AGP Executive Report

State Budget Watch: Arkansas closed FY2026 with a $655 million general revenue surplus, the fifth-largest in state history, after $8.686 billion in gross collections and $7.149 billion net available revenue. SNAP Rules: The state is moving ahead with a ban on SNAP purchases of soft drinks and candy starting July 1, saying a federal court ruling that struck similar waivers elsewhere doesn’t apply to Arkansas. Local Crime: Ouachita County Chief Deputy Collector Erica Johnson was charged with theft of property after an Arkansas State Police investigation found $3,533 in cash funds were stolen. More Courtroom News: Alexander Councilwoman Lou “Juanita” Wilson, 77, was arrested and charged with forgery for allegedly forging city documents to obtain a credit card using city accounts. Outdoor/Health: A CDC study found about 24% of adults in Arkansas and four other states show alpha-gal antibodies, tied to tick bites and a red-meat allergy risk. Business & Growth: Southern Bancorp plans to rebrand as Uplift Bank after acquiring Legacy Bank.

SNAP Fight in Arkansas: Arkansas is moving forward with new restrictions banning SNAP purchases of candy and soda, even after a court ruling—state officials say the rollout includes a new mobile app to help shoppers navigate the change. Ballot Initiative Setback: A federal judge again struck down parts of Arkansas’ citizen ballot initiative rules, dealing another blow to the state’s effort to limit direct democracy. Public Safety & Crime Lab: Arkansas lawmakers got an update on the state crime lab’s push to expand capacity, including a new facility planned for 2027 as caseloads near 30,000 cases a year. Transportation Modernization: ARDOT launched a new online fuel transport permit system to replace paper processing for more than 106,000 fuel permits in 2025. Local Courts & Justice: A Nashville jury convicted former Titans scout Blaise Taylor of murdering his pregnant girlfriend and her unborn child, with sentencing facing life in prison. Arkansas Sports: UALR officially completed its move into the United Athletic Conference, and Arkansas ties also show up in MLB Futures Game rosters.

Ballot Access Ruling: A federal judge in Arkansas struck down several state laws that added hurdles for citizen ballot initiatives, saying they violated voters’ free-speech rights; the state’s GOP leaders plan to appeal. Mental Health Care: Arkansas DHS is tightening behavioral health contract requirements for community mental health centers starting July 1, aiming to standardize crisis response and care coordination for adults in serious need. Crime: A Paragould woman faces charges after police allege she sexually assaulted a child. Education: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders released new statewide ATLAS results, saying students improved across grades and subjects under the LEARNS Act. Weather & Safety: The National Weather Service warns of hot, dry Fourth of July conditions with isolated storms and dangerous heat index values. Local Politics: A Little Rock city board candidate is facing calls to drop out after voting records reportedly show an address outside the city. Sports: Arkansas baseball and college sports continue to churn with roster moves and commitments, including a major football commitment to Colorado involving an Arkansas connection.

SNAP Fight in Arkansas: Arkansas will move forward with new restrictions on what SNAP recipients can buy, including candy and soda, after state officials said a federal court ruling vacating similar waivers in other states doesn’t apply here. Health & Safety: Arkansas law enforcement is joining a national push for a zero-tolerance Fourth of July drunk-driving crackdown, urging drivers to line up safe rides before celebrating. State Operations: The Arkansas Department of Transportation is rolling out a new online fuel transportation permit system to replace paper permits, with paper still available during outages. Courts & Rights: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s birthright citizenship order in a 6-3 decision, while a separate court fight over gun rights and other orders continues to draw national attention. Local Impact: CASA leaders held CASA Day at the Capitol, meeting legislators and highlighting volunteer advocacy for children in foster care. Sports & Community: Magnolia athletes Knox Stephens and Aubrey Stuart earned spots on the All Arkansas Preps Team.

SNAP Changes in Arkansas: Arkansas will move forward with a waiver-driven ban on using SNAP benefits to buy soft drinks and candy starting July 1, with a mobile app rolling out to help shoppers check eligible items. Medicaid Work Requirements Soft-Launch: Starting Wednesday, July 1, Arkansas begins a “soft launch” of Medicaid work requirements for ARHOME adults, with exemptions and no penalties in 2026; full enforcement begins Jan. 1, 2027. North Little Rock Police Leadership: North Little Rock names former Little Rock assistant police chief Hayward Finks as its new police chief, set to be sworn in July 23. Health Care Shake-Up in Fort Smith: Baptist Health signs a letter of intent to have Springdale’s Community Clinic operate Baptist clinics in Alma, Fort Smith, Greenwood and Van Buren. Arkansas Politics on the Ballot: A new constitutional amendment, Issue 3, heads to the Nov. 3 ballot to let communities create economic development districts. Arkansas Football Moves: Arkansas freshman infielder Alexander Peck enters the transfer portal, and the Razorbacks also add Tennessee infielder Manny Marin.

SNAP crackdown: Arkansas is rolling out a ban on buying soda and candy with food-stamp benefits starting Wednesday, with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders calling it a health move and the state’s DHS launching the AR SNAP Companion app so shoppers can scan items and see what’s eligible. Local politics on TV: Arkansas Press Association debates will air statewide in early July, starting with the Secretary of State race July 1 and the gubernatorial debate July 8, with Gov. Sanders not participating. Public safety: A Marked Tree police officer, Trevor Howard, died in an early Sunday crash; another officer was injured and investigators say a driver failed to stop at a stop sign. Community fixes: Paragould is turning a downtown lot into a pocket park after a T-Mobile Hometown Grant. Roads and litter: Arkansas Highway Police will step up enforcement to keep loads secured and cut roadside trash. Sports and business: NCAA eligibility rules (“5-for-5”) could reshape baseball recruiting, while North Little Rock’s Onterris landed a $4.13 million contract in Australia. Lottery: Powerball’s jackpot climbed to $360M for Monday’s drawing.

Medicaid & SNAP Changes: Arkansas is rolling out Medicaid work requirements for ARHOME beneficiaries, with no penalties this year, while SNAP shoppers will soon face a ban on buying soda and candy. Public Safety: State and local law enforcement are teaming up for a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Fourth of July push, with zero tolerance for drunk driving. Crime & Courts: The Eighth Circuit rejected an Arkansas worker’s bid to revive a CVS pharmacy-network class action. Local Tragedy: Marked Tree mourns Officer Trevor Howard, 25, killed in an on-duty crash. Health & Agriculture: Arkansas warns farmers about an invasive Asian longhorned tick that can spread Theileriosis to cattle. Business & Money: Bank OZK approved a $200 million stock repurchase program. Community & Education: Black River Technical College launched an industrial emergency management preparedness program in Jonesboro. Sports & Culture: Mignon Dunn, a mezzo-soprano with Arkansas roots, died at 98.

Heat & Safety: The Mid-South is under a dangerous heat setup, with FOX13 declaring Severe Weather Days through Thursday as temperatures climb into the mid-to-upper 90s and heat indexes push 105–109, with some areas near or above 110—especially eastern Arkansas—plus guidance to hydrate, limit outdoor work, and check on vulnerable neighbors. Local Food Inspections: Rogers and Fayetteville restaurants drew serious sanitation flags, including suspected rodent droppings near soda syrup shelves, uncovered food storage, cockroaches in prep areas, and sanitizer/handwashing problems. Maternal Health Milestone: Arkansas’ first certified community-based doula marks a new pathway created under Act 965 of 2025, aiming to eventually allow Medicaid/insurance reimbursement for trained doulas. Education & Community: Arkansas Tech will host the 47th Governor’s School in Russellville starting July 5, with about 394 students expected. Business & Health Care: Lyon College’s dental school is preparing to open its patient clinic to the public after the July 4 weekend. Mining Watch: Pantera Minerals says Phase 2 at its Gillham Project in southwest Arkansas returned high-grade antimony, silver, zinc and lead, refining targets for a planned maiden drilling push.

Heat Safety: The Arkansas Department of Health is urging residents to take extreme heat seriously as a dangerous, humid heat wave builds across the U.S., with Little Rock and other parts of Arkansas expected to see heat index values that can climb as high as 115°F—especially risky for kids under 4 and adults 65+. Local Tragedy: Marked Tree Police Officer Trevor Howard, 25, died after a crash early Sunday at Broadway and Nathan streets; another officer was injured and Arkansas State Police are investigating. Education & Community: Arkansas State University says 33 faculty members earned ACUE Effective Teaching certification, and Southern Arkansas University named Magnolia-area student Hope Christina Bump to its spring 2026 dean’s list. Northeast Arkansas Events: America 250 Freedom Fest is set for this Saturday night on the A-State campus in Jonesboro, with free admission and a fireworks show around 9:30 p.m.

Press Awards: White County Citizen swept 27 Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper awards, including General Excellence and 11 first-place finishes, while the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won General Excellence for larger papers for a second straight year. Ballot Access: Protect AR Rights says it must gather 90,704 verified voter signatures across at least 50 counties, with a June 29 collection push before a July 3 submission deadline. Data Centers Debate: A new Pulaski County-focused group, ARCC, is forming to educate lawmakers and residents as property tax breaks and incentives for hyperscale data centers continue to spark backlash. SNAP Rule Change: Starting July 1, Arkansas retailers will stop accepting SNAP for soda and certain other items deemed unhealthy. Forestry Funding: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is taking applications for two cost-share forestry programs, including $2M for hardwood reforestation and $150k for southern pine beetle prevention. Local Sports/Business: Forge Performance Labs in Rogers is bringing NBA-combine-style training tech to Northwest Arkansas, co-founded by Austin Reaves. Lottery: Powerball jackpot is $348M for June 27; winning numbers were 3-16-28-30-59 with Powerball 11.

Arkansas Politics & Policy: Arkansas AG Griffin is in the middle of a major child-safety fight, suing Snapchat parent company and Discord over alleged risks to kids online. Public Safety: Uniti Group, based in Little Rock, says a gas line was struck in a Twinsburg Township explosion and blames inaccurate underground utility markings by a third-party locator. Health Care Costs: States are pushing back on pharmacy benefit managers, aiming to lower drug prices by targeting the companies that manage prescription coverage for insurers. Weather & Risk: Forecasters warn a dangerous heat wave could hit the central and eastern U.S., with Little Rock projected near 106 degrees around July 4. Local Community: NWA Pride Weekend is underway in Fayetteville, with a Trans March & Rally and a Pride Festival and parade drawing large crowds. Arkansas Economy & Jobs: Clayton opened a new home-building facility in Conway, investing $42 million and targeting 3,000 homes a year plus 250 jobs. Sports (Arkansas ties): Boise State gymnastics was selected for the NCAA regional in Fayetteville, and Arkansas’ Wehiwa Aloy is highlighted as the latest Golden Spikes Award winner from the Razorbacks.

Defense Industry: L3Harris broke ground in Camden on two new PAC-3 propulsion facilities, aiming to ramp up U.S. Army interceptor output next year. Public Safety & Weather: Forecasters warn of strong to severe storms north of I-40 Saturday, plus dangerous heat indices through the weekend. Child Safety Lawsuit: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued Snapchat, alleging design features make it harder for parents to monitor minors and mislead families about protections. Local Government: Beebe banned unpotted bamboo citywide, giving residents 60 days to remove it or face fines. Tech & Data Centers: Z Squared acquired a Union County site near El Dorado for AI/HPC data center development, targeting up to 50MW and later more. Arkansas Sports: The Arkansas Travelers’ top pitching prospect Kade Anderson returned to form in a 7-4 win over San Antonio. Business/Community: Madison County Record was sold to Scott Loftis, keeping operations in Huntsville.

Arkansas Medicaid Work Requirement: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and DHS say ARHOME recipients will face a job/volunteer/school requirement starting July 1, with a soft launch next week and full enforcement Jan. 1, 2027; exemptions include pregnancy/postpartum, disability, caregivers, and special needs, and noncompliance could mean benefits suspended after a 30-day compliance window. Local Education & Community: North Little Rock is clearing the historic Ole Main High School building with a rummage sale Saturday, funded by a May 2025 millage that supports major district construction. Public Safety & Weather: The National Weather Service warns of flash-flood risk in northern Arkansas Friday night into Saturday, with scattered storms and possible damaging winds near the Arkansas-Missouri border. Health Care Workforce: A new Arkansas report highlights a physician “bottleneck” after graduation, pushing a statewide GME strategy and a new technical assistance center to expand residency access. Northeast Arkansas Nonprofits: United Way of Northeast Arkansas announced $426,360 for 2027, including direct grants to 15 agencies and funding for its Community Connect program. Sports & Culture: Northwest Arkansas National Airport opened the Scott Family Amazeum “Wonder Wing” for kids, and Fayetteville set downtown street closures for the Pride Festival and Parade Saturday.

Child Safety Lawsuit: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed suit against Snapchat parent company Snap, Inc., alleging risks to minors and consumer violations. Local Health Care: UAMS and Helena Hospital announced a co-management agreement for the Bryant hospital takeover, pending final state approval, aiming to expand UAMS specialist access in the Delta. Education Policy: A Little Rock opinion piece argues Arkansas should focus on what actually improves outcomes—family engagement and real early learning—rather than fearmongering about the proposed Educational Rights Amendment. Public Safety: Police say a man was arrested after choking a woman and then shooting at her in Little Rock; separate reporting also details a high-speed chase that ended with a 19-year-old jailed. Statewide Economy & Food Security: A SNAP payment error-rate update highlights new federal cost shifts that could squeeze Arkansas DHS funding and worsen hunger risk if the state can’t invest to keep errors below 6%. Arkansas Business/Development: Mountain Home leaders are pushing Issue 3, a ballot measure that would let cities and counties create economic development districts and tax incentives—after a similar deal fell through last year. Sports (Arkansas ties): Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari is expected to host 2027 big man Caleb Ourigou for an official visit.

Snap Lawsuit: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued Snap Inc., alleging Snapchat’s design and features expose minors to sextortion, grooming, violent content, drug marketplaces and risky “My AI” advice, and that disappearing messages create a false sense of protection. Farm Tech Fallout: Arkansas farmers filed suit over EAVision J100 spray drones, saying advertised safety tech hasn’t prevented crashes and fires. Public Safety: Fort Smith police warned residents about carfentanil, calling it an extraordinarily dangerous synthetic opioid far stronger than fentanyl. Missing Persons: Dardanelle police are searching for a 20-year-old woman and her 6-week-old baby last seen near the Arkansas River. Local Economy/Jobs: Crenlo Engineered Cabs moved its HQ to Bentonville from Minneapolis as it expands. Energy/Defense: Titan Mining secured conditional U.S. Army leases to build graphite processing at Pine Bluff Arsenal, with construction targeted for 2027. Tech & Media: Small newspapers sued OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged copying to train AI chatbots. Sports/Community: Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn discussed transfer portal additions as the Razorbacks build for next season.

NBA: Austin Reaves stays in L.A.: The Lakers are re-signing guard Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million deal, keeping the former Oklahoma undrafted standout alongside Luka Dončić. Arkansas Sports: Meleek Thomas drafted: Cleveland selected Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas in the second round, a big step for the Midland, Pa.-area product who starred at Arkansas. Local Infrastructure: Entergy updated its online power outage map with a more user-friendly layout, better search, and planned-outage visibility. Housing Policy: The House passed a bipartisan affordable housing bill aimed at speeding construction and expanding access to home loans, sending it to President Trump. Arkansas Outdoors: The Buffalo River Elk Festival will hold an on-site drawing for reserved elk hunting permits June 26-27 in Jasper, with winners required to be present. Community & Health: UAMS plans to begin operating a 53-bed hospital in Bryant, expanding local care capacity.