcolm Vincent, 16, said the entire journey had been an adventure; boarding an airplane for the first time, meeting members of the congressional delegation and viewing the landmarks.
"Everything was bigger than what I thought it was: The Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and then yesterday we got to get a tour of the Capitol. ... It's just a really nice place," he said.
Fourth District U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, a Hot Springs Republican, gave the chamber delegation a tour of the Capitol, taking them onto the House floor and getting them VIP access.
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the things we've gotten to do that other people can't do," Vincent said. "Just being here and getting the opportunity to see everything, I'm very thankful for it."
The congressman said he's glad the group was able to visit.
"Especially for the kids, it's a great experience for them," he said. "I got an opportunity to come to D.C. when I was in high school and it kind of changed my perspective on what our nation's capital is like."
Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or flockwood@arkansasonline.com.
SundayMonday on 04/17/2016