Author: Steve Brawner

Steve Brawner

Survey: A quarter would change schools with education freedom accounts

A quarter of registered voters in Arkansas with K-12 students living in their homes said they would change their children’s learning environment if provided state funding for non-public school options….

Norwegian food packager announces plans for $70 million plant, 80 jobs at Port of Little Rock

A Norwegian liquid food packaging company will open a new $70 million, 300,000-square-foot factory including equipment at the Port of Little Rock, the company announced Tuesday (Dec. 5). Elopak announced…

Study: Arkansas last in voter turnout; Rockefeller Institute seeks to engage citizens

Arkansas could enact online and same-day voter registration to improve the nation’s lowest voter turnout rates, foster discussions on public issues, and require cities to publish fiscal information online. Those…

Study shows Arkansas ranks low in lung cancer survival rate

Arkansas ranks among the bottom states where data is available in lung cancer survival rates, is in the bottom half in lung cancer screening, and has one of the worst…

$50 million AG grant funding Arkansas Children’s opioid research center

A $50 million grant using national opioid settlement funds by Attorney General Tim Griffin will allow Arkansas Children’s Hospital to build the $70 million National Center for Opioid Research &…

With TIF’s help, NLR’s upscale Rockwater Village replaces blight

A formerly blighted area in North Little Rock along the Arkansas River is being redeveloped into an upscale area with homes and apartments, including a new 365-unit development. So far,…

Arkansas Supreme Court OKs LEARNS Act emergency clause vote

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday (Oct. 12) that state lawmakers did not violate the Constitution by voting on the LEARNS Act’s emergency clause at the same time they voted…

Global leadership group with new Arkansas chapter says U.S. must be engaged

The United States must be engaged in world affairs to prevent far more costly global instability, a group said as it launched the opening of its 51-member Arkansas Advisory Committee…

De Queen’s Beau McCastlain named Arkansas Teacher of the Year

Beau McCastlain, a television production teacher at De Queen High School, was named the Arkansas Teacher of the Year Monday (Oct. 9). McCastlain learned he had been selected out of…

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield announces $5.9 million for youth behavioral health

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas is donating more than $5.9 million to five Arkansas organizations to address child and adolescent mental…

UAMS, Baptist Health, Arkansas Children’s partner to open Proton Center

Leaders from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Baptist Health, and Arkansas Children’s on Wednesday (Sept. 27) celebrated the opening of the Proton Center of Arkansas, the state’s…

Realtors’ economist: High interest rates, low inventory crimping housing market

A housing market challenged by higher mortgage rates and a lack of listings would improve next year if interest rates decrease, according to National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Dr….

UCA lays path for under $100K freshmen to pay for tuition, fees

Starting in the fall of 2024, incoming University of Central Arkansas freshmen coming from families earning up to $100,000 can opt into a program giving them a pathway to pay…

Arkansas not among states with Medicaid disenrollment glitch

Arkansas is not one of the states affected by a Medicaid enrollment process that a federal agency says is inappropriately disenrolling some children because it is conducting automatic renewals at…

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: In education, Arkansas is in a state of change

Editor’s note: The State of the State series provides reports twice a year on Arkansas’ key economic sectors. The series publishes stories to begin a year and stories in July/August…

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: Banks reacting to the Fed

Editor’s note: The State of the State series provides reports twice a year on Arkansas’ key economic sectors. The series publishes stories to begin a year and stories in July/August…

Secretary of State: Anti-LEARNS Act effort falls 978 signatures short

The group attempting to advance a referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act fell at least 978 signatures short in its effort, Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston said in a…

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: Unwinding of the health care system

Editor’s note: The State of the State series provides reports twice a year on Arkansas’ key economic sectors. The series publishes stories to begin a year and stories in July/August…

Anti-LEARNS group CAPES believes it has enough signatures after all

A day after saying it had failed to collect enough signatures to qualify its referendum for the ballot, the anti-LEARNS Act group Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CAPES)…

CAPES group short of signatures to repeal LEARNS Act; new initiative planned

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information. The referendum effort to repeal the LEARNS Act, Gov. Sarah Sanders’ education reform law, fell less than 500 signatures short…