Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Lawmakers make progress on tax reform, school safety measures; session could conclude Thursday

Arkansas legislators moved tax reform and school safety legislation across the capitol rotunda Wednesday (Aug. 10) as they hope to wrap up a special session on Thursday. Bills forwarded from…

Catsavis, Director Dawson matchup for Fort Smith Board set for general election

With no candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s (Aug. 9) primary city election, Christina Catsavis and City Director Robyn Dawson will face off once again in…

Committee business rules first day of special session on tax cuts, school safety

Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday (Aug. 9) convened late in the morning and made short work of their first day of an expected quick special session. Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued a…

Bill Gossage to leave governor’s office, named new VP for governmental affairs at Electric Coops

Former State Rep. Bill Gossage, who served on Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s staff since 2016, was named Monday (Aug. 8) as vice president of governmental affairs for the Electric Cooperatives of…

Secretary of State scuttles casino removal amendment over signatures

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston, R-Ark., told supporters of an amendment to strike Pope County as a destination for a casino that they did not qualify for consideration due…

Arkansas continues to rank low in child wellbeing

Arkansas ranks 43rd in child well-being, with low birth weight babies and teen obesity rates being worse than the national average, according to a report from the Annie E. Casey…

Delta leadership programs encouraging paradigm shift for engagement

Dr. Suzzette Goldmon has participated in many leadership programs. When she was selected to take part in a program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government (HKS) she…

Governor: Abortion not on special session call, says ‘time will dictate’ changes to policy

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson chose to leave two major issues off his special session call for accelerated tax cuts and school safety funding: abortion legislation and teacher pay increases. Citing…

Governor to issue special session call on Friday; tax cuts, school safety only items allowed

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday (Aug. 4) said he planned to issue the proclamation for a special session call on Friday, Aug. 5 with the commencement of the extraordinary session…

Gov. Hutchinson appoints 3 to fill vacancies at cabinet level, state posts

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has selected three men to fill state-level positions. Boyce Hamlet will assume the drug director’s role on Aug. 29. He replaces Kirk Lane, drug director since July…

State to use $3.3 million to train broadband, telecom industry workforce

The Office of Skills Development (OSD) is investing $3.3 million to train new broadband and telecommunication industry workers in an effort to close the gap in the state’s digital infrastructure….

Judge rules against city of Fort Smith in recycling lawsuit

The city of Fort Smith lost a class-action lawsuit related to recycling services, with Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Tabor ruling Wednesday (Aug. 3) that the city owes $745,057…

State Board of Election Commissioners denies certification of recreational marijuana ballot measure

The State Board of Election Commissioners on Wednesday (Aug. 3) denied certification of a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21. The SBEC…

Dollar General to offer fresh produce at 10 LR stores to address urban food deserts

Discount retail chain Dollar General announced Tuesday (Aug. 2) a new initiative in Little Rock to provide fresh fruits and vegetables at 10 of its area stores. The effort is…

UAMS researchers land $1 million grant to study vegetable bacteria risks

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) announced Tuesday (Aug. 2) that its College of Public Health has received a $1 million grant for research from the United States…

Arkansas school safety report calls for armed presence at all times

Every school campus should have an armed presence at all times, and state law potentially should be changed so doors and exits must remain locked during school hours. Those were…

Echols files appeal to allow for advanced DNA testing to be done in WM3 case

Damien Echols has filed an appeal to have advanced DNA testing done on ligatures that were collected in the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis on May 5,…

Position 5 Fort Smith Director candidates make their pitch

Though three Fort Smith Board of Directors Seats are up for election this year, only one seat had more than two candidates file for the position. Christina Catsavis, City Director…

Arkansas tax revenue up 2.6% in July, 3% above forecast

Arkansas began its fiscal year in July with sales tax revenue of $615.9 million, up 2.6% compared with July 2021, and 3% above the forecast. After ending the previous fiscal…

Gov. Hutchinson: Move past Trump, experiences will dictate abortion policy

Gov. Asa Hutchinson stood by an earlier statement that former President Donald Trump “disqualified himself” from running again for president, that time will shape the legal climate on abortion, and…