Little Rock
Arkansas guard leaves PPE distribution warehouse in NLR

May. 15, 2021 02:16 PM EDT
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas National Guard has ended its work at a warehouse in North Little Rock where it helped distribute personal...

Little Rock drops mask mandate following new CDC guidance

May. 14, 2021 05:59 PM EDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' capital city is dropping its requirement to wear a mask to combat the coronavirus following loosened federal guidance and a...

A banner designed last year for the Kayhi Class of 2020 by Ketchikan artist Matt Hamilton is on display at the intersection of Jefferson Way and Tongass Avenue in Ketchikan, Alaska on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Restaurants, bars and gyms in the Alaska port town of Ketchikan have been asked to close as officials attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 after the city's pandemic risk level was raised to its highest level. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP)
The Latest: New Mexico adopts CDC guidance on facemasks

By The Associated Press May. 14, 2021 02:27 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 20, 2020 file photo, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson removes his mask before a briefing at the state capitol in Little Rock. Arkansas lawmakers on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, approved a reworked bill that aims to preempt federal gun restrictions following objections from the governor, law enforcement and prosecutors that a previous proposal went too far and jeopardized public safety. (Staci Vandagriff/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP, File)
Arkansas aims to reach 50% vaccinated goal in 3 months

By Andrew Demillo May. 04, 2021 05:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 27, 2020, file photo, Gov. Asa Hutchinson takes off his Arkansas Razorbacks facemark as he arrives for the daily coronavirus briefing at the state Capitol in Little Rock. A longtime abortion opponent who once opposed allowing gay couples to be foster parents, Gov. Hutchinson is the unlikeliest figure to complain about bills on the "culture wars" reaching his desk. (Staton Breidenthal/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)
Arkansas governor OKs ban on local, state mask mandates

Apr. 29, 2021 08:25 PM EDT

Arkansas governor signs bills banning vaccine requirements

Apr. 28, 2021 08:00 PM EDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday signed into law measures preventing state and local governments from requiring the...

COVID vaccine clinic to be held at North Little Rock arena

Apr. 23, 2021 07:12 PM EDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on Friday said it's holding a mass coronavirus vaccination clinic at Simmons Bank...

Arkansas marks 1 million people receiving vaccine shots

By Andrew Demillo Apr. 22, 2021 01:43 PM EDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas on Thursday marked 1 million people who have received coronavirus vaccine shots in the state so far, though the governor...

Arkansas lawmakers back bans on mask, vaccine requirements

By Andrew Demillo Apr. 20, 2021 06:12 PM EDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday gave initial approval to measures prohibiting requiring proof of coronavirus vaccination to access...

FILE - In this July 20, 2020 file photo, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson removes his mask before a briefing at the state capitol in Little Rock. Hutchinson has signed into law a measure that would allow doctors to refuse to treat someone because of moral or religious objections. Gov. Hutchinson on Friday, March 26, 2021, signed the legislation, despite objections that it would give medical providers broad powers to turn away LGBTQ patients and others. (Staci Vandagriff/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP, File)
Arkansas lawmakers vote to prevent mask mandate's return

By Andrew Demillo Mar. 31, 2021 06:43 PM EDT

Arkansas expands virus vaccinations, drops mask mandate

By Andrew Demillo Mar. 30, 2021 03:03 PM EDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas will open up coronavirus vaccinations to anyone 16 and older, and is dropping its mask mandate immediately, Gov. Asa...

FILE - Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks about the coronavirus pandemic and vaccine distributions during a news conference at the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Responding to concerns from state officials, the U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday, March 17, 2021 that states can cut taxes without penalty under a new federal pandemic relief law — so long as they use their own funds to do so. Gov. Hutchinson said formal guidance from the Treasury Department will be critical in determining how much flexibility exists for states. (AP Photo/Andrew Demillo, file)
Hutchinson vetoes coronavirus bill to refund business fines

By Andrew Demillo Mar. 22, 2021 08:17 PM EDT

Arkansas attorney general sues Walgreens over opioid crisis

By Andrew Demillo Mar. 15, 2021 04:59 PM EDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Monday sued Walgreens, accusing the pharmacy chain of fueling the opioid crisis in the...

Arkansas court to hear lawmakers' challenge to virus limits

Mar. 05, 2021 06:23 PM EST
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Supreme Court said Friday that it would hear arguments in a lawsuit by a group of legislators challenging the state's...

FILE - In this July 20, 2020 file photo, Gov. Asa Hutchinson removes his mask before a briefing at the state capitol in Little Rock. State lawmakers across the country will be convening in 2021 with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic rippling through much of their work and even affecting the way they work. After 10 months of emergency orders and restrictions from governors and local executive officials, some state lawmakers are eager to reassert their power over statewide decisions shaping the way people shop, work, worship and attend school (Staci Vandagriff/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)
Arkansas Senate votes to refund virus fines to businesses

By Andrew Demillo Feb. 25, 2021 06:29 PM EST

Arkansas judge dismisses challenge to virus curfew for bars

By Andrew Demillo Jan. 26, 2021 06:10 PM EST
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the early closing time for bars and some restaurants that was temporarily...

Gov. Hutchinson, health secretary receive COVID-19 vaccine

Jan. 18, 2021 04:50 PM EST
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Secretary of Health Dr. José R. Romero received their first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine during a...

Arkansas anti-abortion march postponed over virus and unrest

Jan. 13, 2021 04:24 PM EST
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An anti-abortion group's annual march in downtown Little Rock has been postponed over concerns about the coronavirus and potential...

Gov. Asa Hutchinson delivers his State of the State address to lawmakers in the House chamber of the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Hutchinson urged lawmakers to support the emergency he's declared in response to the coronavirus pandemic and to enact hate crimes legislation. (AP Photo/Andrew Demillo)
Arkansas governor: Don't retreat from virus safety steps

By Andrew Demillo Jan. 12, 2021 12:48 PM EST

FILE - In this March 23, 2020 file photo, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, right, speaks along with Larry Walther, middle, Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration and Jake Bleed, state budget director in Little Rock, Ark. Congressional Republicans say they are against providing additional coronavirus aid to state and local governments because they claim it would “bail out” states run by Democrats. But the pandemic-induced tax drop-off is hitting Democratic and Republican states alike. Among states hit hard are those led by Republicans, including energy-dependent Alaska, North Dakota and Wyoming, and tourism-heavy Florida. (Staton Breidenthal/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)
Arkansas hospitalizations hit record high, more beds planned

Dec. 22, 2020 06:26 PM EST