federal

23 AGs praise pharmacies for decision to sell abortion pills

BY: - February 16, 2023

A group of 23 state attorneys general have written to CVS and Walgreens, expressing their support for the sale of two abortion pills by mail. The drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, require a prescription but are considered safe for performing an abortion at home. The pharmacies’ decision will provide millions of people access to the critical […]

U.S. District Court building, Little Rock

Former Arkansas legislator Jeremy Hutchinson sentenced to almost 4 years in federal prison

BY: - February 3, 2023

Jeremy Hutchinson, the former state senator who pleaded guilty nearly four years ago to federal bribery and tax fraud charges, was sentenced Friday to nearly four years in prison. Hutchinson, 48, pleaded guilty in June 2019 to crimes in three jurisdictions — Eastern Arkansas, Western Arkansas and Western Missouri — resulting from a sprawling federal […]

Students from Louisana prepare to join the 50th annual March for Life rally on Jan. 20, 2023, in Washington, DC. Anti-abortion activists attended the annual march, the first to occur in a “post-Roe nation” since the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs vs Jackson Women's Health ruling that overturned 50 years of federal protections for abortion health care. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Abortion debate ramps up in states as Congress deadlocks

BY: - January 23, 2023

Anti-abortion advocates are pressing for expanded abortion bans and tighter restrictions since the Supreme Court overturned the national right to abortion. But with the debate mostly deadlocked in Washington, the focus is shifting to states convening their first full legislative sessions since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Although some state GOP lawmakers have filed bills […]

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces on Jan. 12, 2023, the appointment of former U.S. Attorney for Maryland Robert Hur to investigate the discovery of classified documents held by President Joe Biden at an office and his home. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

U.S. attorney general names special counsel for classified docs found in Biden’s garage

BY: and - January 12, 2023

WASHINGTON — The White House revealed Thursday morning that more classified documents from President Joe Biden’s time as vice president were discovered outside of secure government facilities, this time in the garage at his Wilmington, Delaware home.  The files have since been turned over to the U.S. Justice Department, which opened a special counsel investigation […]

Officials seeking federal dollars need Arkansans’ help verifying broadband access

BY: - January 5, 2023

The Arkansas State Broadband Office is urging Arkansans to verify a federal broadband map to ensure the state receives the maximum funding available and that those funds reach regions that need broadband most.  The Federal Communications Commission has released a new broadband map showing high-speed internet availability across the country. The National Telecommunications and Information […]

In November, Colorado voters passed Prop 123, which will allow 0.1% of the state income tax rate to be used to increase the affordable housing stock among other provisions to help the unhoused. This man, who was living in an encampment in Boulder last year, said he had been on a housing wait list for a long time. (Derek Miles for Colorado Newsline)

Voters embraced affordable housing initiatives. Advocates say Congress should do the same.

BY: - December 15, 2022

Voters in Colorado approved a statewide affordable housing initiative in November, while voters in nine cities across the country OK’d measures to finance the construction of affordable housing, preserve existing rental properties and support renters. But as housing costs soar, analysts and advocates say more needs to be done and argue that federal action is […]

COMMENTARY
Wilma Mankiller served in the top leadership role of the Cherokee Nation from 1985 to 1995. (Peter Turnley/Corbis Historical via Getty Images)

Wilma Mankiller, first female principal chief of Cherokee Nation, continues to inspire

BY: - November 28, 2022

If you fish in your pocket or purse for a U.S. quarter today, there’s a chance you’ll see Wilma Mankiller’s face. She was the Cherokee Nation’s first female principal chief, and she inspired generations of Cherokees and young Native people like me. In 2022, Mankiller was one of the first women honored by appearing on […]

A typical pen format for swine in many Iowa animal feeding operations. (File photo/Iowa Watch)

EPA permits cover only a third of concentrated animal feeding operations

BY: - November 22, 2022

The Environmental Protection Agency is charged with protecting important waterways from pollution, but manure from concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, continues to harm waterways — and only one-third of the largest facilities have a federal permit. EPA permits require CAFO operators to tell the agency how much waste the animals will produce and how […]

Sen. Jonathan Dismang and Rep. Michelle Gray

Lawmakers authorize nearly $19 million in school relief funds in final review

BY: - October 17, 2022

An Arkansas Legislative Council subcommittee approved the appropriation of $18.8 million in federal relief funds to 12 school districts Monday. This is the panel’s ninth and final round of review of school districts’ spending plans since July, when the council strongly recommended that schools use American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund […]

Biden to pardon all federal offenses for simple marijuana possession, review criminalization

BY: , and - October 6, 2022

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced executive actions that would pardon thousands of people with prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession. Biden then called on governors to follow suit with state offenses for simple marijuana possession, saying that “just as no one should be in a Federal prison solely due to the possession of […]

Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey of Texarkana (left) chaired Thursday's PEER subcommittee meeting. He and Sen. Keith Ingram (D-West Memphis) are seen here at another meeting in August. (Dwain Hebda/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas legislative panel approves $64 million in school relief funds 

BY: - October 6, 2022

An Arkansas Legislative Council subcommittee authorized the disbursal of $64.4 million in federal relief funds to 25 school districts Thursday. This is the panel’s eighth round of review of school districts’ spending plans since July, when the council strongly recommended that schools use American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund money to […]

Limited-English voters face barriers to casting ballots in Arkansas

BY: - September 27, 2022

Language poses a big challenge for voters with limited English proficiency in Arkansas, where ballots are only printed in English. Newly naturalized citizens are often afraid to vote because they don’t understand the ballot, said Mireya Reith, executive director of immigrant advocacy group Arkansas United. Voters with limited English proficiency also worry poll workers won’t […]