COVID Numbers
The state of Arkansas is reporting 288 new virus cases as of Sunday. The Department of Health also says hospitalizations fell by 20 with 85 on ventilators.
State News
Arkansas House Report 02.26.21
In the 7th week of the 2021 Regular Session, the House passed bills addressing taxes, medical care, scholarships, the duty to retreat, and more.The following tax measures were advanced by the House:· HB1023-This bill excludes certain school fundraisers from the sales tax... Read More.
Arkansas Sees 574 Confirmed New Cases
The Arkansas Department of Health says the state saw an increase of 574 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. The department says there are 152 probable cases in the state with an increase of 44 active cases from Wednesday for a total of 4,720.There... Read More.
Supreme Court suspends jury trials until April 30
The Arkansas Supreme Court has again suspended jury trials in the state, this time until April 30.Jury trials have been suspended since March 2020 after Governor Asa Hutchinson declared a state of emergency for Arkansas relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, which on Friday the... Read More.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced extension of the current Public Health Emergency
By Ray KingArkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson on Friday announced that he is extending the current Public Health Emergency relating to the COVID-19 pandemic for an additional 30 days.In a statewide address, the Governor said Arkansas is making progress in reducing the number of reported... Read More.
Sen. Flowers Loses Ability to Participate Remotely
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas lawmaker who was censured this month for cursing at a college temporarily lost her ability to participate remotely Thursday after a heated argument with the lieutenant governor during a debate.The Arkansas Senate voted to end... Read More.
House panel rejects bill to allow medical refusal to treat because of moral beliefs
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas House panel on Thursday rejected legislation that would have allowed medical providers to refuse to treat someone because of their religious or moral beliefs after opponents said it was too broad and would allow discrimination against patients.The... Read More.
State Senate Sends Governor Stronger Voter ID Bill
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Senate has sent Gov. Asa Hutchinson legislation making the state’s voter ID law stricter.The majority-Republican Senate by a 25 to 9 vote approved a bill that will no longer allow people without identification to cast a ballot,... Read More.
Stand Your Ground Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk
The Arkansas State House is sending the Stand Your Ground bill to the desk of Governor Hutchinson. The bill has received a lot of attention both in last year's session and this one. The law, if signed by the governor, loosens restrictions on deadly... Read More.
State Senate approves change to voter identification law
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to legislation making the state’s voter ID law stricter by no longer allowing people without identification to cast a ballot, even if they sign a statement affirming their identity.The majority-Republican Senate... Read More.
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and the Arkansas Public Service Commission have opened investigations into Liberty Utilities
By Ray King
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and the Arkansas Public Service Commission have opened investigations into Liberty Utilities which provides water to the City of Pine Bluff because of low water pressure and, by the companies own admission more than 100 water leaks... Read More.
state lowers age for COVID vaccine eligibility
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas on Tuesday lowered the eligibility age for receiving the coronavirus vaccine from 70 to 65, making shots available to another 115,000 people in the state, according to Gov. Asa Hutchinson.Hutchinson announced the move as the state reported 834... Read More.
