Government & Politics
Arkansas Supreme Court denies request to stay LEARNS Act restraining order
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Friday denied Attorney General Tim Griffin’s motion to lift a temporary restraining order that blocks implementation of the LEARNS Act, while granting a motion for expedited consideration. Three of the court’s conservative members, Justices Rhonda Wood, Shawn Womack and Barbara Webb, said they would have granted the motion for a […]
State of Arkansas and Crawford County sued over library obscenity law
The Central Arkansas Library System and 17 other plaintiffs filed a federal lawsuit Friday against both the state and Crawford County, alleging that two sections of a new law that directly affects library operations are unconstitutional. Act 372 of 2023 alters libraries’ material reconsideration processes and creates criminal liability for librarians who distribute content that […]
U.S. Senate sends Biden debt limit legislation ahead of Monday default deadline
WASHINGTON — The bipartisan debt limit bill is on its way to President Joe Biden after the U.S. Senate voted Thursday to clear the measure for his signature. The 63-36 vote followed several amendment votes, all of which were rejected. Biden is expected to quickly sign the package, preventing a default on the debt that […]
Troubled Little Rock apartment complex will close; city plans to help residents relocate
A troubled Little Rock apartment complex will be closed and its few remaining tenants relocated, current management’s legal counsel said Thursday. City code enforcement has been pursuing a case against Big Country Chateau since 2019 in Little Rock District Court. Multiple inspections have revealed code violations at the apartment complex on Colonel Glenn Road, including […]
Arkansas education board approves gradual release of Earle district from state control
The Earle School District is being released from its fiscal distress status but will remain under state control for until next May. The Arkansas State Board of Education approved the action Thursday during a special meeting in Earle. The board also approved a recommendation to reinstate the district’s suspended board members in a limited-authority capacity. […]
Responses filed to Arkansas AG’s request to toss LEARNS Act restraining order
The Marvell-Elaine School District is in a bind due to litigation officials say “makes it impossible” for them to begin next school year on time. The district filed a response with the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday in support of Attorney General Tim Griffin’s request for a stay and expedited consideration of a lower court […]
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 […]
Mark Cuban trashes politics at conference, calls DeSantis’ feud with Disney ‘bulls–t’
Mark Cuban may own a basketball team, but he came to the Mackinac Policy Conference to hit some zingers with his address. During a conversation that lasted a little more than half an hour, Cuban took aim at former President Donald Trump and politicians writ large, including those in attendance at the policy conference where […]
U.S. House approves debt limit package, sending it to Senate days before default deadline
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House took a broadly bipartisan vote Wednesday night on the debt limit package, sending it to the U.S. Senate where lawmakers are expected to vote quickly to clear the measure. The bill would suspend the nation’s borrowing limit through Jan. 1, 2025 and set caps on discretionary spending for two years. […]
Northwest Arkansas sheriff’s office criticized for baptisms of 38 inmates
A Crawford County church’s baptism ceremony for more than three dozen inmates at the county jail in April drew the attention of a national nonprofit that advocates for the separation of church and state, according to a news release. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which has an Arkansas chapter, asked the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office […]
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talks Disney, book bans at Iowa campaign kickoff
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received an energetic welcome at his first Iowa event as a 2024 candidate Tuesday, with crowds cheering as he spoke about bringing his fight against “woke” ideology to the White House. More than 500 people filled the Eternity Church auditorium Tuesday, with people standing along the edges of the room after […]
Arkansas attorney general seeks stay in LEARNS Act restraining order
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Tuesday asked the state Supreme Court to lift a lower court’s ruling blocking implementation of the LEARNS Act. A Pulaski County circuit judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining order for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ signature education law. The state quickly filed a notice within hours. Tuesday’s filing by […]