Arkansas public television receives three-year, $3M pledge to keep PBS in state | Arkansas Advocate The network must retain its PBS membership and match every dollar with other donations for the pledged grant to be usable.

Arkansas public television receives three-year, $3M pledge to keep PBS in state arkansasadvocate.com/2026/04/21/a...

Arkansas Minority Health Commission alarmed by ‘cardiology deserts’ - Talk Business & Politics Many Arkansans need to make significant lifestyle changes to avoid heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the state and nationwide. Arkansas is also being severely impacted...

At a recent summit of Arkansas healthcare leaders, participants said the state is being severely impacted by a growing shortage of cardiologists. Lifestyle changes are needed to avoid growing rates of heart disease. Here's my report for Talk Business & Politics. talkbusiness.net/2026/04/arka...

Wow! It might not make a bit of difference to the current leadership of what until recently was known as Arkansas PBS or Gov. Sanders, but wow. Ken Burns spoke last night at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Judge halts local TV giant Nexstar's takeover of rival Tegna until trial U.S. Judge Trevor Nunley ruled that consumers could suffer irreparable harm if Nexstar integrated Tegna's stations into its own operations ahead of an antitrust trial.

NEWS: Judge halts local TV giant Nexstar's deal for Tegna until trial

My story:

www.npr.org/2026/04/17/n...

And I was concerned I was excessive playing “The Boys Are Back” every time I’m somewhere with a TouchTunes jukebox, but only once per visit. It’s a go-to karaoke song for me too.

Report: Women in rural Arkansas face significant financial challenges - Talk Business & Politics A new report released Wednesday (April 15) says women living in rural parts of Arkansas are struggling with more economic insecurity and a lack of financial literacy compared to those...

A report released today by the Women's Foundation of Arkansas and Stone Bank says several factors are causing women in rural parts of the state to struggle with more economic insecurity compared to those in metro areas. Here's my story for Talk Business & Politics.

Educators express confidence 3rd graders are ready for new reading requirement - Talk Business & Politics Three years into the implementation of the LEARNS Act, Arkansas educators are bracing for a new reading proficiency requirement that takes effect this year and will determine which third graders...

A new third grade reading proficiency requirement is going into effect in Arkansas and will determine which students are promoted to fourth grade. In advance of testing that began today, I talked with superintendents and principals about how they’ve prepared students for the high-stakes exam.

Dave Chappelle helps keep Ohio radio station rooted in hometown with renovated building Dave Chappelle has helped secure the future of a small-town radio station by funding the renovation of a historic building in Yellow Springs.

Dave Chappelle has helped secure the future of a small-town radio station by funding the renovation of a historic building in Yellow Springs.

Jury finds Meta's platforms are harmful to children in 1st wave of social media addiction lawsuits A New Mexico jury found Tuesday that social media conglomerate Meta is harmful to children's mental health and in violation of state consumer protection law. The case was among the first to reach tria...

The landmark decision comes after a nearly seven-week trial in New Mexico. Jurors sided with state prosecutors who argued that Meta — which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp — prioritized profits over safety. https://to.pbs.org/4c4dLZH

After nearly 100 years, CBS News Radio is being shut down I’ve been grappling with the reality that CBS News Radio will be shutting down in May. Even though I haven’t worked for the network in decades, the announcement Friday, nonchalantly noting that it’s…

The announcement that CBS News Radio is being shut down hit me hard, even though it has been more than two decades since I worked for the network. hibblenradio.com/after-nearly...

Yes, this sawmill is along where the track used to run but several years ago the rails were taken up so all the mills are now dependent on trucks to deliver the logs and ship out the cut wood. That's not very feasible in the long run and impacts the city's ability to attract any new industries.

The first issue of the Glenwood Herald under new owner Roby Brock was released on Friday. Here's the front page. Among the duties of my new position is serving as managing editor of the southwest Arkansas paper. The two stories I wrote were a joy as they were great news for the future of the city.

Glenwood sawmill to restart operations - Talk Business & Politics The Domtar Glenwood sawmill, which employed more than 100 people and temporarily shut down in October, says it will be resuming operations in the coming weeks. The company announced on...

Here’s my full report for Talk Business & Politics: talkbusiness.net/2026/03/glen...

The Domtar sawmill in Glenwood, Ark., which employed more than 100 people and shut down in October citing market conditions, has announced it will restart operations on March 30. Company spokesperson Tammy Waters told me a few employees were brought back last week as it begins ramping up production.

The Postal Service may be out of cash in 2027 without Congress' help, postmaster says The U.S. Postal Service's leader says it is set to run out of money in less than a year and may have to stop deliveries because of declining mail volume and what USPS sees as burdensome requirements.

My latest @npr.org story: The U.S. Postal Service’s leader says the mailing agency — which is mainly funded by stamps and service fees, not tax dollars — is set to run out of money in less than a year and may have to stop deliveries if it doesn't change its business model

Arkansas’ open records law turns 60 next year. Let’s give FOIA the birthday it deserves. | Arkansas Advocate COMMENTARY: Sunday marks the beginning of Sunshine Week, a national commemoration that focuses on the importance of the public’s access to records and open government. It’s a fitting time to look at t...

Kicking off Sunshine Week with my column in the @arkansasadvocate.com about ways to honor Arkansas’ FOIA

arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/15/a...

AETN Commission delays decision to leave national PBS - Talk Business & Politics If Mr. Rogers were still alive, he’d be feeling a lot better about his old neighborhood. The Arkansas Education Television Network (AETN) Commission voted 4-1 Thursday (March 12) to delay...

Wow! Even if only a brief pause for disaffiliating with PBS, this is still huge. talkbusiness.net/2026/03/aetn...

PBS chief calls for Arkansas public TV commission to ‘take a pause’ on leaving national network | Arkansas Advocate In an interview with the Arkansas Advocate, PBS CEO Paula Kerger talked about the efforts to get the commission to rethink its decision.

EXCLUSIVE: PBS CEO Paula Kerger talked to me this morning about Arkansas TV (formerly Arkansas PBS) planning to cut ties with PBS and the efforts to convince the station to change course.

She'll be at tomorrow's PBS commission meeting, which might be crowded:
arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/11/p...

Arkansas TV Commission Meeting YouTube video by Arkansas TV

This should be interesting. Amid an uproad, top national brass from PBS will be meeting with the Arkansas TV Commission to try and get members to change their minds after not renewing its affiliation in the commission's December meeting. Watch live starting at 10: www.youtube.com/watch?v=INUd...

Hallie Shoffner asks for financial support to counter attack ads - Talk Business & Politics In her first official campaign event since winning last week’s Arkansas’ Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, Hallie Shoffner spoke to several dozen people Monday night (March 9) in the...

Arkansas U.S. Senate candidate Hallie Shoffner is challenging incumbent Sen. Tom Cotton to participate in a debate. He has outraised her by a 10-to-1 margin and during his previous reelection campaign turned down an invitation to take part in an Arkansas PBS debate. talkbusiness.net/2026/03/hall...

Hallie Shoffner asks for financial support to counter attack ads - Talk Business & Politics In her first official campaign event since winning last week’s Arkansas’ Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, Hallie Shoffner spoke to several dozen people Monday night (March 9) in the...

And here’s my final story on Hollie Shoffner: talkbusiness.net/2026/03/hall...

Shoffner said the average donation to her campaign is $50 coming mostly from mostly people within Arkansas. She said dark money for Cotton is funding an attack ad calling her a liberal, which she says shows his campaign is scared. I’ll have a full story tomorrow for Talk Business & Politics.

U.S. Senate candidate Hallie Shoffner is speaking right now in England, Arkansas at her first campaign event since securing the state’s Democratic primary. She noted incumbent Sen. Tom Cotton has outraised her 10-to-1, but told supporters she will outwork him to win with a shoe-leather campaign.

I’m sorry.

Interesting developments! I’m excited for both Byron and Benji in their new roles.

Arkansas judge blocks state law increasing signature requirement for ballot measures  | Arkansas Advocate An Arkansas judge on Thursday blocked implementation of a 2023 state  law that increased the signature requirements for measures to qualify for the ballot.

Arkansas judge blocks state law increasing signature requirement for ballot measures  #ARLeg #ARpx arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/13/a...

I’ve lost track of what crap is on the broadcast HD signals from them, but rescan regularly when I’m at my mom’s. So little is worth watching, though I’m happy when I can find Beverly Hillbillies rather than ‘80s junk.

So, Nexstar has 4, 16, 42, 38 and all their subs in addition to the NWA stations. If they merge 11 in there I cannot imagine how they can support all that hardware and payroll.

I can't imagine any reason to watch Sinclair.

You got clear of AETN just in time.

Using Mr. Rogers in a Super Bowl commercial for mortgages should result in prison time

Trump pushes for Nexstar-Tegna merger The president’s call could disappoint key conservative media operatives opposed to the deal.

Approval would violate current limits on how many television stations a single company can operate. It would drastically reduce local news coverage in Arkansas.