Column

Trey Steimel, State Representative, District 2 As we move through the 2025 Regular Session, the Arkansas House of Representatives has passed several bills that will impact our communities, focusing on education, healthcare, and food security. Here’s a summary of the key measures approved during the fifth week of the session: SB59: An Act to Provide Each Public School Student with Breakfast at No Cost This bill ensures that every student in Arkansas…

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Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Governor Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced last week her higher education reform bill, Arkansas ACCESS. The legislation’s lead sponsors are Senator Jonathan Dismang (District 18) and former Speaker, Representative Matthew Shepherd (District 97). “After months of work with stakeholders around the state, I’m proud to announce Arkansas ACCESS, a targeted overhaul of our higher education system that will help every Arkansan get the education they need and prepared…

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 George Caudle, Concerned Citizens of the Ozarks The wind industry is working hard to persuade Arkansans of the benefits of wind energy.  Onshore industrial wind turbines are oil cans on 700 foot high lightning rods. Wind “farms” require massive deforestation and can damage underground aquifer water systems that rural Arkansans rely on for their farms and homes. Last year, three turbines collapsed at the Ameren Missouri wind farm in less than six…

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Trey Steimel, District Two State Representative The Arkansas House has wrapped up the second week of the 2025 Regular Session, during which several bills were passed. HB1133, allows the Northwest Technical Institute to appoint a president with an industry background instead of requiring an educational background. Another measure, HB1006, re-designates the 14th Judicial District as a Division A Judicial District. The House also approved legislation to separate the offices of sheriff and…

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By Leslie Weirich, Nationally renowned suicide prevention speaker and author .  I learned that lesson shortly after my doorbell rang at 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2016. My 20-year-old son, Austin, had died by suicide. After decades reciprocating his infectious smile and admiring his achievements on the football field and in the classroom, I had to digest in an instant that I would never see him again.  Every single day, I wish…

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