Thursday’s thumbs

Arkansas covid-19 data site gets new life

It’s Thursday and another chance to fire off a few thumbs about some of news developments in our neck of the worlds and elsewhere:

When it comes to research that involves gathering and analyzing data, you know the workload can spread faster than, say, the coronavirus. That’s what happened when Springdale’s Misty Orpin began a personal pursuit of understanding Arkansas’ covid-19 numbers. The former journalist’s effort became ArkansasCovid.com, a website and Twitter account that’s grown into a trusted nongovernmental analysis thousands of Arkansans follow to better understand the state’s epidemic. Orpin, though, has more important responsibilities: Being a parent to her two children. The data-heavy effort evolved into a workload that’s too much for one person, so Orpin’s next great idea was to ask the University of Arkansas School of Journalism and Strategic Media to take over the accounts. As of Sept. 14, the project will shift entirely to become something even more — a hands-on educational pursuit of students of UA Assistant Professor Rob Wells. Making sense of the data and telling the stories of people affected by covid-19 could certainly be a gold mine of experience for journalism students and for Arkansans concerned about the virus. And evaluating data can also invoke the “watchdog” role of journalism that’s always been so critical. Kudos to everyone involved.

The University of Arkansas’ vision for the Windgate Art and Design District in south Fayetteville is coming into focus three years after two astonishing gifts stirred the imaginations for what could be. The Windgate Charitable Foundation’s $40 million and the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation’s $120 million, as well as other donations, are transforming an art program into an impressive school of art and expanded campus. The UA now says it will break ground on a new four-story, $55 million art building this fall, giving the arts district its centerpiece component and further solidifying the southern end of the “arts corridor” Fayetteville is busy trying to establish. The new 154,660-squarefoot structure, UA officials say, will grow the school of art and raise the UA’s profile as a desirable center of arts education. The building will become another incredible strand in a developing tapestry of arts facilities and programming in Northwest Arkansas, woven together nicely with places such as the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Walton Arts Center, the Arkansas Music Pavilion, TheatreSquared and so many other artistic endeavors and venues.

At 86.2% as of Sept. 1, Arkansas’ response rate as measured by housing units is pretty good — tied with Nebraska for the 21st-place spot among the states. We’re better than the national average of 84.1%, but well behind, for example, Idahoans. The Gem State’s residents take top honors so far with a 97.2% household response rate. Of course, many of us have been hearing for months and months how the decennial federal headcount is vital to distribution of state and federal funding over the next 10 years. For those more deadline-oriented people — as journalists, we can appreciate that — it’s time to take action. The 2020 U.S. Census will conclude its “enumerations” on Sept. 30. If your part of a household that hasn’t been counted yet, you’re running out of time. Do your community and state a solid favor: Go to 2020census.gov to complete a form within a few minutes. Money for roads, transportation programs, social services and many other needs rely heavily on the numbers measured through the census. It’s a simple way to help.

We can’t blame anyone for taking a hiatus from social media or quitting it altogether, but Harrison Mayor Jerry Jackson deserves a bit of a jeer for the reason he plans to stay off Facebook. On the city’s Facebook page, Jackson commented about how the city was a peaceful place before two activists with a “Black Lives Matter agenda” arrived for protests of police brutality. He also called on a sign owner in town to “show his love” for Harrison by removing billboards that display Black Lives Matter messages. Jackson did apologize and deleted the post, saying he got too emotional in his defense of local law enforcement. A city leader — well, any leader — shouldn’t target anyone for expressing themselves. The remarks damaged recent unifying efforts that showed progress in Harrison’s attempts to repair a reputation harmed by past — and some suggest, current — racial divisions. It’s worth noting and celebrating that the Harrison City Council recently voted 6-2 to pass a resolution condemning racism and supporting a proposed Arkansas hate-crime law.