AGP Executive Report

Quality-of-Life Rankings: Louisiana landed near the bottom in two national studies, with ConsumerAffairs calling it the second-worst state to move to and CNBC ranking it among the worst for business and quality of life, citing safety and health care strains. MLB Draft (Arkansas connection): The Royals took 16 players on Day 2, including University of Arkansas lefty Ethan McElvain. Healthcare Access: A one-year Medicaid reimbursement ban for Planned Parenthood clinics ended, letting states decide whether to restore routine services like screenings and birth control. Arkansas Education/Scholarships: UA Little Rock named 25 Donaghey Scholars, including Benton student Kennedy-Lailany Henton and Salem student Andrew Schlesier, with a scholarship package valued around $92,000-$100,000. Housing Policy: Congress’s 21st Century Road to Housing Act became law without Trump’s signature, aiming to speed construction by cutting red tape. Scam-Call Crackdown: Kentucky joined a 48-state coalition urging the FCC to tighten rules that limit scammers’ access to phone numbers. Local Business/Nonprofit: Arvest Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to the Single Parent Scholarship Fund for students in Baxter, Boone and Craighead counties. Arkansas TV Backlash: Emails show viewer anger over Arkansas TV’s PBS scheduling changes, after earlier moves to cut ties with PBS. Infrastructure Funding Watch: Arkansas officials warn IIJA funding may fall short as the law nears expiration, with inflation blunting the impact. Real Estate: A Little Rock Heights home sold for $4.5 million, the priciest Pulaski County deal this year.

MLB Draft & Futures spotlight: The 2026 MLB Draft wrapped in Philadelphia with 613 players selected, starting with the White Sox taking UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky No. 1; Day 2 and beyond continue to shape team farm plans as clubs chase upside and value. Arkansas baseball pipeline: Arkansas connections were front and center at the MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park, with Phillies top pitching prospect Gage Wood (Arkansas draftee) starting for the National League and Mariners’ Kade Anderson (Arkansas Travelers) starting for the American League, underscoring how quickly local talent can reach the national stage. Food policy with health ripple effects: Arkansas SNAP rules now bar benefits from buying soda, candy, and other “unhealthy” items, a change tied to concerns about chronic illness costs and retailer compliance. Local business & community: Little Rock approved Trex decking for repairs to the William E. Clark Presidential Park Wetlands boardwalk, while Northwest Arkansas health systems continue reorganizations that may cut jobs or services. Regional economy context: A new state-by-state GDP growth snapshot shows Arkansas growing 2.2% in 2025, slightly above the national pace, as Sun Belt momentum and population growth keep driving demand.

MLB & Arkansas Talent: The Futures Game in Philadelphia is set for Sunday, with Arkansas connections front and center, including Arkansas Travelers lefty Kade Anderson starting for the AL and former UA pitcher Gage Wood slated to start for the NL. Health Care & Jobs: Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley are seeing reshuffles, including Baptist Health-Fort Smith cutting multiple services and jobs, while other systems move to expand or take over local facilities. Local Government & Construction: Little Rock approved using Trex-donated decking to repair the William E. Clark Presidential Park Wetlands boardwalk, with the city contracting the Griffin Group for labor and some materials. Public Safety & Consumer Protection: Little Rock police urged residents to use department stations for internet-based swaps, and New York City rolled out a click-to-cancel rule starting Oct. 1. Agriculture: USDA’s acreage report shows Arkansas rice acres falling to about 851,000—lowest in 50 years—amid drought and input-cost pressures. Business Spotlight: Marathon Property Inspectors in Fayetteville says it earned top local honors and a perfect 5.0 rating as it hits 1,300+ verified reviews.

Housing Policy: U.S. Rep. French Hill’s 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law early Saturday without President Trump’s signature, aiming to speed housing reviews, improve coordination, and help communities build more homes—Hill framed it as a major affordability win for Arkansas and beyond. Water Infrastructure: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture opened a new $25 million annual water and wastewater grant program for shovel-ready projects, with matching funds up to 30% depending on population and project type. Education & Vouchers: A new look at Arkansas private-school voucher use finds tuition gaps—some special-needs families can’t cover remaining costs even when tuition is partly offset. Agriculture: USDA data shows Arkansas rice acres fell to about 851,000, the lowest in roughly 50 years, as input costs and dry weather pushed farmers toward other crops. Public Safety: Arkansas AG Anne Lopez joined a multistate push urging the FCC to crack down on illegal robocalls by limiting scammers’ access to legitimate phone numbers. Local Economy: A wildfire visit to the Arkansas River Valley highlighted how the Willow Fire is already hitting tourism and local businesses.

Housing & Finance: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law, aiming to boost homebuilding and limit some institutional investor activity, with broad support from housing and banking groups. Consumer Protection: Arkansas AG Tim Griffin donated $1 million to the U.S. Marshals Museum’s “New Frontier of Giving” campaign, funded by state settlement money. Agriculture & Regulation: The Arkansas Plant Board will hold a special Zoom meeting on warfarin-based feral hog bait, after rule changes took effect June 29. Public Safety & Fraud: A multistate settlement announced by AG Kwame Raoul targets Cash App’s parent Block over deceptive practices and fraud protections. Local Economy: Jonesboro home prices are about half the national average, with affordability drawing out-of-state buyers. Health & Food Safety: Officials warn of a seasonal surge in cyclosporiasis tied to contaminated produce. Business & Industry: Trex, which runs a Port of Little Rock factory, was named to TIME’s America’s Best Companies of 2026 list.

Housing Policy: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is set to become law without President Trump’s signature, aiming to boost supply and curb certain investor activity as homelessness trends downward. State & Local Economy: Jonesboro home prices are running below the national average, with local agents pointing to a steadier buyer-seller balance and out-of-state affordability interest. Public Safety & Law Enforcement: Arkansas State Police ICAC task force arrested a Texarkana teen on child sexual abuse material charges after a warrant tied to an IP address. Agriculture & Regulation: The Arkansas Plant Board will consider a warfarin-based feral hog bait rule change in a special Zoom meeting. Arts & Small Business: CACHE’s “Take Action” grant program will invest $130,000 by end of 2026 to help artists handle the business side. Community & Culture: The U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith received a $1 million donation from AG Tim Griffin’s office to support its endowment and operations. Consumer & Health: Officials warn of a seasonal surge in Cyclospora cases and urge food safety precautions.

Robocall crackdown: West Virginia and 48 other state attorneys general are urging the FCC to tighten rules that block scammers from using legitimate phone numbers, saying the practice helps fraudsters evade detection. Gas prices: AAA reports the national average for regular gasoline rose 5 cents to about $3.84 as uncertainty around a U.S.-Iran ceasefire keeps oil markets jumpy. State finance: Thirty state financial officers asked President Trump to sign an executive order directing Treasury to return about $39 billion in matured, unredeemed U.S. savings bonds to rightful owners. Arkansas local government finance: Bryant won the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2026 budget book for the ninth straight year. Arkansas cybersecurity education: UA Little Rock is expanding its CORE Cybersecurity Clinic through a Cyber Learning Network to reach more communities statewide. Arkansas banking expansion: Arvest Bank announced it will open a North Texas loan production office in Frisco. Community business growth: Garages of America plans to expand into Tarrant County with a Colleyville garage community. Public safety: Arkansas State Police say a Texarkana teen was arrested on child porn charges after an ICAC/FBI search seized CSAM from devices; bond set at $100,000. Energy costs help: SWEPCO is highlighting summer rebates and assistance options, including LIHEAP support, for customers facing higher cooling bills. Local business disruption: A fireworks vendor’s last-minute cancellation led Webster Groves to authorize a lawsuit, after the company defaulted on other cities including in Arkansas.

Banking Leadership: First Community Bank says Dillon Richard (Conway) and Wendell Edwards (Batesville) have graduated from the Barret School of Banking in Memphis, a program aimed at strengthening lending and management skills. Medicaid & Health Policy: Arkansas’ Medicaid work requirements are set to tighten, with coverage questions still swirling as enforcement approaches. Education Funding: The Arkansas State Board of Education endorsed a permanent rule unlocking about $2 million for districts with isolated campuses that may later “break away,” including Umpire, Timbo, Rural Special and Kingston. Local Business & Growth: Centennial Bank named Jeff Campbell in-house corporate counsel, adding legal and financial experience to its team. Water & Agriculture: Arkansas’ 2025 groundwater report shows mixed aquifer trends, but warns withdrawals in parts of eastern and southern Arkansas remain above sustainable levels. Public Safety & Courts: A civil lawsuit claims the Fountain Lake Fire Department board violated the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Tech & Crime: Arkansas State Police report a Texarkana teen arrested on 99 counts tied to child sexual abuse material found on devices. Community Support: Arvest Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund for students in Craighead, Baxter and Boone counties.

State Economic Policy: Arkansas Issue 3 is set for a community town hall today at LithiumHub, with backers pushing a constitutional amendment to let towns and counties create local economic development districts and offer incentives without raising taxes. Convenience Retail Deal: Earnheart Oil has exited the convenience business, selling seven Oklahoma c-stores and related wholesale/transport assets in a multipart deal. Local Business & Compliance: A Murfreesboro fuel stop and kitchen was shut down by the Arkansas State Fire Marshal for fire code violations tied to above-ground fuel tank permitting. Consumer & Food Safety: Taco Bell pulled specific ingredients nationwide amid a cyclospora parasite outbreak, posting notices that affected items won’t include lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, or cilantro-onion. Public Safety & Fraud: Kansas and other attorneys general urged the FCC to tighten rules so scammers can’t use legitimate phone numbers for robocalls and texts. Defense Industry: Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall signed an agreement to co-produce ATACMS in Europe, expanding missile manufacturing capacity. Arkansas Economy Watch: Arkansas sales tax collections rose in June, and the state reported a general revenue surplus as fiscal year ended.

Wildfire Watch: Colorado’s Aspen Acres fire jumped to about 96,000 acres with thousands evacuated and hundreds of homes damaged, as crews reported 15% containment. Public Safety & Local Business: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ordered Russellville Marina docks closed after storm damage and incomplete lease-required repairs; only the repair shop, store and cabins remain open. Health & Consumer Policy: Arkansas SNAP rules took effect this week, removing candy, soda and certain juices from eligible purchases, with DHS saying retailers updated systems statewide. Fraud Prevention: Arkansas AG Brenna Bird joined a multistate push urging the FCC to tighten rules so scammers can’t buy and reuse legitimate phone numbers for robocalls. Transit & Growth: GOJO proposed Jonesboro transit changes, including keeping successful ASU routes and adding potential stops near schools and Craighead Forest, with public comment open through July 31. Retail & Jobs: Christian Brothers Automotive opened a second Springdale shop, expanding service capacity in Northwest Arkansas. Energy Costs: GasBuddy data showed Union County’s lowest regular price at $3.67 for the week ending June 27.

State SNAP overhaul: Arkansas’ SNAP rules changed this week, removing candy, soda and low-natural-juice drinks from eligible purchases as DHS rolls out a nutrition waiver aimed at healthier eating. Local Government: Pine Bluff City Council voted to return oversight of the Carl A. Redus Jr. Aquatic Center to Parks and Recreation, citing expected savings of about $70,000 a year and adding security upgrades. Economic Development: A New York nonprofit is launching a Northwest Arkansas Innovation Fund with the Walton Family Foundation backing, targeting early-stage capital through the Catalyze479 and Launch479 programs. Higher Ed Fundraising: UA Little Rock named Sheila Wold McKinnis director of development for CHASSE, tapping her long-running local business and arts fundraising experience. Business & Growth: Mayfield Hotels reported 18.4% revenue growth in 2026 YTD, with Arkansas among its top-performing markets. Finance & Consumer Impact: A study using Pew methodology and Census data estimates what it takes to be “middle class” by state, with Arkansas pegged to “economics” in search-based analysis.

Medicaid & Maternal Care: Arkansas DHS missed another deadline to extend Medicaid coverage for doula services statewide, renewing concerns about reimbursement timing and access for rural mothers. Retirement & Investing: The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System approved up to $45 million for a Chicago-based private equity fund focused on healthcare, and also moved to seek lead plaintiff status in a securities class action tied to sports data investments. Downtown Development: Little Rock received a $30 million Bezos Earth Fund grant to build 30 Crossing Park, a major riverfront/downtown green-space project expected to cost roughly $85 million. Agriculture & Supply Chain: Arkansas rice acreage is projected to fall to about 800,000 acres—below 1 million for the first time since 1982—pressuring farmers and Riceland’s drying operations as input costs rise and prices lag. Local Government: Fort Smith again rejected placing a form-of-government ballot question on the November ballot, while Greenwood denied a rezoning request for a proposed self-storage facility near residential areas. Business Expansion: HTeaO is opening a new Lowell store July 11, and Slim Chickens named Maureen DiStefano director of franchise development. Utilities & Weather: SWEPCO reported storm-related power restoration progress across its service area after outages peaked near 37,000 customers. Public Safety: Authorities continue searching about 85 miles of the Arkansas River for a missing mother and 6-week-old daughter, with the FBI assisting.

Defense & Manufacturing: Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall signed an MoU to co-produce ATACMS outside the U.S., with Rheinmetall’s Unterlüß, Germany site set as Europe’s first production/integration/distribution hub for NATO allies. Education Policy: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon will host a Hot Springs roundtable tied to the Arkansas LEARNS Act and its Education Freedom Accounts, with more details expected. Healthcare & Medicaid: Centene will stop participating in Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion (ARHOME) next year, shifting roughly a third of Centene enrollees to other plans. Local Business & Real Estate: Little Rock’s Sterling Market is shifting from daily dining to private events, signaling a change in how the East Village food hall operates. Energy & Jobs: Adapture Renewables says its Cherry Valley Solar Project in Cross County has reached commercial operations, targeting power for about 30,000 Arkansas homes and $16 million in lifetime local economic impact. Workforce/AI: OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic and Amazon back Raise US, a $1 billion nonprofit effort to help workers transition into an AI-driven economy, with Arkansas among planned launch states. Tech & Consumer Finance: The House Financial Services Committee advanced the Earned Wage Access Consumer Protection Act, aiming to set federal rules and protections for earned wage access providers. Data Centers & Local Governance: Clarksville is set for July 13 public meetings on proposed data center bond issuances, with officials saying the bonds wouldn’t be repaid from city tax revenues.

Urban Green Investment: The Bezos Earth Fund is putting about $30 million into a future downtown Little Rock park, with a total $100 million spread across eight cities to turn underused urban land into green space. Food Security & Agriculture: The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas is harvesting sweet corn through its “Harvesting Hope” effort, with 24,000 pounds already gathered and partners helping deliver fresh produce to families facing hunger. Agribusiness Lending: UnCommon Farms and First Financial Bank are teaming up to give progressive farm operators easier access to specialized Farm & Ranch lending and advisory support. Manufacturing Jobs: Oobotic is opening a $6.5 million production facility in Melbourne, aiming to create up to 70 jobs and support U.S. box fan manufacturing. Health Insurance Shakeup: Centene will stop participating in Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion next year, affecting roughly one-third of ARHOME enrollees on Centene plans. SNAP Policy Fight: Arkansas’ new SNAP limits on candy and soda took effect July 1, setting up another legal showdown over whether the state can restrict what beneficiaries buy. Local Business & Retail: Texarkana’s board approved rezoning for a new convenience store in the College Hill neighborhood, clearing a path for a small retailer focused on everyday needs. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show regular gas in Little River County hit a low of $3.24 for the week ending June 27.

Consumer Finance: A new Achieve study says personal-loan affordability is strongest in the Midwest, with North Dakota No. 1 and South Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas and Kansas close behind—driven by lower rates, local costs, and income/purchasing power. Student Debt: The SAVE student-loan plan is ending for more than 7 million borrowers, with a Sept. 29 deadline to switch to the Repayment Assistance Plan or a Tiered Standard option, or be moved to standard repayment. Housing & Energy: LIHEAP summer applications open Monday in Arkansas to help low-income households cover electric bills, including regular and crisis payments to prevent disconnection. Workforce Housing Finance: Walker & Dunlop arranged $232.4 million in 10-year fixed-rate financing for a five-property workforce housing portfolio across Arkansas and Florida. Local Economy/Jobs: Choctaw Casino & Resort in Pocola, near the Arkansas border, plans a $140 million expansion and modernization, including a new hotel tower and more event space. Policy Watch: NATO leaders meet in Ankara as Mark Rutte pushes for stronger, less fragmented defense industry investment—tying economic capacity to security needs.

Local Energy Aid: LIHEAP applications open Monday statewide, offering summer cooling-bill help and crisis assistance to eligible Arkansas households, with payments going directly to energy providers. Hospitality Expansion: Hyatt Studios is set to open July 10 in Texarkana, a 121-room extended-stay property that DPN Collection says will add jobs and boost tourism and local business. Water Infrastructure Costs: Decatur is moving toward multi-year water and wastewater rate increases after a retail rate study found current charges won’t cover operating costs and reinvestment through 2035. Tourism Tech: Big Dam Waterpark in Texarkana is staging a 250-drone show tied to America 250, with images and aircraft themes planned for Sunday night. Education Leadership: Peter MacKeith retired June 30 after 12 years leading the University of Arkansas’ Fay Jones School, citing major growth and the Anthony Timberlands Center for design innovation. Business & Community: Arvest’s Million Meals campaign raised $214,000 to support more than 30 Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith-area food partners, targeting summer hunger. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports show diesel and premium prices varying by county in the week ending June 27, with several Arkansas counties posting standout low points.