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Arkansas Advocate
Bonuses imminent for 3,000 Arkansas educators under new program
This story has been updated to include an interactive map showing the percentage of teachers and average amount of bonuses in each school district. Nearly 3,000 Arkansas teachers can expect a boost to their paycheck by the end of the month, according to an announcement from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders Tuesday afternoon. The bonuses are […] The post Bonuses imminent for 3,000 Arkansas educators under new program appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Iowa Utilities Board approves permit for controversial Summit pipeline
The Iowa Utilities Board gave its approval Tuesday for the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline and for the company to use eminent domain to acquire landowners’ property. The company hopes to begin construction next year with the goal of making the pipeline operational in 2026. The pipeline, which would be the largest of its kind […] The post Iowa Utilities Board approves permit for controversial Summit pipeline appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas attorney general sues Chinese-owned Temu for deceptive practices
Temu, an online shopping platform with Chinese ownership, is the subject of the latest lawsuit from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. Griffin filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in the Circuit Court of Cleburne County under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the Personal Information Protection Act and for “unjust enrichment.” The lawsuit seeks preliminary and […] The post Arkansas attorney general sues Chinese-owned Temu for deceptive practices appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will get a crucial opportunity to reach undecided voters and set the terms for the 2024 presidential campaign at Thursday night’s debate in Atlanta. Partisans on either side have already made up their minds about which candidate they’ll support. And with this year’s race serving as a […] The post Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Federal rulings out of Kansas, Missouri put Biden student-loan forgiveness on hold
Federal judges in Kansas and Missouri on Monday blocked the full implementation of a student-loan forgiveness program proposed by the Biden administration that was set to launch July 1. The SAVE Plan, an acronym for Saving on a Valuable Education, has been partially rolled out. The provisions already in effect may remain, United States District […] The post Federal rulings out of Kansas, Missouri put Biden student-loan forgiveness on hold appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that four states will launch voluntary pilot programs in the days ahead to test bulk milk tanks on dairy farms for bird flu — a move that’s aimed at making it easier for farmers to ship herds across state lines and for public health officials to […] The post Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Calm, conservative, confident: What GOP senators want in Trump’s vice presidential pick
WASHINGTON — Republican members of the U.S. Senate striving for a takeover of their chamber in the November elections have a wish list for what they’d like to see in Donald Trump’s running mate. A “little calmer” than Trump. Confident. Conservative. Military experience. Good relationships with senators. Ready to take over as chief executive if […] The post Calm, conservative, confident: What GOP senators want in Trump’s vice presidential pick appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas Supreme Court reinstates ban on gender-neutral IDs
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Monday released a formal order in an ongoing legal battle over gender-neutral IDs. For the past 14 years, Arkansans were allowed to put an “X” on their driver’s license for their gender. This came after years of only allowing “M” or “F.” License holders were also allowed to change their […] The post Arkansas Supreme Court reinstates ban on gender-neutral IDs appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Food program won’t benefit eligible Arkansas children until midsummer
By July 10, most children in Arkansas will be well into their second month of summer break with five weeks of sunny, schoolless days under their belts, but some children will have spent those weeks without a reliable source of food. Arkansas has one of the highest food insecurity rates in the nation and is […] The post Food program won’t benefit eligible Arkansas children until midsummer appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
The Dobbs effect today: Abortion ballot initiatives, expected higher mortality, more litigation
In Arizona, the state’s highest court upheld a Civil War-era abortion ban. Florida and South Carolina moved to restrict abortion to six weeks — before many people know they are pregnant. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “children,” temporarily throwing fertility treatments, such as IVF, into uncertainty and igniting a national debate. […] The post The Dobbs effect today: Abortion ballot initiatives, expected higher mortality, more litigation appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear appeal of Josh Duggar’s child pornography conviction
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear an appeal of the child pornography conviction of Josh Duggar, a member of the Arkansas family known for their presence in reality television and Republican politics. Duggar, of Springdale, was convicted in December 2021 of possessing child pornography after a jury trial in Fayetteville. U.S. District […] The post U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear appeal of Josh Duggar’s child pornography conviction appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas AG sues pharmacy benefit managers, claiming unjust enrichment from opioids
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a lawsuit Monday against two pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), alleging that they used data from drug manufacturers and distributors to maximize their financial gain instead of using it to mitigate the opioid addiction epidemic. PBMs are companies that serve as middlemen to negotiate prescription benefits among manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies […] The post Arkansas AG sues pharmacy benefit managers, claiming unjust enrichment from opioids appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Supreme Court will hear challenge to Tennessee’s ban on care for transgender minors
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday morning it will take up a challenge to Tennessee’s 2023 ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Lambda Legal asked the court to review a ruling by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld the law. Tennessee’s law prohibits doctors from […] The post U.S. Supreme Court will hear challenge to Tennessee’s ban on care for transgender minors appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November
WASHINGTON — Exactly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, the battles rage among both advocates and lawmakers over the future of reproductive rights at the state and federal levels. Anti-abortion groups that have achieved considerable success in deep-red parts of the country are working to sway voters […] The post For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt.
Editor’s note: This is the fifth installment of an occasional States Newsroom series called When and Where: Abortion Access in America, profiling individuals who have needed abortion care in the U.S. before and after Dobbs. The first installment can be found here, the second installment is here, the third is here, and the fourth ishere. […] The post After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt. appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Protesters target organizers for abortion ballot measure in Arkansas
Originally published by The 19th One woman said she has been called a murderer at public events. Another said she was followed by a protester from location to location. A third stopped posting publicly about her real-time whereabouts. These are the realities of gathering signatures to put abortion rights on the ballot in deep-red Arkansas, […] The post Protesters target organizers for abortion ballot measure in Arkansas appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas State Police releases names of four people killed in grocery store shooting
Arkansas State Police has released the names of the four people killed in Friday’s shooting in Fordyce. Friday’s shooting is classified as a mass killing, which the Associated Press defines as incidents resulting in at least four deaths. There have been 18 mass killings in the U.S. so far in 2024. Fourteen people — 11 […] The post Arkansas State Police releases names of four people killed in grocery store shooting appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Don’t give up on the FAFSA, advocates for student financial aid urge
WASHINGTON — Though the new version of the form to apply for federal financial student aid has had its fair share of highly publicized hiccups, U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal says the department has made a lot of progress in the past couple of months. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid — […] The post Don’t give up on the FAFSA, advocates for student financial aid urge appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Three dead, 11 injured in mass shooting at south Arkansas grocery
A Friday morning shooting at a Fordyce, Arkansas, grocery store left three people dead and 11 wounded, including the suspect and two law enforcement officers, according to Arkansas State Police. The suspect and the law enforcement officers are not considered to have life-threatening injuries, ASP Director Mike Hagar said at an afternoon press conference near […] The post Three dead, 11 injured in mass shooting at south Arkansas grocery appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Florida governor signs bill compensating victims of abuse while children in state custody
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has approved a measure that will finally provide reparations for hundreds of men who as children were beaten and raped for decades while in the custody of the state. The law (HB 21) signed by the governor on Friday morning will divide $20 million in compensation between those who attended the Arthur […] The post Florida governor signs bill compensating victims of abuse while children in state custody 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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