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Some Arkansans excited about proposed plan to forgive student loans
Less monthly payments for student loan debt would mean more money spent in the state s economy, but taxes could also increase. Author: Jade Jackson Updated: 6:16 PM CST February 5, 2021
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas The Democrats $50,000 student loan forgiveness plan would make 36 million borrowers in the country debt free. On his first day in office, President Biden extended what was already a nearly year -long pause on federal student loan payments.
The Biden administration is reviewing whether it can take steps to provide student debt relief through executive action, even as it continues to call on Congress to pass legislation to help borrowers and their families.
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Arkansas employers added more than 65,000 jobs between November and December, pushing the state’s jobless rate down from 6.3% in November to 4.2% in December, according to Tuesday’s report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The number of employed in Arkansas during December was an estimated 1,303,673, down 12,396 jobs compared with December 2019. The year-over-year job losses are down considerably compared to the 78,011 jobs between November 2019 and November 2020.
December employment was up 65,543 jobs compared with November, a jump of 5.2%. The biggest sector gainers between November and December were Professional & Business Services with 3,400 more jobs and Trade, Transportation & Utilities with 2,000 more jobs. The December numbers are preliminary and subject to revision. The report marked the ninth full month of COVID-19 impacts on the economy.
Representative image The pet food maker is adding 220,000 sq ft and two new production lines to its Fort Smith, AR manufacturing plant.
Pet food and products firm Mars Petcare is planning to invest $145 million to increase the production capabilities of its wet pet food manufacturing plant in Fort Smith, AR by adding 200,000 sq ft of space to the facility and installing two new production lines, the Arkansas Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) announced in a recent release.
“The investment in our Fort Smith manufacturing facility enables us to continue to serve the ever-growing needs of pets and pet parents and represents our commitment to our associates and this community,” Ikdeep Singh, regional president of Mars Petcare North America, said in a statement.