Latest Arkansas Headlines
All the headlines from our Arkansas Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Number of Arkansas Storm-Related Fatalities Rises to 5
May 2 2017 // A north-central Arkansas volunteer fire chief died after being struck by a vehicle early on April 30 while working as heavy thunderstorms moved through, one of five confirmed storm-related fatalities in the state, an...
Storms Leave Trail of Destruction in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
May 1 2017 // Severe storms including tornadoes have swept through several small towns in East Texas, leaving a trail of overturned vehicles, mangled trees and damaged homes. Authorities believe as many as five people were killed and...
NFP Acquires Arkansas’ Thomas Insurance Agency
Apr 10 2017 // National insurance broker and consultant, NFP, has acquired The Thomas Insurance Agency of Benton Inc. in Benton, Ark. Thomas Insurance Agency is a property/casualty insurance broker that provides commercial and personal...
Arkansas Health Plan Panel Recommends Limits on Coverage for Opioids
Apr 6 2017 // An Arkansas health panel has recommended limiting coverage of opioid prescriptions in health plans that cover tens of thousands of state employees and teachers. The recommendations, which are aimed at curbing drug...
Analysis: Uncertainty Helps Keep Arkansas Medicaid Expansion Alive
Apr 3 2017 // One of the biggest accomplishments of the Arkansas legislative session that’s wrapping up is what didn’t happen. For the first time since the program was created four years ago, there was little to no drama...
USGS Forecasts Lower Overall Seismic Hazard for Oklahoma in 2017
Apr 3 2017 // Oklahoma experienced fewer earthquakes last year compared with 2015 and a recent study of human-induced earthquakes predicts another year of reduced seismicity for the state in 2017. The U.S. Geological Survey warns,...
USGS Lowers Seismic Hazard Forecast for Oklahoma in 2017
Mar 31 2017 // Oklahoma experienced fewer earthquakes last year compared with 2015 and a recent study of human-induced earthquakes predicts another year of reduced seismicity for the state in 2017. The U.S. Geological Survey warns,...
Shell Bill Filed in Arkansas Would Allow Alternate Workers’ Comp System
Mar 29 2017 // An Arkansas state senator has filed a bill that would create an alternate system for benefits to injured workers. As yet, SB 653 by Sen. David J. Sanders contains no specifics beyond a statement of purpose, which is...
Little Rock, Arkansas, Now Offers DWI Sobriety Court Option
Mar 29 2017 // Little Rock, Ark., has started a sobriety court program that treats certain people charged with driving while intoxicated. The yearlong intensive program allows “hardcore DWI offenders” to choose that option...
New Arkansas Law Expands Where Concealed Guns Allowed
Mar 23 2017 // Arkansas’ governor has signed a sweeping gun rights measure into law that will allow concealed handguns at state colleges, some bars, government buildings and even the state Capitol. The measure approved by...
How Senate Republicans Are Split Over Obamacare Replacement Bill
Mar 21 2017 // The House is racing to find enough votes for its health-care bill this week, but even if it passes, prospects in the Senate have only darkened. More than enough Senate Republicans oppose the House bill to kill it —...
Hot Springs, Arkansas, Settles $300K Discrimination Lawsuit
Mar 16 2017 // The city of Hot Springs, Ark., has settled a $300,000 federal discrimination lawsuit filed by a former employee of the city’s solid waste department. The Sentinel-Record reports the settlement was reached on March...
Workers’ Comp Insurance Costs in Arkansas Going Down
Mar 13 2017 // Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr has approved a decrease in workers’ compensation cost of 8.4 percent in overall loss in the voluntary market and a 10.6 percent rate decrease in overall average assigned...
Best Upgrades Ratings of Arkansas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance
Mar 2 2017 // A.M. Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “a-” from “bbb+” of Farm Bureau Mutual...
Tornado-Spawning Storm System Killed 3 in Midwest, Moved Eastward
Mar 2 2017 // A spring-like storm system that killed at least three people as it spawned tornadoes and damaged dozens of homes in the central U.S. rumbled eastward on March 1, putting about 95 million people in its path, forecasters...
Arkansas House Passes Tort-Reform Amendment Capping Punitive Damages, Fees
Mar 1 2017 // The Arkansas House has approved a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ask voters to limit some attorney’s fees and punitive damages in lawsuits. The House voted 65-29 for the joint resolution and sent...
Oklahoma Bill Proposes Rules for Medical Marijuana
Feb 22 2017 // Oklahomans won’t vote until next year on whether to legalize medical marijuana, but a state lawmaker has already introduced legislation that would set the framework if sales of the drug are approved. State Rep. Eric...
Arkansas Bill Would Limit Attorneys’ Fees, Punitive Damages
Feb 16 2017 // An Arkansas Senate committee has advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would ask voters to limit some attorneys’ fees and punitive damages in court cases. The Senate State Agencies and Governmental...
Efforts to Limit Medical Pot Ads Approved by Arkansas House
Feb 15 2017 // The Arkansas House has approved legislation aimed at preventing kid-friendly advertising and packaging of medical marijuana, and may soon consider banning any pot ads altogether. The House approved by an 89-1 vote...
Arkansas Has Lowest Auto Insurance Rates in South Central Region
Feb 6 2017 // Arkansas has lower auto insurance rates than the neighboring states of Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, the state insurance department reported. The Arkansas Insurance Department says a study by the National Association of...
