Arkansas Times' Week in Review Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The Arkansas Times has been hosting a series of fundraisers in the form of a lecture series featuring Arkansas newsmakers, politicians and writers on current events and policies. The proceeds go to the Arkansas Times Investigative Reporting Fund . This month, we met at the Copper Grill to hear from Skip Rutherford, Dean Emeritus of the Clinton School of Public Service and founder...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week LRSD Superintendent Jermall Wright resigns https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/08/15/lrsd-superintendent-jermall-wright-resigns Wronging Wright a huge mistake for LRSD https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/08/18/wronging-wright-a-huge-mistake-for-lrsd LRSD board hears from the public on Wright’s resignation letter, takes no action https://arktimes...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week: AG confirms no Chinese or communist ties in land purchased by Walmart supplier https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/08/13/ag-confirms-no-chinese-or-communist-ties-in-land-purchased-by-walmart-supplier Marijuana and casino petitioner groups agree with abortion petitioners: Key argument from attorney general is wrong https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week: South Arkansas landowners, lithium extractors clash over royalty rates https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/08/07/south-arkansas-landowners-lithium-extractors-clash-over-royalty-rates Walmart supplier under investigation after state officials suggest possible Chinese ties https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/08/07/walmart-supplier-under-investiga...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week: LRPD is asking for access to home security cameras to fight crime https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/07/29/lrpd-is-asking-for-access-to-home-security-cameras-to-fight-crime Little Rock will again vote on a one-cent sales tax in November https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/07/30/little-rock-will-again-vote-on-a-one-cent-sales-tax-in-november Li...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week: Ark. Supreme Court orders secretary of state to count some abortion petition signatures https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/07/23/ark-supreme-court-orders-secretary-of-state-to-count-some-abortion-petition-signatures State Supreme Court won’t dismiss abortion petitioners’ lawsuit, for now https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/07/26/state-supreme-...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week: Abortion advocates sue secretary of state over rejection of amendment https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/07/16/abortion-advocates-sue-secretary-of-state-over-rejection-of-amendment Little Rock City Board accepts Downtown Master Plan, plans July 30 tax vote https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/07/16/little-rock-city-board-accepts-downtown-master...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week: Repro rights supporters cheer a milestone in push to put abortion on the ballot: https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/07/05/photos-repro-rights-supporters-cheer-a-milestone-in-push-to-put-abortion-on-the-ballot Secretary of state disqualifies Arkansas Abortion Amendment from ballot on technicality: https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/07/10/secre...

Send us Fan Mail Stories Discussed this week: POSTMORTEM: Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in presidential debate https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/06/27/liveblog-joe-biden-and-donald-trump-face-off-in-presidential-debate Why it’s a big deal that the Supreme Court struck down Chevron deference https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/06/28/why-its-a-big-deal-that-the-supreme-court-struck-d...

Send us Fan Mail Stories Discussed this week: Dashcam footage from ATF raid that killed LR airport director Malinowski released by prosecutor https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/06/19/dashcam-footage-from-atf-raid-that-killed-lr-airport-director-malinowski-released-by-prosecutor Bodycam footage of attorney’s arrest at bar association convention supports her version of events https://arktimes.c...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week: More tax cuts incoming: Governor calls special session next week https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/06/11/more-tax-cuts-incoming-governor-calls-special-session-next-week We can blame one of the clumsiest politicians in Arkansas history for next week’s special session https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/06/13/we-can-blame-one-of-the-clumsiest-p...

Send us Fan Mail Stories in this week's edition: Education vendor Solution Tree abandons ship on hefty state contract https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/06/03/education-vendor-solution-tree-abandons-ship-on-hefty-state-contract Government sues ExxonMobil 11 years after Mayflower oil spill https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/05/31/government-sues-exxonmobil-11-years-after-mayflower-oi...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed in this week's episode: Little Rock police say governor told them to block canvassers from public property https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/05/30/little-rock-police-say-governor-told-them-to-block-canvassers-from-public-property Arkansas education secretary withdraws Solution Tree contract after legislative opposition https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed in this episode: Attorney general threatens groups advertising abortion pills in Arkansas https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/05/21/tim-griffin-warns-against-advertising-abortion-pills-in-arkansas $15K in donations to Supreme Court Justice Barbara Webb come from industry her husband regulates https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/05/17/15k-in-donations-to-s...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week: Central High principal’s salary adjustment to close a gender pay gap up for approval Thursday https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/05/15/central-high-principals-salary-adjustment-to-close-a-gender-pay-gap-up-for-approval-thursday Glitch sends out contract renewals to all LRSD employees, even the ones losing their jobs https://arktimes.com/arkansas-b...

Send us Fan Mail Stories discussed this week include: Judge partly sides with plaintiffs suing to stop Arkansas’s ban on ‘critical race theory,’ ‘indoctrination’ https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/05/07/judge-partly-sides-with-plaintiffs-suing-to-stop-arkansass-ban-on-critical-race-theory-indoctrination Judge hears arguments in lawsuit over LEARNS ban on ‘indoctrination,’ ‘critical race theor...

Send us Fan Mail On this week's show: More on the Legislature's stingy 2025 budget, a pair of new bitcoin mining laws are signed by the governor, the state makes it harder to register to vote, and Attorney General Tim Griffin sues to keep the gun show loophole open. Benji, Austin and Dave Ramsey have the details. Hester reelected as President of Senate as Legislature wraps up fiscal sess...

Send us Fan Mail This week, in lieu of our regular weekly news roundup, we're sharing something special — a speech by Arkansas Times editor emeritus Max Brantley on the sorry state of politics and journalism in our state. Beginning in November 2023, the Arkansas Times started a luncheon speaker series that covers current events in Arkansas and serves as a fundraiser for our reporting efforts....

Send us Fan Mail This week: We say a bittersweet farewell to Arkansas Times city reporter extraordinaire Mary Hennigan, but not before one last update on Little Rock news. And, Matt Campbell answers everything you want to know about the #lecterngate audit and the governor's response. Stories discussed in this edition: Little Rock city manager hopefuls include Sen. Fred Love, acting manager Em...

Send us Fan Mail Arkansas Times listeners, we need your feedback! What do you like about the podcast? What do you hate? What can we improve? Email us with your thoughts, please, at podcasts@arktimes.com . This week, Dave Ramsey and Benji preview the fiscal session, the governor's meager budget and the legislative fight over crypto mining; and, Omaya talks with Rhett Brinkley about John Calipa...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Benji and Mary Hennigan discuss the latest in the case of Bryan Malinowski, who was posthumously awarded a $24,000 bonus by the Little Rock airport commission, as well as several actions taken by the city board of directors at a Tuesday meeting. Then, Benji and Austin Gelder talk about the latest in a new lawsuit over a provision in Arkansas LEARNS. Finally, Benji talks...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Benji and Matt Campbell discuss Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins' reality show TV (coming soon to Netflix!), the latest on the long-awaited #lecterngate audit and why you shouldn't accept Arkansas's projections for April 8 eclipse tourism at face value. Plus, Austin fills us in on a GOP primary runoff in Hope that's turning some southwest Arkansas...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Benji and Mary review the big news of the week — the shooting of Little Rock airport director Bryan Malinowski on Tuesday by federal agents as they attempted to execute a search warrant related to illegal gun sales. Then, reporter Debra Hale-Shelton discusses two stories she's reported this week: an ominous new effort to intimidate public libraries and Asa Hutchins...

Send us Fan Mail Show Notes: The queen’s gambit: Gov. Sanders and Co play political games with overcrowded prisons https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/02/28/the-queens-gambit-gov-sanders-and-co-play-political-games-with-overcrowded-prisons?fbclid=IwAR2FFU6Gw9ldB0JxOij_e81FprTrW3fL2QwkzkHeI_i8aFYkRFzBh-LFB9c Legislature OKs ’emergency’ rule limiting gender options on state IDs, dodges public co...

Send us Fan Mail Show Notes: Little Rock Zoo welcomes new baby orangutan https://arktimes.com/news/2024/02/26/little-rock-zoo-welcomes-new-baby-orangutan We dig it! Construction slated for Little Rock’s Southeast Trail https://arktimes.com/news/2024/03/06/we-dig-it-construction-slated-for-little-rocks-southeast-trail Little Rock’s city boardroom still under construction, April return hopeful https...