Very happy birthday to The Red & Black, UGA's independent student newspaper! I wouldn't have gotten my start in journalism without my time there. Show you support for college journalism by giving to the paper today! givebutter.com/B1Cs9u?s=O70...

Got into an argument with my Michigan fan of a father this weekend and need to prove my point. Which rivalry has more hatred, the Iron Bowl (Bama vs Auburn) or The Game (Ohio State vs Michigan)? The answer is obviously the Iron Bowl, but I’m open to counter arguments

The Arkansas Department of Corrections has made little discernible progress in fixing an aging wastewater plant that regularly violates its federal water permit, public records show. ✍️: @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, a Rome Republican, announced her plans to resign from Congress Friday evening in an unexpected video message.

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: The Board of Corrections voted Tuesday to spend $1.95 million on upgrades and repair work at the Cummins-Varner Wastewater Treatment Plant. The decision came after the Arkansas Advocate published a deep dive into the delays and shifting timelines for fixing the plant.

The Board of Corrections has approved $1.95 million to construct new screening equipment at the Cummins-Varner Wastewater Treatment Plant, the first step in a much larger upgrade project that is years behind schedule. #arpx

Man, anyone else remember when crypto mining was the thing that everyone in Arkansas was worrying about? That feels like a lifetime ago now.

Some exciting professional news. I’ve been blessed to work with my amazing colleagues at AP over the past 20 years. I’m thrilled about this next chapter leading Arkansas Advocate’s incredibly talented newsroom. statesnewsroom.com/press-releas...

I can't think of anyone better equipped to take over from Sonny. This is such awesome news!

Members of Democratic caucus press ICE for answers on detainment of pregnant women, reports @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social www.newsfromthestates.com/article/memb...

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: The Arkansas Department of Corrections has made little discernible progress in fixing an aging wastewater plant that regularly violates its federal water permit, public records show. #arpx

In my latest for @arkansasadvocate.com, I did a deep dive on the delays and shifting timelines for fixing the Cummins-Varner Wastewater Treatment Plant, which treats the waste from Arkansas’ largest prisons. It’s a continuation of reporting I did at the ADG last year. Give it a read #arpx

The late night court stories never end (wrote this one in a Walmart parking lot, very Arkansas of me). Story will likely be updated tomorrow with more, so stay tuned:

NEW: Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has rescheduled the special elections in SD 26 and HD 70 for March, complying with what she called “unlawful” court orders that the Ark. Supreme Court declined to pause earlier this week. Story coming soon. #arpx #arleg

Members of Ozark’s city council unanimously voted on Monday against starting discussions with the state to potentially supply water for a planned 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County. #arpx

The Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality revived its Natural State Stewardship Program (NSTEP) after a brief hiatus Thursday, inducting a Fort Smith motor factory into the program for its commitments to reduce emissions.

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Wednesday denied Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ request to stay two lower court orders requiring her to set earlier special election dates for two legislative vacancies. #arpx

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: The Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality revived its Natural State Stewardship Program after a brief hiatus Thursday, inducting a Fort Smith motor factory into the program for its commitments to reduce emissions. #arpx

Love a good late night court story scramble. Read more the latest on the Arkansas special election lawsuits: #arpx #arleg

After a Utah judge's ruling picking a new congressional map, anti-gerrymandering groups celebrated what they called a victory in a drawn out battle for fairness in a state where Republicans have long kept a strong grip on state and federal representation. #utpol

Three Central Arkansas food pantries reported spikes in demand in recent weeks as those who normally receive SNAP benefits steeled themselves for possibly losing the help due to the congressional spending impasse, a first in the program’s history. ✍️: @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social

BREAKING: Senators have reached a deal to end the government shutdown.

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: As SNAP benefits remained delayed, Central Arkansas food pantries are seeing spikes in demand, while the Arkansas Foodbank warns the charitable food system can't possibly meet the total need for assistance in America's most food insecure state. #arpx

The Advocate's mothership launches a podcast this Friday! Give it a listen.

Going to get on my old student media soapbox here for a moment: Student journalists are journalists that just happen to be students too! Forgetting constitutional protections, it is wrong to censor journalists. Period. Full stop. Keep up the great work, IDS. From my college media ethics professor:

The state’s interpretation would have made the special election law “meaningless,” Judge Shawn Johnson wrote. “If the Governor has complete discretion over when to hold a special election … then there would be no reason to have a 150-day limitation at all.” AG Tim Griffin is appealing. #arpx

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: Arkansas has roughly 1.8 million registered voters — meaning 0.013% of the state’s registered voters are potentially noncitizens. That aligns with similarly small percentages reported in states like Texas and Louisiana. #arpx

Addressing barriers to child care licensing in Arkansas, such as regulatory burdens and dependence on federal funding, could lead to greater access to care, particularly in underserved and rural areas of the state, according to a new report. My latest for @arkansasadvocate.com

Google’s Lucia Tian said at the lithium summit today that new Arkansas laws “opened doors” to speed up energy generation projects. “We, and many of our peers, are looking to go to places where we can grow gigawatt-scale AI data centers … there aren’t many places where you can go and do that.” #arpx

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: An Arkansas judge said during a Tuesday hearing that he planned to rule as early as Wednesday on a petition asking to set an earlier date for a special election to fill House District 70’s vacant seat. #arpx #arleg

If you thought I was done with lithium, you thought wrong: I’m at the Arkansas Lithium Innovation Summit this morning and all day tomorrow. If you see me, come say hi!

The Arkansas Department of Human Services warned Arkansans on Wednesday to prepare themselves for possible interruptions to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments due to the federal government shutdown. #arpx

A Pulaski County Circuit judge ruled in favor of a Franklin County resident Wednesday and said a June 2026 special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat unconstitutionally deprives voters of a voice in next year’s fiscal session. #arpx #arleg ✍️: @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social

NEW from @sonnyalbarado.bsky.social: Arkansas’ third-largest school district asked a federal court Friday to let it intervene in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s school voucher program. #arpx #arleg

NEW from @tessmvrbin.bsky.social: A Central Arkansas school district ordered its staff on Tuesday to block students’ access to a wide range of LGBTQ+ books “as soon as possible,” according to an internal memo the Advocate obtained via the state Freedom of Information Act. #arpx

Even if a shutdown deal were reached immediately, the time needed to process the payments and make them available for recipients means benefits would likely be delayed, our D.C. Bureau reports:

Had a lovely chat with these #uark students. Click the link to hear them discuss their project in their own words. 🔈

NEW from @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: A Pulaski County Circuit judge ruled in favor of a Franklin County resident Wednesday and said a June 2026 special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat unconstitutionally deprives voters of a voice in next year’s legislative session. #arpx #arleg

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: The Democratic Party of Arkansas is suing Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to set earlier special election dates for the vacant House District 70 seat, weeks after a separate lawsuit challenging identical dates for Senate District 26's special election was filed. #arpx #arleg

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: The Amendment to Keep Arkansas Natural would preserve the state’s outdoors and natural resources for recreation, economy and public health, and give Arkansans “the fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment.” #arpx

Hundreds of Arkansans marched down Capitol Avenue in downtown Little Rock Saturday morning in a joint effort to protest the Trump administration and to celebrate LGBTQ+ Arkansans. @tessmvrbin.bsky.social has a recap of the Pride and #NoKings rallies. #arpx arkansasadvocate.com/2025/10/18/h...

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: A Pulaski County circuit judge said she would issue a ruling quickly in a lawsuit seeking to move up the dates of the Senate District 26 special election after a hearing Wednesday. #arpx

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: November is the busiest time of year at Arkansas Foodbank, and the federal government shutdown threatens to create additional need for the nonprofit’s services from the state’s SNAP recipients and federal employees. #arpx

Via @arkansasadvocate.com: Arkansas’ higher education institutions and the state’s education department have not been immediately impacted by the government shutdown, but officials said they’re preparing to make adjustments as needed. #arpx arkansasadvocate.com/2025/10/07/a...

Via @arkansasadvocate.com: More than 100 Arkansas National Guard members traveled to the nation’s southern border this weekend to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The 13-month deployment supports a federal requirement and is a routine rotation. arkansasadvocate.com/briefs/arkan...

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: A Franklin County resident asked a judge Monday to move up a special election to replace the late Sen. Gary Stubblefield by six months, alleging the current schedule prevents District 26 voters from having a voice during the 2026 fiscal session. #arpx #arleg

Bama beat Vandy and the Pats beat the Bills. We are so back!!!

breaking: i adore alabama football. roll tide till i die.

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: The daughter of the late Republican Sen. Gary Stubblefield of Branch criticized Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders Tuesday for setting a special election to fill her father’s seat for next June, leaving his district without representation during the 2026 fiscal session.

God I love Taylor Swift. Will be listening solely to this album for the foreseeable future.