by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/10/2013 04:32 pm
The Republican-led Legislature's override of Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of the ban on most abortions 12 weeks into a pregnancy sets up a legal fight that's almost certain, in the long run, to wind up before the nation's highest court. But Arkansas voters could deliver a verdict for their government leaders as early as next year.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/7/2013 05:01 pm
Not content with enacting the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, Arkansas Republicans plan to press the legislative advantage their party hasn't enjoyed since Reconstruction by making it even harder for women to get abortions in the state.
by Chuck Bartels, The Associated Press 3/7/2013 02:59 pm
Gov. Mike Beebe expressed optimism Thursday that a deal can be reached to expand Medicaid in Arkansas, telling a crowd of hundreds at the state Capitol that he and Republican lawmakers were on a "positive track" in talks to provide health care coverage to more low-income residents.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/6/2013 02:13 pm
Arkansas lawmakers overrode a veto Wednesday and gave the state the most restrictive abortion law in the country - a near-ban on the procedure from the 12th week of pregnancy onward that is certain to end up in court.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/5/2013 02:13 pm
The Arkansas Senate voted Tuesday to override Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of legislation that would give the state the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.
by Arkansas Business Editors 3/4/2013 12:00 am
The decision by Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius “is the first publicly announced expansion deal in the nation that would allow all of those earning up to 138 percent of poverty to buy private insurance with Medicaid dollars on the exchange.” Arkansas should go along.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/3/2013 02:08 pm
The partnership Gov. Mike Beebe has boasted having with the Arkansas Legislature is turning more into a love-hate relationship under Republican control. They're not sworn enemies, but not exactly best friends either. They're more like frenemies.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 3/3/2013 02:05 pm
Republican legislators who had resisted expanding Medicaid in Arkansas say they're encouraged by a new plan that would allow funds from the federal-state program to purchase private insurance for the newly eligible, but say they need more details on how such a system would work.
by Arkansas Business Staff 3/1/2013 02:47 pm
The Lyon College Board of Trustees says that it has frozen tuition and fees for the 2013-14 academic year in response to changes in to the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
by Lance Turner 3/1/2013 10:36 am
Gov. Mike Beebe names Reynie Rutledge of Searcy to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees and Bob Burns of Little Rock to the Arkansas State Police Commission. Rutledge replaces John Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods Inc., who resigned last month.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 2/26/2013 01:13 pm
Gov. Mike Beebe criticizes Lt. Gov. Mark Darr for making secret the list of Arkansas residents allowed to carry concealed weapons, saying the Republican "embarrassed himself" by signing the legislation while the governor was out of state.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 2/25/2013 05:54 pm
An overhaul of the Arkansas Lottery-funded college scholarship program was given final approval by lawmakers Monday, creating a system in which award amounts increase each year for students at four-year schools.
by Mark Carter 2/25/2013 12:00 am
The 89th General Assembly has yet to finish writing its chapter in the big book of Arkansas state legislatures. But if Chapter 89 were printed this week, then surely “guns” would be in the title. Legislation devoted to guns dominated the action again last week.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 2/24/2013 05:26 pm
Despite campaign pledges to cut taxes and focus on the economy, the new Republican majority in Arkansas' Legislature has turned into a bigger boon for social conservatives than fiscal ones.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 2/19/2013 01:31 pm
House Speaker Davy Carter says he's sending a proposal to ban most abortions in Arkansas at 12 weeks of pregnancy back to a committee after Democrats complained it was approved improperly.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 2/18/2013 07:25 am
As a veteran legislator and two-term Democratic governor who has used the veto sparingly, Mike Beebe has spoken out against several GOP measures but won't say whether he'll veto them if they reach his desk.
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 2/17/2013 05:08 pm
What happened to the Medicaid session? Despite all the talk before lawmakers gathered at the Arkansas Capitol that Medicaid's finances and future would overshadow just about every other issue, there's been scant attention paid to the $5 billion program and efforts to expand it under the federal health care law
by Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press 2/11/2013 01:45 pm
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe says he's opposed to delaying a vote on expanding Medicaid's eligibility until next year's session, but says he won't rush lawmakers on when to consider the issue. Beebe says he faces an uphill fight in getting the three-fourths vote needed for expansion to pass.
State Treasurer Martha Shoffner Arrested for Extortion by FBI 
