Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

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…

New COVID cases hit daily record; Arkansas buying 1.5 million test kits

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) on Thursday (Dec. 30) reported a record 4,978 new COVID-19 cases in the previous 24 hours. The record follows 3,743 new cases Wednesday, which…

Unemployment assistance will be made available for those impacted by tornadoes

Deadly tornadoes ransacked parts of Northeast Arkansas in early December. The twisters carved a path of destruction that damaged and destroyed homes and killed at least two people in the…

Arkansas State University to host annual agriculture conference on Feb. 16

Farmers, agribusiness professionals, students and educators across the Mid-South will have an opportunity to learn about new information in the agriculture sector along with policy education at Arkansas State University’s…

Craighead County leads the state with 180 new COVID-19 cases

The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to spread across Arkansas and cases have spiked in Northeast Arkansas following the Christmas holiday. Craighead County reported 180 new cases on…

LR Port Authority lands $3 million federal grant

The Little Rock Port Authority will receive $3 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s port infrastructure development program. The money will be used to replace 15…

Fort Smith’s share of county sales tax up more than 15% through November

As the final months of 2021 are tabulated, Fort Smith’s sales tax revenues continue to be significantly higher than expected. Fort Smith’s share of the Sebastian County sales tax was…

Red Cross leader says monetary, blood donations most needed for NEA

An army of volunteers from the American Red Cross has been on the ground in Northeast Arkansas in the aftermath of the Dec. 10th deadly tornadoes that devastated the region….

AFMC CEO: Vaccinations still key to containing coronavirus

Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care CEO Ray Hanley continues to plug vaccinations as the best solution to containing COVID-19, but as new variants mutate, he expects strains of the coronavirus…

Gov. Hutchinson, UAMS report warn of Omicron surge in Arkansas

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is in Arkansas and “spreading rapidly,” with the state facing an increase in active infections and a “very shaky sports season” if the rate of…

Feb. 8 Fort Smith sales tax election cancelled

In separate unanimous votes, the Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Dec. 21) voted to stop the Feb. 8 sales tax extension election they approved Nov. 16. Directors said…

Fort Smith Board takes step to delay Feb. 8 sales tax election

The Fort Smith Board of Directors agreed Monday (Dec. 20) to call a special board meeting at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday (Dec. 21) to discuss the repeal of the Feb. 8…

AG Rutledge pursuing charges against nursing home owner

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Monday (Dec. 20) that a warrant has been issued for Joseph Schwartz, owner of Skyline nursing homes. Schwartz is accused of eight counts of Medicaid…

The biggest non-event ever

Do you remember the devastating Dec. 3, 1990, earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone? You know, the one that claimed thousands of lives, destroyed billions of dollars of infrastructure…

Southern Bancorp CEO Darrin Williams discusses expansion plans

Southern Bancorp is expanding on a number of fronts. The Arkadelphia-based Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) is about to receive a major equity investment from a new federal fund, has…

Doris Washington named Arkansas executive director for Farm Service Agency

Doris Washington was named the state executive director for the federal Farm Service Agency in Arkansas. The appointment was made by President Joe Biden. FSA state executive directors oversee Farm…

Feb. 8 Fort Smith sales tax vote to get more scrutiny

A special called study session for the Fort Smith Board of Directors at 6 p.m. Monday (Dec. 20) will allow directors to discuss the Feb. 8 special election for the…

Judge rules in favor of city of Fort Smith on alleged FOIA violation

Circuit Court Judge Greg Magness on Thursday (Dec. 16) ruled in favor of the city of Fort Smith in a lawsuit alleging Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) violations on the…

Westrock Coffee expanding to Conway; will add operations in North Carolina and Malaysia

Arkansas-based Westrock Coffee Co. announced Thursday (Dec. 16) it would expand operations with a facility in Conway. When fully built, the plant will be the largest facility of its type…

DHS extends rent relief program into 2022

The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced Wednesday (Dec. 15) an extension of the Arkansas Rent Relief Program. The program will continue accepting applications into 2022 as long as general…