by - April 15, 2019 5:05 pm
Arkansas Works numbers show 1.8% rise
The number of people served by the state’s Arkansas Works program increased by 4,215 from March 1 to April 1. The state’s Department of Human Services reported Monday (April 15)…
Author: Steve Brawner
by - April 10, 2019 7:20 pm
Gov. Hutchinson signs DACA bills into law, will sign no sanctuary cities legislation
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday (April 10) that he will sign a bill prohibiting “sanctuary cities” from receiving state funding despite his concerns that it could lead to racial profiling….
by - April 10, 2019 7:02 pm
Governor says DOJ appealing Arkansas Works decision
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a notice of appeal with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding a federal judge’s decision to terminate the work requirement for Arkansas…
by - April 8, 2019 3:15 pm
Students assemble contraptions at Capitol in Garver challenge
Let’s just say it wasn’t the first time the State Capitol has been a site where small groups hastily assembled overly complex solutions to fix insignificant or non-existent problems. But…
by - April 4, 2019 7:09 pm
Tax credits for private school scholarship bill fails
A bill that would have established a tax credit to create private school scholarships for 400 Arkansas students failed in committee Thursday (April 4). Senate Bill 539 by Sen. Blake…
by - April 3, 2019 9:16 pm
Committee moves third amendment making it harder to change state Constitution
An Arkansas House committee advanced what would become the third constitutional amendment referred to voters this legislative session – one meant to make it harder to amend the Constitution. House…
by - April 3, 2019 7:45 pm
Sen. Hendren moving cigarette/e-cigarette tax bill to interim study
A bill that would have increased taxes on cigarettes and vaping products while creating an earned income tax credit for lower-income Arkansans is headed to interim study, the bill’s sponsor…
by - April 2, 2019 3:52 pm
Committee advances amended government reorg bill, term limits referral
A bill reducing the number of state agencies from 42 to 15 passed a Senate committee meeting Tuesday (April 2) and heads to the full Senate. House Bill 1763 by…
by - March 28, 2019 1:15 pm
Governor urges appeal on Arkansas Works ruling; House to vote on funding Friday
Gov. Asa Hutchinson is urging the Trump administration to pursue an expedited appeal of a U.S. district judge’s decision nullifying the Arkansas Works work requirement, while the Speaker of the…
by - March 26, 2019 6:12 pm
Governor says CALS will help with Arkansas Works compliance
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced a new partnership with the Central Arkansas Library System to help Arkansas Works recipients comply with their work requirement Tuesday (March 26) – the same week…
by - March 25, 2019 8:12 pm
Hutchinson defends school voucher bill after Elliott, Democrats criticize
Gov. Asa Hutchinson defended a Senate bill Monday (March 25), that would provide vouchers for about 500 students to attend private schools. Earlier, Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, and other…
by - March 19, 2019 6:12 pm
Senate panel advances term limits amendment
A legislative committee advanced a constitutional amendment changing the state’s legislative term limits law Tuesday (March 19), but not until after the sponsor removed judicial term limits after numerous judges…
by - March 18, 2019 7:37 pm
Senate committee advances EITC/tobacco tax bill
A bill that would enact an earned income tax credit, increase taxes on cigarettes, and levy taxes on e-cigarettes advanced past an Arkansas Senate committee Monday (March 18). Senate Bill…
by - March 15, 2019 8:44 pm
DHS: 6,472 have not met Arkansas Works rule for two months
More than 13,000 recipients of the state’s Arkansas Works program did not meet its work requirement in February, while 6,472 recipients could lose their benefits if they fail to meet…
by - March 14, 2019 2:11 pm
Senate leader’s bipartisan bill offsets income tax cuts with cigarette, e-cigarette tax hikes (UPDATED)
Editor’s note: This story is updated to include Gov. Hutchinson’s comments on the bill. A bipartisan group of legislators introduced a bill Thursday (March 14) that would provide $100 million…
by - March 13, 2019 6:12 pm
Governor opposes changing minimum wage; Rep. Lundstrum vows to press on
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said on Wednesday (March 13) that he would not support two bills to grant wide exemptions to Arkansas’ minimum wage hike approved by voters in November, but…
by - March 13, 2019 3:05 pm
Senate panel advances bill to fund NCI center, raise tobacco age
A bill funding a National Cancer Institute designation passed a Senate committee Wednesday (March 13) though by itself it would raise less than the $10.5 million sponsors have been seeking….
by - March 12, 2019 2:49 pm
Gov. Hutchinson signs fuel tax increases into law to support highway program
Arkansas motorists will pay 3 cents more for a gallon of gasoline and 6 cents more for diesel after Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed part of what he called “the largest…
by - March 7, 2019 5:23 pm
CoorsTek breaks ground on $26 million expansion in Benton
CoorsTek held a groundbreaking ceremony at its Benton location Thursday (March 7) for a $26 million, 50,000-square-foot expansion that will increase its workforce of 200 there by about 15%. The…
by - March 6, 2019 9:48 pm
Highway tax amendment advances; Hendren says two others in line to be referred
A proposed constitutional amendment letting Arkansas voters choose to permanently extend a half-cent sales tax for highways took another step closer to the ballot box Wednesday (March 6). Also, the…