The U.S. Senate on Wednesday dismissed two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after finding that the articles did not rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors and were therefore unconstitutional.

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The Arkansas House on Wednesday authorized the introduction of two bills proposing stricter regulations on cryptocurrency mining while six other proposals failed to gain enough votes. #arpx #arleg

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U.S. House Republicans unveiled three bills Wednesday that would provide $95 billion overall in assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, instead of voting on a similar bipartisan Senate-approved package that’s been waiting around for months.

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A new partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation and a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general aims to streamline efforts to resolve airline consumer complaints.

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President Biden began a three-day swing in Pennsylvania on Tuesday by returning to his hometown of Scranton, delivering a speech that played up his roots in Northeast Pennsylvania and offering a stark warning should Trump win the presidential election.

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Arkansas lawmakers questioned representatives of the governor and attorney general on Tuesday in light of Monday’s audit report that highlighted several potential breaches of state law in the $19,000 purchase of a lectern for the governor's office. #arpx

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The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a Jan. 6, 2021, case that could potentially upend convictions for a mass of Capitol riot defendants and slash some election interference charges against former President Donald Trump.

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Eleven U.S. House Republicans delivered two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

Senate Democrats have indicated that they plan to move quickly to dismiss the impeachment process.

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A legislative panel has authorized the Arkansas House to consider allowing the introduction of bills to regulate cryptocurrency mining during the fiscal session. If approved by the House on Wednesday, the bills could be heard in committee Thursday. #arpx

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Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky called on U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to resign during a closed-door meeting of GOP lawmakers on Tuesday, throwing more uncertainty into that chamber just months before the November elections.

Via News from the States

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Abortion-related bills continue to be introduced in legislatures across the U.S., especially in states where the procedure's already banned. Depending on the legislature's partisan makeup, some have a higher chance of passing and becoming law than others.
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The trial of former President Donald Trump began Monday, marking the first time in U.S. history that an ex-president has been tried on criminal charges. He's charged with falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal involving a porn star.

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An audit report on the $19,000 purchase of a lectern for the governor's office found several instances of “potential noncompliance” with state law and has been sent to the state attorney general and Pulaski County’s prosecuting attorney. #arpx #arleg

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Hours after Trump sat in a courtroom and became the first former president to be a defendant in a criminal trial, his attorneys filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court renewing his claim of absolute presidential immunity in another case against him.

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Award-winning journalist Mary Hennigan is the newest member of the Arkansas Advocate staff. Hennigan will focus her reporting for the Advocate on women’s issues, housing policy and energy and the environment.

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Black voters overwhelmingly supported President Joe Biden in 2020 and were key to his win, but as many struggle to make ends meet now, there is some evidence that Black voter enthusiasm for Biden may be slipping.

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Donald Trump on Monday will make history as the first former U.S. president to stand trial in criminal proceedings. Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to an adult film star during his first White House run in 2016.

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The fiscal session began last week with the governor's first State of the State and discussion of non-budget items, including the state employee pay plan and regulating crypto mining.

The Arkansas Legislature convenes at 1 p.m. Monday. #arpx #arleg
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Lawmakers looking into possible violations of state procurement law surrounding the Board of Corrections’ hiring of a lawyer to represent it in litigation with the state issued subpoenas to compel the appearance of a board member at an upcoming hearing.

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A coalition of advocacy groups are calling on lawmakers to invest in families during the fiscal session by supporting programs they say have been unfunded or underfunded, such as Pre-K, childcare and disability services. #arpx #arleg

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