Arkansas is one of four states in the U.S. that has not passed any stay-at-home orders to combat coronavirus, and Governor Asa Hutchinson plans to keep it that way unless cases spike.
"That option is always on the table," Hutchinson told Cheddar. "If it does spike, if we stop beating the curve, then we will certainly move to more stringent measures."
In the meantime, Hutchinson has opted to shut down schools and select businesses and enforce social distancing guidelines. These measures stop short of the kind of comprehensive shutdowns that other states have employed to stop the spread of COVID-19. The governor has even forbidden cities and municipalities from imposing lockdown orders.
Hutchinson is one of eight governors who have held off on issuing statewide stay-at-home orders, although half of those states have ordered residents in some specific areas to stay in place. He called this approach a "better balance" of safety and economic concerns, while critics have called it irresponsible and potentially dangerous.
"If we went to a shelter-at-home order, then still, because every state exempts essential services, 700,000 Arkansans would still go to work tomorrow, but you'd put 100,000 people out of work," he said.
There have been more than 1,100 coronavirus cases and 21 deaths in Arkansas. This places it in the middle of the pack in terms of the impact of COVID-19, but it also discovered its first case much later (March 11) than the states now approaching their apex.
Whether this more targeted approach will be as effective remains to be seen, but Hutchinson is banking on Arkansans strictly following social distancing guidelines in order to avoid an economic shutdown.
"It's almost an incentive to Arkansans that if you keep social distancing, if you keep reducing the spread, then we're not going to have to be able to shut every business down," he said. "That incentive is working. If it doesn't, we'll put in additional measures."
Hutchinson claims that his state's approach to fighting the outbreak has gotten the tacit approval of White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has nonetheless said multiple times that every state should issue stay-at-home orders to be safe.
"I spoke with Dr. Fauci this morning and reviewed what we're doing," he said. "He's very pleased with the success that we've had. Our measures have been more effective than some other states that have gone to a stay-at-home order."
Of course Arkansas, like many states facing this rapidly developing pandemic, could find itself in a different situation in the weeks to come.
For now, the governor is urging those celebrating Easter this Sunday to meet remotely or observe strict social distancing. The state has not officially banned religious gatherings.
While the United States struggles with mass shootings, other countries have had success with gun regulations - often after their own mass shootings. On this Gun Awareness Day, Cheddar's Shannon LaNier reports on steps some other countries have taken to stop gun violence.
Join Cheddar News as we break down the Need 2 Know headlines this morning including Gun Violence Awareness Day, how to prevent mass shootings, and the president's comments on gun control.
President Biden and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell meet at the White House today for the first time since Powell's renomination to the position. The President and the Fed Chair discussed the economy and historically high inflation, as new data shows inflation may be cooling slightly. Morning Consult economic analyst Jesse Wheeler joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss how the Biden administration at the U.S. central bank can work together to combat soaring prices for American consumers.
In the second part of Cheddar's talk with Governor Asa Hutchinson, the Republican from Arkansas discussed his state's abortion trigger law and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas law that would prevent social media platform moderation currently being held up by the U.S. Supreme Court, and rumors of his 2024 presidential run. "I did go to New Hampshire. I am testing the waters out there, so no decision at this point. But we're looking at it," he said, noting that if former President Donald Trump runs, it would not affect his own decision.
Cheddar Politics looks at the ongoing efforts to pass meaningful gun safety laws in both Chambers of Congress following multiple mass shootings. Lisa Hagen, senior political reporter for U.S. News and World Report, helps break down why Senators are hopeful that a modest bipartisan gun safety package might be able to overcome a filibuster.
Join Cheddar News as we break down the top headlines this morning including updates on the Tulsa medical center shooting, Johnny Depp V. Amber Heard verdict, and Democrats push for gun control reform.
After two subway shootings in two months and the more recent mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, Mayor Eric Adams is calling for gun detection scanners to be installed in New York City subways. The tech would be similar to that used in sporting arenas, however, experts note multiple difficulties with such a setup including the need for nearby human operators.
Catching you up on what you need to know on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, House lawmakers hold an emergency hearing on gun control measures in the wake of the Uvalde shooting, the Supreme Court temporarily blocks Texas' law stopping social media moderation, and the James Webb Space Telescope gets a new mission.
