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 water quality rules, urgent care access changes held for further review by lawmakers

17 hours ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Ainsley Platt

An update to Arkansas’ surface-water quality rules was pulled from the Legislature’s Joint Public Health Committee’s agenda Wednesday to give lawmakers more time to consider it.
Where does the censorship stop?

1 day ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Debra Hale-Shelton

by Debra Hale-Shelton, Guest Commentary, Arkansas Advocate May 14, 2025 If you remember visiting the local library as a child, you likely went with your mom or dad, a teacher or with nothing more than your bike and a backpack. Chances are state lawmakers or religious zealots did not escort you inside, and you didn’t have to wonder whose stories were hidden behind locked doors or inside a vault because nothing was locked up.
Report: April storms that caused "generational" flooding made 40% more likely by climate change

5 days ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Ainsley Platt

“Generational” April storms that brought historic rainfall and a record number of tornadoes to states in the Central Mississippi river valley like Arkansas were made 40% more likely due to the warming climate, according to a new report from an international coalition of climate researchers.
Arkansas State Library Board recommends cut in aid to local libraries to add now-ineligible ones

5 days ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Sonny Albarado

Arkansas State Library Board members on Friday voted to recommend a 10.39% across-the-board cut in state aid to public libraries in fiscal 2026, which starts July 1. The recommendation would allow 20 libraries currently ineligible for state funds to receive the money. State Librarian Jennifer Chilcoat presented the proposal as one option for complying with a 2023 state appropriation bill that called for new eligibility criteria to be adopted by July 1, 2024.
Some Arkansas libraries still waiting new state funding rules now a year overdue

6 days ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Tess Vrbin |Sonny Albarado

The Arkansas State Library Board on Friday will disburse public funds to libraries for the last time in the 2025 fiscal year, and likely the last time before all seven board members will be replaced. As local library directors wait for their regular shares of state funding, some continue to await a long-delayed avenue for rural libraries to be eligible for more state funding. An amendment to the State Library’s fiscal year 2024 appropriation bill introduced by Sen.
Education secretary to recommend increased support for east Arkansas school district

6 days ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas’ education secretary notified the state education board Thursday of his intent to recommend a Level 5 – Intensive Support classification for the Blytheville School District due to ongoing academic and administrative challenges.
Arkansas attorney general rejects first ballot measure under new law

1 week ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Antoinette Grajeda

The League of Women Voters of Arkansas on Wednesday decried the attorney general’s rejection of its proposed constitutional amendment under a new law that prohibits ballot titles from being written above an eighth-grade reading level. This is the third time Attorney General Tim Griffin has rejected the nonpartisan organization’s proposal to amend the state’s initiative and referendum process and the first time he has rejected any proposed ballot measure under Act 602, which became law last month.
Replacement driver’s licenses temporarily processed online as Arkansas officials focus on REAL ID

1 week ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Antoinette Grajeda |Arkansas Advocate

by Antoinette Grajeda, Arkansas Advocate May 7, 2025 Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration officials announced Wednesday that duplicate driver’s licenses can be ordered online and delivered by mail beginning May 12. The temporary online processing of duplicate and replacement licenses and ID cards will allow DFA officials to focus on issuing REAL IDs, according to a press release. New, first-time licenses may still be obtained at any State Revenue Office.
Standard Lithium files application to establish lithium royalty

1 week ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Ainsley Platt

A joint venture looking to extract lithium from South Arkansas brine wells has increased its proposed royalty rate to mineral rights owners to 2.5%. After a resounding defeat of a 1.82% royalty rate in November, Standard Lithium and its partner, Equinor, submitted a new royalty application Friday to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission to establish a “fair and equitable” payment to rights holders.
Reunited Wisconsinites who disagree on abortion fight to extend postpartum Medicaid

1 week ago | arkansasadvocate.com | Sofia Resnick |Arkansas Advocate

Thomas Lang and Jeff Davis — conservative Catholics from Wisconsin — did the unexpected on a recent Tuesday: They asked some of their conservative legislators to extend a social safety net for pregnant women. Both men support local crisis pregnancy centers and groups opposed to abortion, and they typically oppose expanding public services. Davis said he’s always been a conservative spender, having grown up with a Depression-era father.