Arkansas Legislature Approves $3.5M in Grant Funding for Mothers with Unplanned Pregnancies

Abortion, , , , ,

The Arkansas Legislature continues to put its money where its mouth is by approving millions of dollars in grant funding to support women with unplanned pregnancies.

Since 2022, Arkansas law generally has prohibited abortion except to save the life of the mother, and abortion facilities in the state have closed down. But data shows that Arkansans may be traveling out of state for abortions. We also know that abortionists in other parts of the country are shipping abortion drugs into Arkansas illegally.

That’s why Family Council has encouraged Arkansas’ lawmakers to provide grant funding for pregnancy help organizations across the state.

These pro-life charities give women real options besides abortion. That’s why a growing number of states provide these organizations with public funding.

This year, the Arkansas Legislature raised its Pregnancy Help Organization Grant fund from $2 million to $3.5 million.

Lawmakers approved the funding last Wednesday as part of the Department of Finance and Administration’s 2026-2027 budget for its Disbursing Officer, and Governor Sanders signed the budget proposal into law.

The measures makes it clear that “pregnancy help organizations” include nonprofit organizations that promote infant and maternal wellness and reduce infant and maternal mortality by:

  • Providing nutritional information and/or nutritional counseling;
  • Providing prenatal vitamins;
  • Providing a list of prenatal medical care options;
  • Providing social, emotional, and/or material support; or
  • Providing referrals for WIC and community-based nutritional services, including but not limited to food banks, food pantries, and food distribution centers.

Abortionists and their affiliates are not eligible for grant funding.

Family Council is grateful to the General Assembly and Governor Sanders for approving this $3.5 million in grant funding to provide alternatives to abortion. This is money well spent. We look forward to seeing the state award the funds to pregnancy help organizations in the coming months.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Forecast Calls for 100% Chance of Shady Bets

Gambling,

Last week, media outlets reported that French authorities are investigating unexplained temperature spikes at a Paris weather station following suspicious bets placed on the platform Polymarket.

Federally regulated prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi exploit loopholes in state and federal laws to bring casino-style gambling to anyone with a smartphone. Whereas traditional gambling in Arkansas and elsewhere operates under state oversight and state law, prediction market platforms claim protection under federal commodities laws.

The out-of-state companies running these platforms claim it’s not gambling. They just offer “financial products” that let people “invest” in the outcome of sports games or other real-world events — like tomorrow’s weather, foreign policy, and so on.

But calling it an “investment” does not change the reality. It’s wagering on uncertain outcomes in hopes of making money.

A viral security camera video clip making the rounds online claims to show a man using a hairdryer on a thermometer at a French weather station. The video says the man was trying to win a Polymarket bet about the weather in Paris.

Newsweek reports the thermometer spiked four degrees Celsius over the course of about 12 minutes before abruptly dropping again. The incident and the Polymarket wagers placed right before it happened were suspicious enough to prompt investigations.

All of this reminds us about the corrupting influence that gambling has.

Even if the viral video of the man with the hairdryer turned out to be fake, the fact that platforms like Kalshi let users gamble on the weather makes people suspicious when temperatures do something unexpected. Imagine what happens when we have problems from people betting on elections.

We need to close the loopholes and enact clear laws that prohibit prediction market wagering and any activity functioning like it.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Marijuana Hurts Teens’ Mental Health: Study

Marijuana

A recent study shows once again that marijuana is harmful for teens and young adults.

Nationwide, many states have legalized marijuana to varying degrees, and the Trump Administration has moved to ease federal restrictions on marijuana. But while policymakers push for more marijuana, scientific evidence continues to show that’s a bad idea.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine analyzed medical records from nearly 12,000 teens over the course of a decade.

The study found adolescents who started using marijuana showed slower gains in memory, attention, and cognitive skills compared to non-users over time.

Again and again, scientific evidence has shown that marijuana is dangerous — especially for teens and young adults.

Addiction experts note that marijuana can trigger mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and psychosis.

A recent study from Columbia University found even “casual” marijuana use is linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and impulsive behavior in teenagers.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found teen psychiatric emergencies spiked after marijuana commercialization began in the state.

THC — the main psychoactive substance in marijuana — has been tied repeatedly to everything from heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects.

In fact, researchers now say marijuana use doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease.

And instead of decreasing crime, marijuana’s legalization has actually emboldened drug cartels and increased the flow of illegal drugs across America.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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