Ainsley Platt

3 weeks ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Ainsley Platt |Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas oil and gas regulators are working to replug a century-old oil well in Ouachita County that began leaking in May, after the state Oil and Gas Commission approved an emergency request to pay for the work. A commission inspector wrote in a May 12 report that the leak had affected large trees that “are browning and losing leaves.” Department of Energy and Environment spokesperson Melony Martinez wrote in an email that there was no risk of further environmental contamination.

3 weeks ago | mhobserver.com | Ainsley Platt |Arkansas Advocate

State officials celebrated on Tuesday the groundbreaking of a $1 billion modernization project of Green Bay Packaging’s decades-old Kraft plant in Morrilton, Central Arkansas’ largest capital investment, according to the governor. The plant’s $1 billion reinvestment will see key equipment replacements and infrastructure upgrades, along with expansions. The plant will add 35 new jobs to its existing 620 person workforce in Conway County as well.

3 weeks ago | mhobserver.com | Ainsley Platt |Arkansas Advocate

A coalition of federal, state and county law enforcement agencies arrested Hardy’s police chief following an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse, according to a Tuesday press release from the Arkansas State Police. Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and state police after the Sharp County Sheriff’s Office requested help with the case at the end of March, according to the release.

3 weeks ago | magnoliareporter.com | Ainsley Platt |Arkansas Advocate

A second company hoping to extract lithium in South Arkansas applied for a lithium royalty just days after officials approved the state’s first royalty rate. ExxonMobil’s Saltwerx submitted an application Friday, May 30, 2025 for a lithium royalty identical to the one approved last Wednesday for the joint venture between Canada-based Standard Lithium and Equinor, a Norwegian energy company.

3 weeks ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Ainsley Platt

A second company hoping to extract lithium in South Arkansas applied for a lithium royalty just days after officials approved the state’s first royalty rate. ExxonMobil’s Saltwerx submitted an application Friday for a lithium royalty identical to the one approved last Wednesday for the joint venture between Canada-based Standard Lithium and Equinor, a Norwegian energy company.