Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Gov. Sarah Sanders gears up for second year

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders achieved major legislative goals in her first year in office, and she had her fair share of controversies. In year two, she plans to build on…

State broadband office seeking public input on digital skills plan

The Arkansas State Broadband Office, ARConnect, is actively seeking public feedback on the draft of its Digital Skills and Opportunity Plan. The plan was developed based on data from over…

Hope Baking Co. to expand, add 266 new jobs

Hope Baking Co. is investing more than $37 million to expand its food manufacturing facility in Hope. The expansion is expected to create 266 new jobs over two years. “Hope…

Heide Harrell to lead CAW communications

Central Arkansas Water (CAW), the state’s largest water utility, announced Thursday (Jan. 10) that Heide Harrell has joined as Director of Communications. She brings more than 20 years of industry…

Courthouse expansion is top capital improvement project in Craighead County in 2024

Perhaps the most important capital improvement project in 2024 for Craighead County will be an expansion of the county’s courthouse, Judge Marvin Day told Talk Business & Politics. The $14.3 million expansion will create…

Board of Corrections votes to fire Corrections Secretary Profiri

The Arkansas Board of Corrections (BOC) on Wednesday (Jan. 10) voted to fire Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri, who was appointed by Gov. Sarah Sanders and is a member of her…

Farm Bureau hires Will Hopkins to handle local affairs, rural development

Will Hopkins has been hired as director of local affairs and rural development at Arkansas Farm Bureau, where he will serve as a member of the lobbying team for the…

AG Griffin rejects FOIA initiated acts, education amendment

A day after rejecting four proposed constitutional amendments affecting the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Attorney General Tim Griffin on Tuesday (Jan. 9) also rejected four initiated act proposals…

Applications sought for Arkansas Farm to School Institute

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Arkansas Farm to School Institute until March 1, 2024. The Department’s Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program will…

Arkansas is taking off

$100 million. 800 new jobs. Dassault Falcon’s recent investment announcement in Little Rock means a lot of things. More than anything, it shows the new energy that’s pumping through Arkansas’…

AG Griffin rejects four FOIA amendment proposals; new proposal filed

In an attempt to provide options for approval of a Freedom of Information Act constitutional amendment, a ballot initiative group submitted four proposals to Attorney General Tim Griffin who rejected…

Congress designates National Cold War Center in Blytheville as official museum

Congress has designated the National Cold War Center (NCWC) in Blytheville as an official museum of the Cold War. The designation aims to protect the work of the NCWC –…

Six selected for Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame

The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame is slated to add six new members to its ranks this year. Inductees include the late Dr. George Berger, who served as dean of…

Drought, delay of Farm Bill lead agri headlines in 2023

Drought, the federal Farm Bill, foreign ownership of agriculture land and the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) dominated agriculture headlines in Northeast Arkansas during the 2023 growing season. For…

Cong. French Hill: Avoiding government shutdown ‘a very big challenge’

U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, will be heading back to Washington D.C. this week as Congress reconvenes, but his working hours may be brief in less than a month….

Dr. Chuck Welch named President Emeritus of ASU System

The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees voted Friday (Jan. 5) to designate Dr. Chuck Welch as President Emeritus in recognition of his nearly 13 years of service as…

Black River Technical College receives $4.7 million to build law enforcement training barracks

Black River Technical College (BRTC) has received $4.7 million from the Arkansas State and Local Recovery funds allocated by the American Rescue Plan Act to help construct barracks to house…

St. Louis Fed selects Alberto Musalem as next President and CEO

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis announced Thursday (Jan. 4) that Alberto G. Musalem will be its next president and chief executive officer. In this role, Musalem will represent…

The Affordable Care Act: A Look Back

Ten years ago this month, the major parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became effective. Two of the biggest were the availability of healthcare coverage through Medicaid expansion for low-income adults…

Fort Smith Board adopts new mission and vision statements

The City of Fort Smith has a new mission statement, vision statement and value statements following the Board of Directors first regular meeting of 2024 held Tuesday night (Jan. 2)….