Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Pope County casino case hinges on meaning of ‘the’

Will Gulfside Casino get to keep its Pope County license? It depends on what the meaning of the word “the” is. Gulfside, which operates a casino in Gulfport, Miss., was…

Mask mandate approved for Fort Smith Public Schools

After hours of at times heated discussion during a called board meeting Monday (Aug. 9), the Fort Smith Public Schools Board of Education said face coverings will be mandatory for…

Democratic Party chair Michael John Gray leaving post

Michael John Gray, the former state representative who has served as Democratic Party of Arkansas chairman since 2017, is leaving his position, he announced Monday (Aug. 9). Gray intends to…

PSSI to acquire North Little Rock-based Safe Foods Corp.

PSSI, a Wisconsin-based leading food safety and contract sanitation provider, announced Monday (Aug. 9) the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Safe Foods Corp., the North Little Rock-based food…

Lyon College to offer loan forgiveness program

Lyon College said it is the first college in Arkansas to reportedly offer a loan repayment assistance program (LRAP), also known as the Lyon Pledge, to all new and incoming…

Clean up settlement reached on hazardous waste site near Arkansas River in Fort Smith

A Fort Smith company has agreed to a plan with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remove over five million pounds of hazardous waste stored at a site near…

Provost Charles Robinson named interim chancellor for University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas System announced Monday (Aug. 9) that Charles Robinson, provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at the UA, will become interim chancellor for…

Dodroe named Arkansas Air National Guard commander, Gentry to command 188th

Col. Leon Dodroe, former commander of the 188th Wing in Fort Smith, was promoted to brigadier general and assumed command of the Arkansas Air National Guard. Col. Jeremiah Gentry was…

Common Ground leader supports court decision on mask mandate, sees extremism driving political discourse

State Sen. Jim Hendren, I-Gravette, left the Republican Party earlier this year over the extremism he saw in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He’s…

UA Little Rock provides half-off tuition scholarships

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is implementing several new student aid initiatives it says will help make college more affordable for students. The new student aid initiatives include…

New laws to impact businesses from A to Z

The 93rd Arkansas General Assembly passed 1,112 bills into law this year, and there was no shortage of changes that will impact business and commerce in the state. The legislature…

Rep. Brandt Smith to challenge U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford in GOP primary

Four-term State Rep. Brandt Smith, R-Jonesboro, told Talk Business & Politics on Friday (Aug. 6) he intends to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, in the Republican primary in…

Special session ends as judge puts mask mandate ban on hold

A special session ended Friday (Aug. 6) an hour before a Pulaski County Circuit judge issued an injunction that gave supporters of removing a ban on mask mandates hope for…

Special session to end with no changes to state mask mandate ban

Friday is expected to be the final day of a special session that started Wednesday to consider changes to a state law banning mask mandates. House members did not take…

Officials still unsure what caused I-40 bridge fracture

Why did a primary support beam on the Interstate 40 bridge that connects West Memphis to Memphis fracture and lead to a near collapse of the busiest freight bridge in…

Arkansas Bar Association, Clinton School, law schools to host 2nd public service academy

The Arkansas Bar Association and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, in association with UA Little Rock Bowen School of Law and the University of Arkansas School…

First day of special session ends with uncertainty on mask policy

The 93rd General Assembly kicked off the start of the special session Wednesday (Aug. 4) to debate amending Act 1002 – a ban on mask mandates. Two bills were filed…

Arkansas Department of Agriculture spends $1.77 million on fairs

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has allocated $1,770,272 in funding to Arkansas fairs for 2021. This includes $724,272 in agri fair funding to county fairs, the Four States Fair, the…

Lawsuit filed that seeks to block state law that prohibits mask mandates

As he had promised, and just a few weeks before public schools begin a new year, attorney Tom Mars on Tuesday (Aug. 3) filed a lawsuit in the Pulaski County…

Governor Hutchinson calls special session as new COVID-19 cases rise

On Tuesday (Aug. 3), Governor Asa Hutchinson put out the call for legislators to meet in a special session beginning Wednesday at 10 a.m. Hutchinson is calling on the Arkansas…