jonathan dismang

Arkansas

Arkansas lawmakers reject proposed language to clarify applicability of purchasing laws • Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas lawmakers declined to vote Wednesday on proposed language in an appropriation bill that would have classified several executive branch offices as state “agencies” in light of a controversy over whether certain state purchasing laws apply to the governor’s office. An audit report made public last week found potential violations of several laws in the […]

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Arkansas

Arkansas committee concludes probe of Corrections Board’s hiring of outside counsel • Arkansas Advocate

An Arkansas legislative panel will meet today to vote on next steps after concluding its investigation of potential violations of procurement law by the state Board of Corrections. The Joint Performance Review Committee has spent three meetings this month examining the board’s hiring of attorney Abtin Mehdizadegan to represent it in litigation with the state. […]

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Arkansas

Legislative panels to probe Arkansas Board of Corrections contract, practices • Arkansas Advocate

State lawmakers on Friday initiated a pair of investigations into the Arkansas Board of Corrections over the prison oversight panel’s hiring of special counsel to sue the state. The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee will investigate the origins of the board’s contract with the Hall Booth Smith law firm and attorney Abtin Mehdizadegan; Joint Performance Review […]

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Arkansas

Arkansas Board of Corrections to probe changes to special counsel contract • Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas’ prison board will investigate when and how changes were made to a legal contract without the knowledge of state procurement officials. State legislators, prison leaders and financial officials were perplexed Tuesday about unusual language inserted into an agreement between the Arkansas Department of Corrections/Board of Corrections and the Hall Booth Smith law firm that […]

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Arkansas

Arkansas authorities see ‘high risk’ of violence against religious nonprofits from Mideast war

Arkansas lawmakers will direct $500,000 in state funds to bolster security for religious nonprofits considered at risk of violence in light of ongoing conflict in the Middle East once state law enforcement officials specify how the money will be used.  Col. Mike Hagar, DPS secretary and head of the Arkansas State Police, asked on Nov. […]

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