Arkansas judge sides with city in open-records lawsuit over drone manufacturer

An Arkansas judge on Thursday ruled the city of Fayetteville didn’t illegally withhold a secret agreement with a military drone manufacturer, saying a retired professor who made an open-records request didn’t specifically ask for the document. Washington County Circuit Judge Doug Martin ruled that University of Arkansas professor emeritus of anthropology and Middle East Studies…

ByArkansas AdvocateJune 22, 20260Comments

Business Events Feature Government News

An NDA hid a Fayetteville contract. Could the same thing happen here?

A Fayetteville resident is suing his city over public records tied to a drone manufacturer, and the case is drawing attention to a tool governments across Arkansas use to keep business deals out of public view. That tool is the nondisclosure agreement, or NDA. Ted Swedenburg filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court.…

ByChris FultonJune 12, 20260Comments

Business Feature Government News

Bull Shoals records show pattern of late tax filings, anonymous donation paid down IRS penalties

The City of Bull Shoals has been on a state-issued two-strike warning since November 2025 that its municipal water system could be closed for failing to file or pay state taxes, and an anonymous citizen donation of $4,323.78 was used in February 2026 to pay down IRS payroll tax penalties, apparently without a city council…

ByChris FultonMay 7, 20260Comments

Crime Feature Government News

City of Briarcliff named 2025 Least Transparent Government

The City of Briarcliff has been named the Mountain Home Observer's 2025 Least Transparent Government following a year marked by unfulfilled public records requests, multiple state investigations, mass resignations and ongoing governance failures. The small lakeside community of approximately 250 residents spent much of 2025 mired in controversy over its dual government structure, with the…

ByChris FultonJanuary 13, 20260Comments

Education Events Feature Government News People

Baxter County officials receive training on Arkansas FOIA changes

Local government officials gathered Monday evening to learn about recent changes to Arkansas's Freedom of Information Act, with Mountain Home attorney Roger Morgan emphasizing the continued restrictions on private communications between board members. Speaking to members of the Mountain Home Public Schools' Board of Education, Baxter County Quorum Court, and other local officials at the…

ByChris FultonJune 25, 20250Comments

Crime Government News People

FOIA bill heads to Arkansas governor’s desk

A bill that clarifies aspects of Arkansas’ public meetings law is heading to the governor’s desk after it again passed the Senate by a wide margin on Monday. The bill specifies what members of city councils, quorum courts or school boards could discuss outside of a public meeting and would also allow a court to…

ByArkansas AdvocateApril 9, 20250Comments

Crime Government News

Arkansas organizations sign letter in opposition to new prison

Seventeen Arkansas community organizations have signed on to a letter opposing construction of a new state prison in Franklin County. Elected officials and local residents said they were blindsided by the governor’s announcement on Oct. 31 that the state had purchased 815 acres near Charleston for $2.95 million with the intent of building a roughly…

ByAntoinette Grajeda, Arkansas AdvocateNovember 13, 20240Comments

Education Feature Government News

Judge issues ruling in FOIA suit against School Board

Baxter County Circuit Court Judge John Putman ruled against the Mountain Home School District and its Board of Education on Tuesday in the FOIA lawsuit filed by resident Melissa Klinger in May, declaring that the board violated open-meeting laws through text message exchanges. The ruling follows the school board's July 2 response to the lawsuit,…

ByChris FultonJuly 25, 20240Comments

Education Feature Government News

FOIA lawsuit looms over School Board, executive session protested by residents

Like a sword of Damocles, The Mountain Home Public Schools’ Board of Education’s 2023 FOIA violations continue to overshadow the good work the district and its teachers and students have accomplished throughout the year. During Thursday night’s school board meeting, FOIA protestors, who the Baxter County Republican Party organized after an email was sent out…

ByChris FultonJune 24, 20240Comments

Crime Feature Government News People

Prosecuting Attorney issues warning to MHPS’ School Board after investigating secret text group uncovered in millage election

After a year of relative silence on the issue, Baxter County Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge has finally weighed in on the secret text group created by former Mountain Home Public School Superintendent Dr. Jake Long to circumvent the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act with members of the school board by issuing an official warning letter…

ByChris FultonMay 22, 20240Comments