Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Eugene’s blue jeans

I can’t remember the exact date but I believe it was in the spring of 2000 that Eugene (the English approximation of my Ukraine visitor’s name), asked if we could…

Notes from the Campaign Trail: Sarah Sanders crime plan; Chris Jones, Jesse Gibson roll out ads

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the GOP nominee for Arkansas Governor, rolled out a plan highlighting her positions on crime and public safety. The plan outlines several policy and budget priorities without…

Fort Smith Board gets first look at new logo, seal, branding proposals

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Oct. 11) received their first look at a proposed new logo and seal for the city. The city hired Fort Smith-based RightMind…

AG Rutledge provides $1 million to specialty courts from opioid settlement fund

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Tuesday (Oct. 11) a $1 million allocation to provide additional funding for Arkansas’ specialty courts through the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts. The…

AG candidate Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin says he’ll bring a different approach to office

Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, the Republican nominee for Arkansas Attorney General, says he’ll bring a different approach to the office than his predecessor or challenger, if elected. Griffin was a…

Jonesboro, Craighead County continue record setting sales and use tax collections pace

Despite inflation, supply chain issues, interest rate hikes, and higher fuel prices, consumers continue to spend record amounts of money in Jonesboro and Craighead County. The city collected $2.1 million…

District 1: Crawford seeks 7th term; Hodges attempts jump from statehouse to Congress

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, is seeking a seventh term to Congress, while his challenger, State Rep. Monte Hodges, D-Blytheville, is hoping to unseat him after his near-decade of service…

Veolia North America to invest nearly $600 million, 125 jobs near Arkadelphia

Veolia North America says it will host a groundbreaking in Gum Springs (near Arkadelphia) on Wednesday, Oct. 12 for a new state-of-the-art thermal treatment facility. The operation is part of…

Avian influenza confirmed at Madison County poultry farm

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture confirmed Friday (Oct. 7) a case of avian influenza on an Arkansas poultry farm in Madison County. Also known as H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI), avian…

Issue 1 opposition forms with State Chamber, Farm Bureau support

Opponents of Issue 1, the proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the Arkansas Legislature to call itself into special session, announced Thursday (Oct. 6) the formation of a legislative question committee to…

Rockefeller Institute, Clinton School, CALS to host public dialogue series

The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas, and Central Arkansas Library System, as part of the Kettering Foundation’s Partnership for Democratic Practices in…

DRA allocates $1.7 million for 5 state infrastructure projects

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) announced Thursday (Oct. 6) that $1.7 million will be invested into five Arkansas infrastructure projects through DRA’s Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF). The investment will be…

President Biden to pardon federal marijuana possession convictions; Arkansas elected officials react

President Joe Biden on Thursday (Oct. 6) announced a plan to pardon people convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal and Washington, D.C. law through executive action. Biden charged the…

Six Arkansas companies recognized for export success

Six Arkansas companies were honored Wednesday night (Oct. 5) for excellence in global trade at an awards ceremony at the Governor’s mansion in Little Rock. The awards were presented by…

Gean elected chair of Sebastian County Election Commission

Cara Gean, who continues to refuse to explain her vote against a voting site at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, is the new chair of the Sebastian County…

Arkansas meat inspection program earns federal approval

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, state legislators, agriculture industry leaders, and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced Oct. 4 approval of the state meat inspection program, finalized in a cooperative agreement with…

New Lockheed Martin facility will lead to increased PAC-3 production

Lockheed Martin on Tuesday (Oct. 4) marked the opening of a new All-Up Round III (AUR III) facility at its Camden operations in Arkansas. The 85,000-square-foot expansion supports increased production…

Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward elected to leadership position with national group

Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward has been elected second vice president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) for 2022-23 at their annual conference in Saratoga…

AG candidate Jesse Gibson discusses crime, abortion, qualifications

Democratic Attorney General nominee Jesse Gibson says his courtroom experience makes him more qualified for the office than his GOP opponent, Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin. “I think that one of…

Goodwill Industries lands $750,000 grant from DOJ

Goodwill Industries of Arkansas has been awarded a Second Chance Act Community-based Reentry Program grant by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs and Bureau of Justice Assistance…