Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas’ quick Medicaid “unwinding” left 1 in 5 children uninsured, report finds | Regional News
About 20% of children insured in Arkansas’ Medicaid program lost access during the state’s “unwinding” period, according to a report released Thursday, May 2, 2024 from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. “Arkansas did move very aggressively, and I think you can see that reflected in their losses,” said Joan Alker, executive director […]
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Arkansas Advocate : Lawmakers approve voter registration signature rule | Regional News
An Arkansas legislative committee on Thursday, May 2, 2024 reviewed and approved an emergency rule that permits electronic signatures on voter registration applications only when they’re completed at certain state agencies. The Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners last week gave initial approval to the rule, which requires paper registration applications to include a “wet signature,” […]
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Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas attorney general announces lawsuit challenging gun show loophole rule | Regional News
Attorney General Tim Griffin on Wednesday announced he would join with 20 other states in a lawsuit challenging new federal regulations on firearm sales. Griffin, who is co-leading the federal lawsuit with the attorney general from Kansas, said the federal rule is “not even close to legal.” Griffin said the process of how the Department […]
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Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas lawmakers to examine new voter registration signature rule | Regional News
An Arkansas legislative committee on Thursday will consider an emergency rule that permits electronic signatures on voter registration applications only when they’re completed at certain state agencies. If approved, the emergency rule would require paper registration applications to include a “wet signature,” meaning an applicant signs with a pen. The Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners […]
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Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas lawmakers question implementation of federal refugee resettlement program | Regional News
Rep. Ryan Rose, R-Van Buren, questions the state’s participation in a federal refugee resettlement program during a legislative meeting on April 25, 2024. Arkansas lawmakers on a split vote approved an amended Department of Human Services appropriations bill Thursday and promised continued discussion about the state’s involvement in a federal refugee resettlement program. The Joint […]
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Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas legislative committee approves state employee pay hike | Regional News
A legislative panel advanced an amended bill Tuesday that would increase all state employees’ pay by up to 3% and create special compensation awards for those who complete special projects beyond the scope of their typical responsibilities. The amended version of Senate Bill 77, which was presented to the Joint Budget Committee’s Personnel subcommittee, aims […]
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Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas committee concludes probe of Corrections Board’s hiring of outside counsel | Regional News
An Arkansas legislative panel voted Tuesday to send transcripts of its investigation of potential violations of procurement law by the state Board of Corrections to the state inspector general. The Joint Performance Review Committee has spent three meetings this month, most recently Monday, examining the board’s hiring of attorney Abtin Mehdizadegan to represent it in […]
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Canoe builder receives Arkansas Living Treasure recognition | Regional News
The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of Arkansas Heritage, has named Liton Beasa as the 2024 Arkansas Living Treasure for his work and dedication to the craft of canoe building. A public announcement will be made at noon Saturday at Historic Washington State Park during the James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival. “Liton Beasa, a master […]
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Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas lawmakers question governor’s lectern purchase, potential law violations found in audit | Regional News
Arkansas lawmakers questioned representatives of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Attorney General Tim Griffin on Tuesday in light of Monday’s audit report that highlighted several potential breaches of state law in the $19,000 purchase of a lectern for Sanders’ office last year. The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee heard the report and voted with no dissent […]
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Arkansas Advocate : Arkansas lawmakers advance crypto mining resolutions | Regional News
A legislative panel on Tuesday authorized the Arkansas House to consider allowing the introduction of bills to regulate cryptocurrency mining during the fiscal session. The eight resolutions approved by the House Select Committee on Rules aim to amend the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2023, which passed with bipartisan support and limited the state’s and […]
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