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Arkansas Advocate
Flora Farms cannabis dispensary flourishes at location near the Arkansas border
JANE, Missouri — Nestled along a bubbling creek at the base of a rolling hill is the Flora Farms Stateline Dispensary — just a third of a mile from the Arkansas border. On a Sunday afternoon, cars in the drive-thru line wrap around the building and about 20 cars are parked out front. Inside, budtenders […] The post Flora Farms cannabis dispensary flourishes at location near the Arkansas border appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Senate Dems tie state abortion bans to fewer beginning physicians
WASHINGTON — Bans or severe restrictions on abortion access enacted by Republican state lawmakers have led to a downturn in medical students seeking to practice in those states, and a handful of Democratic U.S. senators said Tuesday those laws must be reversed. During a press conference just steps from the U.S. Capitol, the lawmakers and […] The post U.S. Senate Dems tie state abortion bans to fewer beginning physicians appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Stalled affordable teacher housing project finds new life in Northwest Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas community members broke ground Tuesday on a multifamily rental development that provides a new path forward for the Bentonville School District’s affordable housing project, which stalled following a rejected rezoning request in February. The Excellerate Foundation, a grant-making organization that’s worked on regional housing issues, proposed constructing employee housing adjacent to Bentonville High […] The post Stalled affordable teacher housing project finds new life in Northwest Arkansas appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Out-of-state abortion pill providers must stop advertising and sales in Arkansas, AG orders
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sent cease and desist letters Tuesday to two companies, one in New York and one in the Netherlands, that have advertised their ability to provide abortion medication to Arkansans. Abortion is illegal in Arkansas with a narrow exception to save a pregnant person’s life. The 2019 “trigger” law went into […] The post Out-of-state abortion pill providers must stop advertising and sales in Arkansas, AG orders appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Trump declines witness stand as testimony in his first trial concludes
WASHINGTON — The end of the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president is in sight as Donald Trump’s defense team rested its case Tuesday in Manhattan, where jurors have heard weeks of testimony from nearly two dozen witnesses about Trump’s alleged reimbursement of hush money meant to silence a porn star before the […] The post Trump declines witness stand as testimony in his first trial concludes appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Gun safety group, U.S. Senate architects of 2022 law call for stricter measures
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin and a coalition of medical officers advocated Tuesday for Congress to pass stronger gun safety laws. Congress should build on the 2022 gun control law following high-profile mass shootings, Durbin, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy and about 80 members of OnCall4Kids, a group of doctors and healthcare professionals […] The post Gun safety group, U.S. Senate architects of 2022 law call for stricter measures appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Sanders highlights ‘Capital for a Day’ program during Rural Development Conference speech
Enhancing rural life in Arkansas is the topic of a three-day conference in Hot Springs this week, at which Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders shared opening remarks on Tuesday. Sanders touted changes she said have benefited the state’s rural communities — from school vouchers created by the LEARNS Act, to the “Capital for a Day” program, […] The post Sanders highlights ‘Capital for a Day’ program during Rural Development Conference speech appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden to announce 1 million claims granted for VA benefits under toxic exposure law
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is set to announce in New Hampshire on Tuesday that 1 million claims have been granted for benefits under the toxic exposure law that Congress approved less than two years ago, following the military’s use of open air burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq. The law, approved with broad bipartisan […] The post Biden to announce 1 million claims granted for VA benefits under toxic exposure law appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund $300 million in grants to boost exports
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday $300 million in funding for more than 60 groups seeking to diversify American agricultural exports. “USDA is pleased to be able to provide the startup capital to tap into these opportunities,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a call with reporters Monday night previewing the announcement. […] The post U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund $300 million in grants to boost exports appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
As a key labor union pushes into the South, red states push back
Just days before workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama began voting last week on whether to unionize, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed a new law that would claw back state incentives from companies that voluntarily recognize labor unions. Alabama’s move follows similar efforts in Georgia and Tennessee, where GOP leaders also have passed laws […] The post As a key labor union pushes into the South, red states push back appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Prosecution rests in Trump hush money trial, after former fixer Cohen is grilled
NEW YORK — New York state prosecutors rested their case against Donald Trump Monday after four days of testimony from their key witness, Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen, who says the former president was well aware of a hush money cover-up. The defense paints Cohen as a liar. The Manhattan criminal trial, the first ever […] The post Prosecution rests in Trump hush money trial, after former fixer Cohen is grilled appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt introduces bill to end a state’s Medicaid funding if it blocks IVF
WASHINGTON — Two Republican U.S. senators have teamed up to try to prevent states from banning in vitro fertilization, months after the Alabama state Supreme Court upended access to the procedure by ruling fertilized embryos were children under state law. Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama and Ted Cruz of Texas introduced a three-page bill on […] The post U.S. Sen. Katie Britt introduces bill to end a state’s Medicaid funding if it blocks IVF appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Low-income communities priority for Arkansas’ $93.6 million federal solar grant
A partnership between an Arkansas renewable energy nonprofit and a multi-state organization that helps economically disadvantaged communities will use nearly $94 million in federal funds to help low-income families acquire solar power. Arkansas was one of many states chosen to receive the federal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency’s $7 billion Solar for All program, […] The post Low-income communities priority for Arkansas’ $93.6 million federal solar grant appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
The number of births continues to fall, despite abortion bans
Births continued a historic slide in all but two states last year, making it clear that a brief post-pandemic uptick in the nation’s birth numbers was all about planned pregnancies that had been delayed temporarily by COVID-19. Only Tennessee and North Dakota had small increases in births from 2022 to 2023, according to a Stateline […] The post The number of births continues to fall, despite abortion bans appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Brown v Board: Progress but still an unfulfilled promise
The promise of an equal education for Black students didn’t come to my Louisiana high school until my junior year in 1966, more than a decade after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board decision outlawing school segregation. As President Joe Biden and civil rights leaders marked the 70th anniversary of that historic ruling […] The post Brown v Board: Progress but still an unfulfilled promise appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
$79 million for Arkansas water projects coming down the pipe
Projects to improve water quality, upgrade sanitary systems and install key water infrastructure can soon begin in counties across Arkansas through funding recently approved by the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Commission. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the $79 million as a lump sum on Friday, though the funds can be differentiated by federal and […] The post $79 million for Arkansas water projects coming down the pipe appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden celebrates ‘the power of an education’ on Brown v. Board 70th anniversary
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday echoed his commitment to advancing racial and educational equity while celebrating the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Biden has spent this past week commemorating the anniversary of the landmark ruling in which the nation’s highest court ruled racial segregation […] The post Biden celebrates ‘the power of an education’ on Brown v. Board 70th anniversary appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Farm bill text released in U.S. House, setting up fight with Senate
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Agriculture Committee Friday released the draft bill text of the long-awaited $1.5 trillion farm bill, which is likely to face opposition in the Senate from Democrats due to disagreements over federal anti-hunger programs and climate change requirements. The chair of the committee, GOP Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania, said […] The post Farm bill text released in U.S. House, setting up fight with Senate appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden administration seeks to speed some asylum cases with new immigration docket
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will start a new system Friday to hasten asylum claims for single adults, administration officials said Thursday. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Justice will launch a new expedited docket for migrants who arrive alone at ports of entry and turn themselves in to border authorities, […] The post Biden administration seeks to speed some asylum cases with new immigration docket appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
New federal rule will overhaul transmission planning as electric grid strains
A divided Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday issued a long-awaited overhaul of how regional electric transmission lines are planned and paid for, a move cheered by clean power groups but blasted by a conservative commissioner who said it was driven by “special interests” and exceeds the commission’s authority. The commission’s final rule on transmission […] The post New federal rule will overhaul transmission planning as electric grid strains 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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