State briefs

Governor names senior health policy adviser

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has hired a staffer for fellow Republican U. S. Sen. Tom Cotton as his new senior health policy adviser.

Hutchinson’s office on Monday announced he had hired John Martin to the post, starting Sept. 8. Martin is currently Cotton’s deputy legislative director, which he has advised the freshman senator on domestic policy issues such as health care and agriculture.

Martin previously worked on former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson’s unsuccessful U. S. Senate bid in Wisconsin and also has worked as a consultant for Deloitte.

Martin, a Texas native, is joining the governor’s staff as a legislative task force is studying the future of the state’s compromise Medicaid expansion.

Martin’s annual salary will be $ 90,000.

FEMA says aid tops $ 2 million after storms

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Federal officials say the government has provided more than $ 2 million in aid to help Arkansas recover from storms that hit in May and June.

Tornadoes, high winds and flooding ravaged the state between May 7 and June 15.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says more than $ 900,000 in housing aid went to homeowners and renters. That money can be used to provide temporary housing and help repair damage not covered by insurance.

Nearly $ 100,000 was paid for medical costs, clothing, cleanup and other expenses.

Also, the U. S. Small Business Administration has handled more than $ 1 million in low- interest loans for homeowners, renters and businesses.

An emergency declaration covered Crawford, Garland, Howard, Jefferson, Little River, Miller, Perry, Sebastian, and Sevier counties.

The deadline to apply for aid is Aug. 25.

Fires at LR playgrounds under investigation

LITTLE ROCK — The Little Rock Fire Department is investigating the second fire to destroy playground equipment at a local elementary school in two days.

According to fire department Capt. Edwin Woolf, firefighters responded to Geyer Springs Elementary shortly before noon Sunday and found playground equipment on fire.

Authorities say firefighters responded to a similar fire Friday evening at Franklin Incentive Elementary School. According to Capt. Randy Hickmon, it took about 30 minutes to extinguish that fire.

Woolf said there is reason to believe that both fires were set intentionally and they are under investigation.