priorities

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders marked 100 days in office on April 19, 2023, with a speech in front of the Arkansas Governor's Mansion and an audience of lawmakers, state officials, political leaders and her father and mother, former Gov. Mike Huckabee and First Lady Janet Huckabee. (Photo by Sonny Albarado/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas governor touts major accomplishments of first 100 days

BY: - April 19, 2023

With her parents and many Arkansas legislative leaders watching Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders reminded her audience that she “came here to shake things up.” With a spring breeze fluttering the flags behind her, Sanders spoke from a lectern set up outside the front doors of the Governor’s Mansion to mark her first 100 […]

Research assistant Kyle Kootswaytewa of the Institute of American Indian Arts Tribal College and University checks on the health of native corn crops in the IAIA Demonstration Garden, in Santa Fe, NM in 2019. (USDA photo by Lance Cheung)

Native American agricultural leaders detail farm bill priorities at U.S. Senate hearing

BY: - March 24, 2023

WASHINGTON — A roundtable of Native American agricultural leaders at a recent U.S. Senate hearing lobbied for increased sovereignty and social justice in the coming farm bill by expanding tribes’ jurisdiction over U.S. Department of Agriculture programs.  It’s called “638” authority and refers to Public Law 93-638, which gives tribes the power to manage certain […]

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 […]