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More than 400,000 people live in poverty in Arkansas, according to the Center for American Progress. (W.Scott McGill/AdobeStock)<br />

'Day on the Hill' in Arkansas calls for investment in families

Family advocates are at the State Capital for a "Day on the Hill" rally today, to voice their concerns to lawmakers about issues affecting Arkansans' …

In 2022, more than 1.7 million Arkansas citizens reported being registered to vote, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State website. (Krakenimages.com/AdobeStock)

Arkansans voters younger than 45 may change Natural State's politics

The youngest Arkansas voters could end up shifting the political landscape of the state and in the not-too-distant future. New data from the …

A person who is blind or has a qualifying disability who applies for SSI may get special services to help them work. These services may include counseling, job training, and help in finding work.<br />(Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

SSA Expands Outreach for SSI Benefits to Rural Communities

The Social Security Administration has taken a proactive step to bridge the gap between critical financial assistance and the people who may be eligib…

In 2024, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will launch the first-ever U.S.-based Holocaust education research center. (AndriiKoval/AdobeStock)

Arkansas Gets Serious About Fighting Antisemitism

Arkansas, like many other states, has not been immune to the recent wave of antisemitic acts and rhetoric, and the state is fighting back through …

A new report revealed a steady decline of enrollment and completion among Black learners across all sectors of higher education since 2011, threatening decades of economic gains and the vitality of Black families. (Daniel Ernst/AdobeStock)

Arkansas College Works to Retain Black Students In Higher Ed

A new report from the Lumina Foundation called "Level Up" report showed a steady decrease in enrollment and completion rates among Black students nati…

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation launched the

National Day of Racial Healing Means Weeklong Events for AR

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s holiday, and tomorrow is the seventh annual National Day of Racial Healing. It's a call to action for racial …

The Sales and Use tax in the Natural State has stayed the same, at 6.5%, since 2013, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. (Zimmytws/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Analysis: The Longer-Term Effects of AR's Lower Tax Rates

Arkansans will owe the state fewer tax dollars this year, due to tax cuts that have just gone into effect. The General Assembly met for some special …

The Sentencing Project report reveals more than 3,000 Latinos who are American citizens are disenfranchised from voting in Arkansas due to a felony conviction. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: More than 81,000 Arkansans Can't Vote Due to Felony Convictions

Early voting is underway in Arkansas, but thousands of people here will not be able to vote in the midterms due to a past felony conviction. …

In Arkansas, election officials will request that voters provide an approved form of ID. (Annap/AdobeStock)

Arkansans Urged to Register on National Voter Registration Day

Ahead of the general election on November 8, there's an urgent push for voter registration in Arkansas. In 2020, 83% of Arkansas citizens reported …

The government is allowing all federal loan repayments to count toward PSLF requirements, regardless of the payment plan, for those who have applied to the program before Oct. 31, 2022. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

AR Group Touts Benefits of Federal Student-Loan Forgiveness

A report from the Center for Responsible Lending says women with student loans to repay were hit hard by the pandemic. An Arkansas nonprofit wants …

The Arkansas MLK Commission also hosts a King Holiday Day of Impact on Mon., Jan. 17, at the Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock. (Adobe Stock)

MLK Day Caravan in AR to Focus on Inclusivity, Voting Rights

Today, activists in Little Rock host a "drive-through" interfaith prayer breakfast on Martin Luther King Junior Day, to honor the legacy of the civil-…

There is already some vocal disagreement about the Arkansas Legislature's new congressional-district map, which splits the Little Rock area between three of the four districts. (Adobe Stock)

AR Group Petitioning to Overturn Congressional Redistricting Map

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- A voting-rights coalition is pushing to overturn Arkansas' new congressional maps approved by the state Legislature this month…

Data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy show President Joe Biden's proposed tax changes would affect fewer than 1% of taxpayers nationwide. (stanciuc/Adobe Stock)

Most Rural Voters Want to See Tax Hikes for Wealthy, Corporations

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The latest poll by Americans for Tax Fairness finds rural voters overwhelmingly support the idea of corporations and the wealthy …

A 2012 investigation by ProPublica found some tax-exempt groups underreported their political activities to the Internal Revenue Service. (Wikimedia Commons)

AR Bill Tightens Rules on Nonprofits' Donor Disclosure

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A new bill signed into law in Arkansas strengthens privacy rules for people who donate to charitable causes. Critics of so-…

According to the CDC, chronic diseases cost the U.S. health-care system an estimated $214 billion per year and $138 billion in lost job productivity. (Adobe Stock)

Racial Disparities in Chronic Disease Persist in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Black and Brown Arkansans continue to have higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension…

Food insecurity and child hunger both have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic across the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Child Hunger Climbs in Rural AR, as Groups Work to Deliver Food Boxes

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Child hunger is on the rise across Arkansas, and advocates warn families are struggling to access resources in communities far …

There are more than 1.5 million registered voters in Arkansas. (Adobe Stock)

Ballot Info Available as Early Voting Begins in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Early voting in Arkansas begins on Monday and runs through November 2. Residents should check with their local county clerk's …

More than one-fifth of Arkansas children live in poverty, and 14% of households report sometimes not having enough to eat.<br />

AR Survey Finds Declines in Poverty Reversed By Pandemic

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas's poverty rate has trended downward over the past few years, but since the pandemic there's been a sharp rise in …

A growing body of racial and ethnic data reveal COVID-19's severe impact on low-income and minority communities. (Adobe Stock)

Racial Health Inequities Compounded by COVID-19

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting black and brown communities. Looking at states that have released coronavirus data by …

Coronavirus testing and treatment in Norway is free and widely available. (Adobe Stock)

The Nordic Secret to Battling Coronavirus: Trust

By George Lakey for Yes! Media Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Public News Service/Arkansas News Service Reporting for the YES! Magazine …

Dr. Gordon Morgan, the first African-American professor hired by the University of Arkansas, passed away in December at age 88. (Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries)

Collection Highlights Life of U. of Arkansas' First Black Professor

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A new, special collection documents the work of Dr. Gordon Morgan, the first African-American professor hired by the University …

Pediatrician Dr. Crystal Little examines an inquisitive patient at one of Mainline Health Systems' 17 centers in southeast Arkansas. (MainlineHealth)<br /><br />

AR Rural Health Centers Seek Stable Funding from Congress

DERMOTT, Ark. – This is National Rural Health Day, and rural health centers in Arkansas and across the country are requesting that Congress …

The number of children without health care insurance has increased since 2016, both in Arkansas and across the U.S. (JPC_Prod/AdobeStock)

Rate of Children Without Health Insurance Increases in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – After almost a decade of steady improvement, the number of children without health care insurance in Arkansas and across …

School lunch programs are a part of the federal anti-hunger effort, but the meals often are not available during summer months. (USDA)

Arkansas Remains Among Worst States for Food Insecurity

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Even though the national rate of food insecurity is dropping, Arkansas still has the second highest rate of hunger in the …

Backers say an initiative on the midterm election ballot to raise the minimum wage in Arkansas would benefit the entire state economy. (Pixabay)

Arkansans to Vote on Proposed Minimum-Wage Increase

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — For the second time in five years, Arkansas voters will get the chance to increase the state's minimum wage on Election Day…

If the Trump administration ends the Flores Amendment, undocumented immigrants in Arkansas will have less protections, at a time when many are threatened with detainment and deportation. (Twenty20)

Executive Order Threatens ‘Flores’ Protections for Undocumented Children

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — At least three immigrant detention sites are operating in Arkansas, although it is not known how many immigrants are being …

Arkansas was the latest state to experience ICE raids in recent months, with Tennessee and Ohio seeing similar raids and detainment of people suspecting of having illegal status. (Twenty20)

Arkansas Factory Raid Disrupts Communities, Immigrant Advocates Say

ALMA, Ark. – Several families in Arkansas this week are living without loved who face charges of immigration violations after a raid in a …

Pregnant women report a lack of medical care and use of shackles while in ICE custody in recent months. (Twenty20)

Calls in Congress for Investigation into Women Miscarrying in ICE Custody

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – This week, members of Congress will continue their push for an investigation into the detention of pregnant women in …

Advocates say children with a parent in jail can lose touch with them when they only get to visit with them monthly or less often. (Wikimedia Commons)

Advocates Seek Help, Support for AR Children of Jailed Parents

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A group of children's advocates has begun talking with legislators to find ways to keep Arkansas families together when a …

Experts say low-income working families could be hit the hardest if Arkansas lowers the income requirements for the state's Medicaid program. (Moore/GettyImages)

Arkansas Plan Would Cut Thousands from Medicaid Program

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas health officials are proposing significant cuts to the state's Medicaid program by rolling back the income requirements …

Groups that oppose the death penalty are critical of Arkansas' plan to execute eight prisoners in 11 days in April. (Wikimedia)

Death-Penalty Opponents Criticize Arkansas Execution Plans

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Despite a decline in states' use of the death penalty in recent years, Arkansas officials are planning an unprecedented string of …

Thousands of Arkansas residents could lose out on Medicaid coverage if state lawmakers approve a freeze on new enrollments. (AMRImage/iStockphoto)

Arkansas Lawmakers Seek to Freeze Medicaid Enrollments

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – With an estimated 330,000 people enrolled in Arkansas's expanded Medicaid program, state lawmakers are now taking steps to …

A new study shows that African-Americans in Arkansas are behind residents of many other states when it comes to economic and social equality. (iStockphoto)

Study: Racial Progress Slow for African-Americans in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Progress toward economic and social equality for African-Americans in Arkansas lags behind many other states, according to a new …

A study finds African-American voters and Latino voters waited, on average, up to twice as long at the polls as white voters in the last election. (PMoore/iStockphoto)

Study Shows Communities of Color Wait Longer to Vote

FAYETTEVILLE Ark, – As the presidential race tightens, voter turnout could play a decisive role in the outcome and a new study finds that some …

Hundreds of people gathered in Little Rock this week to meet and exchange ideas during Arkansas Peace Week activities. (Arkansas Coalition for Peace and Justice)

Groups "Wage Peace" During Arkansas Peace Week

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – With music, group discussions and hands-on events, organizers of Arkansas Peace Week say they are promoting "a path to …

A new study provides stark evidence on how money influences U.S. elections. (Dodgerton Skillhause/Morguefile)

Study: Money Means Votes in American Elections

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – As public outrage over the influence of money in politics continues to grow – seen in both the Bernie Sanders and …

In Arkansas, African Americans' median incomes are 42 percent lower than whites'. (Brandis Griffith Friedman)

Big Strides Needed to Even the Wealth Divide

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - If current trends continue, a new study says it would take the average African-American family 228 years to accumulate the amount …

More children around the U.S. are getting healthcare coverage, and the rate in Arkansas improved significantly in the last reporting period. Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Uninsured Children Numbers Drop in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Thanks to expanded health coverage opportunities, there are 5,000 more Arkansas children with health insurance. A new …

The trial of coal baron Don Blankenship comes at a time of rising anger against CEOs who break the law, legal observers say. Brian Hayden/Wikimedia

Trial of Coal Baron Spotlights Patterns In CEO Prosecutions

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Coal baron Don Blankenship's high-profile trial is coming at a time of anger against corporate wrongdoing - but experts say that …

To break the cycle of poverty, a new Annie E. Casey Foundation report recommends providing tools for better jobs for parents, while also providing access to quality early childhood education. Credit: U.S. Dept. of Education.

New Anti-Poverty Toolkit Offers Dual Treatments

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Thousands of Arkansas children are growing up in low-income households. At least 119,000 households with young children are …

PHOTO: It may appear that many popular websites are loading slowly today. It's a symbolic protest of government plans to create online

Alert: Web Pages May Load Slowly Today

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Internet may seem to be slowing down today - but it's actually part of an effort to prevent a future where, according to …

GRAPHIC: A poster calls for opponents of the FCC's proposed rule change on net neutrality to rally at the agency today. Credit: Free Press.

"Marginal Voices" to Speak Loudly at FCC Today

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Internet freedom advocates are calling for a day of action today at the Federal Communications Commission. Internet fast …

GRAPHIC: The Arkansas Secretary of State's office lists the kinds of IDs that a voter must have to vote. Graphic from the Secretary of State's website.

Possible Problems at Polls From Voter ID Law

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Confusion caused by Arkansas's voter ID law might mean serious problems as folks go to the polls for the primary. Last …

PHOTO: FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, seen here (top left) at a meeting in January in Oakland, Calif., has signaled his support for rules that may threaten �net neutrality� by allowing broadband service to some companies at higher speed for higher prices. Critics say that's bad news for rural areas already struggling to get decent Internet connections. Photo credit: Mark Scheerer.

Internet 'Fast Lanes' Bad News For Rural Consumers

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has signaled his intention to allow broadband Internet service providers to charge content providers …

GRAPHIC: According to a new poll performed for AARP, many older Arkansans report age discrimination. Graphic courtesy AARP.

AR Survey: Age Discrimination a Problem; More Protection Needed

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Older Arkansans overwhelmingly think age discrimination is a problem, an AARP survey shows, and almost all of them favor more …

Americans for Prosperity, funded by oil and chemical billionaires Charles and David Koch, is campaigning aggressively in Arkansas, but the group's own positions are less well known. PHOTO courtesy of the Center For Public Integrity.

Who Are Americans For Prosperity?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A shadowy billionaires' political organization is campaigning heavily in Arkansas. But what does Americans For Prosperity …

$PHOTO: Construction and hydraulic fracturing are industries where workers are exposed to silica dust. OSHA is proposing rules to minimize exposure, since the dust is linked to chronic respiratory illnesses and deaths. Photo credit: New Jersey Dept. of Health$

OSHA Proposes Dust Rule to Protect Worker Health

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently wrapped up nearly three weeks of hearings on a proposed …

PHOTO: Swing vote Justice Anthony Kennedy swung in favor of

Another Supreme Court Decision Favors Big Spenders

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Another important campaign finance decision handed down Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court is provoking both celebration …

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AR: Social Justice