legislative

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 […]

Arkansas state senators take the oath of office Monday afternoon at the state Capitol as they and their counterparts in the House of Representatives start the 94th General Assembly. (Photo by Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

El Dorado’s Shepherd elected Arkansas House Speaker for third time

BY: and - January 9, 2023

The Arkansas House gaveled into the 2023 legislative session on Monday with the swearing in of its members and the election of House Speaker Matthew Shepherd (R-El Dorado).  Shepherd’s election to a third term means he will be the longest serving House speaker in state history. Only one member, Hope Hendren Duke (R-Gravette) voted against […]

The Arkansas State Capitol dome. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

Gretchen Conger to be Sanders’ chief of staff

BY: - November 22, 2022

Gretchen Conger will be Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ chief of staff in the governor’s office, Sanders announced Tuesday. Sanders also announced that she will transfer more than $2.5 million from her 2022 gubernatorial campaign treasury to her 2026 reelection campaign and named campaign manager Chris Caldwell as senior advisor to the reelection campaign. Conger, who […]