AGP Executive Report

Consumer Fraud Focus: Arkansas AG Tim Griffin is gearing up for a two-day Little Rock summit on scams, including robocalls and benefit fraud, as he also tees up next legislative session priorities. Public Safety in Custody: Arkansas State Police are investigating two separate in-custody deaths—one in West Memphis and one in Fayetteville—after a woman showed signs of possible drug ingestion following booking. Courts & State Policy: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed educator Dr. Gary Stark to the Arkansas State Board of Education, replacing Adrienne Woods. Infrastructure & Local Government: Clarksville officials discussed financing options for a roughly $35 million wastewater treatment upgrade, while Johnson Regional Medical Center updates negotiations tied to a nearby data center community benefits agreement. Energy & Heat: The DOE authorized emergency backup power for 17 states, including Arkansas, amid extreme heat and blackout fears. Environment & Industry: A proposed federal settlement would fine Domtar $1.5 million over air pollution issues at its Ashdown paper mill. Health & Public Health: A University of Arkansas researcher is working to better understand soybean cyst nematodes after grant support, aiming to protect yields.

Veterans Legal Access: The Legal Services Corporation rolled out a new toolkit to help legal aid groups and volunteer attorneys expand civil legal help for veterans, targeting issues like evictions and discharge-related problems. Education Appointments: Gov. Sarah Sanders named Gary Stark to the Arkansas State Board of Education, replacing Adrienne Woods, with a focus on teacher effectiveness and student outcomes. Attorney General & Data Privacy: AG Tim Griffin announced Arkansas will receive $431,937 from a proposed multistate settlement with 23andMe over a 2023 genetic data breach; the deal still needs court approval. Surveillance Backlash in Northwest Arkansas: Pea Ridge police are ending their Flock license plate reader program after reviewing costs, effectiveness, and community concerns. Arkansas Law Enforcement Ops: A Secret Service-led operation seized seven card skimming devices across the Little Rock metro and Northwest Arkansas, working with local agencies to protect consumers. State Government & Courts: Arkansas is among states backing Iowa in a fight over pension oversight staying with state regulators. National Security Industry: L3Harris secured a long-term framework agreement to nearly triple propulsion output for PAC-3 MSE missile interceptors. Local Wildlife Management: Arkansas Game and Fish is considering a drawn waterfowl permit unit on the St. Francis Sunken Lands Wildlife Management Area to address hunter crowding concerns. Arkansas Sports/Community: Kiwanis’ Texas-Oklahoma district convention drew hundreds to Texarkana, mixing leadership training with local service projects.

Education Appointments: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named Gary Stark, a Cleburne County educator and Walton philanthropy executive, to the Arkansas State Board of Education, replacing Adrienne Woods and extending the governor’s education board footprint. Consumer & Legal Accountability: Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Arkansas’s share of a multistate settlement with 23andMe over a 2023 genetic data breach, with the company set to pay $18 million to states and Arkansas receiving $431,937. Capitol Religious Display Fight: Griffin is appealing a federal ruling ordering removal of the Ten Commandments monument on Capitol grounds, arguing the display is constitutional and that precedent was ignored. Higher Ed Growth: UA Little Rock reported preliminary fall enrollment gains, including higher undergraduate credit hours and first-time freshman and transfer growth. Elections & Voting Security Pressure: DHS is pushing states to scrub voter rolls for alleged noncitizens; California’s secretary of state says it’s reviewing DHS’s letter. Public Safety: A Bella Vista man died after his vehicle hit a portable toilet that fell from a truck on I-49 in Bentonville. Local Immigration Tension: An Arkansas community festival faces a boycott call tied to local police participation in a federal immigration program.

Arkansas Education & School Choice: Arkansas’ Educational Freedom Account program sent more than $60 million to private schools in 2025-26, with just 10 schools taking the biggest shares—Shiloh Christian School and Little Rock Christian Academy each topping $10 million—raising fresh questions about how state dollars flow under the LEARNS Act. Public Media & Censorship Claims: A look back at Arkansas Educational Television Network history renews the debate over alleged censorship, including recent complaints tied to programming changes at Arkansas PBS. Arkansas Courts & Records: A federal fight over Arkansas crypto-mine limits continues as newly surfaced texts from the Sanders administration show officials weighing how to handle claims about Chinese ties—now part of a broader lawsuit challenging state laws. Local Government & Public Safety: Jonesboro and Craighead County move forward on a new E-911 center and a Real Time Crime Center, aiming to upgrade emergency communications and response coordination. Elections in Arkansas: A roundup notes there are races for Congress and the U.S. Senate in Arkansas this year, with Democrats challenging GOP incumbents across multiple seats. Crime & Community Impact: The Devil’s Den killings case remains in focus a year later, with the state continuing its prosecution of the man arrested in the 2025 park murders. Road Safety: A national analysis highlights drunk driving as the deadliest reckless-driving behavior, underscoring the stakes for Arkansas road safety.

Natural Disasters & Federal Coordination: Rep. Celeste Maloy helped rally federal and state leaders to Beaver after flash floods tied to the Cottonwood Fire destroyed mud lines, downed electrical lines, and wiped out three hydropower plants—renewing debate over forest management. Public Safety & Local Government: Fort Smith’s Board of Directors will review Tuesday a nearly $10M phased plan to redevelop a former dealership into a police training facility and precinct space. Agriculture: Arkansas rice acreage fell to 851,000 acres—the lowest in 50 years—raising fears the dip could linger. State Economy: Arkansas unemployment edged down to 4.1% in June, while payroll jobs declined seasonally. Food Assistance Security: DHS will launch a new ebtEDGE New app next week to curb SNAP EBT fraud after suspicious transactions targeted cardholders. Education & School Choice: Arkansas Educational Freedom Accounts sent over $60M to private schools in 2025-26, with a small number of large schools taking the biggest shares. Election Policy: Voter ID and citizenship verification measures are heading to ballots across the country as Congress debates election security. Crime & Courts: A vehicle went into Booneville Lake, killing two and sending a third to medical care. Infrastructure Finance: Highfill plans up to $14M in water and sewer bonds for system upgrades and easements. Tech & Workforce: UA Hope-Texarkana launched a Certificate of Proficiency in Artificial Intelligence. Public Health: Arkansas marked 20 years since its indoor smoking ban took effect.

Education Funding & School Choice: Arkansas’ Educational Freedom Account program sent over $60 million to private schools last school year, with Shiloh Christian School (Springdale) and Little Rock Christian Academy each topping $10 million. Public Media & Censorship Claims: AETN is again facing censorship accusations dating back to its 1966 start, including later disputes over programming time slots. Health Policy: A nationwide Medicaid ban on routine care at Planned Parenthood expired after Congress didn’t renew it, though states still must opt in for reimbursements. Courts & Child Safety Online: A federal appeals court blocked Texas from forcing social media platforms to filter harmful content for minors, citing federal preemption under Section 230. Local Justice: An attorney filed a lawsuit in NWA over alleged AI-generated child sexual abuse material tied to xAI’s Grok, seeking damages for a Northwest Arkansas family. State & Local Government: The Commissioner of State Lands reported a regional auction of tax-delinquent properties in Clark-area counties raised about $235,000. Arkansas Politics & Campaign Finance: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ June reports included $7,000 in donations from University of Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari. Public Safety: Extreme heat forced the Little Rock Zoo to close for a week starting July 26.

Arkansas Governor’s Race: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders reported $3,500 in donations from University of Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari and his wife in June, while she raised about $198,000 that month and has $5.1 million cash on hand; her Democratic challenger, Sen. Fred Love, raised $193,000 and spent $30,000 in June. Democratic Senate Primary: Maine Democrats nominated Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate, setting up a fight against Sen. Susan Collins. Voter Roll Scrutiny: A DHS SAVE database review found noncitizens and dead people on voter rolls in multiple states, including Georgia and North Carolina, as more states finish processing. Criminal Justice & Public Safety: A new Arkansas case adds to sexual-assault charges tied to former band instructors, and a woman was arrested in connection with a suspected fentanyl overdose death in Blytheville. State Government & Local Impact: The Commissioner of State Lands reported a tax-delinquent property auction in Clark and nearby counties raised about $235,000. Community & Labor: The Benton Firefighters Union endorsed Mayor Tom Farmer for re-election.

Religious Freedom Fight: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and First Liberty asked the 8th Circuit to reverse a ruling ordering removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the Little Rock Capitol grounds, arguing it’s protected under the First Amendment. Air Pollution Settlement: DOJ, EPA and DEQ urged a federal judge to approve a $1.5 million settlement against Domtar’s Ashdown paper mill over Clean Air Act violations tied to monitoring failures and illegal emissions. Local Government & Privacy: Pea Ridge Police will stop using Flock Safety automatic license plate readers, citing community trust concerns; the department says it’ll keep relying on officers and partnerships. Property Taxes: Craighead County residents are seeing higher 2026 assessments after the assessor tied values to strong sales; meanwhile Riverview School District says a White County assessor error involving a Happy Solar Farm cut its tax revenue by about $493,000. Public Safety: A Baxter County update says a Utah sex offender, Kaide Hall, registered in Mountain Home; and Jacksonville police reported a band director arrested on second-degree sexual assault charges.

Sheriff Race Shakeup (Lonoke County): The Democratic candidate for Lonoke County sheriff, Brian Mitchell Sr., dropped out before ballots were certified, leaving the fall race narrowed to Republican Aaron Spencer and independent Larry Behnke. Local Governance (Benton): Benton City Council will weigh rezoning requests, a school resource officer contract, and a measure to allow fireworks at Benton High School football games. Courts (Saline County): A federal judge ordered a settlement conference in the Hector-Brumley lawsuit over Hector’s 2023 firing as Saline County Library director. Public Safety (K9 Memorial): Brookland Police K9 officer BOLO will be memorialized Monday after dying from bloat. Tech & Law (Texas, national implications): Texas AG Ken Paxton won a court order forcing Discord to add stronger age-assurance and default safety protections for Texas users. Education & Workforce (Arkansas): Be Pro Be Proud marked a decade promoting trades, citing enrollment gains tied to its mobile learning centers. Sports (Arkansas): Arkansas baseball signed Japanese pitcher Shogo Miyauchi.

Public Safety & Courts: Little Rock police arrested Philip Lambert on a first-degree murder charge after a cemetery battery victim, Zachary Counts, died from his injuries. Police Accountability: Body-cam video of a Little Rock officer shooting a dog in the Heights neighborhood drew expert commentary on whether the officer faced imminent danger. Tragedy in the Line of Duty: A Rogers officer, Fred Marsh, drowned while trying to rescue his fiancée hours after proposing; her mother described the rescue effort and engagement. Crime Trends: A national Council on Criminal Justice report says murders in large U.S. cities are down 18% in the first half of 2026, even as some cities saw spikes. State Politics & Policy: Arkansas daylight saving time debate continues as Sen. Tom Cotton faces pressure over the Senate’s split on making the clock change permanent. Health & Consumer Protection: Arkansas AG Tim Griffin is pushing a consumer fraud summit focused on surging texting scams. Education & Community: Economics Arkansas named Daniel McAdoo and Dr. Megan Duncan to its board to support PreK-12 economic and financial literacy. Local Governance: Residents challenged Rockport over trash contracting and FOIA practices; a separate Rockport audit/budget transparency fight continues. Economy & Industry: Federal moves and state actions are intensifying over data centers shifting grid upgrade costs to ratepayers, with Arkansas communities watching closely.

Public Safety: Rogers Police Officer Fred Marsh, 24, drowned on Missouri’s Elk River while trying to save his fiancée hours after proposing to her; his body was recovered Sunday and he was pronounced dead after the rescue attempt. State Government & Courts: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued 22 drugmakers and related entities, alleging they used “burdensome” rules to undermine the federal 340B discount program and violate Arkansas’ 2021 law requiring discounted sales to contract pharmacies. Higher Education: The University of Arkansas System launched a search committee for UALR’s next chancellor, with Brian Berry (UALR vice provost/research dean) named chair; current Chancellor Christina Drale plans to retire after the 2026-27 school year. Food Assistance: New federal SNAP rules tied to payment accuracy could raise costs for states with higher error rates, with a new analysis saying more than 1 million children in 19 states have already lost benefits since July 2025 changes. Local Governance/Community: Mountain Home’s 2025 city audit was accepted with a clean “no findings” result. Appointments: Allen Bryant will become law enforcement chief for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

Health Care & Law: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued 22 drug manufacturers and related entities, plus a data firm, alleging they violated Act 1103 of 2021 by using restrictions that undercut 340B discounted drug access for hospitals and clinics. Public Safety: Little Rock released body-cam footage showing an officer backing away before fatally shooting a Labrador in the Heights neighborhood. State Politics & Governance: Interim U.S. Sen. Darline Graham was appointed as the first sibling in U.S. history to replace a senator who died in office or resigned. Local Government: Centerton broke ground on a $26 million recreation center, with a 36,575-square-foot first phase including aquatics, gym space, and community areas. Elections & Civic Trust: A community call urged transparency as congressional district shakeups approach. Justice & Courts: A 23-year-old convicted in a 2022 Baldwin City shooting case faces nearly 20 years after attempted-murder and assault convictions. Community & Culture: The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts named 10 new trustees to its board.

Cybersecurity & National Guard: North Carolina’s National Guard and Zambia’s Defense Force used Cyber Shield 2026 to train together on threat hunting, malware analysis, and incident response—another step in the State Partnership Program’s long-running security ties. Arkansas Economy: Arkansas’ unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in June, with the state workforce hitting record levels as seasonal school-related payroll declines were offset by gains in leisure/hospitality and professional services. Elections & Voting Access: Jefferson County reminded voters about a special Aug. 18 Senate District 1 primary and the process for requesting absentee ballots, including key deadlines for registration and early voting. Local Government: Fayetteville City Council adopted a nondisclosure agreement ordinance, while Decatur paused a campaign sign rule and approved changes to how council members can be hired as city employees. Public Safety & Courts: A Bentonville photographer accused in an AI child sex abuse material case pleaded not guilty to more than 200 charges, and prosecutors say additional victims may exist. FEMA Funding: FEMA approved more than $76.3 million in disaster aid for Arkansas and neighboring states, including repairs and hazard mitigation projects.

Voting Rights Fight: The U.S. Supreme Court is again leaving in place rulings that make it harder to enforce parts of the Voting Rights Act, with Louisiana Republicans treating the latest decisions as a blueprint for broader ballot suppression. Local School Governance: A Sherwood-area town hall on a proposed split from Pulaski County Special School District focused on staffing, facilities, and whether key programs would survive a new district. Open Government: Fayetteville City Council adopted an ordinance tightening how the city handles nondisclosure agreements, requiring mayor and city attorney sign-off and longer retention. State Government Personnel: DFA Secretary Jim Hudson added Jessica Moore as State Budget Director and named Tim Frith to lead the Arkansas Racing Commission. Corrections Records: Arkansas Supreme Court ordered a lower judge to grant AG Tim Griffin’s motion to dismiss his public records lawsuit against the Board of Corrections. Cybersecurity & Power Grid: Cyber Shield 2026 is underway in Little Rock, with a major focus on defending the power sector from cyber and operational technology threats. Education & Vouchers Oversight: Arkansas advocates renewed calls for stronger child-safety accountability in the state’s voucher system after reporting raised concerns about a private school receiving taxpayer funds. Fort Smith Ballot Process: A planned submission of signatures for a change-of-government question was delayed after claims about notarization of petition pages.

Bridge Oversight: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito toured the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild in Baltimore with Gov. Wes Moore and Rep. Steve Womack, pressing for transparency as costs are still pegged at $4B–$5B and Maryland split work into multiple contracts. Prosecutor Shake-Up: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Charles Duell to lead the 4th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (Washington and Madison counties), effective Aug. 4, as Brandon Carter heads to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. Courts & Public Safety: A Garland County hearing is set in the 2023 Jessieville kidnapping/murder case involving Jorge Antonio Casillas, while another jail attack case involving Cody Gonzales moves forward under a gag order. Law Enforcement: Rogers mourned Officer Fred Marsh, who drowned while trying to rescue a swimmer in Missouri; meanwhile, 22 officers graduated ALETA Basic Police Training Class 2026-B. Local Government: Little Rock Ward 3 Director Kathy Webb announced she’ll seek reelection, facing at least one challenger. Wildfire Tech: Arkansas Forestry is using OroraTech’s thermal satellite data to improve detection, safety, and arson investigations. Flood Funding: Arkansas is taking pre-applications for FEMA’s Swift Current Flood Mitigation Assistance program, with up to $20M available. Food & Health: A new study on Arkansas rice finds water management can reduce arsenic but may trade off with cadmium levels. Lottery: Powerball climbed to about $567M as the game expands to the UK.

Pulaski County Development Fight: An attorney for AVAIO Digital Partners asked Pulaski County’s proposed 12-month data-center moratorium to include a carve-out so its “Project Leo” can proceed, according to records. Little Rock Public Safety: Police arrested two men on capital murder charges in a Wednesday drive-by that killed Emmanuel Ilo, with court filings tying the alleged shooter’s vehicle to surveillance footage. Local Justice: A Pine Bluff man reached a confidential settlement with Jefferson County over a 2023 excessive-force lawsuit tied to a traffic stop and a K-9 incident. City Governance: Fort Smith change-of-government petitioners plan to deliver about 3,720 signatures to the mayor Tuesday to qualify a November ballot question. Education/Leadership: Texarkana ISD named Sherri Penix interim superintendent after Dr. Doug Brubaker’s resignation. Tech & Policy: Texarkana’s board approved a city generative AI policy to comply with Arkansas law, requiring IT staff to vet AI engines. Criminal Justice Access: A free expungement clinic is set for Thursday in Searcy with Legal Aid of Arkansas helping eligible people seek record sealing. Public Health: Health officials warn of measles risks amid a resurgence, as another case story highlights how quickly outbreaks can become severe. State Operations: Arkansas says it has moved payroll, procurement and recruiting/onboarding onto SAP platforms to modernize state government systems. Sports/Community: Jonesboro’s “Battle of the Badges” blood drive drew first-time participation from local agencies amid ongoing blood shortages. Lottery: Powerball climbed to an estimated $544 million for Monday’s drawing.