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Hendren plans to run again for State Senate, says election results indicate middle ground desired

State Sen. Jim Hendren, I-Gravette, who left the Republican Party of Arkansas and formed the bipartisan, centrist group Common Ground Arkansas, said last week’s election results were a referendum supporting…

New Outdoor Recreation director will start with research

Katherine Andrews was named last week as the new state director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, a title she will assume at the end of the month. The new…

State’s Commerce chief using supply chain issues to market Arkansas

Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston sees an opportunity in the bottleneck choking global trade. Preston said the state’s geographic location, transportation advantages, and economic leadership chemistry has positioned Arkansas…

Arkansas GOP chair hopes special session will focus on tax reform, defends Congressional redistricting maps

The Republican Party of Arkansas chairwoman said she thinks the new Congressional maps will pass legal scrutiny despite the controversy over dividing Pulaski County into three different districts. Jonelle Fulmer,…

House Revenue & Tax chair debriefs tax reform discussions

Rep. Joe Jett, R-Success, said trigger mechanisms for tax relief are the biggest hurdle to overcome in finding a road map for cuts that could lead to a special session….

UA economist discusses tax reform in making Arkansas more competitive

University of Arkansas Walton College economist Mervin Jebaraj thinks there could be higher priorities for Arkansas’ effort to become more economically competitive than lowering the state’s top income tax rate….

New Democratic Party chair says GOP redistricting maps help his cause

New Democratic Party of Arkansas chairman Grant Tennille said he believes Republicans are out-of-step with the majority of Arkansans and he expects electoral, financial and messaging success from the GOP’s…

Poll: More than 2-to-1 support for eliminating personal income tax

Arkansans would easily support eliminating the state personal income tax, even if it meant increasing other taxes or cutting state services, according to a new statewide poll. The final questions…

Gov. Hutchinson outlines tax reduction goals, special session parameters

Gov. Asa Hutchinson wants to see a further cut in the state’s income tax, but he’s avoiding a position on a potential proposal to eliminate the tax in eight years….

State Chamber chief says organization unlikely to take position on vaccine mandate; wants corporate income tax reduction

Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas President and CEO Randy Zook says the business community’s reaction to a Biden executive order mandating vaccines has been “muted.” He also…

Democrats enter races for Lt. Governor, Congress

Two Democrats announced their candidacies for office on Thursday (Sept. 9). Kelly Krout of Lowell said she would vie for the Democratic nomination for Arkansas Lt. Governor. Krout, a mother…

AG Rutledge argues for income tax elimination, while Democratic governor hopefuls oppose

GOP gubernatorial hopeful Attorney General Leslie Rutledge wants to eliminate Arkansas’ individual income tax by 2030 through a constitutional amendment. Three Democrats vying to challenge for governor – Dr. Anthony…

Democratic hopefuls for governor dissect school closures, Critical Race Theory

Three of the four gubernatorial hopefuls in the Democratic Party of Arkansas met for an education town hall Thursday night (Aug. 26) and discussed issues ranging from mask mandates, school…

AG Rutledge questions opponent’s absence, discusses education policy and mask mandates

Attorney General Leslie Rutlege said she’d work with the state legislature to set education policy and she confirmed she would not institute a mask mandate or vaccine mandate to fight…

Cong. Bruce Westerman on Afghanistan, I-49 delay

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, says the Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan is arbitrary and unfeasible. In an interview with Talk Business & Politics on…

Tourism, economic development leaders partner to recruit return to Arkansas

While COVID-19 has impacted tourism and travel as well as business expansion, Arkansas is pushing forward to remain open and ready for business. Tourism and economic officials in Arkansas have…

UCA President: ‘Sense of déjà vu’ as students return to campus this fall

University of Central Arkansas President Dr. Houston Davis has experienced this scenario before – students returning to campus for the fall semester amidst the backdrop of a global pandemic. This…

Arkansas Children’s CEO: Staffing, ICU space biggest worries for handling COVID patients

Arkansas Children’s CEO Marcy Doderer says staffing challenges and ICU resources are the biggest challenges to treating the surge in COVID-19 patients, particularly those under the age of 12, who…

Common Ground leader supports court decision on mask mandate, sees extremism driving political discourse

State Sen. Jim Hendren, I-Gravette, left the Republican Party earlier this year over the extremism he saw in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He’s…

Little Rock convention chief says planning for pandemics now a long-term business strategy

Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau CEO Gretchen Hall is seeing signs of recovery in her industry, but there is still a lag from 2019 numbers and the new Delta…