By Andrew DeMillo | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, Advocate readers! Former state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson was a prominent voice on judicial issues at the Capitol before pleading guilty to bribery and tax fraud in a sprawling corruption investigation. After receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump, he’s now back in the spotlight talking about prison reform. You can find more Arkansas government and politics news on the Advocate site here.
And be sure to check out reporter Ainsley Platt’s appearance on 5News discussing her recent coverage of the debate over a Clarksville data center project.
Former Arkansas Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson speaks about the need for criminal justice and prison reform at an Arkansas Times luncheon on July 23, 2026. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
By Ainsley Platt
Jeremy Hutchinson, a former Republican state legislator convicted in a sprawling corruption probe and pardoned by President Donald Trump, said Thursday he plans to advocate for establishing a compassionate release program in Arkansas during next year’s legislative session.
Salad greens for sale at a bodega in Astoria, New York. The number of cases of cyclosporiasis has more than doubled to over 4,173 cases across 41 states this week. (Photo by Shalina Chatlani/ Stateline)
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
By Stateline
The number of cases of cyclosporiasis — a parasitic infection linked to contaminated water or food that causes severe intestinal issues — has more than doubled to over 4,173 cases across 41 states this week, up from the 1,645 confirmed cases in 34 states reported last week by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 2026 NCSL Legislative Summit will bring together state lawmakers and legislative staff from the 50 states and U.S. territories from July 27-29 in Chicago. (Photo by Leontura/Getty Images)
COMMENTARY
By Tim Storey and Sue Urahn
Like two sides of a coin imprinted with the nation’s motto, “e pluribus unum” — out of many, one — America’s political factions are cast in opposition, but they are intrinsically bound together as parts of a larger whole.
MORE NEWS
Arkansas librarians say debate over books overlooks broader services | Little Rock Public Radio
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