On AR Watch

04/07/2026

Arkansas LEARNS Act vouchers set to be one of the primary contentions for the fiscal session that starts TOMORROW. Catch up on what's been going on below 👇

Arkansas’ 95th General Assembly is set to kick off the fiscal session on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. After a year and a half of controversial prisons, the Ten Commandments in schools, and attacks on Arkansas’ ballot initiative process, the issue that is set to be the most contentious is appropriat...

03/04/2026

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ plan to gain the votes she needs for her prison through midterm elections has FAILED… for now.

Sanders campaigned hard for Bobby Ballinger and Trey “BoDirt” Bohannan to beat the incumbent Senators, Ronald Caldwell and Bryan King. Both of which voted AGAINST the prison appropriations. Both Senators won in overwhelming margins.

In Arkansas House District 70, Democratic Candidate Alex Holladay, flipped the District in a Special Election after Republican Carlton Wing resigned and took over PBS. Holladay defeated Republican Bo Renshaw.

Does the Governor’s endorsement matter anymore? What do y’all think? Let us know in the comments below 👇

02/25/2026

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been traveling the state to campaign for her “friends,” Bobby Ballinger and Trey “BoDirt” Brannon. The two are competing in Primary Elections to unseat current State Senators Bryan King and Ronald Caldwell.

Early last year, the two Senators, along with 7 other Senators, voted AGAINST Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ appropriations bill to build a mega prison in Franklin County. Because of these Senators, the Appropriations Bill failed in the state senate FIVE times!

Looks like Sarah Huckabee Sanders is campaigning so she can finally get the votes for this prison.

What do y’all think? Let us know in the comments below 👇

01/02/2026

On December 31, 2025, when she thought no one was watching, Sarah Sanders made new appointments to the Board of Corrections.

The new chairman of the board is Jamie Barker, the former deputy chief of staff for Sanders and current member of the Gilmore Davis Strategy group. They’re consulting on the campaign of Mark Berry, candidate for Senate District 26 where the prison will be located, and for Bobby Ballinger Jr, who’s primarying Bryan King in Senate District 28 just north of the prison site.

What do y’all think? Let us know in the comments below 👇

12/24/2025

Arkansas House Candidate being sued by her primary opponent alleging ineligibility to run for state office. Missy Wardlaw is running for Arkansas House District 94 and the wife of current Representative Jeff Wardlaw.

In 2018, Missy Wardlaw was found guilty of writing a “hot check.” According to the Arkansas Constitution no person convicted of embezzlement of public money, bribery, forgery or other infamous crime, shall be eligible for the state’s legislature or other state office.

What do y’all think? Let us know in the comments below 👇

12/04/2025

Washington County didn’t just “mismanage” your tax dollars. It’s leaders funneled millions into no-bid contracts and a nonprofit that can’t explain where $1.6 million went.

It’s a pattern of years of secrecy, wasted money, and disdain for what Washington County voters want.

Our new series in partnership with the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition dig in to the secrets and backroom deals.

Read more about it at OnARWatch.org
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11/25/2025

Washington Co. Judge Patrick Deakins is allergic to transparency and loves to hire outside counsel. Are taxpayers on the hook for Patrick Deakins’ spending?

Read all about it on OnARWatch.org

11/17/2025

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders ordered to move special election dates for Arkansas House District 70 and Arkansas Senate District 26 to MARCH 3, 2026!!

After two legal challenges to the delay of the special elections for each district, the courts have ordered that both elections be moved up. Governor Sanders called the orders “unlawful” multiple times in her proclamation.

What do y’all think? Let us know in the comments below 👇


**REPOSTED WITH DATE CORRECTION**

11/05/2025

Arkansas State Representative Brad Hall accused of sexual coercion and sexual abuse in court filings regarding the divorce from his wife.

The Representative, who represents Arkansas House District 24, has requested to seal the filing. His wife has opposed this motion.

What do y’all think? Let us know in the comments below 👇

09/08/2025

Google is set to build a $10 billion data center in West Memphis, Arkansas.

This will be the largest private capital investment in Arkansas history. The West Memphis City Council approved the project back in May.

The project includes a payment in lieu of taxes incentive and has the potential for up to $50 billion in personal property tax abatements over the life of the agreement for Google.

What do y’all think? Let us know in the comments below 👇

08/28/2025

🚨 ARKANSAS HOSPITALS ARE FACING A CLOSURE CRISIS DUE TO IMPENDING MEDICAID CUTS 🚨

“A new report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Healthcare Reform has revealed that 30 rural hospitals in Arkansas are at risk of shutting down, with 11 facing immediate closure.”

About 51% of children in rural areas in Arkansas receive their healthcare coverage through Medicaid. Not only are hospitals at risk for closing, people are at risk of losing their healthcare. If hospitals close, this will result in rural Arkansans will have to drive even farther to receive the care they need.

What do y’all think? Let us know in the comments below 👇