Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Money issues

Just how confident are we about the economy heading into the new year? American consumers’ confidence in the U.S. economy grew in December as high inflation continued to ease, according…

Gov.-elect Sanders selects Stubbs, Penn to top state military posts

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders announced Wednesday (Jan. 4) her intention to nominate Brigadier General Jon Stubbs as Secretary of the Military and The Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard, and…

Corporate sale, controversial demolition part of top Fort Smith metro news in 2022

The $435 million sale of Van Buren-based USA Truck to a company based in Germany, and Fort Smith voter approval of a tax extension package valued at more than $210…

Jonesboro airport to receive $5 million in federal aid to extend runway

The city of Jonesboro will receive a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for an extension of the Jonesboro airport runway, Mayor Harold Copenhaver said. Copenhaver and…

‘High growth’ in sales tax collections pushes Arkansas tax revenue up 6.4%

If the economy is slowing, no one told Arkansas businesses and consumers. In the December report, fiscal year-to-date Arkansas tax revenue totaled $4.145 billion, up 6.4% compared with the same…

Rice acres and yield down in 2022 due to weather input costs, other factors

Arkansas rice farmers were hit with a number of dramatic challenges as the planting and growing season unfolded during 2022. Weather patterns shifted from too wet to drought. Input costs…

Gov. Asa Hutchinson unveils official state portrait

Gov. Asa Hutchinson conducted one of his last public acts as Arkansas governor on Tuesday (Jan. 3), unveiling his official state portrait in the capitol. The painting, created by New…

Gov.-elect Sanders to nominate Arizona criminal justice leader as Corrections Secretary

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders announced Tuesday (Jan. 3) her intention to nominate Joe Profiri, a key criminal justice leader for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, as the Secretary of the Arkansas Department…

State spending $20 million to modernize court system

The state Administrative Office of the Courts is spending $20 million to modernize its court management system, allowing better access to legal documents and better communication with Arkansans, such as…

Fort Smith share of county tax up almost 10% through November

For the first time in 2022, Fort Smith sales tax numbers came in lower than anticipated. The city’s portion of the Sebastian County sales tax totaled $1.938 million in November,…

New faces, new priorities on tap for January legislative session

“I think a change would do you good.” — Singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow There will be a few changes in the Arkansas legislature when lawmakers convene Jan. 9 for the 94th…

Act 109 qualifies state, public school employees for transformative weight loss surgery

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 36.4% of Arkansans struggle with obesity, ranking our state as the ninth-worst in the rate of obesity. That’s 1,103,155 people who fall…

Gov.-elect Sanders names Joseph Wood to lead Department of Transformation and Shared Services

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders announced Friday (Dec. 30) her intention to nominate Washington County Judge Joseph Wood as Secretary of the Department of Transformation and Shared Services. Wood is completing his…

Gov.-elect Sanders names Jacob Oliva of Florida to education post

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders announced Thursday (Dec. 29) she would nominate Jacob Oliva of Florida as Arkansas’ next Secretary of Education. He will replace Johnny Key, the current education secretary. Oliva…

Walther reappointed to top post at Department of Finance and Administration

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders announced Wednesday (Dec. 28) her intent to reappoint Larry Walther as the secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration. Walther also held a cabinet position with…

Gilmer reflects on 35-plus years in the Sebastian County Circuit Clerk’s office

Peggy Watson was the Sebastian County Circuit Clerk when Cindy Gilmer began working in the office. Gilmer, then a recent Ouachita Baptist University gradate, began her public career handling child…

Gov.-elect Sanders nominates Kristi Putnam as Secretary of Human Services

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders announced Tuesday (Dec. 27) several individuals who will fill key leadership roles at the Department of Human Services (DHS) in her administration, including her intention to nominate…

Arkansas joins Louisiana, Oklahoma in HALO Hub application

Govs. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, John Bel Edwards of Louisiana and J. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma announced Tuesday (Dec. 27) that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has encouraged the…

Gov.-elect Sanders names Hugh McDonald to Commerce post, Shane Khoury to Energy and Environment

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders announced Thursday (Dec. 22) former Entergy Arkansas CEO Hugh McDonald as her choice to lead the Arkansas Department of Commerce, the cabinet post that oversees economic development…

Census Bureau: Arkansas population grows by 0.6% in 2022

Arkansas is the 17th fastest-growing and the 33rd largest state, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The state grew by 0.6% to a population of 3.04 million…