A federal judge said he will decide soon whether to block implementation of a new state law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, following a nearly nine-hour hearing Friday.

Act 573 of 2025 requires that “a durable poster or framed copy of a historical representation of the Ten Commandments” be “prominently” displayed in public school classrooms and libraries, public institutions of higher education, and public buildings and facilities maintained by taxpayer funds.

Saltwerx, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, applied for the royalty last month, just days after the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission approved an identical royalty for Standard Lithium and Equinor’s joint venture.

Exxon’s newly-approved royalty rate — 2.5% — and the broader royalty payment structure are identical to Standard Lithium’s. Much of the language in the application itself was also identical.

There is a new grant opportunity for those in Pulaski County looking to establish a community garden or build up their backyard farm.

The ‘micro grants’ are available from the Central Arkansas Sphinx Foundation in amounts between $4,000 and $8,000. Grant Writer Kalven Trice says the grants can be used by many groups.

After 13 years, large-scale swine farms are banned — permanently — within the Buffalo River watershed, ending a saga that started when Arkansas environmental regulators quietly approved a general water permit for C&H Hog Farms in 2012.

The Arkansas Legislative Council reviewed and approved the regulations containing the so-called permit moratorium during its Friday meeting without discussion. It marked the culmination of over a decade of efforts from environmental advocates and their allies to prevent a similar large-scale swine farm, known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from taking root in the watershed. The moratorium specifically applies to medium and large swine CAFOs that meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s definition.

The Arkansas attorney general has filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit aimed at blocking the mandate to display the 10 Commandments in classrooms.

The motion was filed Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas in Fort Smith. It cites the public interest as the reason for intervention and states that the legal prerequisites for its intervention request are met.

The suit claims Act 573 violates the First Amendment’s establishment and free exercise clauses. Plaintiffs request a preliminary injunction to prevent the law from taking effect before the court case is completed.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/31340928

The American Civil Liberties Union plans to challenge a new Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public buildings.

Act 573 was passed by the Arkansas Legislature earlier this year. The law mandates a framed copy of the Ten Commandments be hung in all public buildings, including school classrooms. The ACLU is suing four Northwest Arkansas school districts, and not the state specifically, because Act 573 assigns enforcement to local school officials rather than a state agency.

The suit argues that the law promotes a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments and sends a message that students who don’t share those beliefs are outsiders in their own schools. Joining the suit are families of public school students in Northwest Arkansas. Some plaintiffs are Jewish or non-religious, while one family is Unitarian Universalist.

The American Civil Liberties Union plans to challenge a new Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public buildings.

Act 573 was passed by the Arkansas Legislature earlier this year. The law mandates a framed copy of the Ten Commandments be hung in all public buildings, including school classrooms. The ACLU is suing four Northwest Arkansas school districts, and not the state specifically, because Act 573 assigns enforcement to local school officials rather than a state agency.

The suit argues that the law promotes a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments and sends a message that students who don’t share those beliefs are outsiders in their own schools. Joining the suit are families of public school students in Northwest Arkansas. Some plaintiffs are Jewish or non-religious, while one family is Unitarian Universalist.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/30410274

[Josh Duggar] cited “new legal theories and strategies [that] have emerged in public discourse” in documents that were filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas on Tuesday.

[Josh Duggar] cited “new legal theories and strategies [that] have emerged in public discourse” in documents that were filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas on Tuesday.

The language in the proposal serves to simplify the rules. It would also require changes to the process be made by the people of Arkansas and not the legislature.

The grassroots amendment process is promised in the state constitution, but many state legislators think the process is too easy. They have worked to pass laws further regulating each step.

Legislation that looks to abolish an Arkansas commission and board cleared its first major hurdle on Monday.

Senate Bill 184 would abolish the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) commission and the state library board. It cleared the Senate Monday in a 23-8 vote and is headed to the House.

The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) and Rep. Wayne Long (R-Bradford). It is co-sponsored by Rep. Stephen Meeks (R-Greenbrier).

In November 2024, former Arkansas senator and current Arkansas State Library Board member Jason Rapert called for the library board to be dissolved due to its failure in “protecting children from sexually explicit materials.”