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Senate adopts National Cancer Center funding for UAMS
One day after a procedural maneuver stalled a measure on the Senate floor to create new funding for a national cancer research center at UAMS in Little Rock, lawmakers on…
Talk Politics
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Walmart abandons Savings Catcher, consumers still seek cash reward programs
In 2014 and 2015 when Walmart unveiled and expanded its Savings Catcher program to customers guaranteeing to match sales prices among competitors the noise around the program quickly rose. In…
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Tense meeting results over land use in historic Chaffee Crossing area
Emotions ran high Tuesday (March 19) when the real estate review committee of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority met with invited guests to discuss how to keep peace in the…
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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…
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House panel OK’s raising threshold on used car sales tax to $7,500; rejects bill to pay for disability program
A House committee on Tuesday (March 19) strongly backed a proposal to raise the threshold to pay sales taxes on used car purchases, but rejected a bill to eliminate a…
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Mack McLarty on tariffs, the economy and doing business in Northwest Arkansas
Mack McLarty is no fan of tariffs, but he does commend President Donald Trump for addressing international trade issues that have been concerns for numerous presidential administrations. “I’m not a…
by - March 18, 2019 7:42 pm
Proposal to fund UAMS Cancer Institute fails in Senate, another vote expected
A measure to create new funding for a national cancer research center in Little Rock failed after a “sound the ballot” challenge in a marathon session Monday (March 18) on…
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 18, 2019 6:30 pm
Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Growth moderates but continues for tourism industry in 2018
Collections of Arkansas’ 2% tourism set a new record in 2018 and hospitality tax collections among 17 Arkansas cities surveyed for the Arkansas Tourism ticker topped the $50 million mark…
by - March 17, 2019 9:51 am
Gov. Hutchinson eyeing post-session politics
While the legislative session isn’t over yet, Gov. Asa Hutchinson is already focused on what will happen after the 92nd General Assembly dismisses. Appearing on this week’s edition of Talk…
by - March 17, 2019 9:43 am
Thousands of Arkansans have one month to collect $12 million in unclaimed federal tax refunds from 2015
More than 11,000 Arkansas taxpayers have left an estimated $12 million in federal income tax refunds on the table ahead of the three-year deadline to collect unclaimed payments, Internal Revenue…
by - March 15, 2019 9:58 pm
Legislators from Northeast Arkansas occupy key committee posts
A state senator’s or representative’s influence during the legislative session can, in some measure, be related to the committee assignments he or she receives. Three Northeast Arkansas legislators – Sen….
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 8:37 pm
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford on the Farm Bill and foreign trade
A tumultuous year in farming has included trade and tariff wars, complicated weather conditions, and depressed commodity prices. U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, notes there has been progress too, ranging…
by - March 14, 2019 5:20 pm
Bill aims to tackle ‘fake rice’ problem in Arkansas
Companies that produce products with “fake rice” may face a new hurdle in the Natural State. The Arkansas Senate approved HB 1407 Wednesday (March 13) in a 31-3-1 vote. The…
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 6:07 pm
‘True Grit Trail’ to connect Dardanelle and Fort Smith
Arkansas Highway 22 between Dardanelle and Fort Smith should soon be designated the “True Grit Trail” in recognition of the famous novel by Arkansas author Charles Portis and the two…
by - March 13, 2019 5:16 pm
Gov. Hutchinson says time to pass budget, end 2019 session by early April
In a lights-out speech before the Little Rock Political Animals Club, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said on Wednesday (March 13) that he will ask lawmakers to soon take up the budget-balancing…
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….