KASU News: Arkansas Inmate Pleads Not Guilty to Escape Charge
By : Sandhya
Today’s top stories from Arkansas:
00:00 — Introduction
A roundup of key local news impacting communities across Arkansas.
00:30 — Convicted Killer Pleads Not Guilty in Escape Case
Grant Hardin, a convicted murderer who escaped the North Central Unit in Calico Rock last month and was recaptured after two weeks, has pleaded not guilty to the escape charge.
00:53 — Jonesboro’s Sports Complex and Downtown Revamp
Construction on the Ridge Athletic Center pool in Jonesboro could begin by late July. Meanwhile, city leaders are considering lowering Race Street’s speed limit and reducing Main Street to a single lane downtown to improve pedestrian safety.
03:20 — Wrightsville Dollar General to Close
Wrightsville’s only retail store, a Dollar General, will shut its doors on July 14. The closure will leave local residents with no nearby grocery or convenience store options.
04:28 — Medicaid Work Rule and SNAP Cuts Spark Concerns
Arkansas is seeking federal approval for a Medicaid work requirement waiver. Advocates warn this could limit healthcare access and drive up costs to the state if federal SNAP funding is also reduced.
06:13 — Governor Sanders Criticizes Paris Air Show Restrictions
During a European trade mission, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders condemned restrictions imposed on Israeli defense companies at the Paris Air Show, calling them unfair and discriminatory.
06:50 — Tackling Maternal Mortality in Arkansas
Olivia Walton of the Heartland Whole Health Institute announced a new initiative to research how economic and healthcare disparities contribute to Arkansas’s alarmingly high maternal mortality rate.
08:19 — New DHS Secretary Appointed
Governor Sanders has named Janet Mann, current Medicaid Director, as the new Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services. She will take over from Kristi Putnam at the end of July.
These stories and more continue to shape the conversation across the Natural State.