Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Fourth District Candidates Debate On AETN

The four Congressional candidates vying for the seat currently held by Rep. Mike Ross (D) met for a final debate at AETN in Conway on Thursday.

Mike Knoedl Named To Top Game & Fish Post

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission named Mike Knoedl to serve as the agency’s director. Knoedl, who began his career with the AGFC in 1985, has served as the agency’s…

Independent Voters Expressing Strong Republican Lean

Voters in Arkansas who identify as “Independents” consider themselves closer to the Republican Party versus the Democratic Party by a more than 3-to-1 margin.

Brawner: Dollars For Schools Set — This Year

Columnist Steve Brawner offers a primer and prediction of what may happen with the largest line-item in the state’s budget: K-12 education.

First District Candidates Debate Without Cong. Crawford

Minus Rep. Rick Crawford (R), three candidates for U.S. Congress in Arkansas’ First District participated in a debate at AETN’s studios in Conway on Tuesday (Oct. 23). Rob Moritz with…

Griffin, Rule Exchange Grievances In Second District Debate

Second District Congressman Tim Griffin (R) and his Democratic opponent, Herb Rule, mixed it up in Conway on Tuesday (Oct. 23) with two other third party candidates in an AETN…

Beebe Approval High, But Endorsement Coattails May Lag

Gov. Mike Beebe’s job approval ratings remain strong, but the Governor’s popularity may not translate far down the ballot in this November’s elections.

Medical Marijuana Supporters Take To Airwaves

Arkansans for Compassionate Care, the group supporting the medical marijuana initiative, has launched a major media campaign in Arkansas to promote Issue No. 5.

Support For Half-cent Highway Tax Advancing

Supporters of a temporary half-cent sales tax for a four-lane statewide highway network have managed to turn opposition in a different direction.

New Poll: Opposition To Medical Marijuana Grows

A new Talk Business-Hendrix College Poll of 868 likely Arkansas voters shows that attitudes toward a medicinal marijuana proposal have shifted.

Lawmakers Delay Vote On Contract To Explore Hospital Merger

A potential joint venture between UAMS and St. Vincent’s Health System received extra scrutiny from a legislative panel on Friday.

Weekend Digest: An Electoral Tie And Romney & Obama Go Motown

For our weekend political readers: COULD THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE BE A TIE? With the tightening of the Presidential race, some have started to speculate that the Electoral College could end…

State Drug Czar Opposing Medical Marijuana Initiative

Arkansas’ State Drug Director, Fran Flener, will hold a press conference on Friday morning to discuss her opposition to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act.

School Districts Prepare For Funding Cuts

Arkansas school districts are being encouraged to set back 10-12 percent of federal funds in preparation for automatic spending cuts that might occur as a result of sequestration – the…

Montel Williams Calls Anti-Medical Marijuana Ad Racist

Talk show host Montel Williams, a supporter of medicinal marijuana, was in Little Rock on Thursday and he accused opponents of the measure of creating an ad he claims is “racist.”

AG Dustin McDaniel Raises More Than $1 Million In Governor’s Bid

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, an already declared candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor, raised more than $1 million for his 2014 bid during his first three months of fundraising.

Arkansas Pharmacists Oppose Medical Marijuana Act, But Leave Door Open

The Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA) said it will oppose the “Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act” because the proposal does not incorporate pharmacists and due to conflicts with federal law. The group left the door open to potential future support for a medical marijuana measure under a different scenario.