Stories by Stephen Simpson

Arkansas School Safety Commission director says behavioral threat assessment key to preventing school shootings Less than 30% of school districts in Arkansas have behavioral threat assessment teams in place and that number needs to increase, the chair of the Arkansas School Safety Commission said Tuesday."... June 29, 2022

With Arkansas abortion ban in place, enforcement falls to prosecutors, police As abortion was outlawed in Arkansas on Friday, local prosecutors and police said they would review abortion complaints on a case-by-case basis.Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge implemented a ... June 26, 2022

Arkansas attorney general implements state's abortion ban; governor hails court's decision Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Friday afternoon implemented a 2019 law that bans abortions in Arkansas, except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency, after the U.S. Supre... June 24, 2022

State Supreme Court affirms decision denying Conway lawyer from taking a firearm into Little Rock City Hall The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed a lower court's decision that denied a petition by a Conway lawyer who was barred from taking a firearm into Little Rock City Hall, with one justice... June 24, 2022

Democratic nominee for governor supports temporary cut in state gas tax, but Hutchinson says Jones’ idea can’t be done The Democratic nominee for governor of Arkansas said Wednesday he supports the idea of a gas tax cut to combat rising prices across the nation, but Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the concept isn't worka... June 23, 2022

Primary runoff unseats House member Marsh Davis A Republican incumbent lost his seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives on Tuesday night in the primary runoff election, while another staved off his challenger.State Rep. Marsh Davis, R-Cheroke... June 22, 2022

Arkansas School Safety Commission long on ideas, must figure out funding The Arkansas School Safety Commission discussed a slew of recommendations Tuesday about what can be done to improve safety at Arkansas schools, but commissioners will have to determine how to pay for ... June 22, 2022

Another GOP incumbent loses in primary runoff for Arkansas House seat A Republican incumbent lost his seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives Tuesday night in the primary runoff election while another staved off his challenger.State Rep. Marsh Davis, R-Cherokee Vi... June 21, 2022

Rules on historic markers in Arkansas advance; cities await legal guidance by state A legislative panel Thursday endorsed rules designed to implement a new state law aimed at protecting historic monuments, taking a step closer to ending more than a year of waiting by some cities cons... June 17, 2022

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson hints at run for president again HOT SPRINGS -- Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson continued to hint at a presidential run as he told a group of attorneys Wednesday that he was starting to "lay the foundation" for a 2024 campaign... June 16, 2022

Arkansas school safety panel looks anew at threats With no clear profile of who might open fire in a school classroom in hand, the Arkansas School Safety Commission on Tuesday resumed its mission to identify as many barriers as possible to prevent the... June 15, 2022

Two in state House facing GOP runoffs As runoff elections get underway, a pair of incumbents are hoping their experience in office separates them from their opponents.In the Arkansas House, three incumbents lost their seats in the primary... June 14, 2022

Arkansas Supreme Court rules Division of Workforce Services must produce documents on how it determined benefits eligibility for unemployed The Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a circuit court order requiring the state's Division of Workforce Services to produce unredacted documents after it was determined the state agency couldn't a... June 10, 2022

GOP backs candidate for state's high court; runoff endorsement called a first for nonpartisan race The Republican Party of Arkansas has formally endorsed District Judge Chris Carnahan of Conway for the Arkansas Supreme Court in the Nov. 8 runoff election -- a move described by one party official as... June 8, 2022

Panel updated on safe schools in Arkansas; experts advise mental health training, building security Bullet-resistant glass, more school resource officers and improved mental health assessments were all ideas presented to legislators during a meeting on school safety where several state leaders point... June 7, 2022

Arkansas inmates get $2.5M in repayments; court ruling forces agency to return some relief funds More than $2 million has been returned over the past couple of months to inmates currently housed by the Arkansas Department of Corrections after a court ruling that the agency had to return any feder... June 6, 2022

Hutchinson considers special legislative session with look at school security Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday that he is considering a legislative special session this summer that would include addressing school safety and security measures.The Republican governor said he wil... June 3, 2022

Hutchinson considers special legislative session with look at school security Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday that he is discussing a potential legislative special session in the coming months that would include an agenda item on school safety and security.The Republican gove... June 2, 2022

Arkansas’ court of appeals reverses grain broker’s hot-check conviction A man sentenced to five years in prison for violating the state's hot check law had his conviction reversed Wednesday after the Arkansas Court of Appeals determined the lower court erred in denyin... June 2, 2022

Arkansas appeals court reverses woman’s drug conviction for lack of reasonable suspicion A woman's conviction and five-year prison sentence for possession of drug paraphernalia was reversed and remanded because of a circuit court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence, the Arka... June 2, 2022

Arkansas Supreme Court orders reexamination of parole eligibility to two convicted kidnappers Two men convicted in 2007 of kidnapping, battery and more will have their parole eligibility examined after the Supreme Court determined they were not required to serve 70% of the enhancement sentence... May 27, 2022

Casady concedes to Wood in Arkansas Court of Appeals race A longtime Arkansas Court of Appeals clerk will replace the judge she has worked for since 2006 after her opponent conceded the race early Wednesday.Wendy Wood, a clerk for retiring judge Larry Vaught... May 26, 2022

Wynne, Carnahan head to November runoff for seat on Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Robin Wynne is headed to a November runoff against District Judge Chris Carnahan for Position 2 on the Arkansas Supreme Court.Wynne has served as Position 2 associate justice since 2015 and fa... May 26, 2022

Wendy Wood leading Judge Stephanie Casady in Arkansas Court of Appeals race; votes not all counted Wendy Wood had a slight lead on Saline County District Judge Stephanie Casady Wednesday morning in the race for a seat on the Arkansas Court of Appeals.Casady and Wood were vying for the seat being va... May 25, 2022

Baker elected to third term on Supreme Court; runoff looms in Position 2 race Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker was elected to a third term Tuesday night, while a runoff looms for Justice Robin Wynne.Baker fought off the challenge of Circuit Judge Gunner DeLay in the n... May 25, 2022

Arkansas attorney general hopefuls Griffin, Gibson say they would cut office’s ‘excessive’ ad spending Two candidates running for the attorney general's office say they will examine radio and TV spending by the office if elected.Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, who faces Leon Jones Jr. in the Republican prima... May 22, 2022

Arkansas Supreme Court revises, creates rules for virtual, blended proceedings LITTLE ROCK -- The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday revised and created rules to address virtual and blended court proceedings.The court delivered a per curiam opinion that adopted and republished r... May 21, 2022

Virtual, blended proceedings see new court rules The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday revised and created rules to address virtual and blended court proceedings.The court delivered a per curiam opinion that adopted and republished rules for using ... May 20, 2022

Judicial campaigns in Arkansas report contributions Republican organizations and committees donated more than $36,000 in a little over a month to candidates in this year's judicial elections, according to the most recent campaign finance reports.Tw... May 18, 2022

Arkansas Department of Corrections honored for outreach, recruitment efforts The Arkansas Department of Corrections has been recognized for its outreach and recruitment campaign.The Department of Corrections' social media campaign was recognized with the Award of Excellenc... May 17, 2022

2 Arkansas chiropractic clinics fined for dumping documents containing patients’ personal information in park Two chiropractic clinics have been found to have violated the Personal Information Privacy Act and the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices after medical files were dumped in a public park near Mayflowe... May 17, 2022

Longtime legislator faces political newcomer for Arkansas House District 77 seat A political newcomer who was inspired to run for Arkansas House District 77 after watching what transpired in the legislature in 2021 faces an incumbent who has spent six terms in the House in the Dem... May 16, 2022

State sues drug, pharmacy companies over insulin cost Arkansas' attorney general has filed a lawsuit against several drug and pharmacy companies for deceptively driving up the cost of insulin in Arkansas.The lawsuit accuses drug manufacturers and pha... May 12, 2022

TurboTax to pay restitution to 36,000 Arkansas consumers Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has secured $1.067 million in restitution payments by the owner of TurboTax that will be sent to almost 36,000 Arkansas consumers who paid for tax services that should... May 11, 2022

Turbo Tax to pay $1M restitution to 36,000 Arkansas consumers Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has secured $1.067 million in restitution payments by the owner of TurboTax that will be sent to almost 36,000 Arkansas consumers who paid for tax services that should... May 10, 2022

Arkansas attorney general candidates differ on breadth of office’s role Arkansas' current lieutenant governor will square off against a former department director under Gov. Asa Hutchinson in the Republican primary race for attorney general.Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin faces ... May 8, 2022

Citing clerical error in sentencing order, state Supreme Court says killer of 72-year-old Wooster woman is eligible for parole The Arkansas Supreme Court has requested a circuit court correct a "clerical error" that stated a Pine Bluff juvenile had been sentenced to life in prison without parole in the 2018 kidnappi... May 6, 2022

Departing Arkansas Health Secretary Jose Romero will be replaced by two public health officials Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday announced the appointments of two people who will replace outgoing Arkansas Health Secretary Jose Romero.Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, the state Department of Health's chie... May 6, 2022

How Arkansas voters can find their polling places Arkansas' primary election draws nearer every day, and before voters can cast a ballot, they need to know where to go. Here's how to find your polling place.Election day polling placeA voter&r... May 5, 2022

Arkansas governor recommends commuting sentences of 2 convicted murderers Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Wednesday his intention to commute the sentences of two men convicted of murder decades ago.Hutchinson said he plans to commute the sentence of James T. Carmichael, 59, w... May 5, 2022

$1M grant goes toward identifying disparities in Arkansas’ juvenile justice system The Administrative Office of the Courts has been awarded a $1 million grant to identify disparities in the Arkansas juvenile justice system.The agency announced Tuesday morning it is the recipient of ... May 4, 2022

Rutledge: Arkansas will immediately ban abortions if Roe v. Wade overturned Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced that if Roe v. Wade is overturned the state has a “trigger law” that will immediately ban abortions within the state except to save the ... May 3, 2022

Arkansas Supreme Court justice touts experience; opponent points to judicial philosophy A state Supreme Court justice seeking a third term will have to defeat a lower-court judge who has held various positions in the judicial system.Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker faces Circui... May 3, 2022

Arkansas Board of Corrections members discuss cellphone jamming options for prisons The Arkansas Division of Corrections is examining cellphone jamming options to combat illicit cellphone activities within its prisons.The Board of Corrections discussed multiple options during its mee... May 2, 2022

Arkansas attorney general sues Family Dollar over rat infestation Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing Family Dollar Stores Inc. and Dollar Tree of selling products that were potentially hazardous or contaminated because of exp... April 29, 2022

Arkansas attorney general files suit against Family Dollar Stores, Dollar Tree after rodent infestation at distribution site Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has filed a lawsuit against Family Dollar Stores and Dollar Tree accusing them of selling products that were potentially hazardous, adulterated or contaminate... April 28, 2022

Arkansas attorney general allocates $250,000 to Sultana Museum project The office of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Wednesday that it will give more than $200,000 to a museum project in Marion.The announcement comes almost two weeks after the Arkansa... April 28, 2022

Arkansas receives $60M in tobacco settlement funds Arkansas will receive more than $60 million this year from the master settlement agreement with tobacco companies.Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Monday that she had secured the 20... April 26, 2022

Arkansas women relate barriers faced in businesses An emotional story about the challenges faced by a Black woman trying to start a business in the Delta is just one of many stories the Arkansas Women's Commission is collecting as part of large-sc... April 25, 2022

Incumbent faces 2 challengers in Arkansas Supreme Court race An Arkansas Supreme Court justice seeking a second term will square off against a lower-court judge and a well-known lawyer during the May 24 election in which voters will also decide various Democrat... April 24, 2022