Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Little Rock, let’s get to work

December 4, 2018 was a defining moment for Little Rock. Not just because of the historical significance of the Mayor’s race, but because of the clear direction given to us…

Pope County casino activity stirs controversy (UPDATED)

An announcement that a Mississippi-based casino plans to build a $250 million complex in Pope County was met with opposition from local elected officials on Friday (Dec. 28). Gulfside Casino…

Rep. Collins joining Department of Finance & Administration

Exiting State Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, is joining the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration in January. Collins, a former chairman of the House Revenue and Tax Committee, was defeated…

Provision in new Farm Bill could help Arkansas farmers sell crops in Cuba

The newly minted Farm Bill contains a provision that will allow U.S. agricultural producers to use federal market promotion dollars for exports to Cuba. This is the first law to…

OG&E to submit plan to reduce coal-fired power to Arkansas, Oklahoma regulators

Oklahoma Gas & Electric, which has more than 800,000 customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas, is joining Entergy Corp. and other top U.S. regulated utilities in announcing new strategic plans…

Bills filed to reorganize state government

Before the Christmas holiday, State Rep. Andy Davis, R-Little Rock, and Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, filed legislation that outlines Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s state government reorganization efforts. Hutchinson unveiled his…

Third quarter GDP revised down to 3.4%

The U.S. economy grew at a robust pace of 3.4% in the third quarter, but was revised down 0.1% from earlier estimates as a government shutdown, rising interest rates and…

Arkansas jobless rate creeps higher to 3.6%

Arkansas’ unemployment rate in November rose one-tenth of a percent to 3.6%, according to state and federal workforce officials. On Friday (Dec. 21), the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services released…

President Trump signs Farm Bill into law

An $867 billion federal Farm Bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Thursday (Dec. 20) as several Arkansas agricultural supporters were on-hand for the bill signing, including…

Preliminary marijuana dispensary scores released, but final scoring on hold

Two startups located in Little Rock and Jonesboro posted the highest scores among the nearly 200 medical marijuana dispensary applications that were unexpectedly released late Thursday afternoon (Dec. 20) by…

Gov. Hutchinson to appoint Scott Willhite to Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced his intent to appoint Scott Willhite of Jonesboro to the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission (AWCC). Willhite will serve as the labor commissioner and will replace outgoing…

Arkansas population growth continues in 2018 with 11,000 new residents

Arkansas’ population count is now well over 3 million residents after topping that historic mark more than a year ago as more U.S. and foreign-born residents continue to spill into…

Regulators table medical marijuana dispensary applications until New Year

The state Medical Marijuana Commission (MMC) has postponed a highly-anticipated meeting scheduled to announce the dispensary scores from a pool of nearly 200 applications until new board members are seated…

Charitable giving numbers down: your year-end gift matters even more

Starting early in 2018, national sources were sending up flares that charitable giving looked to be decreasing this year. That caused concern in the nonprofit sector because the only reason…

Gov. Hutchinson inaugural events announced

Gov. Asa Hutchinson will celebrate his election to a second term with two days of inaugural events on January 14-15, 2019. Hutchinson was re-elected to a second term as governor…

March 12 special election to decide U.S. Marshals Museum tax

Fort Smith voters will decide on March 12 whether or not there will be a nine-month, non-renewable, one-cent city sales tax to benefit the U.S. Marshals Museum. The Fort Smith…

USDA launches second round of trade mitigation payments to farmers

As the Trump administration’s trade war with China continues, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Monday (Dec. 17) that the federal government has launched the second and final round…

Arkansas ranks 48th in Milken Institute benchmark for tech-focused economies

Arkansas again ranked near the bottom in the Milken Institute’s 2018 State Technology and Science Index, a biennial assessment of states’ capabilities and competitiveness in a tech-focused economy. Massachusetts retained…

State Democrats choose Gray for full term as chairman

Outgoing State Rep. Michael John Gray, D-Augusta, was selected by state Democrats on Saturday (Dec. 15) to be the party’s chairman for a full, four-year term. It’s a position he’s…

Pro-gun legislation filed to cut conceal carry fee to $50, Gov. Hutchinson applauds

A South Arkansas senator widely considered one of the legislature’s strongest 2nd Amendment advocates filed the first of several pro-gun bills expected to be introduced during the upcoming 92nd General…