Free Arkansas

In today’s episode of Free News Arkansas – Daily Briefing (May 30, 2025), we’re covering the biggest stories shaping the Natural State:

🛑 $57 million approved for designing a new mega-prison in Franklin County — but lawmakers haven’t even funded the prison yet. What’s going on behind the scenes?

💊 Prescription drug giants CVS and Express Scripts are suing Arkansas over a new law banning PBMs from owning pharmacies. Is this about patient access — or protecting profits?

📉 The state dissolves the Blytheville School Board, citing financial chaos and academic failure. What comes next for the struggling district?

🔵 Democrats rally in Little Rock, promising to rebuild the party even in deep-red Arkansas. Can they flip the 2nd District?

🎸 Plus: your Arkansas weekend roundup — Vince Gill, Wiz Khalifa, rodeos, BBQ, blues festivals, and the Razorbacks take the field.

👉 Subscribe for daily updates and real Arkansas news — without the fluff or the spin.

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Welcome back to your trusted Arkansas news roundup — no spin, no fluff, just the headlines that matter across the Natural State.

In today’s episode:

🩺 Medicaid Mess — Over 145,000 Arkansans on Medicaid don’t have a primary care doctor. Lawmakers are pushing for urgent care access and system reforms.

🌾 Foreign Land Ownership Crackdown — A Chinese-owned ag facility in Craighead County has been sold after Arkansas enforced its new foreign land ban.

⚖️ Jeremy Hutchinson Pardoned — The former state senator convicted in the Preferred Family Healthcare bribery scandal is coming home after a full presidential pardon.

🧪 Lithium Royalty Approved — After months of tense debate, the Oil and Gas Commission sets a 2.5% royalty for Standard Lithium’s $1.5 billion project in southern Arkansas.

🗳️ New Candidate in House District 97 — Former judge Jim Andrews jumps into the race to succeed outgoing House Speaker Matthew Shepherd.

🚨 Manhunt in Calico Rock — Authorities are still searching for escaped murderer and former police chief Grant Hardin, missing since Sunday.

🔔 Subscribe to stay informed with the latest Arkansas headlines — and share to help others stay in the know.

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In this episode of Free Arkansas, host Andy McNeill sits down with Chris Martinovich, founder of Ozark United — a startup professional soccer club working to bring USL Championship-level play to Northwest Arkansas.From economic impact to community pride, Chris lays out his vision for what a soccer team (and entertainment district around it) could mean for the region — and how it’s already attracting national attention and private investment.Along the way, Andy and Chris talk about:⚽️ Why pro soccer makes sense for Arkansas — and why now🏗️ Building a stadium + entertainment district from the ground up💸 The business model of USL vs. Major League Soccer🍻 Plans for pubs, shops, housing, and game-day buzz🧠 The startup grind, investor stories, and “lucky breaks”📆 When Ozark United could take the field (and how close they really are)Whether you're a soccer die-hard or just curious about bold, local ventures, this conversation is a deep dive into what it takes to launch a pro sports franchise in a growing region — and what it could mean for the future of Arkansas.🔗 Learn more: https://ozarkutd.com

Today’s episode dives into some of the biggest stories unfolding across the Natural State:🔋 Lithium Royalty Showdown in Magnolia🧃 SNAP Junk Food Ban Still Pending🦃 Game & Fish Restores Veteran Hunt + Eyes Big Changes🗳️ 2026 Campaigns Begin⚾ Razorbacks Host Regional🌩️ Remembering Ed Buckner📍Stay informed with Free News Arkansas — no fluff, no spin, just what matters.🎧 Subscribe for more daily briefings, political updates, and policy breakdowns.#ArkansasNews #Lithium #SNAP #ArkansasPolitics #Razorbacks #GameAndFish #EdBuckner #FreeNewsArkansas

Today’s headlines spotlight Arkansas stories that matter — from prison security to dispensary regulations and more.

✈️ Proposed federal budget changes could impact flights at four small Arkansas airports
🌿 State considers new rules for relocating medical marijuana dispensaries
🚨 A convicted murderer escapes from an Arkansas prison — and he's still on the run
👨‍💻 Former school tech director faces child porn charges in federal court
🗳️ Michael Mason announces bid for Arkansas House District 79
🎥 Documentary crew teams up with locals to oppose planned Charleston prison
💸 Lawmakers delay a $1M contract aimed at helping state employees access student loan forgiveness

🎙️ No fluff. No spin. Just the facts that affect Arkansas communities.
Subscribe to Free News Arkansas for daily updates.

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Straightforward Arkansas news. No spin. Just facts.

In today’s episode:

• 💰 Revenue Forecast Drops – Arkansas lowers its surplus projections, but Finance Secretary Jim Hudson says agriculture could thrive with the right trade deals. Plus, where things stand on a potential tax cut special session.

• 📜 FOIA Lawsuit Back On – The Arkansas Supreme Court revives AG Tim Griffin’s open government lawsuit against the Board of Corrections.

• 📚 Library Law Fallout – Crawford County and the state are on the hook for $441,000 in legal fees after losing a First Amendment case over Act 372.

• 🗳️ Election Sanctions – A mystery county’s entire election commission is decertified. Plus, Pulaski and Izard counties face additional scrutiny.

• ⚖️ Monument Trial Begins – A new case over the 2020 removal of a Confederate statue in Little Rock could set precedent statewide.

• 🌬️ Carroll County Energy Ban – A 5-year moratorium on new wind and solar projects takes effect near Green Forest.

🧠 No fluff, no punditry — just what’s going on in Arkansas and why it matters.

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🎙️ May 21, 2025 — Arkansas News Roundup
Door-kicking judges, tornadoes with no warning, and a rapper behind bars in Pope County. We’ve got all that — plus Medicaid debates, turkey season highs, and who's running for Congress in 2026.

This is your no-spin, no-fluff Arkansas news update — direct from the ground, not the media echo chamber.

Brad Henry has spent his career on the front lines of Arkansas’s economy — from the Arkansas Development Finance Authority to co-founding one of the state’s only private investment firms. In this episode, he joins hosts Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield to talk about why capital formation matters, where Arkansas ranks in economic health, and how to build a better future for every corner of the state.

• 📉 Why Arkansas ranks low in per capita income — and what we can do about it

• 🏗️ Explosive growth in Northwest Arkansas and why the cranes aren’t slowing down

• 🧠 The importance of keeping Arkansas college graduates from leaving the state

• 🏢 What Natural Capital Partners invests in — and why only 1 of their 27 company deals is in Arkansas

• 🌊 Why Arkansas’s water supply could be a huge economic advantage

• 🚧 A frank talk about real estate, infrastructure, and where growth should go next

• 📈 The rise of tech, steel, and lithium — and how different regions have different strengths

• 💼 Advice for young Arkansans who want to start a business and build something great
  

Gary Vernon on Arkansas’ Trail Revolution🎙️ Free Arkansas Podcast – May 16, 2025Gary Vernon helped turn a small bike trail experiment into a $150+ million-a-year economic engine. In this episode, he joins Andy McNeill and Rep. Matt Duffield to talk about how mountain biking changed Bentonville — and how it could change the rest of Arkansas too.🛤️ What You'll Hear:The Bentonville Origin Story — How a 5-mile trail idea sparked a global model for outdoor livingOz Trails & Monument Trails — What's the difference, and how did they both shape the state?Economic Impact — $157 million a year in NWA alone — plus a peek at trail counters, Airbnb spikes, and trail-driven tourismFrom Walmart to Trail Boss — Gary’s unique career journey building bikes to building ArkansasLift-Access Bike Parks — Major new investments in Bella Vista and Mena ⛷️🚴‍♂️E-Bikes for All — How electric bikes are changing access for everyone from 8th graders to retireesNational & Global Attention — Why Japan, Norway, and Olympians are studying Arkansas trailsWhat’s Next — Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, rural community trails, and a call for local leaders to embrace the trail economy🧠 Takeaway Quote:"We always say you do three trips and then you buy a house." – Gary Vernon📢 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Free Arkansas — where open ideas drive a better future.

Mike Poore, longtime Arkansas educator and now EVP at Education Partners, joins Free Arkansas for a deep dive into the current state of K-12 education. We explore how Arkansas has made progress in national rankings, what’s working (like early literacy initiatives), and where gaps remain—from teacher recruitment to school safety. Poore offers thoughtful insights on how policy, business partnerships, and community support can help move the state forward.