Arkansas

Arkansas AG rejects language for proposed ballot measure protecting access to government records

Published

12 months ago

December 11, 2023

Arkansas AG rejects language for proposed ballot measure protecting access to government records

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Monday rejected the language for a proposed ballot measure that would make access to government records and meetings a right protected in the state’s constitution.

Griffin rejected the language for the proposed Arkansas Government Transparency Amendment, which would also make it more difficult for lawmakers to narrow access to public meetings and records.

Griffin’s approval is needed before the group behind the measure can begin collecting the 90,704 signatures from registered voters needed to qualify for the ballot. Griffin cited “lack of clarity on key terms” as a reason for the rejection, saying terms like government transparency and public record are never defined in the proposal.

“Your proposed text hinges on terms that are undefined and whose definitions would likely give voters serious ground for reflection,” Griffin wrote to proponents.

Arkansas Citizens for Transparency, the group behind the measure, said in a statement it was “perplexed” by Griffin’s decision and said he was seeking a definition standard that other constitutional rights don’t have.

“The Constitutions do not define free speech, free exercise of religion, or the right to bear arms,” the group said. “Our attorney general’s opinion indicates that the right to government transparency should be more restricted than our other rights in the Constitution.”

Democratic Sen. Clarke Tucker, who chairs the group’s drafting committee, said the group is exploring all options, including submitting a revised proposal, submitting multiple revised proposals and litigation. A companion ballot measure is pending before Griffin’s office.

Arkansas Citizens for Transparency formed after Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law restricting the release of records about her travel and security. Sanders had initially proposed broader exemptions limiting the public’s access to records about her administration, but that proposal faced a backlash that included media groups and some conservatives.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Children's enhances care with Press Ganey partnership

Published

2 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Press Room

Arkansas Children's enhances care with Press Ganey partnership

The partnership will improve Arkansas Children’s service and care for patients and their families. Credit: Vita Monart/Shutterstock.

Arkansas Children’s, a private, non-profit paediatric care organisation, has partnered with Press Ganey to improve paediatric patient experience.

Beginning 1 January 2025, this collaboration is aimed at bolstering the paediatric care organisation’s commitment to improving service and care for patients and their families.

Arkansas Children’s executive vice-president and chief operating officer Jamie Wiggins said: “We believe that every interaction with our patients is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

“By leveraging Press Ganey’s expertise and industry-leading pediatric benchmarks, we will gain valuable insights that will empower our teams to continuously improve and innovate in delivering compassionate care.”

Press Ganey will offer its patient experience and provider star-rating solutions to help Arkansas Children’s monitor feedback and enhance care quality.

The partnership will enable Arkansas Children’s to leverage Press Ganey’s AI-powered text analytics.

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This will help analyse open-ended feedback from online reviews and post-visit surveys, providing an understanding of patient and family perspectives.

The goal is to gain actionable insights that can further improve the patient experience.

Press Ganey provides experience measurement, data analytics and insights to health systems and caters to more than 65% of all freestanding paediatric hospitals.

This partnership will allow Arkansas Children’s to benefit from shared learning and innovation within Press Ganey’s network of institutions.

Press Ganey CEO and chairman Patrick Ryan said: “Families trust Arkansas Children’s to provide the highest quality care for their children.

“This partnership reflects their dedication to listening to families, responding to their needs, and innovating to create a world-class paediatric healthcare experience.”

Arkansas Children’s network includes two paediatric hospitals, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, a research institute, a USDA nutrition centre, and numerous education and outreach programmes.

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Arkansas

Homicide suspect causes barricade situation in east Arkansas jail

Published

9 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Press Room

Homicide suspect causes barricade situation in east Arkansas jail

PHILLIPS COUNTY, Ark. — A suspect in a Helena-West Helena homicide caused a barricade situation Tuesday as he was being processed in the Phillips County Detention Center.

Authorities said a prisoner who was being processed at the jail was able to get hold of some type of instrument and cause harm to himself.

He barricaded himself in the processing area and pepper spray was used to subdue him.

The prisoner was taken to the local emergency room for treatment. No one else was injured.

Helena-West Helena Police Chief Vincent Bell said he doesn’t know much more about what happened at the jail, but said the inmate is connected to a fatal shooting Tuesday afternoon.

The suspect was being held in connection to an incident where a man was shot dead in the doorway of O’Reilly Auto Parts in West Helena.

The shooting was the result of a disagreement that started in front of a motel, and the victim ran to the front of O’Reilly’s where he was fatally shot.

Chief Bell offered no details on a motive or the name of the victim.

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Arkansas

VIDEO: Arkansas players press conference – Missouri week

Published

17 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

VIDEO: Arkansas players press conference – Missouri week

Arkansas QB Taylen Green, OL Addison Nichols, DT Cam Ball and DB Doneiko Slaughter, preview press conference ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the No. 24 Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and the game will air on SEC Network. Check out our homepage for more coverage of the Hogs.

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