Andrew DeMillo

State-mandated paid leave programs now cover millions of American workers | Arkansas Advocate Nearly one-third of the nation’s private sector workers are covered by paid leave programs as more states require employers to provide medical and family leave, according to a new analysis released th...

State-mandated paid leave programs now cover millions of American workers arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/06/r...

State Medicaid budgets will decline by $665 billion under new federal law, report finds | Arkansas Advocate State Medicaid budgets will be reduced by a total of $665 billion over the next decade, after President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act cuts federal investment in the health insurance progra...

State Medicaid budgets will decline by $665 billion under new federal law, report finds arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/05/r...

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders arrives to vote at her polling place this morning.

Races to watch out for in tonight's primary results in Arkansas | Arkansas Advocate Here's a guide on the results to watch out for tonight in Arkansas' primary and nonpartisan judicial elections.

Races to watch out for in tonight’s primary results in Arkansas arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/03/r...

Stories From The States | News From The States Stories From The States is a weekly podcast that explores, through personal stories, how people and communities across America are being affected by government decisions. Each episode examines a…

Today’s news cycle is overwhelming. But what does it all mean for you?

Stories From The States helps you figure it all out. You’ll hear from experts, journalists and community members who are experiencing the fallout of sweeping changes.

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Sanders’ efforts against 2 prison project opponents a test of Arkansas governor’s pull | Arkansas Advocate Two veteran Arkansas lawmakers are fighting for their political lives in Tuesday’s Republican primaries, with a barrage of mailers and ads funded by outside groups casting them as insufficiently conse...

Sanders’ efforts against 2 prison project opponents a test of Arkansas governor’s pull arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/02/s...

State, federal midterm campaigns upstaged by local races in Arkansas | Arkansas Advocate COMMENTARY: Several local races around Arkansas are threatening to upstage the primaries with the type of spending, vitriol and scandal you’d normally expect to see in a statewide or congressional cam...

My column for the @arkansasadvocate.com this week:

State, federal midterm campaigns upstaged by local races in Arkansas arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/01/s...

Finished.

Good morning from the LR 10k start line

Issue Spotlight: How Arkansas Supreme Court candidates want to improve state courts | Arkansas Advocate More than 180,000 cases were filed in Arkansas circuit and appeals courts last year— from civil actions to divorces to criminal charges. This sprawling legal system is overseen by the Arkansas Supreme...

Issue Spotlight: How Arkansas Supreme Court candidates want to improve state courts arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/27/i...

Data center tax breaks are on the chopping block in some states | Arkansas Advocate As some states welcome more data centers with tax incentives, others are scaling back to balance economic development and energy considerations.

Data center tax breaks are on the chopping block in some states arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/25/r...

Issue Spotlight: What Democrats running for Arkansas governor say about education | Arkansas Advocate The rising cost of Arkansas' school voucher program has prompted concerns from Democrats and some rural Republican legislators who say it will be devastating to public schools.

Issue Spotlight: What Democrats running for Arkansas governor say about education arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/25/i...

Iranians worry over American military buildup as last-chance round of talks nears Many Iranians are worried as the United States assembles its greatest military firepower in decades in the Middle East and the next round of talks in Geneva get closer.

Iranians worry over American military buildup as last-chance round of talks nears

apnews.com/article/iran...

School choice programs grow in popularity — and cost | Arkansas Advocate States are scrambling to meet rising demand for newly expanded school choice initiatives, pouring more money into the programs as waiting lists — and budget concerns — grow.

School choice programs grow in popularity — and cost arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/24/r...

Some of Arkansas’ biggest primary fights may not be decided March 3 | Arkansas Advocate There are 17 contested legislative races on Arkansas primary ballots this year, and in a predominantly Republican state, the March 3 election will be the only say some voters will have in who represen...

Some of Arkansas’ biggest primary fights may not be decided March 3 arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/24/s...

He's 75. He's in a wheelchair. He didn't pull the trigger. But Alabama plans to execute him. | Alabama Reflector Getting granted clemency remains the final most likely path to spare Burton from the execution planned for next month by nitrogen gas.

He’s 75. He’s in a wheelchair. He didn’t pull the trigger. But Alabama plans to execute him.

alabamareflector.com/2026/02/23/h...

Republicans running for Arkansas secretary of state focus on election security, voter turnout | Arkansas Advocate Republicans seeking the party’s nomination for Arkansas secretary of state say they want to ensure election security and find ways to boost lagging voter turnout.

Republicans running for Arkansas secretary of state focus on election security, voter turnout

arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/23/r...

Arkansans organize grassroots initiatives across state to support immigrant neighbors | Arkansas Advocate Rosita Lopez has been a community organizer for more than 15 years and said she’s never seen neighbors banding together to support immigrants like they have recently.  When stores and restaurants clos...

Arkansans organize grassroots initiatives across state to support immigrant neighbors

arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/23/a...

Uncertainty surrounding Arkansas library funding undermines state’s literacy efforts | Arkansas Advocate COMMENTARY: Tabling funding for libraries doesn’t make sense for a state trying to tackle lagging literacy scores. It’s also the latest obstacle thrown in the way of libraries when they would be the m...

My column this week:
Uncertainty surrounding Arkansas library funding undermines state’s literacy efforts arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/22/u...

Arkansas to “soft launch” upcoming Medicaid work requirement checks | Arkansas Advocate Arkansas will begin checking the employment status of some Medicaid beneficiaries this summer under what’s being billed as a “soft launch” of work requirements that aren’t set to be enforced until nex...

Arkansas to “soft launch” upcoming Medicaid work requirement checks arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/20/a...

How extreme cold is affecting Americans' lives, according to a new AP-NORC poll A new AP-NORC poll shows more Americans say extreme cold has affected their lives after frigid weather engulfed much of North America at the beginning of 2026.

About 7 in 10 Americans have had higher utility bills in the past year because of cold weather, a new AP-NORC poll finds.

Trump dismisses affordability woes, boosts allies at northwest Georgia steel plant | Arkansas Advocate In a freewheeling hour-long speech at a northwest Georgia steel plant, President Donald Trump sought to boost his second-term economic agenda ahead of November’s pivotal midterm elections.

Trump dismisses affordability woes, boosts allies at northwest Georgia steel plant arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/19/r...

The Selma home that Martin Luther King Jr. made his ‘safe landing spot’ is now in Michigan • Michigan Advance This is the third in a series of articles by Michigan Advance throughout February celebrating Black History Month.  Starting this summer, visitors to The Henry Ford in Dearborn will be able to see the...

The Selma home that Martin Luther King Jr. made his ‘safe landing spot’ is now in Michigan michiganadvance.com/2026/02/20/t...

Exhibits on slavery restored at President’s House in Philadelphia ahead of court deadline | Arkansas Advocate Nearly a month after they were taken down, the federal government re-installed dozens of signs commemorating the slaves that once resided at the President’s House in Philadelphia Thursday, before a co...

Exhibits on slavery restored at President’s House in Philadelphia ahead of court deadline arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/20/r...

PBS KIDS official visits Arkansas as campaign aims to keep public television affiliation | Arkansas Advocate The newly formed Friends of Arkansas PBS urges network leadership to reconsider its vote to cut ties with PBS.

PBS KIDS official visits Arkansas as campaign aims to keep public television affiliation arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/19/p...

‘Command post for desegregation': Daisy Bates’ home recognized for historic role | Arkansas Advocate The home of the late civil rights leader Daisy Bates, where the Little Rock Nine met each morning during the desegregation of Central High School, was recognized with a new state marker honoring its s...

‘Command post for desegregation’: Daisy Bates’ home recognized for historic role arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/17/c...

What Arkansans said on the first day of early voting for the March 3 primary | Arkansas Advocate Tuesday marked the start of early voting in Arkansas for the March 3 primary. Here's what voters said as they cast ballots

What Arkansans said on the first day of early voting for the March 3 primary arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/17/w...

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton focus of GOP, Democratic primaries | Arkansas Advocate Two Democrats and two Republicans running for U.S. Senate say incumbent Sen. Tom Cotton doesn't represent everyday Arkansans.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton focus of GOP, Democratic primaries arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/17/r...

Arkansas Democrats seeking nomination for governor focus on voucher program, economic development | Arkansas Advocate Addressing issues with the state’s school voucher program, supporting economic development and investing in Arkansans are priorities for Sen. Fred Love and Supha Xayprasith-Mays, the two candidates se...

Arkansas Democrats seeking nomination for governor focus on voucher program, economic development arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/16/a...

Journalism needs more leaders like Daisy Bates, fewer like Jeff Bezos | Arkansas Advocate COMMENTARY: Civil rights leader Daisy Bates was also a trailblazer in journalism whose courage is something that more news outlet owners, publishers and journalism leaders should consider emulating.

My column for this weekend: Journalism needs more leaders like Daisy Bates, fewer like Jeff Bezos arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/15/j...