Between the Lines Blog
The LEARNSing Curve: Navigating Arkansas Education Law
A Short Survey of The LEARNS Act Three years later, the Literacy, Empowerment, Accountability, Readiness, Networking, and Safety Act (“LEARNS Act” or the “Act”) continues to reshape Arkansas education law. This article surveys the Act’s major provisions: (1) the Education Freedom Account program…
NAIC Reciprocal Exchanges (E) Working Group Advances Proposed Amendments to Model 440 and Model 450
On July 22, 2026, the NAIC Reciprocal Exchanges (E) Working Group met virtually to discuss proposed amendments to the Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act (Model #440) and the Insurance Holding Company System Model Regulation (Model #450). Formed in November 2025 under the Financial…
The NAIC Data Breach: A Turning Point for Data Collection and Privacy in the Insurance Industry
On June 17, 2026, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) publicly disclosed that it had identified unauthorized access to its PeopleSoft systems. The breach—attributed to the threat actor group ShinyHunters and part of a broader campaign exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in…
Essential Employment Documents and Procedures for Growing Businesses
As your business grows and you begin hiring employees, the excitement of expansion can sometimes overshadow the critical need for proper employment documentation and procedures. Yet the foundation you lay during this stage of growth can make the difference between a thriving workplace and costly…
The Non-Compete Playbook: Everything Arkansas Employers Should Have in their Arsenal
A crucial employee leaves for a competitor. A promising candidate shows up carrying a non-compete from their former employer. Either way, the questions hit quickly: What can we do? What should we avoid? And what paperwork should we have in place to handle this sort of thing? What employers should…
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law Blog
Citizen Suit Enforcement/Clean Air Act: U.S. Department of Justice Alleges Constructive Denial of Request to Intervene in NAACP's Challenge to Southaven, MS Data Center
September 23, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) filed a Notice of Appeal on September 18th to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (“5th Circuit”) in regard to its previously filed Motion for Intervention and Dismissal in the pending case, NAACP and NAACP MISSISSIPPI STATE…
What Goes into Diesel Prices?: U.S. Energy Information Administration Analysis
September 23, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) undertook an analysis titled: What goes into diesel prices? (“Analysis”). The Analysis uses as a data source the EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. The Analysis noted that as of September 14th United Sates retail diesel prices…
Air Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality and Warren Gasification Facility Enter into Consent Administrative Order
September 23, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) and Price Services, Inc. (“PSI”) entered into an August 14th Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing an alleged violation of an Air Permit. See Case #: CAO-25-0005. The CAO provides that PSI owns…
Title V/Clean Air Act: Environmental Integrity Project Petition to Object Filed Addressing Modeste, Louisiana Ammonia Production Facility
September 22, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Environmental Integrity Project and two other organizations filed a September 4th Title V Petition to Object (“Petition”) before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) related to a permit issued to CF Industries Blue Point LLC (“CFI”) to operate a new ammonia production facility in…
New Ammonia Criteria Implementation: Zachary Carroll, PhD, P.E. (Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment) Arkansas Rural Water Association Technical Conference Presentation
September 22, 2026
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
Zachary Carroll, PhD, P.E., undertook a presentation at the Arkansas Rural Water Association Annual Technical Conference titled: NEW AMMONIA CRITERIA IMPLEMENTATION (“Presentation”). Zachary serves as the Engineering Supervisor in the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment – Division of…