Arkansas

Arkansas deputy attorney general named deputy solicitor general | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Published

1 year ago

May 7, 2025

Arkansas deputy attorney general named deputy solicitor general | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has promoted Noah Watson — who was deputy attorney general over the attorney general’s Opinions & Freedom of Information Act Division for more than a year — to deputy solicitor general, Griffin announced Tuesday.

The Republican attorney general said he’s pleased to announce that Watson “will join our excellent Solicitor General team as Deputy Solicitor General.”

“In February, I hired Autumn Patterson as our new Solicitor General, and the addition of Noah to this team makes it one of the best in the country,” Griffin said.

In March, Patterson, the former special assistant solicitor general in the Louisiana attorney general’s office, started work for the Arkansas attorney general’s office and filled the vacancy created at the end of December, after then-Solicitor General Nicholas Bronni was appointed to a two-year term on the Arkansas Supreme Court by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

In 2023, Watson started working in the attorney general’s office in its Special Litigation Section before being promoted to deputy attorney general over Opinions & FOIA, Griffin said.

On Tuesday, Griffin said Watson’s skills in research, writing and advocacy will now be at the state’s service in his new role as he takes on appellate cases at both the state and national levels.

“I love seeing the talented people in my office grow and take on new challenges, and I know Noah will excel as Deputy Solicitor General the way he has in his previous roles,” Griffin said.

Griffin spokesman Jeff LeMaster said Wednesday that Watson’s salary is $183,999.92 a year and Dylan Jacobs, Watson’s predecessor as deputy solicitor general, had the same salary.

LeMaster added that Watson’s salary has not changed with the move to deputy solicitor general.

Griffin said Senior Assistant Attorney General Kelly Summerside will serve as the acting head of the Opinions & FOIA Division.

LeMaster also said Summerside’s salary of $153,999.87 a year is not changing.

Before joining the attorney general’s office, Watson was an associate attorney at Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC in Little Rock, according to the attorney general’s office. Before that, he served as a law clerk for Judge Lavenski Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Watson graduated from Harding University and the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.

The Office of Solicitor General is responsible for handling Arkansas’ appellate and high-profile national litigation, helping shape both state and national jurisprudence, according to the attorney general’s office.

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Arkansas

Arkansas DFA Agents seize illegal products in Corning

Published

1 hour ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas DFA Agents seize illegal products in Corning

CORNING, Ark. (KATV) — Regulatory Enforcement Agents with the Department of Finance and Administration, along with local police, seized a significant amount of illegal THC products from Pacific Green in Corning on Tuesday.

According to the DFA, more than a dozen agents joined the City of Corning Police in the day-long operation that resulted in two arrests.

DFA agents seized more than 25 pounds of illegal products consisting of flower, vapes, and edibles.

Owner Ben Bennett and employee Sharia Shipman were arrested and both charged with the following:

Delivery of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Class D Felony)
Possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with the purpose to deliver (Class B Felony)
Controlled substances – Offenses relating to records, maintaining premises (Class C Felony)
Possession of drug paraphernalia (Class D Felony)
Unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes (Class C Felony)

Bennett’s bond was set at $150,000, while Shipman’s bond was set at $100,000.

“In addition to selling illegal products, investigators confirmed violations involving underage access at this location,” said David Potter, Director of the Regulatory Enforcement Division. “This retailer, which was located within 1,000 feet of a school, presented significant public health and safety concerns. We are proud to partner with the Corning Police Department in addressing these violations. We seized a substantial quantity of illegal products, including flower, vapes, edibles, and other items, during the operation. We appreciate the cooperation of local law enforcement and information received from the community that led to yesterday’s operation and stopped this blatant disregard of the law.”

Note: All suspects accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.

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Arkansas

Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs now available in Apple Wallet

Published

11 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs now available in Apple Wallet

Arkansans can now present their driver’s licenses and state identification cards on mobile devices using Apple Wallet, state finance officials announced Wednesday.

The Department of Finance and Administration said Arkansans can use Apple Wallet to present their license or ID in person, online and in apps at select organizations, including at more than 250 Transportation Security

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Arkansas

Your Arkansas Driver’s License Can Now Live on Your iPhone

Published

22 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Your Arkansas Driver’s License Can Now Live on Your iPhone

IDEMIA Public Security North America and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles have launched Arkansas driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet, allowing residents to securely store and use their credentials on an iPhone or Apple Watch.

The new feature gives Arkansans the ability to present their identification at participating businesses and venues, at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints in more than 250 airports, and online or within apps when age or identity verification is required.

The launch builds on Arkansas’ ongoing efforts to expand digital identification options. In March 2025, the state introduced the Arkansas Mobile ID app, and officials say adding IDs to Apple Wallet offers residents another secure and convenient way to access their credentials.

“We’re proud to build on our partnership with the Arkansas DFA’s Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles, expanding on the launch of the Arkansas Mobile ID app in March 2025. The launch of ID in Apple Wallet in the state provides Arkansas residents a new, secure way to store and present their digital credentials, with transparency and control over how their information is shared at the forefront,” said Rob Gardner, CEO, IDEMIA Civil Identity.

To add an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, users can tap the plus sign at the top of the Wallet app on their iPhone, select “Driver’s License or State ID,” and follow the verification process.

Officials say privacy and security were central considerations in the rollout. Information stored in Apple Wallet is encrypted on a user’s device, and users control when and how their information is shared. When presenting an ID, only the information necessary to verify age or identity is provided.

Apple and the Arkansas Division of Driver Services and Motor Vehicles also do not receive information about when or where residents use their digital IDs.

The technology is also designed to make verification easier for businesses. Participating businesses can use IDEMIA’s Mobile ID Verify app to accept and verify mobile IDs directly from an iPhone without requiring customers to hand over their devices or use additional hardware.

The launch marks another step toward broader adoption of digital credentials in Arkansas, giving residents a secure alternative to carrying a physical driver’s license or state ID while maintaining control over their personal information.

For information on the launch of IDs in Apple Wallet in Arkansas, click here.

READ ALSO: Adam O’Neal Stepping into Chancellor Role at UA-EACC

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