Issue 2 passes, Pope County casino dead; Issue 1 receives voter approval

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Tens of millions of dollars spent for and against an effort to block construction of a casino in Pope County with a constitutional amendment resulted in the passage of Issue 2. Voter approval of the issue means a Pope County casino will not be built.

Arkansas Secretary of State numbers show that 55.8% of voters were for Issue 2 as of 11:45 p.m. However, 55.6% of Pope County voters were against Issue 2 – an amendment based on the belief that voters should have a say about having a casino in their county.

Voters overwhelmingly approved Issue 1 with 89.7% of the vote as of 11:45 p.m. Issue 1 was a referred constitutional amendment from the Arkansas General Assembly that would expand the use of lottery proceeds so that they can be used to fund scholarships for Arkansas citizens enrolled in vocational- technical schools and technical institutes. The popular legislative referral was pushed by Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs, and Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock.

Issue 2 passes, Pope County casino dead; Issue 1 receives voter approval

Bill Concerning COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Fails Arkansas House Committee

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that would have banned businesses in the state from mandating its employees get COVID-19 vaccinations has failed in a House committee.

House Bill 1547, which would make employers wait years after a COVID-19 vaccine has been officially approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before requiring its employees to get it, failed to receive the needed support on Tuesday from the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee to move on to the House.

Currently, three approved COVID-19 vaccinations are available through an emergency use authorization from the FDA.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-concerning-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-fails-arkansas-house-committee

Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale, presents House Bill 1547 to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE

Bill That Bars Transgender Youth From Accessing Transition-Related Care Passes House Committee

By SARAH KELLOGG

A bill that would bar transgender people under the age of 18 from receiving gender transition-related care passed a House committee on Tuesday.

The House Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee by a vote of 13-4 advanced House Bill 1570, which bans any physician or healthcare professional from providing "any gender transition procedures to any individual under 18."

Procedures that are banned include hormone treatment and gender reassignment surgery. Currently, gender reassignment surgeries are not being conducted in Arkansas. The bill also allows the state’s attorney general to bring an action for compliance with the law. 

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/bill-bars-transgender-youth-accessing-transition-related-care-passes-house-committee

Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale, (left) presents her bill to the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

CREDIT ARKANSAS HOUSE