Arkansas Times editors Austin Bailey and Lindsey Millar talk about the early days of Gov. Sarah Sanders, which have been filled with executive orders, lawmakers filing a lot of culture war legislation and all sorts of fretting over big, terrible bills to come. Also, they discuss the travails of felonious former senator Jeremy Hutchinson. 

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This week, in lieu of our regular weekly news roundup, we're sharing something special — a speech by Arkansas Times editor emeritus Max Brantley on the sorry state of politics and journalism in our state. Beginning in November 2023, the Arkansas Times started a luncheon speaker series that covers current events in Arkansas and serves as a fundraiser for our reporting efforts. Speakers have included former LRSD superintendent Baker Kurrus; Lauren Cowles, a drafter of the Arkansas Abortion Amendment and coalition member with Arkansans for Limited Government; and former state representative Nate Bell. This week, guests heard from Max, who retired from the Arkansas Times in 2023 after 50 years in journalism in Little Rock.  We welcome your feedback. Write us at podcasts@arktimes.com

Max Brantley on "The Lost Cause: The Demise of Politics and Journalism," April 26th, 2024

This week: We say a bittersweet farewell to Arkansas Times city reporter extraordinaire Mary Hennigan, but not before one last update on Little Rock news. And, Matt Campbell answers everything you want to know about the #lecterngate audit and the governor's response.

Stories discussed in this edition:
Little Rock city manager hopefuls include Sen. Fred Love, acting manager Emily Cox
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/12/little-rock-city-manager-job-attracts-out-of-state-prospects U.S. senators say ATF agents weren’t wearing body cameras in fatal Malinowski raid
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/19/u-s-senators-say-atf-agents-werent-wearing-body-cameras-in-fatal-malinowski-raid Activists call on Little Rock officials to support ceasefire in the Middle East
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/16/activists-call-on-little-rock-officials-to-support-ceasefire-in-the-middle-east City officials OK financial plan for Little Rock solar array
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/17/city-officials-ok-financial-plan-for-little-rock-solar-array Arkansas lawmakers call on ATF to release footage of Malinowski raid
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/19/arkansas-lawmakers-call-on-atf-to-release-footage-of-malinowski-raid Lawmakers question governor’s staff over lectern audit
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/16/lawmakers-question-governors-staff-over-lectern-audit State auditors refer lecterngate findings to prosecutor’s office
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/15/state-auditors-refer-lecterngate-findings-to-prosecutors-office

The lectern audit has landed: The Week in Review, April 20, 2024

Arkansas Times listeners, we need your feedback! What do you like about the podcast? What do you hate? What can we improve? Email us with your thoughts, please, at podcasts@arktimes.com.

This week, Dave Ramsey and Benji preview the fiscal session, the governor's meager budget and the legislative fight over crypto mining; and, Omaya talks with Rhett Brinkley about John Calipari's arrival at the University of Arkansas and what it means for Razorback basketball.

Stories discussed this week: Austerity Sarah: Governor’s budget is generous to private school families, stingy for everyone else
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/austerity-sarah-governors-budget-is-generous-to-private-school-families-stingy-for-everyone-else State budget leaves only crumbs for rural schools and the poor, advocates say
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/state-budget-leaves-only-crumbs-for-rural-schools-and-the-poor-advocates-say Thousands pack Bud Walton Arena to welcome new Razorbacks coach John Calipari
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/thousands-pack-into-bud-walton-arena-to-welcome-new-razorbacks-coach-john-calipari Crypto at the Capitol: Legislature revisiting Bitcoin mining after complaints from local residents
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/crypto-at-the-capitol-legislature-revisiting-bitcoin-mining-after-complaints-from-local-residents “It’s bad for everything”: Citizens group from Arkansas County ready to fight back against crypto mines
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/11/its-bad-for-everything-citizens-group-from-arkansas-county-ready-to-fight-back-against-crypto-mines

Fiscal Session 2K24: The Week in Review, April 12, 2024

This week, Benji and Mary Hennigan discuss the latest in the case of Bryan Malinowski, who was posthumously awarded a $24,000 bonus by the Little Rock airport commission, as well as several actions taken by the city board of directors at a Tuesday meeting. Then, Benji and Austin Gelder talk about the latest in a new lawsuit over a provision in Arkansas LEARNS. Finally, Benji talks to Rhett Brinkley, Daniel Grear, and Stephanie Smittle about Monday's endlessly anticipated solar eclipse.

Little Rock officials approve new recycling contract, glass is back
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/03/little-rock-officials-approve-new-recycling-contract-glass-is-back $4.3 million Little Rock port expansion up for a vote tonight
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/02/4-3-million-little-rock-port-expansion-up-for-a-vote-tonight Airport commission gives $24K bonus to director Malinowski after death
https://arktimes.com/news/2024/04/02/airport-commission-gives-24k-bonus-to-director-malinowski-after-death Central High plaintiffs sue Sanders, Oliva over targeting of AP African American Studies
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/25/central-high-plaintiffs-sue-sanders-oliva-over-targeting-of-ap-african-american-studies Federal judge in LEARNS lawsuit plans to apply for LEARNS vouchers, won’t recuse
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/01/federal-judge-in-learns-lawsuit-plans-to-apply-for-learns-vouchers-wont-recuse LEARNS lawsuit over ‘indoctrination’ reassigned to Judge Rudofsky
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/28/learns-lawsuit-over-indoctrination-reassigned-to-judge-rudofsky Partly cloudy skies expected in Arkansas for Monday’s eclipse
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/04/03/partly-cloudy-skies-expected-in-arkansas-for-mondays-eclipse Mulberry Mountain welcomes eclipse watchers with one-day music festival
https://arktimes.com/entertainment/2024/04/02/mulberry-mountain-welcomes-eclipse-watchers-with-one-day-music-festival Mass eclipse wedding ceremony to bring hundreds of couples to Russellville
https://arktimes.com/rock-candy/2024/03/22/mass-eclipse-wedding-ceremony-to-bring-hundreds-of-couples-to-russellville 9 stellar ways to celebrate the solar eclipse in Central Arkansas
https://arktimes.com/rock-candy/2024/03/04/9-stellar-ways-to-celebrate-the-solar-eclipse-in-central-arkansas

All our eclipse-related coverage:
https://arktimes.com/tag/2024-solar-ecli

Total Eclipse of the Arkansas Times' Week in Review, April 5, 2024

This week, Benji and Matt Campbell discuss Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins' reality show TV (coming soon to Netflix!), the latest on the long-awaited #lecterngate audit and why you shouldn't accept Arkansas's projections for April 8 eclipse tourism at face value. Plus, Austin fills us in on a GOP primary runoff in Hope that's turning some southwest Arkansas Republican legislators against the governor's office. 

Show Notes: Pulaski County weighing options for handling sheriff’s seemingly illegal contract with TV producers
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/27/pulaski-county-weighing-options-for-handling-sheriffs-seemingly-illegal-contract-with-tv-producers Republican infighting over south Arkansas legislative runoff continues, pitting Sanders against old-guard GOP https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/27/republican-infighting-over-south-arkansas-legislative-runoff-continues-pitting-sanders-against-old-guard-gop ‘Lecterngate’ audit is ready, but the public release date is still unknown
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/27/lecterngate-audit-is-ready-but-a-public-release-date-still-unknown State’s estimates of 1.5 million eclipse tourists next month are shady at best
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/03/05/despite-states-claims-1-5-million-eclipse-tourists-unlikely-to-come-to-arkansas-next-month

The Culture War Edition

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