Speaking of Arkansas - Climate change and Fayetteville's response: Will all cities need to prepare for "climate resiliency?"

Climate change and Fayetteville's response: Will all cities need to prepare for "climate resiliency?"

12/22/21 • 29 min

Will climate change adversely affect Northwest Arkansas so much that cities need specific plans for the meteorological, environmental and ecological effects? Fayetteville City Council member Teresa Turk believes so, and now isn't necessarily too soon to map out a strategy. The City Council recently adopted a resolution she offered to build "climate resilience" into the city's future. It will set aside $100,000 next year for the city staff or a consultant to draft a new chapter of city code to inform future city actions that impact environmental and ecosystem issues; to expand the footprint of lands of high ecological value; and to create a permanent capital improvement project budget for the purchase of lands with high environmental or ecological value. To read a copy of Turk's resolutions, click here. Turk was our recent guest on the "Speaking of Arkansas" podcast to discuss the resolution, the plan she hopes it produces and whether anything about it might complicate new development within the city.

Previous Episode

What form of public transportation works best in Northwest Arkansas?

As more people and businesses make Northwest Arkansas their home, regional planners and decision-makers ponder what role public transit will play. Can it become a true alternative that inspires automobile owners to leave their cars parked for the ease of letting someone else do the driving? Can a robust bus system diminish the number of vehicles on the region's crowded highways? In this episode of "Speaking of Arkansas," host Greg Harton speaks with Joel Gardner, executive director of the Ozark Regional Transit Authority, which serves as the bus system in urban and rural areas of Washington, Benton, Carroll and Madison counties. Jeff Hatley, the authority's public information officer, also sat in on the discussion about today's mass transit system, its shortcomings and the opportunities that exist to address transportation challenges as the region grows. Ozark Regional Transit Authority - https://www.ozark.org/ Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission 10-year transit development plan —https://www.nwarpc.org/transit/connect-northwest-arkansas/

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Gov. Asa Hutchinson on his final months in office

On this episode of the "Speaking of Arkansas" podcast, Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks about: • Sarah Huckabee Sanders, viewed as his likely replacement in 2023, and her qualities as a potential governor. • Issues he plans to work on during his remaining months in office. • Jail and prison overcrowding and whether Arkansas over-incarcerates its population. • His advice on how to approach Ukraine and Russia. • Mobile sports betting's entry into Arkansas. • His nephew Jim Hendren's Common Ground Arkansas organization. • Whether anti-intellectualism is an problem in Arkansas. • Arkansas' positioning to be heavily involved in the future of transportation. Join hosts Greg Harton and Rusty Turner of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as the governor covers a multitude of topics, including his post-gubernatorial plans (can you say "New Hampshire?).