Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

President Obama Tours Tornado Damage In Arkansas

President Obama met with families and first responders in Vilonia today, after taking a tour of the damage caused by the April 27 tornado.

Saline And Craighead Counties Collect Signatures To Go Wet

From Kezia Nanda with our content partner KUAR-FM 89 News: A committee called “Our Community, Our Dollars” is collecting signatures to make Saline County in Central Arkansas and Craighead County…

Griffin Holds Lead In LG Race; Big Undecideds In Treasurer, Auditor Races

Cong. Tim Griffin holds a decisive lead over his two Republican rivals for Lt. Governor, but GOP voters are far from decided on the down-ballot contests for State Treasurer and…

The Private Option In The Republican Primary

New results from a Talk Business-Hendrix College Poll show that the private option is immensely unpopular among Republican voters, but its effect in primary races is mixed.

Arkansas History: Rockefeller To Clinton And State Executions

Last week on Talk Business & Politics, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel discussed the problems with state executions, including lethal injection, the electric chair, and even firing squads. The death penalty…

Asa Hutchinson In Driver’s Seat For GOP Nomination

Republican Asa Hutchinson is the firm front-runner for the GOP nomination for Governor, according to a new Talk Business-Hendrix College Poll.

Tony Wood Recommended To Be Next Arkansas Education Commissioner

Gov. Mike Beebe has asked Tony Wood, the deputy commissioner of education, to be the next education commissioner, Wood confirmed in a phone interview today. “The governor has asked me…

Massanelli Named To UA Government Affairs Post

The University of Arkansas announced today that Randy Massanelli, state director for U.S. Senator Mark Pryor, has been named vice chancellor for governmental relations, effective July 1. The post is…

Report: Let Schools Connect To Fiber Optics Network; Industry Has Reservations (UPDATED)

Arkansas public schools should be allowed to connect to a statewide fiber optics system currently used by universities and medical providers, but telecom industry leaders worry about the price tag and how to pay for it.

Political Roundtable Discusses Obama Visit, Poll Results

GOP strategist Robert Coon and Clinton School Dean Skip Rutherford said they hope President Obama’s visit to Arkansas in the wake of devastating and delay tornadoes doesn’t inspire partisan back-biting….

French Hill, Bruce Westerman Hold Big Leads In Congressional Races

French Hill and Rep. Bruce Westerman hold sizable leads in their Republican primary races for U.S. Congress, according to a new round of Talk Business-Hendrix College polling.

James Lee Witt Offers Insight On Tornado Recovery

Former FEMA director and Fourth District Democratic Congressional candidate James Lee Witt suggested that grant money for safe rooms become more commonplace to help guard against the loss of life…

Clinton Stumps For Ross In Little Rock

Former President and Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton spoke more like a proud father than a politician as he rallied a crowd of rowdy Democrats in Little Rock on Saturday (May…

AG McDaniel Announces Support For Same-sex Marriage

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D) became the first high-ranking publicly-elected official in Arkansas to announce his support for same-sex marriage rights. At an Associated Press Managing Editors conference on Saturday,…

Obama Accepts Pryor Request To Visit Tornado-stricken Arkansas Communities

U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor announced that Pres. Obama has accepted his invitation to travel to Arkansas on Wednesday to visit communities devastated by the recent deadly tornadoes. It will be…

State Medicaid Director Leaving June 1

Andy Allison, Arkansas’ Medicaid Director, will leave his position on June 1 to “pursue other opportunities outside state government,” the Department of Human Services said Friday. Allison helped guide the…

Weekend Digest: The Unpopular Politicians Edition

For our weekend business and political readers: TIME LOST SQUANDERING Harvard Business Review asks, “How much time does your organization squander?” My colleagues and I gathered data about time use at…

GOP Attorney General Primary Wide-open Race

With early voting set to start on Monday, May 5, Republican voters have not yet coalesced around a particular candidate for their Attorney General nomination, according to the latest Talk Business-Hendrix College Poll.

April State Revenues In Line With Expectations

Arkansas revenue officials said April tax collections were in line with expectations leading to year-to-date figures slightly rising 10 months into the current fiscal year. The April revenue report provided…

AEDC Launches ‘Bold’ Web Site To Capitalize On Entrepreneurs, Icons

Arkansas’ economic development agency has launched a new web site to capitalize on well-known state business and political leaders. The new Arkansas Economic Development Commission website — ArkansasFavorsTheBold.com — highlights…