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Arkansas Advocate
Tariffs to be sharply hiked by Biden administration on Chinese-made products
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is doubling and in some cases tripling tariffs on Chinese-made products, like steel and electric vehicles, in a move aimed at easing economic pain in battleground states, though senior administration officials say it isn’t political. National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard told reporters on a call Monday ahead of the announcement […] The post Tariffs to be sharply hiked by Biden administration on Chinese-made products appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Star witness in Trump trial tells of plot to conceal porn star hush money payments
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s former fixer took the stand in a Manhattan courtroom Monday and told jurors that Trump was well aware of a scheme to hide the repayment of money intended to silence porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness, told the jury that he […] The post Star witness in Trump trial tells of plot to conceal porn star hush money payments appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Federal judge denies stay in Arkansas LEARNS ‘indoctrination’ lawsuit
A federal judge on Monday denied a motion for a stay of proceedings pending an appeal in a case challenging the constitutionality of a section of the LEARNS Act that bans “indoctrination” in public schools. U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky last week granted in part and denied in part the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary […] The post Federal judge denies stay in Arkansas LEARNS ‘indoctrination’ lawsuit appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas officials grant $20 million to increase nursing pipeline
State officials on Monday announced $20 million in grants to assist 19 Arkansas higher education institutions in training more nurses amid a nationwide shortage. The Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses (ALIGN) program is supported through American Rescue Plan Act funding and will be administered by the state Commerce Department’s Office of Skills Development, Commerce […] The post Arkansas officials grant $20 million to increase nursing pipeline appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Industry professionals reflect on five years of medical marijuana in Arkansas
Since the launch of medical marijuana in Arkansas in 2019, more than three dozen storefronts have opened, at least 102,000 residents have registered for patient cards and revenue has topped $1.1 billion. The industry doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. The latest report from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration showed the […] The post Industry professionals reflect on five years of medical marijuana in Arkansas appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Religious views on abortion more diverse than they may appear in U.S. political debate
Lawmakers who oppose abortion often invoke their faith — many identify as Christian — while debating policy. The anti-abortion movement’s use of Christianity in arguments might create the impression that broad swaths of religious Americans don’t support abortion rights. But a recent report shows that Americans of various faiths and denominations believe abortion should be […] The post Religious views on abortion more diverse than they may appear in U.S. political debate appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Early morning calls. Barren chicken barns. Millions in debt.
This article first appeared on Investigate Midwest and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Timothy Bundren must have heard wrong. The sun wasn’t up yet. He was still groggy from starting his morning routine of walking through chicken barns. His phone rang and his contact with the global meat company headquartered in […] The post Early morning calls. Barren chicken barns. Millions in debt. appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
‘Mom’ legislators see their numbers, influence grow but barriers to elected office remain
For the second time while serving in the Nevada Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro gave birth last year. And again, she publicly pledged to continue full participation in her duties. As the nation’s groundbreaker when it comes to working moms in a state capital, Nevada made history in 2019 as the only female-majority legislative […] The post ‘Mom’ legislators see their numbers, influence grow but barriers to elected office remain appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas football coach returns to his shrinking hometown & scores big for teens
This article, published in partnership with the nonprofit education newsroom The 74, is part of a special series focused on the schools, students and educators of Pine Bluff. PINE BLUFF — On a gray February morning, the Pine Bluff High School gymnasium was filled with colorful balloons and flooded with music and laughter as family […] The post Arkansas football coach returns to his shrinking hometown & scores big for teens appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas State Library Board rejects proposals to withhold funds based on content, litigation
The Arkansas State Library Board on Friday voted down two motions to withhold state funding from public libraries that board member Jason Rapert put forth in his ongoing opposition to the presence of certain books on library shelves. The former Republican state senator from Conway reintroduced a motion he proposed at February’s board meeting to […] The post Arkansas State Library Board rejects proposals to withhold funds based on content, litigation appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Even as interest in women’s college sports rises, report finds big gap in participation
WASHINGTON — A congressional watchdog in a new report called on the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to improve its enforcement of Title IX compliance in college athletics. The U.S. Government Accountability Office in the report issued Thursday appeared critical of the OCR’s oversight in expanding opportunities for women in college athletics, […] The post Even as interest in women’s college sports rises, report finds big gap in participation appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Former Democratic gubernatorial nominee files defamation suit against Arkansas senator
Former Arkansas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Jones on Thursday filed a defamation lawsuit against Republican Sen. Bart Hester. The complaint, which was filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court by Northwest Arkansas lawyers Tom Mars and Kathryn Platt, alleges “internet defamation with malice” against Hester, president pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate. In a post on […] The post Former Democratic gubernatorial nominee files defamation suit against Arkansas senator appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Senate in FAA bill adds flights at Washington National, bucking local opponents
WASHINGTON — After hours of uncertainty Thursday, the U.S. Senate struck a deal to reauthorize several Federal Aviation Administration programs for the next five years, though Maryland and Virginia senators were vehemently opposed and lawmakers hoping to attach unrelated provisions lost out. The bill heads to the House next week for final approval. Lawmakers from […] The post U.S. Senate in FAA bill adds flights at Washington National, bucking local opponents appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
More Black teachers: A push to revive schools in nation’s fastest-shrinking city
This article, published in partnership with the nonprofit education newsroom The 74, is part of a special series focused on the schools, students and educators of Pine Bluff. PINE BLUFF — When TyKesha and Dedrick Cross met in fifth grade, neither of them could have known that decades later they’d be married and working as dedicated […] The post More Black teachers: A push to revive schools in nation’s fastest-shrinking city appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think
A little more than two years ago, a clean energy record was broken. For the first time, a regional transmission organization met more than 90% of its electric demand, called load, with renewable power. But if you don’t follow the electric industry closely, you might be surprised where it happened. On March 29, 2022, Southwest […] The post In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Still much unknown on how marijuana policies would change in states under Biden plan
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has proposed loosening the illegal status of marijuana at the federal level – but that doesn’t mean the federal government now condones recreational or medicinal use in the many states that have legalized the drug. Moving marijuana from the government’s list of the most dangerous and least useful substances to […] The post Still much unknown on how marijuana policies would change in states under Biden plan appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas lawmakers face possible special session after Game and Fish Commission appropriation fails
The Arkansas Legislature’s fiscal session seemed to come to an end Thursday, but with some confusion and uncertainty after the House did not pass the only remaining appropriation bill and the Senate responded by refusing to adjourn sine die. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s spending authority for fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1, […] The post Arkansas lawmakers face possible special session after Game and Fish Commission appropriation fails appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas education board removes Lee County’s fiscal distress status
The Arkansas State Board of Education on Thursday voted to remove the Lee County School District from its fiscal distress status, but state officials will continue to monitor the district’s finances for the next three years. Superintendent Michael Stone told the Advocate he felt great about the board’s decision and said his Delta district has […] The post Arkansas education board removes Lee County’s fiscal distress status appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas awaits $104k in settlement with wireless carriers for deceptive advertising
Arkansas will receive approximately $104,000 of a $10.25 million multi-state settlement over deceptive and misleading advertising from wireless carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless. Attorneys general in all 50 states and the District of Columbia launched an investigation in 2016 over concerns that wireless carriers were misleading people in ads about unlimited data, […] The post Arkansas awaits $104k in settlement with wireless carriers for deceptive advertising appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
One year after FDA approves over-the-counter birth control pill, advocates push for more access
Sriha Srinivasan remembers how surprised her mom was two years ago when she learned that birth control pills weren’t sold in stores without a prescription in the United States. “My parents are immigrants from India, and it’s been over the counter there since my mom can remember,” said Srinivasan, a recent graduate of University of […] The post One year after FDA approves over-the-counter birth control pill, advocates push for more access 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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