Josh Snyder

LEARNS Act reporter for @arkansasonline | Politics, education, community development | Reformed desert dweller 🌵

[Steve Goff @sgoff12]

It's a big day for Arkansas. The statue of country music icon Johnny Cash will be unveiled at the U.S. Capitol. @AlexHouseThomas will cover the event, and a livestream of the ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Central at @ArkansasOnline.
https://t.co/xNxIdfNQMu

[Josh Snyder @JSnyderAR]

Alexa Henning, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' spokeswoman, is departing the governor's office after roughly a year and a half in that role. Read more from @MikeWickline: https://t.co/qRepkke4Al

[Neal Earley @neal_earley]

Democratic Leader Tippi McCullough asks if video post by Gov last night on X in response to lectern audit was appropriate. Deere said it was meant to be tounge cheek. Was made by member of gov staff, but not during work time or with state equipment, Deere said.

[Josh Snyder @JSnyderAR]

Rep. Robin Lundstrum asked if the manner in which the lectern was purchased could be a “simple, honest mistake.”

Judd Deere, deputy chief of staff for the governor’s office, rejected this: “This was not a mistake. The podium was a legitimate purchase.”

[Josh Snyder @JSnyderAR]

@arkansasonline is at today’s Legislative Joint Auditing meeting. There, lawmakers will discuss auditors’ report on Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders office’s purchase of a $19,000 lectern. Follow along here.

[Josh Snyder @JSnyderAR]

Legislative auditors and the gov’s office have disagreed whether latter is a “state agency” under the General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law (GABPL).

House Chair Jimmy Gazaway asked Deputy AG Ryan Owsley if the question may have to be decided by a court. Owsley agreed.

[Danny Shameer @dshameer]

rtesy Google Street View & 360)

Hope Baking Co. has announced a $37 million expansion that is projected to create 266 new jobs.

https://t.co/maVhbrVnEr

[Josh Snyder @JSnyderAR]

Low- and middle-income families in Arkansas face a heavier burden due to the state's tax structure, a new report states. From @AlexHouseThomas » https://t.co/RhtYT7gkeU

[Joseph Cranney @joey_cranney]

In Arkansas, @josephtflaherty revealed a mayor’s cozy deal with a firm that was in line to get a contract from the municipal airport commission. https://t.co/1cOpuhZMmZ

[Josh Snyder @JSnyderAR]

NEW: A revised framework for AP African American studies has been released by College Board. Arkansas' Dept. of Education sparked national media attention in August when it removed the class from its course code listings.

What's in the updated framework: https://t.co/k5l6RaIPcA

[Danny Shameer @dshameer]

Prosecutors have dismissed charges against six people after the resignation of a Northwest Arkansas police officer. Dozens of other cases are in jeopardy. @NWATracy reports. https://t.co/n5hMHoICoo #ARNews #ARcrime

[Bill Bowden @billbowden]

For 50 years, the federal government was the bogeyman of the Buffalo River. But a new controversy is shifting rural distrust to state government and wealthy "outsiders" in Bentonville. https://t.co/44C4pm62zW

[Josh Snyder @JSnyderAR]

Speaking of wellness: If you haven't kept up with food insecurity in Arkansas check out @danielmcfadin's excellent story on a recent USDA report.

It lists our state as the worst in the nation for food insecurity » https://t.co/5yE0lTm5wu

[Josh Snyder @JSnyderAR]

The end of major pandemic-era funding for child care providers hasn’t hurt Arkansas as badly as other states — but experts say the state/federal gov’t should still up spending on the industry.

How Arkansas avoided the cliff + where we can go from here » https://t.co/2E8cxBp36u

[Steve Goff @sgoff12]

Former legislator @NateBell4AR and attorney @DavidCouchAR are forming a group to try to enshrine the state's FOIA law into the state constitution. Read more @neal_earley at @ArkansasOnline. #arpx #arnews #FOIA
https://t.co/1ICNsJSRTR

[Danny Shameer @dshameer]

Those reduced-price school meals? Now, they’re free for eligible elementary and secondary school students in Arkansas. @howelloman and @mikewickline report. https://t.co/Y3H0KLpc3B #ARnews