Arkansas Teacher Retirement System investments see November rebound
The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System's investments dropped in value during the first four months of the fiscal year that started July 1, but the investments …
Stories by Michael R. Wickline
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State revenue up $25.5M from a year ago to $606.6M
State general revenue in November increased by $25.5 million, or 4.4%, over the same month a year ago to $606.6 million and exceeded the state's forecast by $2…
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Subscriber ExclusivePine Bluff man pushing for act to make vehicles 25 years or older eligible for antique license plates
David Dinwiddie of Pine Bluff, who works at several car dealerships, wants Arkansas voters to make vehicles 25 years or older eligible for antique motor vehicl…
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Subscriber ExclusiveState representative wants reexamination of rule barring campaign contributions during period before, after regular sessions
State Rep. David Ray, R-Maumelle, said Friday that repealing a state House of Representatives rule that bars representatives from accepting campaign contributi…
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Chief justice candidate Martin reports $4,300 in campaign finance report for October
Attorney Jay Martin reported Tuesday that his campaign for chief justice of Arkansas ended October with a campaign treasury of $4,300.
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Griffin rejects language for two proposed amendments that would alter Arkansas voting procedures
Attorney General Tim Griffin on Wednesday nixed two possible popular name and ballot titles for proposed Arkansas constitutional amendments — one aimed at requ…
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Attorney general rejects name, ballot title for proposed constitutional amendment to overhaul Arkansas’ abortion law
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Tuesday rejected a proposed popular name and ballot title for a proposed constitutional amendment that would overhaul …
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Chief justice candidate Martin reports $4,300 in campaign finance report for October
Attorney Jay Martin reported Tuesday that his campaign for chief justice of Arkansas ended October with a campaign treasury of $4,300.
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UPDATED: Group’s proposed constitutional amendment would bar state from restricting access to abortion
A ballot committee, Arkansans for Limited Government, has proposed a constitutional amendment that would bar the state from restricting access to abortion with…
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Wood raises more than Webb in October for state Supreme Court chief justice race
Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood raised more money in October than fellow state Supreme Court Justice Barbara Webb in their bids for chief justice of…
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Subscriber ExclusiveAttorneys in Pope County casino case seek rehearing, amended ruling from high court
Attorneys for the Gulfside Casino Partnership and Cherokee Nation Businesses have different takes on what the Arkansas Racing Commission should do in the after…
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Subscriber Exclusive2 state senators won’t back Sanders’ choice of Rapert for Arkansas State Library Board
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed former state Sen. Jason Rapert of Conway to the Arkansas State Library Board because part of the board's duties …
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Sens. King, Leding say they won't back appointment of Rapert to state Library Board
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ appointment of former state Sen. Jason Rapert of Conway to the Arkansas State Library Board has prompted at least two state senato…
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Subscriber ExclusiveArkansas Human Services Department reorganizes top staff
The Arkansas Department of Human Services has restructured its executive leadership in a move aimed at helping align the divisions in the agency to serve benef…
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Subscriber ExclusiveSecurity grants in works for non-profit faith groups in state
The Arkansas Legislative Council on Friday authorized its co-chairs to approve the state Department of Public Safety's request for $500,000 in state restricted…
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Group seeks amendment to require paper ballots in Arkansas elections
A ballot committee called Restore Election Integrity Arkansas is proposing an Arkansas constitutional amendment aimed at requiring all elections in Arkansas to…
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Subscriber ExclusiveGroup seeks amendment to require paper ballots in Arkansas elections
A ballot committee called Restore Election Integrity Arkansas is proposing an Arkansas constitutional amendment aimed at requiring all elections in Arkansas to…
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Arkansas Public Employees Retirement system posts investment loss for quarter ending Sept. 30
The Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System's investments dropped in value by about $442 million to $10.24 billion in the quarter that ended Sept. 30, an i…
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All four of Arkansas’ U.S. House members to face challengers in 2024
Pine Bluff attorney Risie Howard filed for Arkansas' 4th Congressional District on Tuesday, meaning Democrats will challenge the incumbents in all four of Arka…
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Funding recommended for four rural Arkansas hospitals
A legislative panel on Tuesday advanced the state Department of Human Services' requests for federal American Rescue Plan funds totaling about $12.5 million to…
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Arkansas Lottery revenues up in October
Buoyed by a boost in Powerball ticket sales with a jackpot that reached $1.7 billion in the second week of October, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery's revenue …
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State Sen. Clint Penzo to challenge Womack in Republican primary
Arkansas State Sen. Clint Penzo, R-Springdale, filed Monday to challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, a Republican from Rogers, in the March 5 primary.
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Chief justice candidates Rhonda Wood and Jay Martin filed Monday to run for the post in 2024
So far Wood and Martin are the second and third candidates to file for chief justice, joining Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Barbara Webb, who filed last week.…
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Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson, seeking nomination for president, among candidates filing to be on ballot in Arkansas
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson filed Friday to run as a Republican presidential candidate in Arkansas' primary election in 2024, and Republican U.S. Rep. …
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Arkansas PBS executive director Courtney Pledger disputes agency circumvented procurement law partly due to indifference
Arkansas PBS Executive Director Courtney Pledger on Thursday disputed Arkansas Legislative Audit's conclusion that the agency circumvented Arkansas' procuremen…
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Subscriber ExclusiveRepublican Ryan Binkley from Texas latest presidential candidate to file in Arkansas
A Republican presidential candidate from Texas, and Democrats seeking the seats held by state Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, and Rep. Denise Ennett, D-Little …
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Panel wants Legislative Audit to examine procurements, processes at Arkansas PBS
A legislative panel on Wednesday called for Arkansas Legislative Audit to examine procurements and related processes at Arkansas PBS, starting July 1, 2021, an…
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Davis, sponsor of LEARNS Act, among latest candidates to file to run for state, federal offices
Twenty-four candidates for Arkansas state and federal offices filed Wednesday to run in the 2024 election.
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28 candidates, including U.S. Rep. Womack, file to seek election in 2024 election
Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers filed paperwork Tuesday to seek re-election in the 2024 election, and former Democratic state Sen. John Pagan of Li…
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State Board of Election Commissioners director submits resignation
Daniel Shults, director of the State Board of Election Commissioners, has submitted his resignation, effective Nov. 15, to take what he described as the next s…
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Candidates line up at state Capitol to run for state, federal offices on first day of filing period
One hundred and thirty-seven candidates for state and federal offices and their supporters kicked off Arkansas' filing period for the 2024 election Monday.
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Subscriber ExclusiveState’s full-time employee numbers in fiscal year 2023 decline to slightly more than 56,600
The number of full-time state employees declined by 443 last fiscal year to slightly more than 56,600 as their ranks thinned at both the state's higher educati…
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Arkansas Teacher Retirement System board OKs authorizing sale of downtown Little Rock property
The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System's board of trustees on Wednesday approved a resolution authorizing the sale of system-owned property in downtown Little …
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Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ approval rating lowest of any governor since 2003, Arkansas Poll shows
Forty-eight percent of Arkansans approve of the way first-year Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is handling her job as governor while 39% disapprove, the 25th annua…
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Pope County Judge Ben Cross sends letter of support for Cherokee Nation Businesses to be awarded casino license
Pope County Judge Ben Cross said Monday he has sent an updated letter of support for Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation Businesses to be awarded the Pope County ca…
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Subscriber ExclusiveNumber of state retirees in group with Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage lower than projected
The number of Medicare-eligible retirees in Arkansas' health insurance plans, for public school and state employees, who are in the group Medicare Advantage wi…
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Secretary of state confirms Libertarian Party of Arkansas’ petition signatures sufficient
The Libertarian Party of Arkansas' petition to be a new political party has been deemed sufficient by the secretary of state's office, Secretary of State John …
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Arkansas treasury increases investment in Israel bond holdings by $10M
Arkansas' state treasury has increased its investment in Israel bond holdings by $10 million to $57 million, state Treasurer Larry Walther announced Friday, ci…
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Rising interest rates boost state treasury’s interest by about $86M in latest quarter
The state treasury earned about $86 million in interest in the quarter that ended Sept. 30 on an investment portfolio of about $11 billion with the assistance …
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CJRW employee Thomas chosen as Arkansas’ director of tourism
Dalaney Thomas, an account manager at the CJRW advertising agency for Arkansas tourism and the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, will serve as the new director of …
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Barbara Webb leads fundraising in Arkansas chief justice contest against Rhonda Wood
In their respective bids for chief justice of Arkansas, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Barbara Webb reported raising more in contributions during the last few …
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Sanders names former CJRW employee Thomas state director of tourism
Dalaney Thomas will serve as Arkansas' next director of tourism at the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced…
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Subscriber ExclusiveArkansas lawmakers approve agency personnel shifts, pay changes
Requests from several state agencies to create more than two dozen new positions in exchange for surrendering other vacant positions, as well as requests to bo…
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Subscriber ExclusiveArkansas PBS chief criticized for incorrect description of Medicaid wind-down
Arkansas Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, charged Friday that Arkansas PBS Executive Director Courtney Pledger inaccurately used the term "Medicaid cuts" in …
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Subscriber ExclusiveNursing programs, rural hospitals approved for federal funds
The Legislative Council on Friday signed off on the state Department of Commerce's request for $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds for an initiat…
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Arkansas lawmakers adopt resolution supporting Israel
The Arkansas Legislative Council on Friday approved a resolution recognizing the state of Israel’s right to act decisively in self-defense to protect its citiz…
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Legislative panel’s study of state’s firearms, concealed-carry laws begins in November
An Arkansas legislative panel will begin its study of firearms and concealed-carry laws by reviewing federal gun laws in November, state hunting laws in Decemb…
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Legislative panel supports 3% salary bump for State Crime Lab chief medical examiner to $376,722 a year
An Arkansas legislative panel on Wednesday endorsed the Arkansas Department of Public Safety's request to boost the salary of Arkansas State Crime Lab Chief Me…
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Legislative panel OKs request for $25M in federal funds to help educate nurses, $16.3M for emergency assistance to 4 hospitals
A legislative panel on Tuesday endorsed the state Department of Commerce's request for $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds to help educate more n…
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Audit finds former attorney general paid 26 employees more than line-item salary appropriation for their positions in 2022
LITTLE ROCK -- Then-Attorney General Leslie Rutledge paid 26 of the office's employees a total of $69,055 in excess of the line-item salary appropriation under…
