Some state, federal, tribal documents would be accepted under Nebraska voter ID bill | #elections | #alabama
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Pete Ricketts to the U.S. Senate. LINCOLN — The senator who led the successful ballot initiative to require voter identification in Nebraska introduced a bill Tuesday to carry out the requirement. Legislative Bill 535 spells out acceptable types of identification, requirements for providing ID with mail-in ballots and the […]
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Capitol review: Week 1 brings a new chapter to Arkansas
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge oversees proceedings on the Arkansas Senate floor Thursday. Screenshot: Courtesy of the Arkansas Legislature The 94th General Assembly started its biennial session this week and Arkansas’ new leader was sworn in, meaning the Capitol was buzzing. Catch up quick: In addition to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the state’s new lieutenant governor, […]
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Arkansas’ Gov. Sanders sets the tone with executive orders on inauguration day
A screenshot of Sanders’ inaugural address. Courtesy Arkansas PBS Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders proved to Arkansans on Tuesday that she’s a person of decisive action. What happened: Within hours of being sworn in as the state’s first woman governor, Sanders signed seven executive orders focused on the budget, government and schools. Why it matters: She’s […]
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Arkansas Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders selects 13 for first cabinet
Photo: Worth Sparkman/Axios Arkansas Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced her intentions to nominate 13 of 15 state-level secretaries, starting her first term with a mostly clean slate. The list includes three reappointments and four out-of-staters, along with six current state government staffers and business leaders. Two appointees come from posts in conservative administrations in […]
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Efforts ramp up to relieve Arkansas food deserts
Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios About 400,000 Arkansans, including 138,400 children, don’t know where their next meal will come from, according to a recently released report by a governor-appointed group established to gather information on food insecurity in the state. Driving the news: Some of the group’s recommendations for the governor and General Assembly include: Designating a […]
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Five Northwest Arkansas stories to watch in 2023
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios The start of a new year is a good time to reflect and goal-set for the future. Here are five trends and narratives we’ll be watching as 2023 unfolds: High-priced housing ICYMI, the cost of living in NWA has rapidly increased, with the median price of single-family homes growing faster than any […]
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Arkansas residents will see income tax breaks in 2023 | State
(The Center Square) – Arkansas’ state income tax is the lowest ever recorded and tax payers will see an immediate benefit when they file in 2023. The Legislature first agreed to rolling back the income tax from 5.5% to 4.9% in December 2021. Lawmakers held a special session in August to make the cuts retroactive […]
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Texas lawmakers warming to opioid harm-reduction policies they once opposed | #republicans | #Alabama | #GOP
Texans seeking help for substance use can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free help line at 800-662-4357. They can also access services in their region through the Texas Health and Human Services website. Texas lawmakers are changing their tune about how to tackle a growing fentanyl crisis in the state ahead […]
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Flu season hitting Arkansas hard and early
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photo: Dan Higgins/CDC State health officials recommend Arkansans get their seasonal flu shots immediately as influenza cases, hospitalizations and deaths are higher than usual, reflecting a nationwide trend. By the numbers: A total of 64 people in Arkansas died of the flu between Oct. 2 and Dec. 10, according to the Arkansas […]
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Sarah Huckabee Sanders nominates public safety secretary
Sarah Huckabee Sanders after speaking during the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2021. Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she will nominate state police troop commander Mike Hagar to her cabinet. If confirmed by the Arkansas Senate, Hagar will serve as secretary of public safety and director of the state […]
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