Internal emails obtained through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act reveal that the Association of Arkansas Counties used its own attorney-to-government listserv to mobilize all 75 county clerks against citizen … Read more
A December 2025 email obtained through a public records request shows Independence County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Haney sent talking points to every Justice of the Peace, the County Clerk, and … Read more
Update (Feb 25, 2026): City Attorney Tim Meitzen has clarified that the FY2025 adopted budget ($42.1M) covers general operating expenses only. Major capital projects, including the new water treatment plant … Read more
The Independence County Election Commission has received five FOIA requests since February 18, 2026. As of today, February 23, 2026, it has responded to none of them. Under Arkansas law, … Read more
In August 2024, Independence County’s General Fund balance stood at approximately 83,000. By February 2026—just six months later—that balance had shrunk to ,000. An 81,000 reduction in half a year … Read more
In August 2024, the Independence County Election Commission made a decision that would set off 18 months of political turmoil: they agreed to implement hand-marked, hand-counted paper ballots in the … Read more
When citizens ask their government for public records, Arkansas law is clear: officials must respond within three business days and produce all responsive records, or explain why they can’t. So … Read more
When Independence County citizens gathered signatures for a paper ballot ordinance in 2024, they believed they were exercising a constitutional right. What they didn’t know was that a coordinated legal … Read more
**Independence County budgeted over $183,000 for election operations in 2026. As of February, only 1.12% had been spent. The voter-approved paper ballot ordinance was never implemented.** — On November 5, … Read more
**FOIA documents reveal a police lieutenant’s racial reprimand, the chief’s “close personal relationship” with the officer he hired, and a pattern of insular accountability.** — Personnel records obtained through FOIA … Read more