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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.
Universities try 3-year degrees to save students time, money
With college costs rising and some students and families questioning the return on investment of a four-year degree, a few pioneering state universities are exploring programs that would grant certain bachelor’s degrees in three years. The programs, which also are being tried at some private schools, would require 90 credits instead of the traditional 120 […] The post Universities try 3-year degrees to save students time, money appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas Supreme Court rejects request to certify paper ballot initiative
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by supporters of proposed ballot initiatives that would change absentee voting procedures and require elections be conducted with paper ballots. Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative Inc., its CEO Conrad Reynolds and Restore Election Integrity Arkansas, a ballot question committee, filed the original jurisdiction complaint against Secretary […] The post Arkansas Supreme Court rejects request to certify paper ballot initiative appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Three attorneys leave Arkansas Judiciary’s disciplinary office in short succession
The Arkansas judiciary office that oversees discipline for attorneys and judges has three recent vacancies on its seven-person staff, including the executive director position, and the reason for the former director’s departure is unclear. According to Lisa Ballard’s personnel file, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, she held the Office of Professional Conduct […] The post Three attorneys leave Arkansas Judiciary’s disciplinary office in short succession appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas governor activates additional National Guardsmen as tornado tally climbs
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders mobilized more than 180 Arkansas Army National Guardsmen to support recovery efforts in Northwest Arkansas where the National Weather Service confirmed three additional tornadoes on Thursday. In Rogers, 28 soldiers will help control traffic to facilitate debris removal sites and secure damaged buildings and property, according to a press release. This […] The post Arkansas governor activates additional National Guardsmen as tornado tally climbs appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial
WASHINGTON — Jurors in New York state court on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ultimately to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president wrapped up in […] The post Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Pill press molds used to produce illicit fentanyl targeted in legislation in Congress
WASHINGTON – Bipartisan legislation pushed in both chambers of Congress aims to stop illegal fentanyl production and trafficking by focusing on the machinery used to manufacture pills. The Criminalizing Abused Substance Templates, or CAST, Act would redefine the criminal penalty for producing counterfeit drugs using a pill press. Counterfeiting drugs is already illegal as outlined […] The post Pill press molds used to produce illicit fentanyl targeted in legislation in Congress appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas governor requests federal disaster declaration for storm damage
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday requested a major disaster declaration from the president that will make more resources available to communities recovering from damage caused by fatal tornadoes that tore through north Arkansas Sunday. “I’ve seen the destruction caused by these storms and it is heartbreaking, but Arkansas is resilient because of her people—the […] The post Arkansas governor requests federal disaster declaration for storm damage appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nation’s aging grid
Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize America’s aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that […] The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nation’s aging grid appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas city’s mayor refuses to resign after council asks him to step down
Helena-West Helena Mayor Christopher Franklin refused to resign Tuesday night after the City Council voted 6-0 to ask that he step down. The resolution came in response to a profanity-laden video call between the mayor, his adult daughter and his adult niece that went viral online last week. The Helena World reported that Franklin abruptly […] The post Arkansas city’s mayor refuses to resign after council asks him to step down appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Activists ask again for reinstatement of Arkansas Medicaid benefits lost in 2023 ‘unwinding’
Arkansas Medicaid recipients held the latest of several protests in front of the state Department of Human Services headquarters Wednesday, asking the agency again for broader health care coverage and the reinstatement of those who were disenrolled last year but still eligible. DHS spent six months in 2023 reviewing the eligibility of Medicaid recipients whose […] The post Activists ask again for reinstatement of Arkansas Medicaid benefits lost in 2023 ‘unwinding’ appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
$4 million federal grant for Arkansas brownfield sites prioritizes environmental, economic rehab
A string of dilapidated commercial and residential buildings in Earle, a former auto repair site in West Memphis and the Booker Arts Magnet School in east Little Rock are three examples of Arkansas brownfield sites where rehabilitation can soon begin using $4 million in federal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency. Brownfield sites — properties […] The post $4 million federal grant for Arkansas brownfield sites prioritizes environmental, economic rehab appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says
WASHINGTON — Four Arkansas school districts will get a total of about $11 million in federal funds to buy clean-energy school buses as part of the Biden administration’s effort to replace diesel-powered ones, officials announced Wednesday. The administration’s initiative, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, will provide about […] The post Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
The jury now will decide Trump’s fate in hush money trial, after lengthy closing arguments
WASHINGTON — Closing arguments in the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president concluded Tuesday, leaving the jury to now decide if Donald Trump is guilty of faking reimbursement to his personal lawyer for hush money paid to a porn star just before the 2016 presidential election. Just outside the Lower Manhattan courthouse […] The post The jury now will decide Trump’s fate in hush money trial, after lengthy closing arguments appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
TikTok and the GenZ problem: Government races to ban app most favored by young adults
Andy Austin started using TikTok during the COVID-19 lockdown. Since travel was so heavily restricted, business was tough for a commercial photographer and travel guide. TikTok seemed like a good way to expand on what his business already offered. “I think, like a lot of people, I started using TikTok heavier in 2020 during lockdown,” […] The post TikTok and the GenZ problem: Government races to ban app most favored by young adults appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas storms produce six tornadoes, National Weather Service reports
At least six tornadoes struck north Arkansas early Sunday morning, according to preliminary damage survey results from the National Weather Service. The agency’s Little Rock office announced Tuesday that two EF-3 tornadoes with peak winds of 140 miles per hour touched down in Boone, Marion and Baxter counties. One tornado’s path extended 21 miles. A […] The post Arkansas storms produce six tornadoes, National Weather Service reports appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
States shift toward kin-first foster care
When Victoria Gray and her husband took in their grandchild in 1993, there wasn’t a catchall term to explain the difficult task ahead. They just did the work. In the past decade, though, Gray, of Phoenix, has watched as states have worked steadily to recognize the roles of grandparents and other extended loved ones, now […] The post States shift toward kin-first foster care appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas education amendment supporters continue gathering signatures as deadline looms
Supporters of an Arkansas education ballot initiative said they’ve been successful in gathering thousands of signatures and remain confident they can qualify for the November ballot despite opposition groups raising significantly more money. The primary goal of the Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024 is to hold private schools that receive state funding to the […] The post Arkansas education amendment supporters continue gathering signatures as deadline looms appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
The complicated challenge of preserving Little Rock’s Central High neighborhood
This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. on May 28 to further detail the Historic District Commission’s 2023 proposal to the city of Little Rock. Seated at the table in Paul Dodds’ screened patio in central Little Rock, you can hear the hammering of nearby construction, see the peaks of empty nearby houses, and if […] The post The complicated challenge of preserving Little Rock’s Central High neighborhood appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula
As the summer travel season approaches, new parents may be navigating airports with their babies — and the complexities of keeping them fed. Despite federal guidelines for airport agents laying out how to treat nursing moms, stories about problem encounters with security sometimes go viral. In 2023, actress and singer Keke Palmer said she was […] The post A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula 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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