On today's headlines from KASU News, Arkansas lawmakers have given the final nod to the state's multi-billion dollar budget, along with several legislative changes. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Arkansas will not adhere to new federal Title IX rules concerning the treatment of transgender students.
In legislative moves, a new rule has been approved restricting electronic signatures for voter registration, effective exclusively through select state agencies. The state's budget plan for the next fiscal year, reflecting a modest spending increase, has been passed, focusing significantly on a new school voucher program. Additionally, a collaboration aimed at establishing Arkansas' first veterinary school has been dissolved.
In other news, the city of Brookland is planning a new municipal center to accommodate growth. Also highlighted were legislative efforts to penalize students convicted of protest-related offenses, and initiatives to address children's mental health. The report wraps up with announcements about leadership changes at A-State and the upcoming Toad Suck Days festival in Conway.
On this Episode:
00:30 New Voter Registration Rule in Arkansas
01:55 Title IX Changes and Governor Sanders's Response
03:38 Arkansas's New Fiscal Year Budget and Legislative Session Wrap-Up
04:16 Arkansas's Economic Update: Revenue and Forecasts
05:20 End of a Partnership: Lyon College and OneHealth
06:11 Brookland's Expansion: A New Municipal Center
07:01 Legislation Impacting Student Loan Relief for Convicted Protesters
07:29 Raising Awareness for Children's Mental Health in Arkansas
08:39 New Leadership at A-State: Tiffany N. Mosley's Appointment
09:04 Celebrating Toad Suck Days: Arkansas's Largest Free Family Festival
