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Arkansas Advocate
Pre-K enrollment surges in US, with Mississippi & New Mexico making big strides
This story first appeared at The 74, a nonprofit news site covering education. Sign up for free newsletters from The 74 to get more like this in your inbox. Four-year-olds entering pre-K in Mississippi’s Lamar County Schools don’t spend their days on worksheets or bent over papers practicing their letters. But they do have plenty […] The post Pre-K enrollment surges in US, with Mississippi & New Mexico making big strides appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas nonprofit sues Washington County over use of COVID funds for jail expansion
A criminal justice reform group filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday requesting a judge block Washington County from using pandemic relief money to expand jail facilities. Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition, which filed the complaint in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas alleges officials misallocated federal funds when the Washington County Quorum Court in […] The post Arkansas nonprofit sues Washington County over use of COVID funds for jail expansion appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Senate Dems decry limits on abortion access, House Dems unveil contraception bill
WASHINGTON — The national debate over whether laws or patients should determine abortion access dominated a U.S. Senate committee hearing Tuesday, when a panel of six experts testified about the complicated nature of treating pregnancies and miscarriages. The two-hour hearing in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee was at times genuine and heartfelt. At […] The post U.S. Senate Dems decry limits on abortion access, House Dems unveil contraception bill appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. House GOP spotlights immigration effects on schools as Biden issues asylum order
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Tuesday argued that migrants coming from the southern border and into K-12 schools have strained resources and teacher-student ratios while leaving a “staggering” financial impact throughout the United States. The hearing in the U.S. House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education came the same day as President […] The post U.S. House GOP spotlights immigration effects on schools as Biden issues asylum order appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Republican governors bash Biden on energy policy
CHALMETTE, Louisiana — Republican governors banded together Monday to pound away at the Biden administration’s energy policy. In a letter to the White House, 20 GOP state leaders call on the president “to pursue an all-of-the-above energy approach that will promote homegrown energy that benefits all Americans.” With a diesel refinery outside New Orleans as […] The post Republican governors bash Biden on energy policy appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Executive order limiting asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border to be signed by Biden
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Tuesday that will allow him to partly suspend asylum requests at the U.S.-Mexico border when daily unauthorized crossings reach a threshold of 2,500 migrants. “We do expect the authority would be in effect immediately,” a senior administration official said on a Tuesday call with […] The post Executive order limiting asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border to be signed by Biden appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas DHS plans to end Medicaid managed care dental insurance program
The Arkansas Department of Human Services announced Monday that it will end its Medicaid managed care dental insurance program and move its recipients to a fee-for-service program. DHS informed the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of this plan on Friday, according to a news release from the agency. The fee-for-service program is expected […] The post Arkansas DHS plans to end Medicaid managed care dental insurance program appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Solution Tree asks Arkansas education secretary to withdraw $99.4 million contract
An Indiana-based education company has asked Arkansas’ education secretary to remove an awarded $99.4 million professional development training contract from legislative review following criticism about past performance and cost from lawmakers. In an email to the Advocate on Monday, Solution Tree CEO Jeffrey Jones said that, after reviewing the narratives around the company’s professional learning […] The post Solution Tree asks Arkansas education secretary to withdraw $99.4 million contract appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Fauci defends his work on COVID-19, says he has an ‘open mind’ on its origins
WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci defended his decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday, testifying before Congress about his work on the virus as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during two presidencies. House Republicans who called the hearing grilled Fauci during the contentious three-hour session about the origins of […] The post Fauci defends his work on COVID-19, says he has an ‘open mind’ on its origins appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Missouri AG argues to block Biden administration’s second student loan forgiveness plan
A United States District Court judge in St. Louis heard arguments Monday morning on whether the federal government can continue with a student-debt-forgiveness plan due to begin next month. The lawsuit, filed last month by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, seeks to block an income-driven repayment plan for borrowers proposed by President Joe Biden’s administration. […] The post Missouri AG argues to block Biden administration’s second student loan forgiveness plan appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Special session discussions ongoing as Arkansas tornado recovery efforts progress
BENTONVILLE — While elected officials’ focus shifted to recovery efforts after more than a dozen deadly tornadoes struck the state last week, Arkansas lawmakers have continued negotiating the details of a pending special session. A special session became necessary when the Arkansas Legislature failed to approve the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s budget before the […] The post Special session discussions ongoing as Arkansas tornado recovery efforts progress appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Food insecurity in Arkansas worsens, rate ranks second highest nationwide
More than 567,000 Arkansans — 18.6% of the state’s total population — know what it’s like to experience food insecurity and struggle to find access to healthy food. Arkansas’ food insecurity rate in 2022 was the second highest in the nation, with only Mississippi in front by 0.2%. This top two pairing is not new, […] The post Food insecurity in Arkansas worsens, rate ranks second highest nationwide appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
As USDA updates the Packers and Stockyard Act, meat industry increases political spending, lobbying
This is an analysis. It is based on factual reporting, although it incorporates the author’s expertise and may offer interpretations and conclusions. Meat industry groups and major meat companies spent more than $10 million on political contributions and lobbying efforts in 2023. For some, last year’s spending was an all-time high. The federal government has […] The post As USDA updates the Packers and Stockyard Act, meat industry increases political spending, lobbying appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
The chicken and egg problem of fighting another flu pandemic
This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is reprinted here under a Creative Commons license. Even a peep of news about a new flu pandemic is enough to set scientists clucking about eggs. They worried about them in 2005, and in 2009, and they’re worrying now. That’s because millions of fertilized hen eggs […] The post The chicken and egg problem of fighting another flu pandemic appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
States are already collecting more abortion data. And HIPAA won’t always keep it private.
Years before the Dobbs decision, providers like Dr. Kylie Cooper were already uncomfortable with some of the reporting requirements for abortion procedures in states where they practiced. Cooper was a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for several years in Idaho before she reluctantly left the state in 2023 because of the near-total abortion ban that is now […] The post States are already collecting more abortion data. And HIPAA won’t always keep it private. appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas education secretary withdraws Solution Tree contract after legislative opposition
Arkansas’ education chief withdrew from legislative review a $99.4 million contract with an Indiana-based education company following pushback from lawmakers on the proposal’s high cost and the vendor’s effectiveness. During Friday’s Arkansas Legislative Council meeting, Sen. Scott Flippo, R-Bull Shoals, said Education Secretary Jacob Oliva asked to withdraw a proposed seven-year contract with Solution Tree, […] The post Arkansas education secretary withdraws Solution Tree contract after legislative opposition appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
An angry Trump pledges to appeal ‘this scam’ conviction as Republicans vow resistance
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump, now a convicted felon, vowed to launch an appeal based “on many things” he considered unfair during his New York trial, he said Friday in the lobby of Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan. Meanwhile Friday, legal and political analysts predicted he will spend little if any time in jail […] The post An angry Trump pledges to appeal ‘this scam’ conviction as Republicans vow resistance appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden approves federal aid for Arkansas’ tornado-struck communities as fatalities reach 10
President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for three Arkansas counties following severe storms that killed 10 people and destroyed at least 300 houses along the northern part of the state from May 24-27. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested federal aid on Wednesday for necessary recovery efforts after tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding. Now […] The post Biden approves federal aid for Arkansas’ tornado-struck communities as fatalities reach 10 appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war. Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure […] The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Some providers will offer low-cost internet even as federal program ends, White House says
WASHINGTON — With Friday marking the official last day of the pandemic-era Affordable Connectivity Program, the Biden administration is spotlighting commitments from over a dozen internet service providers to offer plans at $30 or less to low-income households through 2024. This comes as Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the short-term program had to […] The post Some providers will offer low-cost internet even as federal program ends, White House says appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
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Arkansas Advocate intends to show how state government affects the lives of everyday Arkansans so they can make informed decisions about themselves, their families and their communities. We strive to amplify the voices of all Arkansans. We focus especially on the relationship between people, power and policy. As an independent, nonpartisan news organization, Arkansas Advocate will keep an eye on the levers of power and those who manipulate them, and hold public officials accountable regardless of party or ideology. We believe news is a vital community service and ethical journalism a cornerstone of democracy, making us key players in fulfilling Arkansas’ state motto, Regnat Populus: “the people rule.” Arkansas Advocate proudly publishes the work of independent journalists. If you have a great idea and a passion for ethical, truthful storytelling, we’d love to hear from you. The Advocate also provides a forum for guest commentary on issues of interest to Arkansans. We separate opinion from our news reporting and clearly label each. Arkansas Advocate is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Advocate retains full editorial independence.
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