Free Arkansas

Welcome back to your trusted Arkansas news roundup — no spin, no fluff, just the headlines that matter across the Natural State. In today’s episode: 🩺 Medicaid Mess — Over 145,000 Arkansans on Medicaid don’t have a primary care doctor. Lawmakers are pushing for urgent care access and system reforms. 🌾 Foreign Land Ownership Crackdown — A Chinese-owned ag facility in Craighead County has been sol...

In this episode of Free Arkansas, host Andy McNeill sits down with Chris Martinovich, founder of Ozark United — a startup professional soccer club working to bring USL Championship-level play to Northwest Arkansas. From economic impact to community pride, Chris lays out his vision for what a soccer team (and entertainment district around it) could mean for the region — and how it’s already attract...

Today’s episode dives into some of the biggest stories unfolding across the Natural State:🔋 Lithium Royalty Showdown in Magnolia🧃 SNAP Junk Food Ban Still Pending🦃 Game & Fish Restores Veteran Hunt + Eyes Big Changes🗳️ 2026 Campaigns Begin⚾ Razorbacks Host Regional🌩️ Remembering Ed Buckner📍Stay informed with Free News Arkansas — no fluff, no spin, just what matters.🎧 Subscribe for more d...

Today’s headlines spotlight Arkansas stories that matter — from prison security to dispensary regulations and more. ✈️ Proposed federal budget changes could impact flights at four small Arkansas airports 🌿 State considers new rules for relocating medical marijuana dispensaries 🚨 A convicted murderer escapes from an Arkansas prison — and he's still on the run 👨‍💻 Former school tech director...

Straightforward Arkansas news. No spin. Just facts. In today’s episode: 💰 Revenue Forecast Drops – Arkansas lowers its surplus projections, but Finance Secretary Jim Hudson says agriculture could thrive with the right trade deals. Plus, where things stand on a potential tax cut special session. 📜 FOIA Lawsuit Back On – The Arkansas Supreme Court revives AG Tim Griffin’s open government lawsuit a...

🎙️ May 21, 2025 — Arkansas News Roundup Door-kicking judges, tornadoes with no warning, and a rapper behind bars in Pope County. We’ve got all that — plus Medicaid debates, turkey season highs, and who's running for Congress in 2026. This is your no-spin, no-fluff Arkansas news update — direct from the ground, not the media echo chamber.

Brad Henry has spent his career on the front lines of Arkansas’s economy — from the Arkansas Development Finance Authority to co-founding one of the state’s only private investment firms. In this episode, he joins hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield to talk about why capital formation matters, where Arkansas ranks in economic health, and how to build a better future for every corner of the s...

Gary Vernon on Arkansas’ Trail Revolution🎙️ Free Arkansas Podcast – May 16, 2025Gary Vernon helped turn a small bike trail experiment into a $150+ million-a-year economic engine. In this episode, he joins Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield to talk about how mountain biking changed Bentonville — and how it could change the rest of Arkansas too.🛤️ What You'll Hear:The Bentonville Origin Story —...

Mike Poore, longtime Arkansas educator and now EVP at Education Partners, joins Free Arkansas for a deep dive into the current state of K-12 education. We explore how Arkansas has made progress in national rankings, what’s working (like early literacy initiatives), and where gaps remain—from teacher recruitment to school safety. Poore offers thoughtful insights on how policy, business partnerships...

📍 Free Arkansas Podcast – Andy McNeill & Rep. Matt Duffield This week’s episode dives deep into a surprising Arkansas contradiction: how can a state rank among the highest in both childhood food insecurity and obesity ? 🧃 Andy checks in from Las Vegas (at the $9 billion Fontainebleau!) while Matt brings the humor with his infamous restaurant broom theory and a long-lost legislative idea: the...

In this episode of Free Arkansas, hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield sit down with Rep. Aaron Pilkington to unpack the highs, lows, and headline-grabbing moments from Arkansas' recently wrapped-up legislative session. 🇺🇸We dive into:👶 Pilkington's Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies legislation and what it means for maternal care in Arkansas🌿 The vetoed marijuana bill—what was in it, and...

Education guru Rep. Bruce Cozart joins the show to break down how Arkansas schools are funded, why the current formula is outdated, and what can be done to better serve students statewide.💸 School Funding in Arkansas:Cozart explains that Arkansas schools are funded through an "adequacy" formula—$8,100 per student annually. Local millage rates vary widely, impacting teacher pay and resou...

In this episode of the Free Arkansas podcast, hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield are joined by Rep. Bart Schulz to discuss key topics affecting Arkansas. Here's what they cover:🌪️ Tornado Relief: A deep dive into the aftermath of the recent tornadoes and ongoing disaster relief efforts🚮 Waste Tire Program: An update on the state’s waste tire program and its impact💰 Homestead Tax Credi...

Free Arkansas hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield talk AI takeovers, the Department of Education, hefty consulting fees and more in this Spring Break podcast.

In this episode of Free Arkansas , Andy McNeill is joined by Representative Matt Duffield, Sheriff Shane Jones, and Judge Ben Cross to discuss the growing public safety challenges facing Pope County. With an increasing population and outdated facilities, the county is struggling to keep up with demand. The group explores the overcrowding in local jails, the strain on the 911 system, and the public...

In this episode of Free Arkansas, hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield sit down with Senator Bryan King for a deep dive into some of the most pressing issues facing Arkansas. They discuss the state’s high incarceration rate, the proposed prison in Franklin County, and the broader implications of Arkansas' approach to criminal justice. The conversation also covers the push to move primary elec...

In this first podcast episode, Andy McNeill and Matt Duffield explore a variety of topics centered around free thinking, critical ideas, and the importance of communication in politics. They discuss current events, local achievements in sports, and delve into the contentious issue of fluoride in the water supply, examining the implications of lobbying and public perception on health policies. The...