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Arkansas Advocate
U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a […] The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property […] The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas election officials debate voting machines vs. hand-counted paper ballots
Arkansas state and county officials disagreed Thursday on the integrity and security of using voting machines or hand-counted paper ballots in elections. The State Board of Election Commissioners found “several discrepancies… that could not be reconciled” in the vote tallies from Searcy County, a rural North Central Arkansas county that hand-counts ballots. The discrepancies were […] The post Arkansas election officials debate voting machines vs. hand-counted paper ballots appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump debated at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday night, the first showdown of the 2024 general election season for the presumptive presidential nominees. The debate was heated, with candidates accusing one another of lying about their and their opponent’s positions on the debate stage. Both presidential […] The post Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate
Immigration occupies center stage in the 2024 presidential campaign and also was a major focus during the first presidential debate Thursday night between President Joe Biden and the presumptive GOP nominee, Donald J. Trump. Immigration is a top issue for voters and for Trump, while the Biden administration has struggled to deal with the largest […] The post Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Supreme Court ruling reinstates ability to perform emergency abortions in Idaho under ban
This story was revised and updated to add reaction from various parties. Emergency abortion care can continue in Idaho without fear of prosecution of physicians now that the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision Thursday remanding a case about emergency abortions in the state back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The 2022 case […] The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling reinstates ability to perform emergency abortions in Idaho under ban appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump pitched to undecided voters Thursday night during the first debate of the presidential campaign — trading insults over their policy differences, immigration and who represents a threat to democracy. During the debate from CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, the two men argued over who would be better for […] The post Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Federal regulators approve controversial Louisiana gas terminal project
A massive and contentious liquefied natural gas export project in coastal Louisiana and an associated pipeline got a key approval from federal regulators Thursday. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order granting permission for Venture Global to build and operate the CP2 terminal in Cameron Parish along the Gulf Coast and construct and operate […] The post Federal regulators approve controversial Louisiana gas terminal project appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Former Arkansas Sen. Joyce Elliott suffers stroke
Joyce Elliott, a former Arkansas state senator and prominent civil rights advocate, suffered a stroke this week while in Dallas, according to Get Loud Arkansas, her voter advocacy nonprofit. “The [Get Loud Arkansas] team truly appreciates everyone who has reached out to show support and love for Senator Elliott,” nonprofit leadership said in a statement […] The post Former Arkansas Sen. Joyce Elliott suffers stroke appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas racing commission issues Pope County casino permit to Cherokee Nation Entertainment
This story was updated at 9:37 p.m. on June 27. 2024 to include details about a group opposing the ballot initiative to repeal casino gaming in Pope County. The Arkansas Racing Commission awarded the state’s final casino license to Cherokee Nation Entertainment on Thursday following years of court challenges that have delayed the process. Although […] The post Arkansas racing commission issues Pope County casino permit to Cherokee Nation Entertainment appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Supreme Court ruling reinstates ability to perform emergency abortions in Idaho under ban
This story was revised and updated to add reaction from various parties. Emergency abortion care can continue in Idaho without fear of prosecution of physicians now that the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision Thursday remanding a case about emergency abortions in the state back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The 2022 case […] The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling reinstates ability to perform emergency abortions in Idaho under ban appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
House Speaker Johnson, Betsy DeVos lead attack on Title IX rule that protects LGBTQ+ kids
WASHINGTON — Prominent members of the GOP on Wednesday strongly criticized the Biden administration’s final rule for Title IX, including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. As the fate of a key Biden administration effort to protect LGBTQ+ students from […] The post House Speaker Johnson, Betsy DeVos lead attack on Title IX rule that protects LGBTQ+ kids appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas drug courts awarded $1 million to support participants’ need
Arkansas’ 45 drug courts received $1 million in opioid settlement funding to support program participants’ various needs as part of ongoing efforts to address the nation’s opioid epidemic. The funding comes from a national $26 billion settlement with three opioid distributors and one manufacturer through which Arkansas will receive $216 million via annual payments over […] The post Arkansas drug courts awarded $1 million to support participants’ need appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. House Democrats push for federal gun reform following surgeon general advisory
WASHINGTON – Democratic U.S. House members pushed for legislative action to address gun violence Wednesday, the day after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared the issue a public health crisis. Murthy released a 40-page advisory Tuesday. It called gun violence the leading cause of death for children and adolescents, causing just over 4,600 deaths in […] The post U.S. House Democrats push for federal gun reform following surgeon general advisory appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Document indicates Supreme Court will punt Idaho emergency abortion case for now
A document inadvertently uploaded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s website on Wednesday appears to indicate the court will send a case regarding emergency abortion care in Idaho back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rather than make a decision, according to reporting from Bloomberg Law. Rather than rule on the merits, the unofficial opinion, […] The post Document indicates Supreme Court will punt Idaho emergency abortion case for now appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Delayed Supreme Court ruling makes Trump trial on 2020 charges unlikely before election
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether presidents enjoy total criminal immunity, delaying one of the most consequential legal decisions in U.S. history and likely closing the door on former President Donald Trump facing his federal election interference trial before November. Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee who is entangled […] The post Delayed Supreme Court ruling makes Trump trial on 2020 charges unlikely before election appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
SCOTUS rejects Missouri lawsuit alleging feds bullied social media into censoring content
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected arguments by Missouri and Louisiana that the federal government violated the First Amendment in its efforts to combat false, misleading and dangerous information online. In a 6-3 decision written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the court held that neither the states nor seven individuals who were co-plaintiffs in […] The post SCOTUS rejects Missouri lawsuit alleging feds bullied social media into censoring content appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. House GOP to file suit over Biden audio tapes, as ‘inherent contempt’ vote looms
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Republican Conference will file a lawsuit against the Department of Justice next week as it attempts to gain access to the audio tapes of special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden. House Speaker Mike Johnson made the announcement Wednesday during a press conference after being asked about Florida […] The post U.S. House GOP to file suit over Biden audio tapes, as ‘inherent contempt’ vote looms appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas receives $40 million in federal infrastructure grants
Three Arkansas infrastructure projects will receive $40 million in federal funding as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Wednesday. The funding is part of $1.8 billion in awards from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. Wednesday’s announcement brings the total amount of RAISE […] The post Arkansas receives $40 million in federal infrastructure grants appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden to pardon vets discharged for same-sex relationships
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will pardon U.S. military veterans who were discharged or convicted under military law for consensual same-sex relations, the administration announced Wednesday. The White House could not provide an exact number of veterans who will be pardoned, but the administration estimates thousands were convicted over several decades and may be eligible. […] The post Biden to pardon vets discharged for same-sex relationships 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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