By Andrew DeMillo | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning, Advocate readers! Arkansas is asking the Trump administration for a two-year temporary extension of the state’s hybrid Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, lawmakers heard a consultant’s pitch in favor of nuclear power. And in Washington, the Farm Bill crafted by Sen. John Boozman has hit a roadblock. You can find more Arkansas government and politics news at the Advocate site here.

 The Arkansas Department of Human Services building on Main Street in downtown Little Rock. John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas Department of Human Services building on Main Street in downtown Little Rock. (Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

By Tess Vrbin

Arkansas officials asked the federal government Wednesday to allow the state’s hybrid Medicaid expansion to continue through the end of 2028 after the Trump administration denied its request to renew the program providing health coverage to more than 200,000 people.

 There are 102 steel-reinforced concrete storage casks holding spent nuclear fuel rods at Arkansas Nuclear One in Russellville. (Courtesy of Taylor Kendrick/Entergy Arkansas One)

There are 102 steel-reinforced concrete storage casks holding spent nuclear fuel rods at Arkansas Nuclear One in Russellville. (Courtesy of Taylor Kendrick/Entergy Arkansas One)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

By Ainsley Platt

Building new nuclear reactors in Arkansas is both “feasible and advisable,” a consultant hired by a legislative panel said Thursday, but state assistance with preparation and financing may be required.

 The Senate Agriculture Committee clashed over SNAP error rate policy, and failed to advance updated farm bill legislation. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The Senate Agriculture Committee clashed over SNAP error rate policy, and failed to advance updated farm bill legislation. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

By Iowa Capital Dispatch

Farm bill progress stalled Thursday as the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee failed to move forward its version of the omnibus legislation due to a conflict over when states will shoulder a share of federal nutrition assistance costs. 

MORE NEWS

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