Asa Hutchinson
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson calls for armed personnel in every school
In the aftermath of a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, former Arkansas governor and potential presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson called Tuesday for armed officers in every school. Hutchinson, a Republican, made his comments during an event with Drake University students in Des Moines. “My belief is that every school should have armed personnel,” Hutchinson said. […]
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson nears decision on 2024 presidential race
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson plans to announce in April whether he’ll run for president, he told reporters Monday in Des Moines. It was Hutchinson’s third trip to Iowa in 2023 and he’s hired a field organizer, indicating he’s likely to join the crowd of candidates seeking the 2024 Republican nomination. He said his events […]
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders reverses predecessor’s position on mask mandates
The Arkansas governor’s office asserts that it is unconstitutional for public entities to require people to wear masks as a COVID-19 prevention measure, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Wednesday, just over a week after taking office. Sanders’ predecessor, fellow Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, signed a 2021 law prohibiting state and local governments, including public school […]
Sanders executive order repeals COVID-19 committees, advisory groups from 2020
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders eliminated five state entities on Friday that her predecessor Gov. Asa Hutchinson created via executive order to address the COVID-19 pandemic almost three years ago. Sanders’ own executive order repealed five orders she called “obsolete” in a statement. The order also asks the Arkansas Department of Health to focus on […]
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, nearing the end of his term, reflects on eight years in office
As Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson looks back on his eight years in office, what he’s most proud of might surprise you. Sure, he takes pride in shepherding through the largest income tax cuts in state history, but that’s not the first thing he mentioned in a wide-ranging interview about his administration. “Whenever you look at […]
Arkansas becomes latest state to ban TikTok on public devices after governor’s directive
Arkansas recently became the latest of a growing number of states to ban the use of the popular social media app TikTok on state devices and networks due to fears of data misuse by the Chinese government. Under direction from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas Division of Information Systems Director Jonathan Askins sent a Dec. 8 […]
Arkansas Legislature OKs $50,000 for Sarah Huckabee Sanders transition
A legislative committee on Thursday approved a $50,000 allocation to fund Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ transition expenses. In a brief meeting with little discussion, the Governor’s Emergency Fund Review Committee signed off on the transfer from the Governor’s Emergency Fund, leaving $450,000 in the account. State Budget Director Robert Brech said that Gov. Asa Hutchinson […]
CMS OKs Arkansas’ experimental Life360 program for vulnerable Medicaid groups
The Biden administration on Tuesday approved a new component of Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion program focused on high-risk pregnancies, rural mental health care and at-risk young adults. Life360 Homes was one of the final outstanding portions of Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion waiver that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hadn’t approved. CMS signed off on most […]
Arkansas opens EV charging station rebate program early to meet high demand
Arkansas’ environmental regulators this week made a new round of rebates available early for community electric vehicle charging stations thanks to surging interest in expanding the state’s EV infrastructure. The rebates can cover up to 90% of the costs of eligible public “Level 2” charging stations, which can charge vehicles in eight hours or less. […]
Administrative judge from Scott tapped to lead Arkansas Public Service Commission
Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday appointed an administrative law judge from Scott to be the next chair of Arkansas’ utility regulator. Katie Anderson, an administrative judge for the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission and vice president of her family’s Lonoke bait fish farm, will take the helm of the Arkansas Public Service Commission on Oct. 2. […]
School Safety Commission adopts final proposals before report due date
The Arkansas School Safety Commission wrapped up four months of work by approving seven more recommendations at its final meeting Tuesday. Its final report to the governor is due Oct. 1. Three proposals at Tuesday’s meeting focused on cybersecurity and included recommendations for school districts to implement best practices in third-party risk management and cybersecurity […]
Arkansas DHS chief of staff will replace outgoing Human Services secretary
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced on Thursday the appointment of Mark White as the next head of the Arkansas Department of Human Services. White, the agency’s current chief of staff and chief legislative and intergovernmental affairs officer, will replace Human Services Secretary Cindy Gillespie, who announced last week that she would resign next month. “I have […]