A commissioner is taking issue with the decision to sever ties with PBS, the Ark. Democrat-Gazette reports. “I believe there were many considerations not disclosed at the Commission meeting on Dec. 11 in the push to move with undue speed in disaffiliating,” Annette Herrington wrote in an email.

PBS says there was no effort by the Arkansas commission to negotiate before voting to end being a PBS member. The national network hopes Arkansas will reconsider.

Be sure to check out Overcrowded, @arkansasadvocate.com’s series on prisons. Today’s installment by @grajeda.bsky.social looks at fines and fees formerly incarcerated people are levied. #arpx #arleg arkansasadvocate.com/2025/12/17/o...

Amid the turmoil that is Arkansas PBS or Arkansas TV or whatever, Steve Barnes remains calm and delivers an “Arkansas Week.” The ultimate pro, who next month marks 58 continuous years on Little Rock television doing news or public affairs.

Excitted to have an interview I recorded with Willie Nelson 20 years ago be featured in a new book which is a compilation of 31 interviews. I was working for the Miami Herald in 2005 I talked with him about biodiesel fuel and his tour with Bob Dylan playing in old ballparks around the country.

Steve Cropper, legendary guitarist for Booker T & the MGs, dies aged 84

The Arkansas Advocate has big news! Andrew DeMillo, a veteran reporter who has covered Arkansas politics and policy for 23 years, will take the reins from retiring founding editor Sonny Albarado next month. Read more here:

John Oliver had a great segment on public media this week, which included this mention of Arkansas PBS.

On “Arkansas Week,” which airs again this morning at 10, I discussed the state’s high prison recidivism rate and the latest on the proposed Franklin County prison with state Sen. Ben Gilmore and Jim Bell, owner of a Little Rock prison reentry facility. Watch on Arkansas PBS, the PBS app or YouTube.

News has arrived of the passing of Judge Billy Roy Wilson at age 85. Known for his country wit and his love of mules, he had continued hearing cases until earlier this spring. Read more about this Arkansas original here: encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/bill...

A $5.8 million grant to UAMS will allow it to continue researching how to mitigate the terrible side effects of cancer treatments. Dr. Marjan Boerma spoke about this with “Arkansas Week” host Steve Barnes on Arkansas PBS. Here’s a highlight of the interview that aired this weekend.

On Arkansas Week tonight, economists Dr. Michael Pakko and Mervin Jebaraj join host Steve Barnes to discuss the economy, agriculture and recent stock market volatility triggered by trade tensions. Watch at 7:30 on Arkansas PBS or afterward on the PBS App and YouTube.

A new waterfowl research program, funded through $7 million in donations, is now based at University of Arkansas at Monticello. Agriculture and university officials celebrated the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence, which you can watch via Arkansas PBS. www.youtube.com/live/ZeBZ1sg...

The UA Division of Agriculture’s Dr. Hunter Biram has been talking with agricultural lenders about the grim prospects for farmers. The government shutdown has only worsened the situation by disrupting programs that benefit growers. Here's a highlight from tonight's "Arkansas Week."

New Arkansas PBS Executive Director/CEO Carlton Wing sat down with me on “Arkansas Week” to discuss how he’s planning for the future of the station. While this is a challenging time for public broadcasting, he said there are immense opportunities ahead. Watch tonight at 7:30 or afterward online.

The government shutdown is disrupting some programs that benefit agriculture. That’s on top of what has already been a terrible year for growers. On “Arkansas Week,” airing tonight at 7:30 on Arkansas PBS, I'm joined by UA Division of Agriculture’s Dr. Hunter Biram and UCA’s Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl.

As we mark our 50th anniversary, we want to hear from Viewers Like You: How has the show affected your life? https://bit.ly/3KFpORZ

We're standing by for an announcement from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and White House Faith Office Senior Advisor Pastor Paula White-Cain. The live feed from Arkansas PBS at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion is streaming and can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evca...

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is scheduled to make an announcement at 10:30 this morning alongside White House Faith Office Senior Advisor Pastor Paula White-Cain. No additional details yet. Arkansas PBS has a crew at the Governor's Mansion to stream the it live. I'll post a link in comments.

On Arkansas PBS tonight, U.S. Sen. John Boozman talks with Steve Barnes about the federal government shutdown and an expected announcement by the administration of a plan to provide assistance to the nation’s farmers. Watch Arkansas Week at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 10 a.m., on the PBS app or YouTube.

It’s after midnight on the East Coast, meaning we are officially in a government shutdown. Here’s what Arkansas’ senators are saying.

Rep. Carlton Wing is serving his fifth term in the House and is a former sports broadcaster for Little Rock’s KARK. (Via @arkansasadvocate.com) current.org/2025/09/stat...

A federal government shutdown is looking likely next week as Republicans and Democrats in Congress are locked in a standoff over budget legislation. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's @alexhousethomas.bsky.social joins us from Washington with the latest on "Arkansas Week," tonight 7:30 on Arkansas PBS.

Pharoah Sanders died this date-September 24, 2022. Jazz saxophone great was born in 1940 at Little Rock, Arkansas. 30+ solo albums as well as numerous recordings with others, including John Coltrane.

Little Rock and the world have lost a beautiful friend with the passing of Mr. Robert Griffin Sr, longtime DJ of The Quiet Storm jazz show on KABF 88.3 FM. It was always special to turn on the radio on a rainy Sunday morning and hear Mr. Griff's unmistakable voice drifting through the airwaves.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, who wants a new government funding bill passed this month, told me on Arkansas PBS: “I’m a bit at odds with my own leadership team on this subject because continuing resolutions are not the answer to America’s fiscal problems.” youtu.be/DkuStOpEq3Y?...

On “Arkansas Week,”airing tonight at 7:30 on Arkansas PBS, I’m joined by U.S. Rep. Steve Womack to discuss his push for a new government spending bill rather than the continuing resolution passed by the House today. We also talk agriculture and his bill to preserve veterans’ access to telemedicine.

Proud of the folks I work with here at Arkansas PBS, which received 11 nominations for the 49th annual NATAS Mid-America EMMY Awards! Winners will be announced Oct. 25. www.myarkansaspbs.org/blog/arkansa...

There are talks happening about economic assistance for farmers as provisions of the GOP tax package won't take effect until next fall. Sen. Boozman: "We're in a situation where it doesn't matter where you live in the United States, it's very, very difficult." www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/se...

On Arkansas Week, airing tonight at 7:30 on Arkansas PBS, the Democrat-Gazette’s @alexhousethomas.bsky.social joins me from Washington to discuss congressional matters, including a federal funding deadline, a push for agricultural assistance and a proposal to loosen permitting environmental reviews.

An Arkansas legislative hearing looking into a proposed state prison in Franklin County is underway. You can watch the Joint Performance Review Committee hearing live via Arkansas PBS. www.youtube.com/live/OX4Fa0R...

A campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of opioids is being expanded to Arkansas college campuses and will include narcan being available for free in vending machines, Attorney General Tim Griffin announced today. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVe5...

An interview with soul and gospel singer Al Green 25 years ago on @whyy.org "Fresh "Air" was noted as being among the program's best as it celebrates 50th anniversary with Terry Gross. She asked Rev. Green about the churches he grew up attending in Arkansas, which led to his philosophy on preaching.

On Arkansas PBS tonight: Advocates for the state’s agriculture industry are asking Congress to provide federal assistance to growers. The Arkansas Rice Federation’s Mark Isbell, Arkansas Farm Bureau President Dan Wright and UA Division of Ag Economist Hunter Biram will be on “Arkansas Week” at 7:30.

“Due to the loss of federal funding PBS eliminated close to 100 positions over the last several months, including 34 valued PBS staff members notified yesterday their employment is ending,” the organization said. current.org/2025/09/pbs-...

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr joined Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, Sen. Tom Cotton and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to announce a plan to jam cellphone signals in prisons. Contraband phones have been used to order murders, kidnappings and other crimes, he said. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IACN...

From @sonnyalbarado.bsky.social and @grajeda.bsky.social: Sen. Gary Stubblefield, a Branch Republican who served a dozen years in the Arkansas Senate, died Tuesday at the age of 74. #arpx

On Arkansas PBS tonight, I interview sculptor Kevin Kresse about his project to make busts of 20 pioneering musicians. Those, along with a replica of the Johnny Cash statue in the U.S. Capitol, will be on display in North Little Rock. Campaign Chair John Gaudin also joins us on Arkansas Week at 7:30

Wishing all the best to NPR's Ari Shapiro! It was announced today the All Things Considered host will leave the network next month. Our paths crossed a few times while covering stories in Miami about two decades ago. www.npr.org/sections/npr...

Not since the primitive days of television in 1955 has Little Rock television been reduced to two newsrooms. Two of Little Rock's legacy TV stations KARK 4 and KTHV 11 will merge operations. That leaves Nexstar (KARK, KTHV, KLRT), and Sinclair (KATV) as the binary duopoly "news stations".

Will the newsroom for THV11 in Little Rock be merged with the newsroom for KARK-4/KLRT-Fox 16 as their parent companies merge? Nexstar, which owns KARK and operates Fox 16 through an LMA, announced Monday a proposed purchase of Tegna, owner of THV11. That would leave only two TV newsrooms in LR.

State government meetings being livestreamed this morning by Arkansas PBS have a nice transportation theme. At 9:30, watch the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission, then at 10, the Arkansas Highway Commission will meet, all available via ARCAN. www.myarkansaspbs.org/arcan

Pipemaker Welspun Tubular announced today plans for another major expansion at the Port of Little Rock. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined company officials to share details of the $150 million expansion, which will create 300 new jobs. Watch via Arkansas PBS www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AHU...

With Congress in its August break, U.S. Rep. French Hill stopped by Arkansas PBS, talking with Steve Barnes about the impact to Medicaid from the budget reconciliation act and the passage of cryptocurrency reguations. Arkansas Week airs again at 10 a.m. or watch on the PBS app or YouTube.

Eddie Palmieri, groundbreaking Latin music artist who was the first Latino to win a Grammy Award, dies at 88.

WKRP was the best TV portrayal of a radio station ever. RIP Loni Anderson.

On Arkansas Week, which will be broadcast this morning at 10 on Arkansas PBS, we discuss UA Little Rock's announcement Friday that it has received a $4.2 million gift to strengthen Early Childhood Education in Arkansas. Dr. Rachel Eels joins us to share how this will be used prepare educators.

Even beyond her music, I enjoyed her Sunday radio program on SXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse. RIP

Well dang. Flaco was key in helping me develop an appreciation for South Texas music, and the Texas Tornadoes are still among my favorite bands to play at the end of a long day or when I’m in a bar putting music on the jukebox. What a life — 86. RIP www.npr.org/2025/08/01/1...

To stop abortion pills from being shipped to Arkansas, Attorney General Tim Griffin today asked Congress to consider legislation prohibiting entities from shipping the medication to states where abortion is illegal. Here's Griffin's full press conference. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRqX...