Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Waters named Fort Smith Fire Chief

City Administrator Carl Geffken announced Monday (March 20) Boyd Waters as the next Fire Chief of the Fort Smith Fire Department. Waters has served as the interim chief since Fire…

Fort Smith police launch ‘Gun-Smart Campaign’

The Fort Smith Police Department on Monday (March 20) launched a new campaign to promote responsible gun ownership. The Gun-Smart Campaign aims to educate gun owners on the importance of…

Ballot referendum to undo LEARNS Act faces high hurdles

Opponents of Gov. Sarah Sanders’ LEARNS education plan are discussing potential litigation to undo the measure, and a possible citizens’ referendum could also delay enactment or even reverse the new…

Revenue & Tax chair floats tax credit proposal, ready to move on balanced budget

State Senator Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, said legislative leaders are ready to move forward with the state’s balanced budget process even though major policy objectives like prison and sentencing reform and…

How Arkansas’ construction industry succeeds in 2023

Between inflation, supply chain issues, a looming recession and more, 2023 promises to be a year of challenges for the construction industry in Arkansas. Those of us in Construction Management…

Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation launches corporate partnership program with Greenway, Fiocchi

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), through its nonprofit foundation, announced Thursday (March 16) a new corporate partnership program designed for Arkansas companies to support long-term conservation efforts in…

Federal Metal Co. to locate in North Little Rock; $17.8 million investment, 40 jobs

The Federal Metal Company, a maker of copper-based cast alloys, announced Thursday (March 16) it is expanding its footprint into North Little Rock. The company will build a new manufacturing…

Governor wants rework of state employee classification; won’t support $80 million pay increase

Gov. Sarah Sanders said Wednesday (March 15) she would not support an $80 million proposal to increase pay for state employees. According to an agency spokesperson, there are 22,913 executive…

Education department asks for applications for LEARNS working groups

The Arkansas Department of Education is seeking applicants for six working groups to develop rules for the LEARNS Act, the recently enacted education reform bill supported by Gov. Sarah Sanders….

Crawford County Library Board takes action on book removal requests

After a lengthy discussion on whether a library can reconsider or ban a book, the Crawford County Library Board voted to take action on one of four books in the…

Governor signs gender transition medical lawsuit bill into law

Gov. Sarah Sanders signed into law Tuesday (March 14) a bill that would allow citizens to file medical malpractice lawsuits against healthcare providers for performing gender transition procedures on them…

Process begins to name Fort Smith fire station after the late Chief Christensen

Though it will be a few more months before signage is in place, the process has begun to rename Fire Station No. 1 the Philip P. Christensen Fire Station 1…

Arkansas Education Secretary gearing up for public hearings to develop LEARNS rules and regs

Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva is ready to get into school halls, is preparing for a potential lawsuit, and gearing up for months of public hearings to flush out…

Governor, lawmakers push bill to require age verification for social media usage

Gov. Sarah Sanders, along with Sen. Tyler Dees, R- Siloam Springs, and Rep. Jon Eubanks, R-Paris, introduced legislation on Thursday (March 9) that would regulate social media companies and require…

Arkansas Department of Agriculture steers $1.7 million towards Hypoxia Task Force programs

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday (March 8) the approval of $1.7 million in funding to implement nutrient reduction related projects that support the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia…

Governor signs LEARNS Act; rulemaking process begins

Gov. Sarah Sanders signed into law Wednesday (March 8) what she called “the biggest, boldest, most conservative education reforms in our history,” setting in motion a remaking of Arkansas education…

Jonesboro mayor delivers State of the City address

Crime will be one of the top challenges for elected officials in Northeast Arkansas during the coming years, Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver told Talk Business & Politics. Copenhaver gave his…

Senate sends LEARNS Act to governor, bill signing planned for Wednesday

The Arkansas Senate passed Gov. Sarah Sanders’ LEARNS Act Tuesday (March 7), paving the way for her to sign the bill in a Capitol Rotunda ceremony at noon on Wednesday….

Winners announced in 2023 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame

On Monday (March 6), the winners of the 2023 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame were announced at a ceremony at the Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock. The Department of…

Two announce for Arkansas Court of Appeals

Two candidates announced for an open seat on the Arkansas Court of Appeals on Monday (March 6). Attorneys Molly McNulty and Pam Hathaway issued statements announcing they will run for…