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Arkansas sending 80 National Guard soldiers to southern U.S. border to assist Texas
This story was updated at 3:24 p.m. on June 1, 2023. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has directed roughly 80 Arkansas National Guard members to the southern U.S. border in Texas to help state immigration enforcement authorities. The Arkansas soldiers will spend the month of July at the U.S.-Mexico border, assisting the Texas National Guard. The […]
Arkansas judge halts, for now, implementation of the LEARNS Act
This story was last updated at 5:45 p.m. on May 26, 2023. A Pulaski County judge on Friday temporarily blocked implementation of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ signature education law, the LEARNS Act. Circuit Judge Herbert Wright indicated he was likely to agree with a group of plaintiffs that the Arkansas General Assembly improperly enacted the […]
Former chairman resigns from Arkansas Medical Board facing scrutiny in state, federal probes
Northwest Arkansas psychiatrist Dr. Brian Hyatt resigned from the State Medical Board last week, two months after he stepped down as chairman. Hyatt’s resignation — confirmed by records obtained under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act — comes as he is under investigation by state and federal authorities. The scope of the criminal probes is […]
Federal lawsuit challenging Arkansas’ congressional redistricting dismissed
This story was updated at 10:30 p.m. on May 25, 2023. A federal three-judge panel has dismissed one of the lawsuits challenging Arkansas’ newly drawn congressional districts, ruling those bringing the lawsuit failed to show that race was the “predominant factor” in forming the new maps. The federal judges had already dismissed much of the […]
DEA serves search warrant in investigation of former Arkansas Medical Board Chairman
Federal agents this week executed a search warrant in an ongoing investigation into former Arkansas State Medical Board chairman Dr. Brian Hyatt. The confirmation of a federal investigation by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas expands the growing legal entanglement surrounding the Northwest Arkansas psychiatrist, who resigned as head […]
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders added to list of Americans banned from Russia
This story was updated at 12:55 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined the ranks of several Arkansans who aren’t allowed into Russia in response to U.S. sanctions. The former White House press secretary was included on a list of 500 more Americans who have fallen out of favor with […]
Second suit challenges racial ‘gerrymandering’ in Arkansas’ congressional redistricting
Three Central Arkansas voters and a religious group filed another federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Arkansas’ new congressional district map. The voters and the Christian Ministerial Alliance claim that Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District — which includes most of Central Arkansas – was racially gerrymandered. The complaint — like a similar lawsuit filed last year by […]
As other states pan nuclear waste, Arkansas looks for an opportunity in recycling
This story was last updated on May 25, 2023. As other states fight to keep nuclear waste away, Arkansas is taking the opposite approach. Here, state officials will explore importing spent nuclear fuel. The difference is that Arkansas wouldn’t just store the radioactive material; it would attempt to extract the remaining usable nuclear fuel and […]
Arkansas budget director resigns after less than four months
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ budget director resigned last week, less than four months into the role. Sanders named Aaron Black her budget director in January. He had previously been the compliance director at the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment. Before that, Black was an aide to former Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is Sanders’ father, […]
Second Arkansas Supreme Court judge plans run for chief justice in 2024
A second Arkansas Supreme Court justice announced her candidacy for the state’s chief justice position on Wednesday. Associate Justice Rhonda Wood of Conway said she planned to run to lead the state’s highest court in 2024. She’ll face fellow associate justice, Karen Baker, in the race to replace Chief Justice John Dan Kemp, who announced […]
Lawsuits pile up against former Arkansas Medical Board chairman at center of fraud probe
Patients have flooded the former chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board with lawsuits since his suspension from Medicaid and resignation as head of the regulatory body over doctors. When an Advocate investigation first revealed questions about Dr. Brian Hyatt’s billing practices, two former patients had sued the Northwest Arkansas psychiatrist over false imprisonment, battery […]
Arkansas Supreme Court overturns ruling on ousted lawmaker’s back taxes
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of an ousted Republican state legislator who had appealed a lower court’s ruling in a dispute over how much he owes the state in back taxes. Former state Rep. Mickey Gates, R-Hot Springs, was expelled from the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2019 after being arrested […]