Stories by Neal Earley

Attorney general approves wording of proposed referendum to repeal education law Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Monday certified ballot language for a proposed referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act.The decision clears the way for Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and ... June 6, 2023

Arkansas attorney general OKs ballot language for proposed referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin certified ballot language for a proposed referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act, Monday.The decision clears the way for Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and St... June 5, 2023

High court maintains block on LEARNS Act A lower court order barring the state from implementing the education overhaul law championed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will remain in place for now, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Friday after... June 3, 2023

Arkansas LEARNS Act holdup to continue, state Supreme Court rules A lower court order barring the LEARNS Act from taking effect will remain in effect place for now, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Friday afternoon.In a 4-3 decision, the Supreme Court denied a reque... June 2, 2023

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission renews permit for Fort Smith cultivator The Fort Smith cultivator at the center of a long-running legal dispute over its license received approval as the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission renewed its permit Thursday.River Valley Product... June 2, 2023

Plaintiffs suing to delay LEARNS Act say Arkansas attorney general is asking court to ‘disregard the truth’ Plaintiffs in the LEARNS Act lawsuit responded Thursday to a request that the Arkansas Supreme Court step in and reverse a lower court order that blocked the education law from taking effect.The lawsu... June 2, 2023

Plaintiffs suing to delay LEARNS Act say Arkansas attorney general is asking court to 'disregard the truth' Plaintiffs in the LEARNS Act lawsuit responded Thursday to a request that the Arkansas Supreme Court step in and reverse a lower court order that blocked the education law from taking effect.The lawsu... June 1, 2023

Attorney asks for disqualification of Arkansas Attorney General’s Office from medical marijuana license lawsuit An attorney for a rejected medical marijuana cultivator asked the judge in its lawsuit to disqualify the Arkansas attorney general's office from the case in a motion filed Tuesday.The motion is th... June 1, 2023

Arkansas attorney general asks court to reverse ruling blocking LEARNS Act from taking effect Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed an emergency motion Tuesday asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that temporarily blocked the LEARNS Act from taking effect.Six... May 31, 2023

Arkansas attorney general asks state Supreme Court to reverse ruling blocking LEARNS Act temporarily Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed an emergency motion Tuesday asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that temporary blocked the LEARNS Act from taking effect.Pulas... May 30, 2023

River Valley Relief Cultivation’s license renewal on tap for June 1 meeting The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission renewed the licenses for every dispensary, cultivator and processor in the state, except for one at its May 18 meeting.The license of River Valley Relief Cult... May 29, 2023

Arkansas lawmakers grill board members over license renewal process for auctioneer Arkansas lawmakers spent more than 2½ hours Wednesday scrutinizing a decision by the head of the auctioneers and geology licensing boards over her decision to quickly renew an auctioneer licens... May 26, 2023

Oliva: ACT Aspire to be replaced with LEARNS in mind CABOT -- State education officials are working on replacing the ACT Aspire with a standardized test specifically geared toward Arkansas students, Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said during a town hal... May 23, 2023

Lawmakers plan to reexamine how state spends money on public schools Lawmakers will reexamine how Arkansas spends money on public schools this fall, beginning a process that could change the state's funding formula for the first time in nearly two decades.Senate Ed... May 22, 2023

Group makes third try to get state AG’s approval of proposed referendum to repeal LEARNS Act The group behind the effort to repeal the LEARNS Act has made its third attempt to get approval for its proposed referendum, it announced Friday.Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CA... May 20, 2023

Group makes third attempt to get state AG's approval of proposed referendum to repeal LEARNS Act The group behind the effort to repeal the LEARNS Act has made its third attempt to get approval for its proposed referendum, it announced Friday.Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CA... May 19, 2023

Lawmakers OK emergency rule to help Arkansas’ rural hospitals access new federal funding State lawmakers signed off on an emergency rule Thursday that will allow rural hospitals to access a new pot of federal funding.The regulation will allow financially strapped facilities to apply for a... May 19, 2023

State’s marijuana commission delays decision on Craighead County dispensary’s request to relocate to Jonesboro The Medical Marijuana Commission balked again Thursday on deciding whether a rural Craighead County dispensary can move to Jonesboro.NEA Full Spectrum, a medical marijuana dispensary located in Brookl... May 19, 2023

Lawmakers OK emergency rule to help rural hospitals in Arkansas access new federal funding State lawmakers signed off on an emergency rule Thursday that will allow rural hospitals to access a new pot of federal funding.The regulation will allow financially strapped facilities to apply for a... May 18, 2023

Group pushing to repeal the LEARNS Act raised $2,670 in April The group behind a referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act raised $2,670 in April, according to a financial statement released Tuesday.Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students raised funds thro... May 18, 2023

Group trying to repeal LEARNS Act raises $2,670 in April Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students, the group behind a referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act, raised $2,670 in April, according to a financial statement released Tuesday.The group raise... May 17, 2023

6 weeks after a tornado, Arkansas governor says recovery efforts still “a long road ahead” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders received an update on tornado recovery efforts Tuesday and toured the American Red Cross of Arkansas headquarters in Little Rock.Sanders said about six weeks after a tornad... May 17, 2023

Tweets spark LEARNS Act legal objection A series of tweets by a Little Rock attorney has sparked a lawsuit that has bolstered the hopes of some Democrats and self-described public school advocates who are hoping to find a way to block the L... May 15, 2023

Ballot language for a proposed referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act rejected again by Arkansas attorney general The Arkansas attorney general's office again rejected ballot language for a proposed referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act in an opinion released Thursday.It's the second time the attorney gener... May 12, 2023

Proposed referendum to repeal Arkansas LEARNS Act rejected again The Arkansas attorney general’s office again rejected ballot language for a proposed referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act in an opinion released Thursday.It’s the second time the attorney g... May 11, 2023

State appeals court upholds ruling in former Hall teacher’s wrongful termination lawsuit The Arkansas Court of Appeals sided with a deceased special education teacher in his wrongful termination case against the Little Rock School District in an opinion released Wednesday.The opinion by C... May 11, 2023

Effort to delay implementation of the LEARNS Act ‘absolutely absurd,’ Sanders says Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday called a lawsuit aimed at delaying implementation of the LEARNS Act "absolutely absurd."During a ceremonial bill signing at the Little Rock Air Force B... May 10, 2023

Lawsuit aimed at delaying LEARNS Act 'absolutely absurd,' Sanders says Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday called a lawsuit aimed at delaying implementation of the LEARNS Act “absolutely absurd.”During a ceremonial bill signing at the Little Rock Air Force... May 9, 2023

Lawsuit filed challenging LEARNS Act in effort to stop charter takeover of Marvell-Elaine School District Three Phillips County residents and two public school advocates filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the LEARNS Act, aiming to stop the Marvell-Elaine School District from being taken over by a charter ... May 9, 2023

Lawsuit filed challenging LEARNS Act in effort to stop charter takeover of Marvell-Elaine School District Three Phillips County residents and public school advocates filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the LEARNS Act, aiming to stop the Marvell-Elaine School District from being taken over by a charter scho... May 8, 2023

Supporters, opponents reflect on passage of Arkansas education overhaul Following the direction of newly elected Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, lawmakers this legislative session made education their top priority.Arguably, the most consequential piece of legislation to pass... May 8, 2023

Sanders calls for more social media regulation, touts education overhaul, in talk at California conference Speaking to a group of elites from the world of finance and business Tuesday, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called for more government regulation of social media companies while also touting her new edu... May 3, 2023

Former state senator Hutchinson appeals prison sentence Former state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson intends to appeal the 50-month prison sentence a federal judge handed down last week for corruption charges, according to a court filing Monday.Hutchinson, the son ... May 2, 2023

Jeremy Hutchinson to appeal prison sentence in corruption case Former Arkansas state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson intends to appeal the 50-month prison sentence a federal judge handed down last week in Missouri for corruption charges, according to a court filing Monday... May 1, 2023

Private schools, parents await details on LEARNS Act vouchers While Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the LEARNS Act, her signature education overhaul, into law almost two months ago, what the legislation will look like in practice is yet to be determined.The l... May 1, 2023

Group seeking repeal of Sanders’ LEARNS Act resubmits referendum The group behind the effort to repeal the LEARNS Act resubmitted its referendum to the Arkansas attorney general's office Thursday.Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students, also known a... April 28, 2023

Citing misleading language, Arkansas’ attorney general rejects proposed referendum to repeal LEARNS Act Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected on Monday a proposed referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act, calling the question's language misleading.The effort to repeal Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders... April 25, 2023

Arkansas’ governor touts paid maternity extension for state employees Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders held a ceremonial bill signing Monday at the state Capitol, touting a new law that extends paid maternity leave for state employees from four to 12 weeks.Sanders signed the... April 25, 2023

Proposed referendum to repeal LEARNS Act rejected by Arkansas' attorney general Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin rejected a proposed referendum to repeal the LEARNS Act, calling the question’s language misleading.Under state law, the attorney general is tasked with rev... April 24, 2023

State cannabis law to prohibit delta-8 goods A new kind of cannabis product has put lawmakers, small business owners and those looking for alternatives to medical marijuana in a quandary.Just as the legislative session was winding down in early ... April 24, 2023

State cannabis law to prohibit delta-8 products A new kind of cannabis product has put lawmakers, small business owners and those looking for alternatives to medical marijuana in a quandary.Just as the legislative session was winding down in early ... April 24, 2023

Sanders signs bills aimed at enhancing appeal of state parks Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed 11 bills into law Thursday aimed at making the Arkansas' state parks more appealing to tourists.At a bill signing ceremony at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Sande... April 14, 2023

POLL: Arkansas’ governor signs social media bill requiring age verification for new users Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill into law Wednesday to require large social media companies to institute age verification checks for new users and require those younger than 18 to seek parent... April 13, 2023

Bill requiring age verification for new social media users in Arkansas signed into law Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill into law Wednesday that will require large social media companies to institute age verification checks for new users and to require those younger than 18 to s... April 12, 2023

Group plans to pursue repeal of Sanders’ LEARNS Act through referendum Activists have formed a group to repeal Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' signature education legislation, the LEARNS Act.Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students aims to repeal the LEARNS A... April 12, 2023

Group seeks referendum to repeal Arkansas LEARNS Act Activists have formed a group in an effort to repeal Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' signature education legislation, the LEARNS Act.Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students aims to repeal... April 11, 2023

Sanders says she will sign bill requiring social media companies to verify ages of new users, parental permission for users younger than 18 Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that she will sign a bill that will require social media companies to verify the ages of new users and require those younger than 18 to seek parental permission... April 11, 2023

Sanders says she will sign social media bill requiring age verification for new users Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday said she will sign a bill that will require social media companies to verify the ages of new users and require those younger than 18 to seek parental permission t... April 10, 2023

State Capitol news in brief: Delta-8 bill receives final legislative OK Delta-8 bill receives final legislative OKThe Arkansas Senate voted Friday to send Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders a bill aimed at prohibiting the production and sale of intoxicating substances derived fr... April 8, 2023