SUMMARY: Governor Sanders has unveiled a plan to raise pay for thousands of state employees in Arkansas, including state troopers, nurses, and correctional officers. The $100 million initiative, funded by the state’s surplus, aims to address recruitment and retention challenges. Meanwhile, a federal judge has ruled in favor of Issue 2, allowing a casino amendment to proceed despite opposition. In other news, the University of Arkansas is offering new scholarships for students in need, and the Pulaski County Special School District is addressing complaints about its $80 million facility upgrade plan. Finally, World Kindness Day highlights a teen’s nonprofit initiative to bring rock climbing to underserved youth.

Jurnee Taylor delivers your top news stories for Nov. 13, 2024 including the latest on Gov. Sanders’s new state employee pay plan.

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SUMMARY: President-Elect Donald Trump has appointed several key figures to his cabinet, including Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and John Ratcliffe as CIA Director, praising Ratcliffe for his commitment to truth. Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem will lead the Department of Homeland Security. Trump also announced billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new Government Efficiency initiative. Additional appointments include William Joseph McGinley as White House Counsel, Steven C. Witkoff as Special Envoy to the Middle East, and various other roles filled by notable politicians, including Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.

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SUMMARY: The Arkansas State Senate has passed a rule change that prevents leaders of the minority party from serving as vice chairs of standing committees. The change, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Blake Johnson, passed with a 20-9 vote. Senate Republicans argued that since they hold a majority due to voters’ support, they should control committee leadership roles. Democrats opposed the change, calling it unnecessary and unfair, asserting they should represent their districts. The rule change has sparked criticism, with some questioning its legitimacy, while Republicans defended their actions as a rightful use of power given their electoral mandate.

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