AGP Executive Report

Overdose Prevention: PAYS Coalition and SEED Club marked International Overdose Awareness Day with proclamations signed by mayors and county judges in Baxter and Marion counties, formally naming Aug. 31, 2026 as a community priority. State Capitol & Local Spotlight: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named Helena-West Helena Arkansas’ “Capital for a Day” on Sept. 3, with details still to come on the itinerary. Road Safety Push: House Speaker Brian Evans will join ARDOT and state law enforcement Sept. 8 to launch “Just Move Over,” promoting Arkansas’ Move Over Law with public education materials. Housing Stability: Arkansas rental aid uncertainty is hitting Little Rock-area families after the end of rental assistance tied to a local loan fund’s shutdown and liquidation. Public Safety: Arkansas State Police reported a Rogers man accused of assaulting a trooper and fleeing after a traffic stop; he was arrested and charged. Cyber & Health Funding: Johnson Regional Medical Center received nearly $975,000 through the Rural Health Transformation Program for telehealth and cybersecurity modernization. Federal/Policy Watch: House Republicans unveiled a CFPB reform package that would shift the bureau to congressional appropriations and narrow its “abusive” practices authority. National Crime/Justice: A Level 3 sex offender was arrested in Sevier County after investigators found child sexual abuse material on an unreported phone.

Local Commemoration: Mountain Home will mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 with a 4 p.m. ceremony at Veterans Plaza, anchored by a 50-pound piece of Twin Towers steel brought to Baxter County for the 2021 event. Economic Development: Mountain Home Area Chamber CEO Dani Pugsley was elected to the Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives board for the 1st Congressional District. Banking Leadership: David Osborn, WestStar Bank CEO, was nominated to serve as the next treasurer of the American Bankers Association, with the election set for Oct. 27. Public Safety & Health: Sen. John Boozman says Arkansas overdose deaths fell in 2025 but warns fentanyl remains a threat, pointing to campus Narcan rescue kits at Arkansas State University. Elections Administration: Pulaski County election officials approved new polling locations and ballot styles for the Nov. 3 election, including moves in Maumelle and North Little Rock. Law Enforcement Incident: Arkansas State Police reported a traffic stop near Burdette that led to an alleged trooper assault, arrests, and charges after a driver resisted custody and passengers fled. Energy & Transparency: Records tied to Google’s West Memphis data center show a major deal with Entergy Arkansas, including Cypress Solar and transmission upgrades. Statewide Legal Snapshot: Arkansas Judiciary data shows very small counts of active lawyers in several counties, including 1 in Howard County and 4 in Chicot County.

Corrections Fight in Court: Gov. Sarah Sanders has appointed outside counsel to defend the Arkansas Board of Corrections in a key Wednesday hearing after prior requests for legal representation were denied, keeping the board’s constitutional challenge to 2023 public-safety laws in play. Election & Voting Rights: A court fight over Trump’s anti-mail voting push shows GOP attorney general support is thin—less than half signed on to defend the order, leaving Arkansas and other states notably absent from the latest filings. Air Pollution Legal Battle: Kentucky AG Russell Coleman and a coalition of Republican AGs ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling upholding stricter Biden-era EPA soot limits, arguing the rule is costly and politically driven. Energy & Jobs: Smackover Lithium signed a binding take-or-pay offtake agreement with LG Energy Solution for about 8,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually for 10 years, a major step toward financing and production for the South West Arkansas project. Local Governance & Public Safety Tech: Jonesboro is defending its Flock camera network and RTCC investment while other Arkansas cities pause or end similar surveillance programs amid privacy backlash. Public Health: Alpha-gal syndrome is spreading rapidly, with Arkansas cases nearly doubling in 2026 so far, spotlighting tick exposure risks. Federal Settlement: Walmart agreed to pay $50 million and tighten pharmacy controlled-substance oversight to resolve a federal opioid dispensing lawsuit. Politics on the Ballot: Arkansas voters will decide more than candidates in 2026, with ballot measures tied to voting access, abortion, and sports eligibility. Crime: West Memphis police say two people were killed in a shooting and a teen is wanted.

Election Rules: Mountain Home will let political yard signs go up starting Sept. 4, setting a 60-day limit before the Nov. 3 general election; signs up earlier can be removed without notice, and violations carry a $25–$100 fine paid by the property owner. Rural Health Funding: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced $149.3M in first-round Rural Health Transformation Program grants, with Arkansas expected to receive about $1B over five years to expand telehealth, specialty care, and rural health networks. U.S. Senate Campaign: Democratic challenger Hallie Shoffner met students at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, arguing the system is “rigged” on housing, wages, and student debt as she campaigns against Sen. Tom Cotton. Public Safety / Police Conduct: A dash-cam account describes an Arkansas State Police trooper punching and yanking a former UTC basketball player by his dreadlocks after a high-speed chase, renewing scrutiny of use-of-force. Community & Civic Life: Nevada County’s Prairie D’Ane Battlefield is seeking volunteers for a Sept. 25–26 cleanup ahead of 2026 Civil War Days.

Arkansas Politics & Government: A new debate over Flock license plate readers is heating up, with national backlash focused on how the cameras feed searchable databases and expand surveillance beyond the “public safety” pitch. Elections & Campaigns: A fresh look at Arkansas GOP strategy argues Republicans have long won by nationalizing campaigns around an unpopular president, but warns the approach could backfire if Trump’s approval keeps sliding. Law & Courts: A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments on immunity for Arkansas police officers tied to a wrongful conviction case, a reminder that accountability fights are moving through the courts. Public Safety: In Texarkana, police say a man fired a shot through a bar’s glass doors after being removed by security, with no injuries reported. Health Policy (Medicaid): Medicaid billing data show sharp local swings—Parkin ambulance/transport up to $159,642 (2024), Jonesboro outpatient PPS up 8.6%, and Clarksville surgery up 102%—highlighting where taxpayer health dollars are flowing. Local Life & Economy: Allegiant is adding nine new routes from Orlando Sanford, including Little Rock, signaling more regional travel options.

Federal Courts & Police Accountability: An 8th Circuit panel will hear arguments Sept. 23 in a wrongful-conviction case tied to Arkansas officers’ qualified immunity claims, involving Tina Jimerson and the estate of John Brown Jr., both exonerated after 26 years. Public Safety & Mental Health: Northwest Arkansas has seen a spate of murder-suicides and public suicides this year, while Arkansas Crisis Center leaders point to rising statewide demand for 988 services. Law Enforcement Use of Force: A viral video falsely claimed to show streamer Kai Cenat being assaulted by police; the footage actually depicts a Blytheville arrest involving an Arkansas State Police trooper and a passenger. Health Care Spending: New local Medicaid billing data show Arkadelphia’s payments for “Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare)” jumped to $56,783 in 2024, and Marianna billed $55 for Surgery services in 2024. Consumer/Business: Walmart will pay $50 million to settle a DOJ opioid lawsuit alleging unlawful dispensing, with no admission of liability. Local Government & Community: Arkansas Army National Guard soldiers returned from a D.C. mission supporting Metropolitan Police with patrols and emergency response. Sports & Culture: The Arkansas Travelers retire Dick Allen’s No. 6, marking the first franchise number officially retired.

College Football Week 0: Florida State opens its 2026 season with a big “buy game” vs. New Mexico State tonight, a rematch of sorts from a 1964 shutout and a tune-up before ACC play. Local Governance & Public Safety: The Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police backs “lawful, ethical and responsible” use of automated license plate readers like Flock, while noting communities have pushed back over privacy and trust. Civil Rights & Education: The U.S. Department of Education orders schools to stop race-based discipline practices, saying Title VI requires behavior-based rules. Arkansas Courts & Law: An Eighth Circuit panel upheld convictions for Arkansas rapper Bankroll Freddie, ruling his lyrics were properly used to show knowledge of drug and gun terms. State/Local Politics: Bull Shoals swore in a new councilman and moved to streamline volunteer efforts. Arkansas Economy/Community: ASBTDC at Arkansas State University announced free September sessions on “Funding Your Business” for entrepreneurs. National/Business: Walmart agreed to pay $50 million to settle a DOJ opioid lawsuit alleging unlawful dispensing. Military: 78 Arkansas National Guard soldiers returned from a D.C. deployment; 174 remain. Lottery: Mega Millions climbed to $160 million for Tuesday’s drawing.

Walmart Opioid Settlement: DOJ says Walmart will pay $50 million to settle the federal opioid lawsuit accusing the Bentonville-based retailer of unlawfully dispensing prescriptions; the company denies liability and the deal calls for tighter pharmacist oversight and a hotline for suspected illegal dispensing. Public Safety Tech: The Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police backs automated license plate readers like Flock, arguing they can boost safety when paired with clear policies, oversight, and data safeguards as multiple Arkansas cities move to stop or review the systems. Arkansas Courts & Parole: An Eighth Circuit panel upheld an Arkansas sex offender’s convictions and rejected a challenge tied to parole decisions, saying parole isn’t a constitutionally protected right. Election & Governance: Arkansas House vacancy filing activity continues, with 2 candidates submitting for a seat created by a lawmaker’s resignation, while voting rights advocates keep pushing ahead of November. Military in Arkansas: 78 Arkansas National Guard soldiers returned from a D.C. deployment supporting “D.C. Safe and Beautiful,” with 174 still remaining in support. Education Oversight: Microschools under the Arkansas LEARNS Act are drawing scrutiny for limited state oversight as enrollment grows. Local Government Watch: Bull Shoals appointed a new councilman for a Ward 1 seat vacancy and moved to expand volunteer efforts via a volunteer database. Health & Food Safety: A lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak has expanded into more states, with CDC reporting thousands of lab-confirmed cases nationwide. Community & Culture: Pine Bluff hosted a suffrage walk and panel urging voters to use their voices in the November election.

Rural Health Funding: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Arkansas will receive $149.3 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program grants for 50 projects, including $3.2M for Baptist Health-Magnolia and $12.6M for Baptist Health-El Dorado, plus major telehealth and access/transport money. Child Safety & Criminal Charges: Hempstead County arrested Emmet man James Richard Ivey, 33, after a reported drowning led investigators to allege severe abuse of a 4-year-old girl; he faces capital rape and other felonies and is held pending court. Local Schools: The Little Rock School Board adopted new attendance zones for the upcoming West Little Rock high school and approved a resolution outlining parent pathways to school choice. Public Safety Ballot Push: Jonesboro’s “Safety First for Jonesboro” cleared signature requirements for a November ballot measure creating a 5/8-cent sales tax dedicated to police, fire, and E911. Healthcare Policy Fight: A federal appeals court upheld Arkansas’ ability to enforce a dispensing-fee rule on pharmacy benefit managers. Civil Rights in Education: Fayetteville Public Schools is facing a federal civil rights investigation over claims teachers were directed to consider students’ race in discipline decisions. Opioid Accountability: Walmart agreed to settle a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit over alleged opioid dispensing violations, following earlier state/local opioid litigation.

Meta Settlement Watch: Arkansas is set to receive about $172.5 million over 10 years from a landmark $17B+ multistate deal over alleged harms to teens on Facebook and Instagram, with Attorney General Tim Griffin highlighting child-safety reforms and pharmacy reimbursement fights. Public Safety & Courts: A federal appeals ruling keeps Arkansas’ pharmacy dispensing fee rule in place, while a federal trial in Jonesboro continues for a former prison guard accused of child sexual abuse material offenses. Local Government: Saline County agreed to pay $225,000 to a former library director fired after opposing book-access limits, and Beebe approved its first special improvement district ordinance for Windwood Meadows. Health: The cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce has expanded to 20 states, including Arkansas, with cases now reported at 11,458. Law Enforcement Tech: Fort Smith tightened Flock camera rules, cutting license-plate data retention to 7 days and limiting other agencies’ access. Ballot Access: A new push for voter ID and other restrictions is on the ballot in multiple states, including Arkansas.

Meta Settlement: Arkansas is set to receive about $172.5 million from a proposed $17.1 billion multistate deal with Meta over child-safety claims, with new requirements like nighttime blocks and tighter protections for harmful content on Instagram and Facebook, pending court approval. State Courts & Health Policy: Attorney General Tim Griffin says a federal appeals court upheld Arkansas Rule 128, rejecting a challenge and keeping a pharmacy reimbursement rule in place aimed at preventing rural pharmacy closures. Autism Services: The Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Autism is recommending changes to expand access to autism evaluations, housing options, and possible Medicaid reimbursement pathways for supportive care, while emphasizing the proposals aren’t yet law. Economic Development: The Arkansas Economic Development Commission launched a new $25 million industrial site development grant round to help communities improve job-creating sites. Local Government & Schools: Woodlawn’s school board faces a vacancy after longtime member David Stover died, and Saline County’s library dispute ended with a settlement after a lawsuit over alleged retaliation tied to book censorship. Public Safety: Arkansas State Police’s Operation HOPE recovered eight missing and endangered children during a multi-agency sweep. Consumer Protection: AG Griffin announced a $470,000 judgment against Capital City Tree Service for deceptive practices after tornado damage.

Education Leadership Shakeup: Arkansas Baptist College’s board terminated President William Walker Jr. after placing him on leave for a review, with trustees citing “alleged cause” but not detailing the reasons. Local Government & Public Safety: Baxter County is moving to buy the coroner’s underwater body locator, shifting about $18,000 into the 2026 budget for an AquaEye device and tablet mapping tool. State Policy & Courts: A federal case in the Western District of Arkansas says xAI’s Grok generated sexually explicit images of a 17-year-old; separately, the Seventh Circuit backed an Arkansas pharmacy benefit manager disclosure rule. Elections & Accountability: A former Pulaski County chief deputy clerk got a two-year suspended sentence and $300 fine for altering election records, affecting 132 voter entries. Defense & Federal Spending: House Armed Services Committee chair Mike Rogers toured Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, highlighting F-35 training and foreign military sales mission costs. Consumer Protection: Meta reached a multistate $17.1B settlement over teen social media addiction claims; Arkansas is set to receive about $173M with new child-safety controls. Health & Community: Arkansas State Police and partners recovered eight missing or endangered children during Operation HOPE.

Big Tech, Child Safety: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin says Arkansas will receive a guaranteed $172.46 million (up to more) from Meta’s $17.1 billion multistate settlement over alleged teen harm from Instagram and Facebook, with sweeping child-safety changes; the deal still needs federal court approval. State Courts & Consumer Protection: Pulaski County Circuit Court ordered Capital City Tree Service to pay $470,000 after finding 47 violations of Arkansas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act tied to tornado-related insurance disputes. Missing Children: Arkansas State Police and partners say Operation HOPE recovered or located eight missing and endangered children statewide; two Arkansas foster children remain missing. Local Governance: Craighead County Quorum Court considered a weight-limit ordinance for County Road 780 (15 tons), with public pushback tied to nearby gravel mining concerns. Public Safety & Government Process: Fort Smith board members reportedly broke rules when taking a recess during a pending vote, raising questions about how the change-of-government measure will be handled. Economy & Budgets: A SmartAsset analysis finds federal spending varies widely across Arkansas counties, with Pulaski leading overall and Calhoun highest per person. Agriculture: UA Extension’s rice field day highlighted drought, high input costs, and the lowest rice acreage in about 50 years. Community & Civic Life: Braver Angels Arkansas is hosting a Jonesboro event on “disagree better” for respectful civic dialogue.

Direct Democracy Ruling: A federal judge permanently blocked Arkansas laws that restrict who can serve as petition canvassers and how they can be paid, calling the rules unconstitutional under the First Amendment; the state says it will appeal. City Governance: Mountain Home’s city council approved water-rate ordinance changes tied to wholesale customer contracts, while also moving forward on direct customer water and sewer rate adjustments. Consumer Protection: AG Tim Griffin announced a $470,000 judgment against Capital City Tree Service after a court found dozens of violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, including misleading claims about insurance coverage and liens. State Politics & Courts: Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Darrell Hickman, a longtime Searcy figure, died at 91. Public Safety Oversight: Black lawmakers pressed Arkansas State Police leadership over a trooper’s traffic-stop assault of a Black teenager; an internal review found policy violations but did not place the trooper on leave. Local Utilities: Jonesboro’s City Water and Light approved phased electric rate increases and bond financing for a new gas plant. Economy & Agriculture: Riceland and Producers Rice urged federal action as imports threaten U.S. rice market share. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported some of the week’s lowest prices across multiple Arkansas counties, with regular and midgrade figures varying by location.

Arkansas Medicaid & child welfare: DHS asked CMS for a two-year extension of the ARHOME waiver, saying Medicaid expansion won’t end but service delivery changes are coming for the 2027 Legislative Session. DCFS also launched a statewide hiring push to fill child welfare jobs, using webinars and social media to recruit social services staff. Courts & public safety: A federal judge sentenced a Tennessee man to 48 months for assaulting two U.S. Postal employees in North Little Rock, after he demanded a mail key and brandished a firearm. In Arkansas, the Court of Appeals upheld an Ashley County woman’s meth convictions, rejecting claims that prior drug felonies were improperly shown to jurors. Schools & accountability: Fort Smith approved a $525,000 settlement tied to the firing of Northside High coach Felix Curry, after a dispute over whether board approval was required for his reassignment. Separately, Newton County authorities said a Jasper school “bomb” social media comment was not credible after a campus sweep. State politics: Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar canceled a planned appearance before the Legislative Black Caucus, citing pending litigation over a trooper’s traffic-stop case. Wildfire response: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency for southern Arkansas wildfires and released $250,000 for response and recovery. Trade & agriculture: Arkansas rice leaders urged federal action as imports and costs squeeze domestic market share.

Arkansas Election Watch: A Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College poll finds Democratic U.S. Senate challenger Hallie Shoffner leading incumbent Tom Cotton, 47.4% to 44%, with the race inside the margin of error. Public Safety & Accountability: Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar won’t appear before the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus to discuss a trooper’s alleged assault during a traffic stop, citing pending litigation; dashcam footage is at the center of the civil rights lawsuit. State Government & Crime: Franklin police arrested Arkansas fugitive Rudy Ray after a suspicious-person call tied to suspected human remains; he’s charged as a fugitive pending extradition. Education & Policy: Two Springdale students helped draft student-focused AI rules in a MIT youth legislative simulation, pushing for rights and responsibilities for AI use in schools. Health & Schools: AG Tim Griffin and the High School Broyles Award are launching “Coaches vs. Overdoses Week” to expand fentanyl prevention resources in Arkansas schools. Economy & Jobs: Arkansas’ unemployment rate fell to 4% in July, with employment hitting a record high. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports the lowest Stone County regular price at $3.71 and midgrade deals in Independence County around $3.93 for the week ending Aug. 15. Appointments: ADEM named John Hogue as Arkansas Fire Marshal after a statewide search. Agriculture: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture extended deadlines for two forestry cost-share programs through Aug. 28.