Connect with us

Arkansas

Highest-earning counties in Arkansas

Published

on

Highest-earning counties in Arkansas


(Stacker) -The 2020 median family revenue within the U.S. was $67,521, a lower of two.9% from 2019. COVID-19 in 2020 drastically altered revenue and poverty ranges, together with shopper habits and job alternatives.

Stacker compiled a listing of the highest-earning counties in Arkansas utilizing knowledge from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by 2020 5-year estimate median family revenue. Knowledge reveals that annual annual revenue relies upon closely on a person’s academic attainment, race, ethnicity, gender, and even location.

One cluster of the USA is especially nicely off: The 5 of the seven counties with the best median family revenue within the nation could be discovered within the Washington D.C. metropolitan areas of Maryland and Northern Virginia. These counties can seemingly attribute their wealth to their proximity to Washington D.C., which attracts extremely educated and expert individuals in areas of legislation and public coverage. And folks in these fields typically marry one another, making two high-earning households one very high-earning family.

Hold studying to study extra concerning the highest-earning counties in Arkansas.

Advertisement

#50. Jefferson County

– Median family revenue: $40,402

— 18.3% beneath state common, 37.8% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 13.9%

— #2,658 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 18.3%

— #2,763 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#49. Van Buren County

– Median family revenue: $40,442

— 18.3% beneath state common, 37.8% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 11.4%

— #2,928 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.5%

— #2,761 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#48. Lawrence County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $40,587

— 18.0% beneath state common, 37.6% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 11.2%

— #2,956 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.7%

Advertisement

— #2,755 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#47. Poinsett County

– Median family revenue: $40,700

— 17.7% beneath state common, 37.4% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 11.0%

Advertisement

— #2,969 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 17.4%

— #2,747 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#46. Montgomery County

– Median family revenue: $41,165

Advertisement

— 16.8% beneath state common, 36.7% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 13.6%

— #2,699 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 13.4%

— #2,714 highest amongst all counties nationwideYou may additionally like: Hottest child names for boys in Arkansas

Advertisement

#45. Madison County

– Median family revenue: $41,446

— 16.2% beneath state common, 36.2% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 14.6%

— #2,565 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 11.9%

— #2,699 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#44. Bradley County

– Median family revenue: $41,808

— 15.5% beneath state common, 35.7% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 15.0%

— #2,507 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 16.4%

— #2,672 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#43. Crittenden County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $42,384

— 14.3% beneath state common, 34.8% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 17.8%

— #1,986 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 15.8%

Advertisement

— #2,617 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#42. Scott County

– Median family revenue: $42,635

— 13.8% beneath state common, 34.4% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 12.4%

Advertisement

— #2,818 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 16.6%

— #2,599 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#41. Prairie County

– Median family revenue: $42,754

Advertisement

— 13.6% beneath state common, 34.2% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 12.8%

— #2,783 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 13.0%

— #2,589 highest amongst all counties nationwideYou may additionally like: Counties with the bottom house costs in Arkansas

Advertisement

#40. Izard County

– Median family revenue: $42,818

— 13.5% beneath state common, 34.1% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 9.9%

— #3,024 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 16.7%

— #2,584 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#39. Randolph County

– Median family revenue: $42,844

— 13.4% beneath state common, 34.1% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 11.3%

— #2,937 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 15.7%

— #2,581 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#38. Drew County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $42,924

— 13.2% beneath state common, 34.0% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 18.6%

— #1,855 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 18.0%

Advertisement

— #2,572 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#37. Pike County

– Median family revenue: $42,983

— 13.1% beneath state common, 33.9% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 16.3%

Advertisement

— #2,267 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.8%

— #2,571 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#36. Mississippi County

– Median family revenue: $42,986

Advertisement

— 13.1% beneath state common, 33.9% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 18.2%

— #1,933 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.6%

— #2,570 highest amongst all counties nationwideYou may additionally like: Counties with the best COVID-19 vaccination charge in Arkansas

Advertisement

#35. Baxter County

– Median family revenue: $43,504

— 12.1% beneath state common, 33.1% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 13.3%

— #2,726 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 9.6%

— #2,536 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#34. Ashley County

– Median family revenue: $43,601

— 11.9% beneath state common, 32.9% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 12.9%

— #2,767 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 15.6%

— #2,526 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#33. White County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $44,000

— 11.1% beneath state common, 32.3% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 17.2%

— #2,106 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 12.5%

Advertisement

— #2,494 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#32. Logan County

– Median family revenue: $44,232

— 10.6% beneath state common, 31.9% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 11.5%

Advertisement

— #2,922 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.5%

— #2,475 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#31. Cross County

– Median family revenue: $44,379

Advertisement

— 10.3% beneath state common, 31.7% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 15.9%

— #2,358 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 13.8%

— #2,461 highest amongst all counties nationwideYou may additionally like: Highest-earning cities in Arkansas

Advertisement

#30. Conway County

– Median family revenue: $44,456

— 10.1% beneath state common, 31.6% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 17.0%

— #2,143 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.9%

— #2,453 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#29. Perry County

– Median family revenue: $44,926

— 9.2% beneath state common, 30.9% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 20.2%

— #1,575 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 12.1%

— #2,420 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#28. Union County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $45,293

— 8.5% beneath state common, 30.3% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 19.3%

— #1,734 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 17.0%

Advertisement

— #2,385 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#27. Miller County

– Median family revenue: $45,391

— 8.3% beneath state common, 30.2% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 17.8%

Advertisement

— #2,000 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 16.2%

— #2,372 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#26. Hempstead County

– Median family revenue: $45,484

Advertisement

— 8.1% beneath state common, 30.0% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 14.6%

— #2,559 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 13.1%

— #2,368 highest amongst all counties nationwideYou may additionally like: Highest-rated soccer recruits from Arkansas during the last 20 years

Advertisement

#25. Cleburne County

– Median family revenue: $45,563

— 7.9% beneath state common, 29.9% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 14.8%

— #2,532 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 12.0%

— #2,363 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#24. Pope County

– Median family revenue: $46,004

— 7.0% beneath state common, 29.2% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 19.3%

— #1,747 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 11.8%

— #2,324 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#23. Cleveland County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $46,349

— 6.3% beneath state common, 28.7% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 16.3%

— #2,267 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.4%

Advertisement

— #2,295 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#22. Sizzling Spring County

– Median family revenue: $46,390

— 6.2% beneath state common, 28.6% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 15.9%

Advertisement

— #2,347 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 12.7%

— #2,290 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#21. Boone County

– Median family revenue: $46,392

Advertisement

— 6.2% beneath state common, 28.6% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 15.8%

— #2,377 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 13.0%

— #2,288 highest amongst all counties nationwideYou may additionally like: Lowest-earning counties in Arkansas

Advertisement

#20. Lincoln County

– Median family revenue: $46,554

— 5.9% beneath state common, 28.4% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 11.4%

— #2,935 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.5%

— #2,275 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#19. Sevier County

– Median family revenue: $47,872

— 3.2% beneath state common, 26.3% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 15.3%

— #2,463 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 15.0%

— #2,157 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#18. Sebastian County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $47,878

— 3.2% beneath state common, 26.3% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 18.4%

— #1,892 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 11.4%

Advertisement

— #2,155 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#17. Yell County

– Median family revenue: $47,981

— 3.0% beneath state common, 26.2% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 14.6%

Advertisement

— #2,559 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 11.7%

— #2,144 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#16. Garland County

– Median family revenue: $48,150

Advertisement

— 2.7% beneath state common, 25.9% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 15.7%

— #2,395 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 13.2%

— #2,129 highest amongst all counties nationwideYou may additionally like: Counties with the best charge of meals insecure youngsters in Arkansas

Advertisement

#15. Carroll County

– Median family revenue: $48,249

— 2.5% beneath state common, 25.8% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 16.1%

— #2,322 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.1%

— #2,120 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#14. Little River County

– Median family revenue: $48,966

— 1.0% beneath state common, 24.7% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 17.5%

— #2,042 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 13.8%

— #2,047 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#13. Independence County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $48,972

— 1.0% beneath state common, 24.7% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 15.5%

— #2,430 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 12.7%

Advertisement

— #2,044 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#12. Crawford County

– Median family revenue: $48,980

— 1.0% beneath state common, 24.6% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 18.5%

Advertisement

— #1,874 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 10.4%

— #2,042 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#11. Craighead County

– Median family revenue: $49,730

Advertisement

— 0.5% above state common, 23.5% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 20.4%

— #1,536 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 12.8%

— #1,962 highest amongst all counties nationwideYou may additionally like: Schools with one of the best ROI in Arkansas

Advertisement

#10. Greene County

– Median family revenue: $50,083

— 1.2% above state common, 22.9% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 17.1%

— #2,120 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 13.2%

— #1,924 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#9. Calhoun County

– Median family revenue: $50,441

— 2.0% above state common, 22.4% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 17.5%

— #2,067 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 12.9%

— #1,880 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#8. Arkansas County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $51,000

— 3.1% above state common, 21.5% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 19.2%

— #1,756 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 17.9%

Advertisement

— #1,826 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#7. Washington County

– Median family revenue: $52,380

— 5.9% above state common, 19.4% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 23.5%

Advertisement

— #1,057 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 11.7%

— #1,611 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#6. Pulaski County

– Median family revenue: $52,930

Advertisement

— 7.0% above state common, 18.6% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 23.6%

— #1,051 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 12.4%

— #1,558 highest amongst all counties nationwideYou may additionally like: Recipes from Arkansas

Advertisement

#5. Faulkner County

– Median family revenue: $54,191

— 9.5% above state common, 16.6% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 23.5%

— #1,057 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 12.0%

— #1,430 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#4. Grant County

– Median family revenue: $59,051

— 19.4% above state common, 9.1% beneath nationwide common

Advertisement

– Households incomes over $100k: 25.8%

— #792 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 14.9%

— #985 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#3. Lonoke County

Advertisement

– Median family revenue: $59,278

— 19.8% above state common, 8.8% beneath nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 24.0%

— #990 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 9.5%

Advertisement

— #962 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#2. Saline County

– Median family revenue: $66,876

— 35.2% above state common, 2.9% above nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 28.2%

Advertisement

— #603 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 7.6%

— #499 highest amongst all counties nationwide

#1. Benton County

– Median family revenue: $71,556

Advertisement

— 44.6% above state common, 10.1% above nationwide common

– Households incomes over $100k: 32.0%

— #396 highest amongst all counties nationwide

– Households incomes lower than $15k: 6.7%

— #336 highest amongst all counties nationwide

Advertisement

Copyright 2022 Stacker by way of Grey Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Arkansas

FDA phasing out ineffective decongestant | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

on

FDA phasing out ineffective decongestant | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


WASHINGTON — U.S. officials are moving to phase out the leading decongestant found in hundreds of over-the-counter medicines, concluding that it doesn’t actually relieve nasal congestion.

Phenylephrine is used in popular versions of Sudafed, Dayquil and other medications, but experts have long questioned its effectiveness. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration formally proposed revoking its use in pills and liquid solutions, kicking off a process that’s likely to force drugmakers to remove or reformulate products.

It’s a win for skeptical academics, including researchers at the University of Florida who petitioned the FDA to revisit the drug’s use in 2007 and again in 2015. For consumers, it will likely mean switching to alternatives, including an older decongestant that was moved behind the pharmacy counter nearly 20 years ago.

Doctors say Americans will be better off without phenylephrine, which is often combined with other medicines to treat cold, flu, fever and allergies.

Advertisement

“People walk into the drugstore today and see 55,000 medicines on the shelf, and they pick one that is definitely not going to work,” said Dr. Brian Schroer of the Cleveland Clinic. “You take away that option, and it will be easier for them to self-direct toward products that really will help them.”

The FDA decision was expected after federal advisers last year voted unanimously that oral phenylephrine medications haven’t been shown to relieve congestion.

Experts reviewed several recent, large studies indicating that phenylephrine was no better than a placebo at clearing nasal passageways. They also revisited studies from the 1960s and 1970s that supported the drug’s initial use, finding numerous flaws and questionable data.

The panel’s opinion only applied to phenylephrine in oral medications, which account for roughly $1.8 billion in annual U.S. sales. The drug is still considered effective in nasal sprays, though those are much less popular.

Phenylephrine wasn’t always the top choice for cold and allergy products. Many were originally formulated with a different drug, pseudoephedrine.

Advertisement

But a 2006 law required pharmacies to move pseudoephedrine products behind the counter, citing their potential to be processed into methamphetamine. Companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Bayer decided to reformulate their products to keep them readily available on store shelves — and labeled many of them as “PE” versions of familiar brand names.

PHARMACY NEEDED

Consumers who still want to take pills or syrups for relief will probably need to head to the pharmacy counter — where the pseudoephedrine-containing versions of Sudafed, Claritin D and other products remain available without a prescription. Purchasers need to provide a photo ID.

Beyond those products, most of the other options are over-the-counter nasal sprays or solutions.

Saline drops and rinses are a quick way to clear mucus from the nose. For long-term relief from seasonal stuffiness, itching and sneezing, many doctors recommend nasal steroids, sold as Flonase, Nasacort and Rhinocort.

Advertisement

“These medicines are by far the most effective daily treatment for nasal congestion and stuffiness,” Schroer said. “The biggest issue is they’re not great when used on an as-needed basis.”

Nasal steroids generally have to be used daily to be highly effective. For short-term relief, patients can try antihistamine sprays, such as Astepro, which are faster acting.

Phenylephrine-based sprays will also remain on pharmacy shelves.

SWALLOWING STIFLES AID

The experts who challenged the drug’s effectiveness say it’s quickly broken down and rendered ineffective when it hits the stomach.

Advertisement

“This is a good drug, but not when it’s swallowed,” said Leslie Hendeles, professor emeritus at the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy, where he co-authored several papers on the ingredient. “It’s inactivated in the gut and doesn’t get into the bloodstream, so it can’t get to the nose.”

When Hendeles and his colleagues first petitioned the FDA on phenylephrine, they suggested a higher dose might be effective. But subsequent studies showed that even doses 400% higher than those currently recommended don’t treat stuffiness.

The FDA and other researchers concluded that pushing the dosage even higher might carry safety risks.

“If you’re using very high doses, the risk is raising blood pressure so high that it could be hazardous to patients,” said Randy Hatton, a University of Florida professor who co-led the research on phenylephrine.

Because of its cardiovascular effects, the drug is sometimes used to treat dangerously low blood pressure during surgery, Hatton noted.

Advertisement
    Decongestant pills containing phenylephrine are displayed for a photograph in Philadelphia on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Jonathan Poet)
 
 
  photo  A decongestant pill containing phenylephrine is displayed for a photograph in Philadelphia on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Jonathan Poet)
 
 
  photo  A decongestant pill containing phenylephrine is displayed for a photograph in Philadelphia on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Jonathan Poet)
 
 



Source link

Continue Reading

Arkansas

Sam Pittman breaks down Arkansas' biggest transfer portal needs

Published

on

Sam Pittman breaks down Arkansas' biggest transfer portal needs


With the transfer portal in full swing, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman addressed some of the biggest areas of need for his team. The Razorbacks are coming off of a 6-6 finish in the fifth year under Pittman and looking to boost their roster for another run in 2025.

Speaking with media, Pittman highlighted both the offensive and defensive line as the areas where Arkansas needs to be most aggressive in the portal. He also cited the linebacker group as a the position that the team feels best about, saying the Razorbacks will look to improve its defensive backs room first.

“Offensive line would be one (area of need),” the coach said. “Defensive line would be one. We felt like we were pretty good at the linebacker spots. If you go back and look a couple of years ago, the world was falling because this linebacker (left), that linebacker (left).

“I think we all agreed out linebacker room was a strength for us this year. But that would be probably the least worried about (position). We need some safeties. We need some corners. But I think O-line and tight end’s a big deal. Wide receivers. We’ve got several spots to fill, but off the top of my head, that’s who it would be.”

Advertisement

Since Pittman’s comments, Arkansas has been active in the transfer portal to bring in 13 players. Unfortunately, they’ve also lost 26 more and rank just No. 59 out of 70 teams in On3’s Transfer Portal Team Rankings.

Staying true to to his word, Pittman has brought in four offensive linemen and a pair of defensive lineman through the portal. Former Georgia Tech offensive tackle Corey Robinson II is the highest rated of those additions, coming in as the No. 32 overall player and No. 5 player at his position according to On3’s Transfer Portal Player Rankings.

Arkansas also brought in former Charlotte receiver O’Mega Blake and former Cincinnati cornerback Jordan Young to give it three players ranked in the top 150.

The Razorbacks still have a long way to go to complete their portal class, likely hoping to add some more defensive linemen before it closes later this month. They are looking to make the next push in the SEC next season and the players they’ve gotten so far are a good start.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Arkansas

Part of Arkansas book ban law is unconstitutional, federal judge rules

Published

on

Part of Arkansas book ban law is unconstitutional, federal judge rules


A federal judge ruled on Monday that sections of an Arkansas law, which sought to impose criminal penalties on librarians and booksellers for distributing “harmful” material to children, were unconstitutional.

The law, known as the Arkansas Act 372, was signed into law last year by Republican governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. It was challenged by a coalition of organizations in the state, leading to a lengthy legal battle that concluded this week.

Two sections of Act 372 subjected librarians and booksellers to jail time for distributing material that is deemed “harmful to children”. Proponents of the law, including Sanders, said the law was put in place to “protect children” from “obscene” material.

“Act 372 is just common sense: schools and libraries shouldn’t put obscene material in front of our kids,” Sanders said in a statement to KATV-TV. “I will work with Attorney General Griffin to appeal this ruling and uphold Arkansas law.”

Advertisement

The governor signed the bill into law in March 2023, and a coalition of organizations in the state, including the Central Arkansas Library System in Little Rock and the ACLU of Arkansas, challenged it last year, saying the law was vague, overly broad and that the fear of criminal penalties would have a chilling effect on librarians across the state. A federal court temporarily blocked the enforcement of the two sections in question, while the law was being challenged in court.

The two sections that were struck down on Monday had established a criminal misdemeanor for “furnishing a harmful item to a minor”, and would have required local governments to create oversight boards to review challenged material. The organizations opposing the law argued that local officials, at their own discretion, could censor whichever books and material they pleased.

“This is a significant milestone on a long, sometimes rocky road we were obligated to travel after the passage of Act 372,” said Nate Coulter, executive director of the Central Arkansas Library System, in response to Monday’s ruling.

“We took that path to protect our librarians from prosecution for doing their jobs and to prevent some local elected officials from censoring library books they did not feel were ‘appropriate’ for our patrons to read.”

skip past newsletter promotion
Advertisement

In 2004, a federal judge struck down a similar law. The year prior, the state passed a law that required booksellers and librarians to hide materials deemed “harmful to minors”. It was deemed unconstitutional after legal challenges.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending