The University of Arkansas and its prospective buyer of land at the Pine Tree Research Station have mutually agreed to terminate their ongoing contract, which had garnered strong opposition from area hunters and the Arkansas General Assembly. The sale, if completed, would have provided the University of Arkansas System's Division of Agriculture roughly $17 million that would have gone towards a new Rice Research and Extension Center in Northeast Arkansas and other agriculture research and extension priorities. However, the sale to a a private entity would have required a Congressional waiver as the land was sold to the University of Arkansas by the U.S. Forest Service under strict use guidelines that mandated public use of the property. Following a surge of opposition from area hunters and public lands advocates, the Arkansas General Assembly led by local legislators passed legislation signed by Governor Hutchinson attempting to prohibit the sale and supplementing the funding needs with state funds. So far, no state funds have been allocated under this plan despite reported surpluses.
More below:
https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/136228/ua-buyer-call-off-165m-pine-tree-land-sale
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/ua-drops-pine-tree-research-station-land-sale/ar-AAL4uoR