Governor Hutchinson’s weekly radio address can be found in MP3 format and downloaded HERE. LITTLE ROCK – If you’re not convinced that every vote counts, consider the race for one of the U.S. Senate seats in Pennsylvania. At last count, the difference in the totals was 31.2 percent to 31.1 percent – two tenths of a percentage point difference. Closer to home, in our neighboring state to the south, the new mayor of Pineville, Louisiana, won by five votes. If only six of the loser’s supporters had voted, he would have won by a single vote. In the 2020 election, the candidates for a school board seat in

Governor Hutchinson’s weekly radio address can be found in MP3 format and downloaded HERE. LITTLE ROCK – The graduation season is upon us, so today I am congratulating the members of the Class of 2022 who overcame the expected difficulties of high school and college and then surmounted the totally unexpected challenges of a worldwide pandemic. COVID-19 forced you to do many things differently. You attended some classes virtually from time to time. You might have missed some extracurricular activities such as music programs, competitive sports, and clubs. For all that you missed, you also learned some lessons that you wouldn’t have otherwise. You watched leaders at

Governor Hutchinson’s weekly radio address can be found in MP3 format and downloaded HERE. LITTLE ROCK – There is no question that many families suffered financial setbacks as the coronavirus swept across the nation two years ago. Today I’d like to discuss my vision to stabilize housing and to assist Arkansans with opportunities to move up the economic ladder. Arkansas’s unemployment rate rose to more than 10 percent in the early months of the pandemic. The federal government stepped in with Emergency Rental Assistance, which allowed many to remain in their homes and softened the financial blow for landlords. But our economy has returned, jobs are plentiful,

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced the appointment of Jennifer Dillaha, M.D. as Director of the Department of Health. Since joining the Arkansas Department of Health in 2001, Dr. Dillaha has played a leading role in the Agency’s health promotion efforts, using a life stage approach that focuses on population-based interventions to improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans. “Dr. Dillaha has played a significant role in guiding the state through the last two years of the pandemic.” Governor Hutchinson said. “She has shown her dedication to Arkansas, and I have full confidence that she will continue to lead

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced the appointment of Renee Mallory, RN, BSN to interim Secretary of Health. Renee Mallory, RN, BSN, served as Chief of Staff for the Arkansas Department of Health. In this role, she oversaw all aspects of financial management, information technology, governmental affairs, human resources, policies and procedures, legal services, health communications, internal audit, and facilities support services. “Ms. Mallory began working for the Arkansas Department of Health 33 years ago and has been integral as a leader in several programs that have benefitted the state.” Governor Hutchinson said, “She has invaluable experience serving the state and

Monthly collection surpasses $1 billion for the first time LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) today released the state revenue collection report for April, which was the largest month of revenue collection in state history. Revenue collection (net collection) in April totaled $1.125 billion, $345.7 million above April 2021 and $531.9 million above the state’s economic forecast for the month.  This is also the first month in which overall collection reached $1 billion. With two months remaining in Fiscal Year 2022, revenue collection is $987.9 million above the state’s annual forecast. Governor Asa Hutchinson released the following

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson on Saturday attended Arkansas’s sixth annual Governor’s All-State Coding Competition. Gov. Hutchinson, in partnership with ARCodeKids, announced the winners of the competition in the Ida Waldron Auditorium of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. ARCodeKids, a 501c3 non-profit established to support the Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Initiative, will provide funds of up to $50,000 to support the competition. This funding was made possible by a grant from Microsoft Philanthropies, which has committed to providing another $50,000 for next year’s competition.  Over one hundred and fifty teams from across the state participated in the

LITTLE ROCK – The following is a list of public appearances by Governor Asa Hutchinson from Sunday, May 1, 2022, through Saturday, May 7, 2022:  Sunday, May 1, 2022 NATIONAL CNN State of the Union Check your local listings Monday, May 2, 2022 EL DORADO Expansion of Electric Charging Infrastructure Announcement 11 a.m. South Arkansas Conference Center El Dorado, AR Tuesday, May 3, 2022 WEST MEMPHIS Southland Casino Expansion Ribbon Cutting 10 a.m. Southland Casino West Memphis, Arkansas  NATIONAL FOX News Special Report with Brett Baier Check your local listings Wednesday, May 4, 2022 ARKANSAS CITY Boat Ramps Ribbon Cutting &

Governor Hutchinson’s weekly radio address can be found in MP3 format and downloaded HERE. LITTLE ROCK – The freedom of speech is one of the bedrock principles upon which our country was founded. The purchase of Twitter by the world’s richest man this week has reignited the discussion surrounding free speech, and I’d like to share my thoughts on the importance of this freedom. Social media censorship has been a concern of many Americans for years. While platforms like Facebook and Twitter are privately owned companies that set their own rules for the service they provide, the concern over the spread of misinformation and disinformation on these

Governor Hutchinson’s weekly radio address can be found in MP3 format and downloaded HERE. LITTLE ROCK – Thirty-seven years ago this week, I put on a bulletproof vest and entered a white-supremacist compound to try to convince the group they were outmanned and outgunned and should surrender. As I have reflected on that moment as well as the racial tension and civil unrest that have roiled our nation over the past two years, I have thought about the lessons we learn from our history. The people I confronted on April 21, 1985, were members of the Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, known as