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Antoinette Grajeda

@grajeda.bsky.social

150 followers 86 following 81 posts

Deputy Editor @arkansasadvocate.com (part of @statesnewsroom.com) covering state government, education, immigration and economic development Lover of travel/hiking/French fries

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Antoinette Grajeda @grajeda.bsky.social · 1d

Via @arkansasadvocate.com:

Arkansas’ higher education institutions and the state’s education department have not been immediately impacted by the government shutdown, but officials said they’re preparing to make adjustments as needed. #arpx

arkansasadvocate.com/2025/10/07/a...

Arkansas education officials prep for potential shutdown effects | Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas’ higher education institutions and the state’s education department have not been immediately impacted by the government shutdown, but officials said they’re preparing to make adjustments as ...

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 1d

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: The Democratic Party of Arkansas’ executive committee voted unanimously Monday evening to hold a primary for the House District 70 special election. The special election’s winner will replace Rep. Carlton Wing who vacated his seat last week. #arpx #arleg

Arkansas Democrats to host primary in House special election | Arkansas Advocate

The Democratic Party of Arkansas’ executive committee voted unanimously Monday evening to hold a primary for the House District 70 special election.

arkansasadvocate.com

Antoinette Grajeda @grajeda.bsky.social · 2d

Via @arkansasadvocate.com:

More than 100 Arkansas National Guard members traveled to the nation’s southern border this weekend to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

The 13-month deployment supports a federal requirement and is a routine rotation.

arkansasadvocate.com/briefs/arkan...

Arkansas National Guardsmen mobilized to southern border | Arkansas Advocate

More than 100 Arkansas National Guards members traveled to the nation’s southern border this weekend to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 13d

Via @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social: Federal immigration officials are reportedly considering building a detention facility at the controversial Franklin County state prison site, further frustrating locals who say they’ve been left in the dark by state officials once again. #arpx

Feds considering immigration detention facility at Franklin County prison site | Arkansas Advocate

ICE agents were seen with Joe Profiri, an adviser to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, prior to a tour of the site on Monday.

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 13d

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: The institute is an independent unit of the UA System that focuses on education and training programs for law enforcement professionals.

Interim director selected for UA System’s Criminal Justice Institute | Arkansas Advocate

Kimberly Hendricks Jones will be the interim director of the University of Arkansas System’s Criminal Justice Institute (CJI), according to a Wednesday news release.

Antoinette Grajeda @grajeda.bsky.social · 14d

Via @arkansasadvocate.com: Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families on Wednesday called on the state’s education department to delay changes to a child care assistance program the nonprofit argues will decrease access for families in need.

arkansasadvocate.com/2025/09/24/a...

Arkansas child advocates concerned about changes to school readiness program | Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families on Wednesday called on the state’s education department to delay changes to a child care assistance program the nonprofit argues will decrease access for f...

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 19d

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: The goal of the revised formula, which still assigns schools a rating of A-F, is “to provide a clearer and more meaningful picture” of student achievement, year-to-year growth and postsecondary readiness, according to a news release. #arpx

Arkansas schools evaluated under new accountability system | Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas Education Department released public school ratings Friday that were calculated using a new accountability formula for the first time.

Antoinette Grajeda @grajeda.bsky.social · 19d

Via @arkansasadvocate.com: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said the city of Fayetteville is in compliance with the state’s “sanctuary policy” law Thursday, just one day after saying the municipality violated the statute. #arpx

arkansasadvocate.com/2025/09/19/a...

Arkansas AG declares city now in compliance with immigration law | Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin declared the city of Fayetteville is in compliance with the state’s “sanctuary policy” law Thursday, just one day after saying the municipality violated the statu...

arkansasadvocate.com

Antoinette Grajeda @grajeda.bsky.social · 20d

Via @arkansasadvocate.com: The city of Fayetteville is violating a law prohibiting “sanctuary policy” and is therefore ineligible to receive discretionary funding administered by the state, according to an opinion released by the Arkansas attorney general. #arpx

arkansasadvocate.com/2025/09/17/a...

Arkansas AG declares city in violation of state immigration law | Arkansas Advocate

The city of Fayetteville is violating a law prohibiting “sanctuary policy” and is therefore ineligible to receive discretionary funding administered by the state, according to an opinion released by t...

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 21d

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: The One State One Vote initiative creates a partnership between Arkansas and neighboring states to ensure citizens aren’t registered to vote in more than one state, according to a news release. #arpx

Arkansas Secretary of State announces new voting initiative | Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester launched an initiative Wednesday to prevent people from voting in multiple states.

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 28d

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: A federal judge converted a temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction Wednesday in a case challenging the constitutionality of a new state law requiring Ten Commandments displays in Arkansas public schools. #arpx

Preliminary injunction issued against Central Arkansas school district in Ten Commandments lawsuit | Arkansas Advocate

A federal judge converted a temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction Wednesday in a case challenging the constitutionality of a new state law requiring Ten Commandments displays in Ar...

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 25d

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences formally began its national search for a new chancellor Monday by releasing a leadership profile and beginning to accept inquiries about the post, according to a news release.

UAMS launches search for new chancellor | Arkansas Advocate

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences formally began its national search for a new chancellor Monday by releasing a leadership profile and beginning to accept inquiries about the post,…

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Sep 7

Collaboration was key to providing affordable housing to around 300 people in west Fayetteville, according to community leaders who attended a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday for a new 89-unit development. #arpx #arleg

Northwest Arkansas organizations celebrate new affordable housing development | Arkansas Advocate

Collaboration was key to providing affordable housing to around 300 people in west Fayetteville, according to community leaders who attended a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday for a new 89-unit…

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Sep 7

Former state Sen. Linda Pondexter Chesterfield will be inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in October. #arpx #arleg

Former lawmaker selected for Arkansas Black Hall of Fame | Arkansas Advocate

Former state Sen. Linda Pondexter Chesterfield will be inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in October.

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Sep 5

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: A Rogers public school that recently reopened after being damaged by severe weather last year received a $20,000 grant Thursday to restock the library’s Spanish-language books lost in the storm.

Northwest Arkansas school awaiting storm damage reimbursement receives $20,000 grant | Arkansas Advocate

A Rogers public school that recently reopened after being damaged by severe weather last year received a $20,000 grant Thursday to restock the library’s Spanish-language books lost in the storm.

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Sep 2

From @grajeda.bsky.social: Arkansas lawmakers continued to express concern Tuesday about a newly effective law that prohibits students who don’t meet the state’s third-grade reading standard from being promoted to fourth grade. #arpx

Arkansas lawmakers question implementation of third-grade literacy law | Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas lawmakers continued to express concern Tuesday about a newly effective law that prohibits students who don’t meet the state’s third-grade reading standard from being promoted to fourth grade.

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Sep 2

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: Implementation of a new state law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms varies across Arkansas as some district superintendents await the results of a lawsuit challenging the legislation. #arpx

Arkansas school district responses to Ten Commandments law mixed | Arkansas Advocate

Implementation of a new state law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms varies across Arkansas as some district superintendents await the results of a lawsuit challenging…

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Sep 2

From @sonnyalbarado.bsky.social and @grajeda.bsky.social: Sen. Gary Stubblefield, a Branch Republican who served a dozen years in the Arkansas Senate, died Tuesday at the age of 74. #arpx

Arkansas Sen. Gary Stubblefield dies at 74 | Arkansas Advocate

Sen. Gary Stubblefield, a Branch Republican who served a dozen years in the Arkansas Senate, died Tuesday at the age of 74.

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Sep 1

University of Arkansas officials dedicated a new architecture building in south Fayetteville Friday that will, among other things, serve as a center for developing solutions to affordable housing.

New center focused on Arkansas timber, affordable housing solutions | Arkansas Advocate

University of Arkansas officials dedicated a new architecture building on its Fayetteville campus Friday that will, among other things, serve as a center for developing solutions to affordable…

Antoinette Grajeda @grajeda.bsky.social · Aug 30

Via @arkansasadvocate.com: A federal judge Thursday evening ordered the Conway School District to remove Ten Commandments posters from classrooms and libraries, less than 24 hours after the district was added to a lawsuit challenging a state law requiring the displays. #arpx #arleg

Judge orders Central Arkansas district to remove Ten Commandments displays | Arkansas Advocate

A federal judge Thursday evening ordered the Conway School District to remove Ten Commandments posters from classrooms and libraries, less than 24 hours after the district was added to a lawsuit chall...

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Aug 28

Via @grajeda.bsky.social: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Northwest Arkansas Council will conduct a comprehensive water reclamation study to inform the state’s water plan and guide future wastewater infrastructure projects in Northwest Arkansas, the governor’s office announced Wednesday.

Governor announces study to inform Northwest Arkansas wastewater infrastructure | Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Northwest Arkansas Council will conduct a comprehensive water reclamation study to inform the state’s water plan and guide future wastewater infrastructure…

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

The Shumater @theshumater.bsky.social · Aug 29

ISSUE 2 REDUX: Federal judge dismisses legal challenge to constitutional amendment passed by Arkansas voters in 2024 that stopped new casino in Pope Co., says Cherokee Nation Entertainment took a "calculated business risk" in buying land to build casino. @grajeda.bsky.social reports.

Federal judge dismisses Cherokee Nation Entertainment lawsuit over Arkansas casino | Arkansas Advocate

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed claims in a lawsuit filed by Cherokee Nation Entertainment LLC over a voter-approved constitutional amendment that hindered its efforts to build a casino in Pope…

Antoinette Grajeda @grajeda.bsky.social · Aug 18

After swimming in data for weeks, here's what I learned:

🟠 Average 25-26 tuition — around $8,800 (more than the roughly $7,000 the state will provide per student)

🟠 Average tuition increase among the 93 schools that participated in all three years — about $1,400

#arpx #arleg

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Aug 18

As participation in Arkansas’ school voucher program has grown, so too has tuition at the private schools receiving state funds. #arpx

✍️: @grajeda.bsky.social

Private school tuitions rise as Arkansas voucher program enters third year | Arkansas Advocate

As participation in Arkansas’ school voucher program has grown, so too has tuition at the private schools receiving state funds.

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Aug 14

More prison beds will be needed as a result of recent legislation, further exacerbating current overcrowding issues in state and county facilities, according to a forecast presented to Arkansas lawmakers Wednesday.

✍️: @grajeda.bsky.social

Corrections officials, county sheriffs discuss prison capacity with Arkansas lawmakers | Arkansas Advocate

More prison beds will be needed as a result of recent legislation, further exacerbating current overcrowding issues in state and county facilities, according to a forecast presented to Arkansas…

arkansasadvocate.com

Reposted by Antoinette Grajeda

Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · Aug 13

The Arkansas State Board of Education granted permission to the Blytheville School District to enter into the state’s second transformation contract during a special meeting Wednesday.

✍️: @grajeda.bsky.social

Arkansas school district given green light to pursue state’s second transformation contract | Arkansas Advocate

The Arkansas State Board of Education granted permission to the Blytheville School District to enter into the state’s second transformation contract during a special meeting Wednesday.