Arkansas Advocate, Author at Mountain Home Observer

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Arkansas Advocate

56 articles published

Appeals court rules portion of Arkansas whistleblower law unconstitutional

The Arkansas Court of Appeals struck down a key part of a state law Wednesday protecting public employees from being fired for reporting wrongdoing or misuse of funds by a government agency. A three-judge panel of the court ruled that a provision of the 1999 Arkansas Whistleblower Protection Act violates the state Constitution. The stricken…

3 days ago

Arkansas emergency management chief AJ Gary to retire

Arkansas’ top emergency management official announced Monday he’s retiring after serving in the role for more than a decade. AJ Gary, director of the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management and state homeland security adviser, announced he’s retiring effective Nov. 1. Gary was first appointed by former Gov. Asa Hutchinson in June 2016 and reappointed in…

September 29, 2026

Olivia and Tom Walton pledge $100M for national campaign to cut maternal deaths

Philanthropists Olivia and Tom Walton announced Thursday they’re giving $100 million toward a national effort to cut maternal deaths in half. The five-year investment in the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America initiative will go toward state matching grants, partnerships and needed infrastructure to expand proven maternal health interventions, the organization said in a news release.…

September 15, 2026

Former Arkansas lawmaker pleads not guilty to felony domestic violence charges

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussions of domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. A former Arkansas lawmaker who is running for Benton County judge pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges that he assaulted his wife. Former Rep. Austin McCollum appeared in…

September 11, 2026

Opinion: Press freedom shouldn’t be a casualty in Arkansas’ data center wars

There’s no such thing as a slam dunk court case, but the constitutional argument against prior restraint comes close. For nearly a century, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against efforts to prevent news outlets from publishing material. That includes the landmark Pentagon Papers decision that showed the heavy burden the government must meet. An…

September 8, 2026

Arkansas expects millions from Meta settlement. Here’s where other social media cases stand.

Arkansas is on track to receive at least $172 million in a landmark multistate settlement over online child safety. But the state’s other cases against social media platforms are still winding through the courts. Attorney General Tim Griffin and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders have been pushing for more scrutiny on social media firms through lawsuits…

September 1, 2026

Arkansas judge grants AG’s motion to dismiss his open-records suit against prison board

An Arkansas judge has granted Attorney General Tim Griffin’s motion to dismiss his lawsuit against the Board of Corrections that accused the panel of violating the state’s law on open records and meetings. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox’s one-page order Thursday dismissing the case comes less than a month after the state Supreme Court…

August 17, 2026

Arkansas state Rep. Austin McCollum resigns after domestic violence arrest

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussions of domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. An Arkansas lawmaker who was arrested on charges of aggravated assault against his wife has resigned from the state House. House Speaker Brian Evans on Wednesday announced that Republican…

August 6, 2026

Arkansas healthcare providers alarmed by potential end of state’s Medicaid expansion

The Trump administration’s decision not to renew Arkansas’ hybrid Medicaid expansion is alarming medical providers and experts who say the loss of insurance for thousands would be devastating and would damage a state healthcare system already facing serious strains. The disclosure Friday by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office has created uncertainty for a first-in-the-nation program…

August 5, 2026

Amazon founder’s group donating $30M to Little Rock to develop downtown park

A charity launched by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is giving $30 million to Little Rock to develop a 23-acre park downtown, city officials announced Tuesday. The funding from the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities Program will go toward the creation of 30 Crossing Park. The park will be located in a vacant area that…

July 16, 2026

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