Tess Vrbin / bluesky: @tessmvrbin.bsky.social

👋 hello from the Arkansas Capitol! Very excited to be part of the Advocate and @statesnewsroom team!

Read all the way to the end for details about statewide trends of tension between libraries and the communities they serve, including quorum courts: arkansasadvocate.com/2024/12/06/nor…

The library and county had been in conflict for years over a proposed raise for the now-former director that the county never granted. One county official repeatedly asked the board for detailed financial info and said the board wasn't transparent enough. arkansasadvocate.com/2024/12/06/nor…

This week in Arkansas library news: The Marion County Library director was arrested Monday on felony charges after a sheriff's investigation into financial records. The county judge dismissed the library board for not keeping a closer eye on the director. arkansasadvocate.com/2024/12/06/nor…

The number of state-level child labor law violations in Arkansas rose 266%, from 460 to 1,685, between fiscal years 2020 and 2023, according to an @AACF report released Monday. buff.ly/4eBhCeQ

Donald Trump's transition starts now. Here's how it will work apnews.com/article/presid…

Arkansas Democrats gained a seat in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday and will continue to be the minority party in the chamber in January when new members are sworn in. #arpx #arleg buff.ly/48EGjG7

I cannot stress enough about how everyone @statesnewsroom worked their hearts out yesterday and into the very wee hours this morning on election coverage, from reporters to editors to the digital team. & back at it now. Read 39 outlets and partners here newsfromthestates.com

Col. Marcus Jones, who lost the U.S. House District 2 race to Rep. French Hill, encourages his fellow Democrats to keep working hard in Arkansas. After I stopped the video, he said, "Vote like your daughter's life depends on it, because in Arkansas, it does." @arkadvocate

Rodney Govens, the Democratic candidate for Arkansas' 1st Congressional District, talks about his race in a typically red 31-county district at the Democratic Party of Arkansas' election watch party. @arkadvocate #ARVote24

@ArkAdvocate Hillcrest Community Church was busy all day and saw higher voter turnout than in the primaries, according to poll workers. #ARVote24 @arkadvocate

@ArkAdvocate Donna Jones said the biggest issue for her was voting for officials who would respect her marriage, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Women's healthcare and "general human decency" were also priorities for her. @arkadvocate #ARVote24

Here at First Missionary Baptist Church in Southwest Little Rock (Mabelvale), Daniel Felts and Bradley Cranford said they believe the presidential election is especially important this year, particularly for the rights of women and minorities. #ARVote24 @arkadvocate

Cindy Green (right) of Benton brought her nieces, Kynlee Green (left) and Neveah Nobles (center), to the polling place to let them know voting for "the little things," like tax millage, is important even though Arkansas won't swing the presidential results. #ARVote24 @arkadvocate

John Baney of Benton said his biggest priority regarding the presidential election is "the mess at the border." He said he's an Independent, and his wife, Dawn Bohner, said she's a registered Republican concerned about "the whole future of America." #ARVote24 @arka

Poll workers say turnout is above average at Kentucky Missionary Baptist Church west of Benton. Pictured is Brett Chaney, electioneering for Republican state House candidate Paul Childress. #ARVote24 @arka