Tagged: Arkansas Politics

A gun control group is holding a rally in Little Rock to urge U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor to take another look at a measure expanding background checks for firearm sales.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group co-founded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is holding the rally Friday at Allsopp Park.

The event comes as the group is airing ads in Arkansas criticizing Pryor for voting against the background checks measure.

As an immigration reform bill is expected to be debated and amended in the U.S. Senate this week, a local immigrant advocacy group is settling into its own office for the summer.

El Zócalo Immigrant Resource Center assists families who need to navigate processes like getting proper medical care or other services.  

The National Rifle Association is buying airtime on Arkansas radio stations to defend Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor's vote against gun purchase background checks proposed by President Barack Obama.

The NRA said the ad will run Wednesday through June 25 in a number of state media markets.

The 60-second spot mentions the 2008 murder of Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney and says nothing in the legislation Pryor voted against would have prevented the killing.

With an immigration reform bill moving forward in the U.S. Senate, Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas says procedural votes Tuesday were just the first step in what will be a closely watched process. 

“If you look at the immigrant population in Arkansas, it’s about five percent and about 13 percent nationwide,” said Pryor. “However, we are one of the fastest growing states in terms of immigrant population. I think we’re fourth overall in the amount of growth we’re seeing in our immigrant population so this is an issue that’s becoming increasingly important to our state.”

Arkansas Highway Commissioner John Burkhalter says he's running for lieutenant governor next year, opting out of a race for the state's top office.

Burkhalter on Tuesday announced he's running for the Democratic nomination for the state's No. 2 constitutional office.

Little Rock School Board President Dianne Curry also announced Tuesday that she's running.

Burkhalter, 56, had been considering a run for governor.

Burkhalter is the president of Burkhalter Technologies, a North Little Rock construction company.