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Arkansas Advocate
Senate approves Arkansas Game and Fish Commission budget without hitch
“Third time is hopefully the charm,” Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, said as he opened his presentation of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission budget before the full Senate on Tuesday. Funding the Game and Fish Commission for the fiscal year 2025 is a primary reason legislators are in Little Rock this week for a special […] The post Senate approves Arkansas Game and Fish Commission budget without hitch appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas income tax cut proposals expected to go to governor’s desk Wednesday
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect corporate tax rate for April 2023 and has been updated. The Arkansas House and Senate on Tuesday each passed its version of two identical bills that seek to cut income taxes, setting up the conclusion of a special legislative session on Wednesday. The legislation would […] The post Arkansas income tax cut proposals expected to go to governor’s desk Wednesday appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden to unveil protections for some undocumented spouses, easier DACA work visas
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration Tuesday will announce deportation protections for long-term undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens, along with quicker approval of work permits for those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. President Joe Biden will formally make the announcement during an afternoon White House event to celebrate the 12th anniversary of […] The post Biden to unveil protections for some undocumented spouses, easier DACA work visas appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas tax cut proposals sail through committees on first day of special session
Two committees of Arkansas lawmakers approved measures to decrease income taxes and increase the homestead tax credit on Monday, the first day of the Legislature’s second special session in nine months. Both the House and Senate Revenue and Tax committees passed, with no dissent, identical bills that seek to cut the top corporate income tax […] The post Arkansas tax cut proposals sail through committees on first day of special session appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas tornado recovery center opens in Marion County
FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center Monday at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Summit and will open another Tuesday in Mountain Home to assist Arkansans affected by recent severe weather. The Mountain Home center will be located at the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, 1042 Highland Circle, Mountain Home, AR 72653. The address of […] The post Arkansas tornado recovery center opens in Marion County appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission budget moves along swimmingly
Lawmakers moved quickly Monday afternoon toward approval of an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission appropriation bill, a primary reason Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called a special session this week. Arkansas lawmakers to consider income tax cuts, Game and Fish budget during special session Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, filed the bill Friday to set the agency’s […] The post Arkansas Game and Fish Commission budget moves along swimmingly appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Anti-abortion groups say Supreme Court’s mifepristone ruling won’t deter them
In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling Thursday to maintain current access to the abortion medication mifepristone, abortion-rights advocates and opponents vowed to continue their respective battles over the drug. Mifepristone is one of two drugs used to treat miscarriages and terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, and is the most […] The post Anti-abortion groups say Supreme Court’s mifepristone ruling won’t deter them appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure
WASHINGTON — The federal government has sought to bolster election security for years through a popular grant program, but the wildly fluctuating funding levels have made it difficult for state officials to plan their budgets and their projects. Rising misinformation and disinformation about elections, often fueled by conspiracy theories, as well as threats against election […] The post States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas lawmakers to consider income tax cuts, Game and Fish budget during special session
It’s not February, but it’s feeling a bit like Groundhog Day at the Arkansas Capitol as the governor calls lawmakers into a special session this week to cut income taxes for the second time in nine months. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said she wants to phase out the state’s income tax and legislators have […] The post Arkansas lawmakers to consider income tax cuts, Game and Fish budget during special session appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Hot Springs police handcuff advocate for government transparency, remove her from public venue
This story was updated at 7:11 p.m. on June 14, 2024 to include comments from Arkansas Citizens for Transparency, and again at 4:15 p.m. on June 17, 2024 to include comments from the Arkansas Bar Association. Police officers handcuffed Bentonville attorney Jen Standerfer on Friday and escorted her out of the Hot Springs Convention Center […] The post Hot Springs police handcuff advocate for government transparency, remove her from public venue appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Prosecuting attorney finds Little Rock shooting death justified
This story was updated on June 14 at 4:20 p.m. to include a statement from Bud Cummins. The federal agent who shot and killed a Little Rock airport executive while serving a search warrant in March used justifiable deadly force, according to Prosecuting Attorney Will Jones on Friday. In the early hours on March 19, […] The post Prosecuting attorney finds Little Rock shooting death justified appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Supreme Court overturns ban on bump stocks used in Las Vegas mass shooting
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down a rule enacted following a 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that defined a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock attachment as a machine gun, which is generally prohibited under federal law. The opinion, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, reduces the executive branch’s already-limited […] The post U.S. Supreme Court overturns ban on bump stocks used in Las Vegas mass shooting appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden’s Title IX transgender protections blocked in federal court
A federal judge has temporarily halted enforcement of new rules from the Biden administration that would prevent discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana issued a temporary injunction Thursday that blocks updated Title IX policy from taking effect Aug. 1 in Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi and Montana. In […] The post Biden’s Title IX transgender protections blocked in federal court appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission leads Lake Conway clean-ups as budget questions linger
Given the current state of Lake Conway in Central Arkansas, it’s likely there is more litter than fish in the remaining 18 inches of water. Last summer, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission approved an estimated $15 million renovation project for Lake Conway, which included draining the water into Palarm Creek in September. The renovation […] The post Arkansas Game and Fish Commission leads Lake Conway clean-ups as budget questions linger appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Trump claims ‘great unity’ after talks with congressional GOP
WASHINGTON — In his first visit to Capitol Hill since leaving office in January 2021, former President Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, mapped campaign strategy with GOP lawmakers and projected party unity ahead of the November elections. Trump said the meetings brought “great unity.” Surrounded by Republican senators who were smiling and applauding him […] The post Trump claims ‘great unity’ after talks with congressional GOP appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
FEMA opens second disaster recovery center in north Arkansas
FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Center in Harrison Thursday to assist Arkansans affected by severe weather that struck the northern part of the state over Memorial Day weekend. The center is operating out of the Boone County Government Building, which is located at 220 N. Arbor Drive. Residents of Baxter, Benton, Boone and Marion counties […] The post FEMA opens second disaster recovery center in north Arkansas appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Biden Title IX regulation targeted by Republicans in Congress
WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress got one step further in their efforts to reverse the Biden administration’s final rule for Title IX after the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved a measure on Thursday that would overturn the updated regulations. The U.S. Department of Education’s final rule — which seeks to protect […] The post Biden Title IX regulation targeted by Republicans in Congress appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
UPDATED: Arkansas lawmakers approve audit into Corrections Board’s hiring of outside counsel
This story was updated Friday, June 14, 2024 at 10:52 a.m. An Arkansas legislative panel has asked the state’s nonpartisan auditing body to look into a contract between the Board of Corrections and attorney Abtin Mehdizadegan. The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee’s executive committee approved the proposal from Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, R-Hermitage, on Thursday with no […] The post UPDATED: Arkansas lawmakers approve audit into Corrections Board’s hiring of outside counsel appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
U.S. Senate Republicans reject Democrats’ bill on IVF protections
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democrats’ attempts to bolster reproductive rights failed again Thursday when Republicans blocked a bill guaranteeing access to in vitro fertilization from moving forward. The 48-47 procedural vote came just one day after Republicans tried unsuccessfully to pass their own IVF access bill and one week after GOP senators prevented legislation from […] The post U.S. Senate Republicans reject Democrats’ bill on IVF protections appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Why asbestos exposure may be an issue for Arkansas veterans, even today
Asbestos use was widespread in the U.S. military during the 20th century, reaching its peak during the Second World War WWII war effort, when large amounts of accessible materials were required to produce military equipment. The Navy, in particular, used the most asbestos compared to other military branches. Ships built before the 1980s were insulated […] The post Why asbestos exposure may be an issue for Arkansas veterans, even today 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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