Jimmy Hickey
Sevier County Medical Center Reflects on Struggles and Triumphs in Year One
The newest hospital in Arkansas, SCMC opened in January of last year and has faced unanticipated construction costs. read more >
by George Waldon -
Arkansas Senate OKs Bill on Teacher Raises, School Vouchers
The proposal, which now heads to the majority-Republican House, is advocated by GOP Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders as her top priority this legislative session. read more >
by -
Arkansas Lawmakers Taking Up Tax Cuts, School Safety in Special Session
The tax cut plan has raised questions about whether it could jeopardize some of the state's federal COVID-19 aid. read more >
by -
Raising Teacher Pay (Editorial)
In February, the National Education Association released a survey showing that 55% of educators are thinking about leaving the profession earlier than they had planned. It was a big jump from the 37% who expressed the same sentiment just six months earlier. read more >
Arkansas Lawmakers OK Income Tax Cuts, Adjourn Session
Critics argued that the cuts are skewed toward the wealthy and that the money would be better spent elsewhere. read more >
by -
Arkansas Lawmakers Advance Income Tax Cut During Session
Legislative panels also endorsed incentives aimed at helping the state lure a U.S. Steel expansion in Mississippi County. read more >
by -
Arkansas Governor to Call Special Session on Tax Cut Plan
The primary focus will be on a tax cut package that calls for reducing the state's top income tax rate from 5.9% to 4.9% read more >
by -
Judge Blocks State From Enforcing Mask Mandate Ban
An Arkansas judge has temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a law that prevents schools and other governmental agencies from requiring masks. read more >
by -
Legislators Begin Special Session on Mask Mandates
Legislators meeting in a special session file two bills dealing with Act 1002, which prohibits state and local governments from imposing mask mandates. read more >
Hutchinson, Top Lawmakers to Meet on Mask Mandate Ban
Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he plans to meet with House and Senate leaders about growing calls to allow schools to require face masks as the state reported 23 more deaths from COVID-19. read more >
by -
Arkansas Senate OKs Alternate, Scaled-Back Hate Crimes Bill
The Arkansas Senate on approves a stripped-down hate crimes bill derided by opponents as too vague. read more >
by -
Critics Call Scaled-Back Arkansas Hate Crimes Bill A Farce
Arkansas legislative leaders introduce a drastically scaled-back hate crimes measure that no longer explicitly refers to race, sexual orientation or gender identity, drawing the the ire of longtime proponents of such laws. read more >
by -
The Costs of a Hateful Image
Senate Bill 3, commonly known as the “hate crimes bill,” boils down to a crucial chance to burnish Arkansas’ image and remove a hurdle to recruiting companies and workers, government officials and business leaders say. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Pandemic Overshadows Agenda as Legislative Session Begins
Arkansas lawmakers return to the Capitol on Monday for a legislative session overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic that has killed thousands in the state. read more >
by -
Facing Lawsuit, Procurement Chief Says There’s No Appealing His Rulings in Protests
Arkansas Procurement Director Edward Armstrong's answer to being sued over a ruling that gave a fourth-place bidder a major state contract boils down to four words: His word is final. So far, the law seems to agree with him. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Plan to Change Procurement Rejected in House Committee
An Arkansas panel defeated an effort to revise the state procurement proces, siding with engineers, architects and attorneys who testified that a bill to emphasize price in awarding state contracts was flawed and unnecessary read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Disputed Contracts Place Procurement in Spotlight
Disputes over recent state contracts have put Republican lawmakers at odds with the Republican governor, angered potential vendors and muddied understanding on what businesses can expect from the process of awarding state work. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Bill Seeks to Change Procurement Process; Businesses Want to Understand It
Procurement laws are complicated, state Sen. Jimmy Hickey says, and he should know: He has helped rewrite them more than once. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
State Seeks Pricing in New Bids for Tourism Ad Contract
The state reopened the bidding process on its largest advertising contract Wednesday afternoon, seeking pricing information from ad agencies hoping to land a $14 million-a-year pact for marketing Arkansas tourism and the state parks system. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
State Cancels Bid Process for Tourism Advertising Contract
The State Office of Procurement canceled its bid solicitation for the state’s biggest advertising contract — the $14 million-a-year deal for marketing state tourism — just days before written responses from agencies were due. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
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