Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Advocate aims to illustrate how state government impacts the daily lives of Arkansas residents, empowering them to make knowledgeable choices for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our mission is to elevate the voices of all Arkansans, with a particular emphasis on the connections between citizens, authority, and legislation. As an independent and nonpartisan news outlet, Arkansas Advocate is dedicated to monitoring those in power and their actions, ensuring that public officials are held responsible for their decisions, regardless of their political affiliation or beliefs.

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Arkansas AG asks judge to stop Board of Corrections from paying lawyer

1 week ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Sonny Albarado

Attorney General Tim Griffin on Wednesday asked a state court to prevent the Arkansas Board of Corrections from spending any public funds on a lawyer he says the board hired illegally. Griffin sued the corrections board in December 2023, alleging it had violated the state Freedom of Information Act by discussing the hiring of an attorney outside of a public meeting and hiring him with no public discussion.
Arkansas AG replies to prison board, certifies that it needs its own lawyer

1 week ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Sonny Albarado

by Sonny Albarado, Arkansas Advocate June 17, 2025 The Arkansas Board of Corrections needs its own attorney to represent it in a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office, the attorney general’s office confirmed in a letter Tuesday. But the board cannot simply keep the attorney it hired in 2023, according to the letter written by Zach A. Mayo, Griffin’s general counsel.
Arkansas prison board offers olive branch; attorney general says, 'No, thanks'

1 week ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Sonny Albarado

by Sonny Albarado, Arkansas Advocate June 17, 2025 The legal dispute between the Arkansas Board of Corrections and Attorney General Tim Griffin deepened this week, even as the board acted to try to resolve it. Griffin filed a lawsuit against the board in 2023, after the board hired attorney Abtin Mehdizadegan, saying the attorney general would have a conflict of interest representing the board in its own lawsuit against the governor.
Five questions and answers about reconciliation in the U.S. Senate

1 week ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Jennifer Shutt |Arkansas Advocate

WASHINGTON — Republicans in the U.S. Senate will spend the next couple weeks defending the party’s “big beautiful bill” against Democratic criticisms and attempting to pass a final version that can win 51 votes. Reconciliation, the name for the process under which the massive bill is being considered, comes with a lot of rules in the Senate, including that every proposal in the bill addresses federal revenue, spending, or the debt limit.
Oklahoma's loophole: How Tyson’s water use goes unchecked

1 week ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Juan Vassallo |Investigate Midwest

by Juan Vassallo, Investigate Midwest, Arkansas Advocate June 16, 2025 As Jill Trapp steered her pickup truck down the red dirt roads of southeast Oklahoma, she raised a hand to greet a passing neighbor — a calf roper who once made it to the National Finals Rodeo. She drove on, passing a modest cowboy church where Sunday sermons share space with country music and the smell of brisket.
Arkansas parents file lawsuit over state law requiring Ten Commandments in schools

2 weeks ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Antoinette Grajeda

Seven Arkansas families with children in public schools filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday to block the implementation of a new state law requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms.
Kristi Putnam steps down as Arkansas DHS secretary

2 weeks ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas State Medicaid Director Janet Mann will become secretary of the Department of Human Services next month as Secretary Kristi Putnam returns to Kentucky, the governor’s office announced Wednesday. Mann serves as DHS’ deputy secretary of programs as well as medicaid director. She has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and healthcare finance and previously served as chief financial officer and director of the division of medical services for the department.
Saline County clerk begins process of assuring accuracy of voter roll

2 weeks ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Sonny Albarado |Arkansas Advocate

by Sonny Albarado, Arkansas Advocate June 11, 2025 Saline County voters will soon receive notices from the county clerk’s office asking them to confirm their voter registration address or informing them their registrations have been canceled. “We want to make sure voters understand that these mailings are not spam or scams — they are an important part of the federally mandated process to maintain an accurate and secure voter roll,” Saline County Clerk Doug Curtis said in a press release.
Revising direct democracy ballot measure to meet Arkansas law balancing act, drafter says

2 weeks ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Antoinette Grajeda

The authors of a proposed constitutional amendment to protect Arkansas’ direct democracy process are still revising their measure following the attorney general’s rejection of their original draft last week. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said he could not certify The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment because it failed to meet the eighth-grade reading level standard set in a new law.
Arkansas corrections panel OKs design firms for new prison; next step legislative approval

2 weeks ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Sonny Albarado

Arkansas’ prison oversight board on Tuesday unanimously approved a contract with two architectural engineering firms to design a planned state prison. The state Board of Corrections gave preliminary approval in May to the $57 million contract with Omaha, Neb.-based HDR and Little Rock-based Cromwell Architects Engineers, but held off formal approval until Tuesday’s special-call meeting because some members had questions.