Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Gus Malzahn Preps To Take Charge Of ASU Football Program

Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is expected to be introduced as the new head football coach at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro on Tuesday.

KARK: Former Forestry Financial Chief Says Director Not Telling The Truth

KARK Channel 4 has a solid report on the controversy surrounding layoffs at the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

Briefing Set To Outline Value of 188th Fighter Wing Unit

Favorable financial figures that are part of a “focused plan” to protect and enhance the future of the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith were released Monday.

Brawner: President Obama Should Like His Chances

Stephens Media columnist Steve Brawner sizes up the current state of the Presidential election.

Ross District Director Rules Out Fourth District Run

Cong. Mike Ross’ chief of staff Jeff Weaver says he won’t be a candidate to succeed his retiring boss.

Funding Shortfall For Trial Court Assistants May Lead To January Furloughs

Trial court assistants’ pay could be in jeopardy despite best efforts to shore up a funding shortfall.

Supreme Court Ruling on Rice Suit Strikes Tort Reform Provision

A group of rice farmers won a major appeal at the Arkansas Supreme Court in a ruling that struck down a portion of the state’s tort reform statute passed in 2003. What happens next?

Brawner: Tax Breaks For Tax Cuts

Arkansas News Bureau columnist Steve Brawner explores the subject of our news story on Rep. Davy Carter’s (R-Cabot) efforts to review state sales tax exemptions.

New Medicaid Chief Quizzed On Philosophy For Change

Arkansas’ new Medicaid chief, Dr. Andy Allison, received a warm and lengthy welcome from a legislative committee on his first week on the job, fielding questions regarding his philosophy and experience for reforming the state’s financially-strapped health care safety net program.

Lottery Officials Warn Of Declining Revenues, Scholarship Trends

State lawmakers learned Tuesday that Arkansas lottery scholarships are being used increasingly by students attending four-year schools versus two-year schools.

Full Tax Competitiveness Study Released By State Chamber

A study prepared by Ernst & Young for the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce measures Arkansas’ corporate tax burden on new investments compared to seven nearby states.

Fort Smith Tea Party Forum Offers Peek at 2012 Elections

A River Valley Tea Party forum provided a glimpse of campaign rhetoric for next year.

Arkansas Forestry Commission Laying Off 36 Workers

The Arkansas Forestry Commission will lay off 36 of its nearly 300 employees on Jan. 13.

State Economic Officials Announce Federal Lending Program

Arkansas officials will receive $13.1 million to help boost small business lending as part of a new federal initiative aimed at job growth.

State Health Insurance Exchange ‘Quashed’

In a press release sent this morning, State Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford said that planning efforts for “an Arkansas-run Health Benefits Exchange have ended.”

UAMS Endows Chair In Honor Of Stanley Reed

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and friends and family of the late Stanley Reed announced the creation of an endowed chair that will support emergency medicine at…

GOP Lawmakers Quiz Insurance Commissioner On Federal Grant

An overlooked component of federal health care reform — closer monitoring of insurance rate changes — received a lot of scrutiny in a routine legislative committee hearing on Thursday.

Finance Officials Not Painting A “Rosier Picture” Of Economy

With the economy facing “a lot of headwinds,” state finance officials said that the current year’s budget may come in lower than last year’s, and they downwardly revised the following year’s expectations.

Beebe Suggests Desegregation Money May Be Key To More Food Tax Cuts

A slow economic recovery, flatline revenue growth, and potential federal funding cuts have Gov. Mike Beebe (D) convinced that he won’t try to reduce the state’s grocery tax in his next budget.