Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Mask mandate returns to Fort Smith Public Schools

Fort Smith Public Schools voted Monday (Jan. 10) at a called board meeting to reinstate a mask mandate for 30 days or unless the district falls to 49 or less…

Sebastian County Election Commission chairman resigns

Sebastian County Election Commission Chairman David Damron, who refused in late 2021 to discuss who drew a map outlining new zones for the Sebastian County Quorum Court, resigned his position…

I-49 Alma-Fort Smith route might be complete by end of the decade

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is set to begin work on the Interstate 49 connection between Alma and Fort Smith that will span the Arkansas River, but significant construction…

Sen. Trent Garner becomes 8th State Senator not running for re-election in 2022

The 35-member Arkansas State Senate is about to get a full facelift. State Sen. Trent Garner, R-El Dorado, became the eighth sitting senator to announce he would not seek re-election…

Farm incomes on the rise; Fryar Center predicts trend to continue in 2022

Farm income and agricultural land values were on the rise in 2021 and are projected to continue upwards in 2022, according to the Fryar Risk Management Center of Excellence. The…

Dramatic spikes in fertilizer prices could impact row crop farmers

Inflation continues to impact all sectors of the U.S. economy and some farmers could be impacted by a financial squeeze as planting season begins with global fertilizer prices predicted to…

Governor budgeting more money to law enforcement, developmentally disabled; discusses Omicron, political future

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he plans to advocate for more funding for law enforcement, the developmentally disabled, and financial reserves when he reveals his balanced budget proposal to the Arkansas…

Let’s get physical: Resolving to invest in health at the individual and community levels

Just before the pandemic started in March 2020, I made one very poor decision ― getting rid of a large, infrequently used desk — and one excellent decision — purchasing…

Arkansas Senate Minority Leader Keith Ingram will not seek re-election (UPDATED)

Arkansas Senate Minority Leader Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis, will not seek re-election following his current term. Ingram has been a member of the Arkansas Legislature since 2009 when he was…

40 National Guard members assigned to Arkansas hospitals in COVID relief effort (Updated)

On a day when COVID-19 hospitalizations in Arkansas rose by 73 to 892, the Arkansas National Guard (ANG) said 40 of its members will work in healthcare operations in Fayetteville,…

St. Louis Fed Little Rock branch announces board of directors changes

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has announced the following changes to its Little Rock Branch board of directors, effective Jan. 1: Millie A. Ward, president of Stone Ward…

Department of Health to end COVID contact tracing

The Arkansas Department of Health is ending COVID-19 contact tracing at the end of the day Jan. 17, its communications director said Wednesday (Jan. 5). Meg Mirivel said the department’s…

SBA recovery center opened in Trumann to provide tornado damage relief

The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center opened a SBA Business Recovery Center in Trumann on Wednesday (Jan. 5) to provide a wide…

AG Rutledge settles false claims case with Empower Healthcare Solutions

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Tuesday (Jan. 4) announced an almost $8 million dollar civil settlement with Empower Healthcare Solutions, LLC. The false claims settlement was based on a…

Cyber attack ‘caused a mess’ with Crawford County computer systems

A cyber attack on Crawford County government computers left county offices in a jam over the holidays. County computers were attacked Dec. 26 by malicious software that can prevent access…

Military, medical news part of top Fort Smith metro stories in 2021

Outside of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its Omicron surge, the biggest 2021 news in the Fort Smith metro included stories about the military, medicine, manufacturing and municipal money. Following…

Arkansas COVID cases set new records; mask use in schools encouraged

With a record daily rise in COVID-19 cases and a record for active cases, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday (Jan. 4) he is activating an additional 50 National Guard members…

State Rep. Monte Hodges to seek First Congressional District seat

State Rep. Monte Hodges, D-Blytheville, will seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Congress in the First District, the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro. Hodges, a five-term…

Arkansas’ December tax revenue up almost 19%

An almost 20% gain in December sales tax revenue and an almost 12% fiscal year-to-date (July-December) gain in sales tax revenue has pushed overall Arkansas tax revenue up 1.5% over…

Shea Lewis named director of Arkansas State Parks

Shea Lewis was named Monday (Jan. 3) as the new director of Arkansas State Parks. He replaces Grady Spann, who retired at the end of December. “Shea Lewis has a…