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INDEX Opinion Covid Events Obits Sports Arkadelphian
No. 2
Vol. 4
1, 2 2 2 3 4 4
January 20, 2022
U. S. Steel selects Osceola, Arkansas as location for most advanced steelmaking facility in North America Arkansas Ecenomic Development Commission
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) (“U. S. Steel”) today announced that its nextgeneration highly sustainable and technologically advanced steel mill will be located in Osceola, Ark., close to U. S. Steel’s cutting-edge Big River Steel plant. The facility is engineered to bring together the most advanced technology to create the steel mill of the future that delivers profitable solutions for customers. The new mill is designed to extend U. S. Steel’s customer advantages as the company maps a bold path toward a more sustainable future. The new optimized steel production facility is expected to feature two electric arc furnaces (EAFs) with 3 million tons per year of advanced steelmaking capability, a state of the art endless casting and rolling line, and advanced finishing capabilities. This first use of endless casting and rolling technology in the United States brings significant energy, efficiency,
and capability enhancements to the company’s operations. Upon completion, this project will apply to become LEED® certified. The site selection is subject to a number of factors, including final agreements with key partners. Permitting for the project is underway and the company expects to break ground in the first quarter of 2022, with project completion and full operation anticipated in 2024. “With this location selected and shovels ready, we are reshaping the future of steelmaking,” said U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt. “We had numerous competitive site options, but Osceola offers our customers incomparable advantages.” When completed, the sophisticated new steelmaking facility in combination with Big River Steel will form a 6.3 million ton mega mill capable of providing many of the most advanced and sustainable steels in North America. The new non-grain oriented electrical steel and galvalume/galvanizing lines
Pink Avenue hosts “For the Love of Women” benefit for Abby Hill Archer Digital Media
HOT SPRINGS – Boutique retailer Pink Avenue is organizing a dazzling charitable event “For the Love of Women” to raise funds for Abby Hill whose mission is to help at-risk families by providing housing, individual and group training in a safe, simple and sustainable way. The event consists of a fashion show set to live music, designer fashion and jewelry showcase, giveaways, a silent auction and more. Doors open at 7 PM at Vapors Live on Park Avenue in Hot Springs on Friday, February 4, 2022. The fashion show will take place at 7:30 PM, and incorporate a special recognition of local women in the community that
are the building blocks for the area’s future. Tickets are $25 and all persons are welcome. Proceeds will go towards building a cottage for a single mother and her children at Abby Hill’s new Family Life Campus just outside Hot Springs. Guests will also be treated to goody bag compliments of Pink Avenue. “We are so excited to be putting this event on for a FABULOUS cause! Brant and Michelle are doing incredible work at Abby Hill and we couldn’t be happier to help. The event will feature great music in a historic venue with 20 models and some incredible clothing. Should be a lot of fun and hopefully raise a lot of money for a worthy cause!” said event organizer Cassidy Allen owner of Pink Avenue.
currently under construction at Big River Steel will further advance U. S. Steel’s ability to respond to customers’ pressing supply chain needs to satisfy their own domestic manufacturing expansion. The location affords abundant, increasingly renewable and clean power from Entergy, superior Class 1 rail service from BNSF with connections to other railroads, Mississippi River docks and interstate trucking access. Burritt continued, “The State of Arkansas, Mississippi County, the City of Osceola, Entergy, BNSF, and other parties have all worked to make this the clear choice for a path to the future without roadblocks. We’re not going to make our stakeholders wait to see progress. We intend to break ground this quarter and get to work as soon as permits are in hand. With its extraordinarily low-cost structure, energy efficient production equipment, and advanced capabilities, this $3 billion project will yield significant benefits to our customers, stockholder, communities, employees,
and contribute to a more sustainable world.” “Our nation and our customers need a robust and resilient supply chain to meet consumers’ needs, and that starts with U. S. Steel’s advanced, sustainable steels. Steel is critical to so much of what the world builds, so how we make our products contributes directly to a better, more sustainable world for all. This new facility will build that future. Stay tuned. As we add this to our world-class Big River Steel facility, you’re going to be seeing great things as we advance the Best for AllSM future of steel.” “Arkansas has created an ideal business environment for the growth of the steel industry in our state,” Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said. “The investment and high paying jobs that will result from this announcement will make a real difference in the lives of many families in Northeast Arkansas. I am grateful for the support of the legislature which was critical in winning this expansion. Now, U. S. Steel is an important part of our future and we look
forward to continued success in the coming years.” “Mississippi County has become a national leader in steel production, and U. S. Steel’s decision to create ‘the steel mill of the future’ in this community continues to underscore why,” Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston said. “Not only does Arkansas have a trained workforce, a reliable electrical grid, and easy access to river, rail, and highways, but it also has a governor, a General
Assembly, and numerous community partners and stakeholders who recognize the importance of broadening economic opportunities for Arkansans and who will go the extra mile to compete for those opportunities. U. S. Steel is a highly regarded member of the state’s business community, and we are excited to continue our partnership with them as they establish the most advanced steelmaking facility in North America—right here in Arkansas.”
Photo courtesy of U.S. Steel
The Supreme Court Got it Right Bruce Westerman
from the President’s desire for more control over our lives. In a time when many employers are struggling to find workers, it is short sighted to compel businesses to force employees to choose between their personal health care decisions and their jobs. Now, businesses and employees may focus on generating revenue, providing good jobs for their communities, and contributing to the American economy. As pleased as I am with the Supreme Court’s decision in the OSHA case, and I am thankful for the appointment of three conservative judges to the Court by former President Trump, I’m
AR Representative The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down President Biden’s and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) vaccine mandate on private businesses with over 100 employees. This important decision protects the rights of private enterprise and roughly 84 million Americans from government overreach. The Supreme Court serves as a check and balance on both the Executive and the Legislative branches, and, in this case, the Court demonstrated its power to protect the American people
disappointed that it upheld the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) rule requiring Medicare and Medicaid health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. I have heard from many local, rural health care providers who fear that the CMS mandate will lead to fewer nurses, technicians, medical assistants, and others who are integral to the proper functioning of our hospitals and clinics across the Fourth District. In rural areas especially, health care access is already rationed, and Americans have to travel too far to get quality care. While I respect the Supreme Court’s role in interpreting the law and deciding whether
federal agencies have the legal authority to make the rules they do, I fear that the CMS rule will harm rural America. As I’ve said many times over the past year, I’m vaccinated and I’m proud those vaccines are widely available thanks to Operation Warp Speed. However, I will continue to oppose one-size-fits-all federal mandates that harm American families, like the OSHA mandate would have and the CMS mandate will. I hope that going forward, this Administration will trust the American people more and forego its apparent need to control every part of our lives.
Maps
Photo courtesy of Clark County Clerk Mona Vance
The Clark County Justice of the Peace maps have been updated (left) for the first time since 2012 (right). This map of the entire county shows all 11 Quorum Courts districts. Info from Weather.com
FRI - Jan. 21 mostly sunny
SAT - Jan. 22 partly cloudy
SUN - Jan. 23 sunny
MON - Jan. 24 mostly sunny
TUE - Jan. 25 partly cloudy
WED - Jan. 26 partly cloudy
THU - Jan. 27 partly cloudy
39o 16
47o 22
50o 25
56o 32
54o 27
47o 25
51o 29
Precipitation: 0% Wind: NE 7 mph Humidity: 41%
Precipitation: 2% Wind: N 5 mph Humidity: 50%
Precipitation: 3% Wind: WNW 6 mph Humidity 52%
Precipitation: 6% Wind: WSW 9 mph Humidity: 54%
Precipitation: 24% Wind: NNW 8 mph Humidity: 65%
Precipitation: 4% Wind: NNW 7 mph Humidity: 57%
Precipitation: 9% Wind: NNW 7 mph Humidty: 54%
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