Dr. Sam Taggart has a deep appreciation for his colleagues who work in small and rural areas. His new book Country Doctors of Arkansas compiles dozens of interviews with men and women who have worked as country doctors in the state. He'll sign copies Thursday night from 6:00 to 8:00 at Bookish in Fort Smith.

The United States Department of Agriculture is providing $167 million in federal grants and loans for rural internet service providers. Earlier this month the ReConnect program awarded funding to 12 states, including Missouri and Oklahoma. However, many rural internet providers are facing equipment shortages because of supply chain issues.

Over a third of school districts in the Arkansas have mandated masks for students, teachers and staff so far, leaving a majority of school populations at risk during the COVID-19 Delta variant surge gripping the nation. Arkansas Center for Health Improvement chief Dr. Joe Thompson says masks are an easy, safe and reliable solution to saving lives.

The week's news includes turmoil in Afghanistan and continued debate of masks and the virus. John Brummett, a political columnist with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , and Roby Brock, with our partner Talk Business and Politics , discuss what mighe be next on both fronts.

Isaac Asimov 's Foundation series is being adapted into a TV series. Pastor Clinst Schnekloth decided to read the series again and says itshows some age, but is also very approrpriate for right now.

Our Militant Grammarian, Katherine Shurlds, is on a summer sabbatical from our show to work on other projects. But for the first week of schoool we reached back into our archives for a conversation about language.

The federally funded Arkansas Rent Relief Program administered by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, launched last May, has many millions of dollars remaining to distribute to tenants facing eviction due to the pandemic.

Vaccination rates in Arkansas have seen some growth recently, but the state still ranks 45th nationwide. In an effort to help raise that number, judges in Izard County are offering fine forgiveness up to $200 for anyone who provides photo identification and proof of vaccination until November 15.

A new study from researchers at UAMS shines more light on the reasons some people don't get vaccinated.

This week's time travel with Pryor Center archives takes us back to the Arkansas Governor's race of 1994. Jim Guy Tucker, who become governor when Bill Clinton went to the White House, was challenged by Sheffield Nelson. Randy Dixon, with the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, produced the debate. He also is our weekly guide through the archives.