Daily Newscast for Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Federal judge strikes down Arkansas laws restricting ballot initiative process

Former member of the Genesee County Board of Canvassers and republican, Michelle Voorheis, points to the official Manual for Boards of County Canvassers. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1855b66/2147483647/strip/false/crop/6720x4480+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fimg%2F2022%2F05%2F20%2F04262022_genesee_cromie_31_slide-9aebd5f782abd105f397228d72f21f320345b31c.jpg]Former member of the Genesee County Board of Canvassers and republican, Michelle Voorheis, points to the official Manual for Boards of County Canvassers.(Elaine Cromie for NPR) A federal judge has struck down several Arkansas laws restricting the ballot initiative process. U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks said in a ruling Tuesday [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/63/c8/78fa89d74611896df0aab47e8755/02913062990.pdf] that laws making canvassing more difficult are unconstitutional. In Arkansas, anyone can get a ballot title approved by the attorney general, then collect tens of thousands of signatures to have the measure put on the ballot. Bills made law over the last few legislative sessions make the process harder. Opponents say they make it almost impossible. Canvassers were required to read lengthy ballot titles out loud, recite a message about petition fraud, verify identification and disclose their own personal information to collect one signature. Opponents of the laws said the extra steps drained time and resources from canvassers. In a 62-page ruling, Brooks said the rules violated canvassers' rights. He was skeptical that the laws prevent petition fraud, saying: “There is no evidence in the record connecting any canvassers (with or without a criminal history) to any crimes against petitioners.” He also said the secretary of state goes through a “robust” review of the signatures. The suit was brought by the League of Women Voters of Arkansas and Save AR Democracy, two groups working to put amendments on the November ballot. Brooks did not rule on other controversies in the law, including claims about vagueness. He dismissed a separate part of the lawsuit against a requirement raising the number of counties required to collect signatures from 15 to 50, saying it did not violate the First Amendment. In February, a different judge struck that law down for constitutional reasons. The case will go to trial in late July. In a statement, a spokesman for Attorney General Tim Griffin said “We will continue our vigorous defense of the State at trial later this month.”

Daily Newscast for Wednesday, July 1, 2026

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec71a3e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1485x1485+0+0/resize/528x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F58%2F541e6e6741a9bf41936eb513de74%2Fnewscast-square.png] Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Wednesday, July 1, 2026. - Arkansas State Police say they’ve arrested a Hot Springs man who allegedly impersonated a law enforcement officer - A candidate seeking a seat on the Little Rock City Board of Directors is facing new scrutiny over his residence - A new study finds the achievement gap between higher- and lower-performing students has been widening significantly over the past two decades - The City of North Little Rock has named a new police chief - A renowned opera singer with ties to Arkansas has died - Arkansas is under a heat advisory through at least July third, and cooling centers are now open across central Arkansas Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Daily Newscast for Tuesday, June 30, 2026

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec71a3e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1485x1485+0+0/resize/528x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F58%2F541e6e6741a9bf41936eb513de74%2Fnewscast-square.png] Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Tuesday, June 30, 2026. - A new lawsuit alleges a cover-up of sexual abuse within the central Arkansas faction of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Starting Wednesday, Arkansans' SNAP recipients cannot use their benefits to buy candy, soft drinks, and other items considered unhealthy by DHS - Arkansas is training several new physicians each year, but many are leaving the state once their training is complete - Entergy Arkansas is seeking to intervene in a lawsuit seeking more information about a planned data center in eastern Arkansas - An Arkansas judge says the state Supreme Court must weigh in if the City of Little Rock wants to keep licensed gun owners from bringing firearms to City Hall - Pulaski County’s head attorney is stepping down - A second candidate has announced their bid to fill a vacancy in the Arkansas Senate Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Daily Newscast for Monday, June 29, 2026

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec71a3e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1485x1485+0+0/resize/528x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F58%2F541e6e6741a9bf41936eb513de74%2Fnewscast-square.png] Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Monday, June 29, 2026. - Physicians, researchers and behavioral health professionals from across Arkansas gathered at UA Little Rock last week to discuss youth substance use disorder last week - Two of Arkansas’ gubernatorial candidates met for a debate on their policy visions for the state on Friday night - Data Centers planned in the Natural State are set to receive generous tax abatements that could eliminate more than half of their potential revenue - Beginning July 1, changes to Arkansas' Medicaid and SNAP programs will begin - Arkansas officials say nearly 5,000 teachers will get merit bonuses this year Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.

Daily Newscast for Friday, June 26, 2026

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec71a3e/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1485x1485+0+0/resize/528x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F58%2F541e6e6741a9bf41936eb513de74%2Fnewscast-square.png] Here's the latest local and regional news from the Little Rock Public Radio Newsroom for Friday, June 26, 2026. - The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is taking steps to prevent the New World screwworm from entering Arkansas - Arkansas’ ban on using public food assistance benefits on so-called junk food goes into effect next week - The Pulaski County Planning Board heard continuing discussion over the construction of a proposed data center on Thursday - Two former East Arkansas police officers are appealing the state’s decision to bar them from working in law enforcement - Jacksonville school officials are taking action against an employee of the city’s high school for alleged sexual misconduct - A southeast Arkansas bookkeeper has been arrested for allegedly embezzling public funds - The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is planning to take over operations of a central Arkansas hospital - The Arkansas Folklife Festival is this weekend at Riverfront Park in North Little Rock Listen to live newscasts from Little Rock Public Radio each weekday during NPR's Morning Edition from 6 to 9 a.m., during All Things Considered from 4 to 6 p.m., and online at littlerockpublicradio.org.