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Trey Steimel, Arkansas State Representative On the 5th week of the Regular Session, the House passed legislation ad-dressing sub-stance abuse, teen pregnancy, public assistance, and transportation. The House passed HB1144. This bill creates the Arkansas Family Treatment Specialty Court Act. The bill states that there is a critical need for judicial intervention and support for effective treatment programs to reduce the number of family separations due to substance use disorders and mental…

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From the Saline County Courier We love the state of Arkansas. It’s full of dichotomous beauty. Like the Ozark Mountains and the Mississippi Delta, both are beautiful for different reasons. With talent ranging from Al Green to Johnny Cash to Justin Moore, Arkansas’s musicality is as wide ranging and diverse as its people. We’re also a state of firsts, some good and some bad. Central High School was the first high school…

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Trey Steimel, Arkansas State Representative On the 5th week of the Regular Session, the House passed legislation addressing substance abuse, teen pregnancy, public assistance, and transportation. The House passed HB1144. This bill creates the Arkansas Family Treatment Specialty Court Act. The bill states that there is a critical need for judicial intervention and support for effective treatment programs to reduce the number of family separations due to substance use disorders and mental…

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Trey Steimel, Arkansas State Representative In the 4th week of the 2023 Regular Session, the House passed bills impacting taxes, health-care, education, and criminal justice. Tax related bills that passed the House this week included HB1026and HB1143. HB1026 prohibits local governments from enacting an income tax. HB1143 defines “homestead” for purposes of property tax exemption for disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and minor dependent children of disabled veterans. The House also passed HB1127which…

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By Mel Coleman, CEO of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Since 1939, North Arkansas Electric Cooperative has provided our members with reliable and affordable electricity. That mission is getting more difficult due to many factors that, sadly, are outside of our distribution co-op’s control. I’m talking about higher fuel costs caused by increased demand for natural gas, which is a publicly traded commodity; coal plant closures due to governmental regulations and litigation from…

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