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Tess Vrbin

@tessmvrbin.bsky.social
612 followers 115 following 91 posts

watching libraries, maternal health, other state policy issues @arkansasadvocate.com. she/her. send tips and cat photos to tvrbin@arkansasadvocate.com. #MizzouMade #LetsGoBucs

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Reposted by Tess Vrbin
Kelcie Moseley-Morris @kelciemmorris.bsky.social · 10h
NEW: Amid ongoing lawsuits seeking to revoke nationwide access to abortion drug mifepristone, AGs in Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama have filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to strike down shield laws in states with abortion access.
stateline.org
Republican AGs sue abortion ‘shield law’ states in U.S. Supreme Court • Stateline
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and the attorneys general in Arkansas and Alabama filed a lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. Supreme Court, suing California, Massachusetts and New Y...
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Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 27/09/2026
Congrats to the Advocate's @grajeda.bsky.social @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social @tessmvrbin.bsky.social for winning 1st place in in-depth reporting in the National Federation of Press Women's contest for "Overcrowded" series! Read the award-winning series here: arkansasadvocate.com/category/ove...
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Stumptown, Galavant, Avenue 5... oh wait, you said just one show?
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Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 10/09/2026
Catch reporter @tessmvrbin.bsky.social's appearance on 5News discussing her coverage of the midterm campaigns in Arkansas: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvCD...
youtube.com
Arkansas Dems hopeful ahead of midterms
YouTube video by 5NEWS
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Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 09/09/2026
Check out @tessmvrbin.bsky.social's appearance on Little Rock Public Radio discussing her coverage of the midterm campaigns in Arkansas: www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-region...
ualrpublicradio.org
Democrats eye Arkansas' U.S. House, Senate seats ahead of midterms
The Arkansas Advocate's Tess Vrbin spoke to Little Rock Public Radio aboutchallengers hoping to unseat Arkansas' U.S. House, Senate representatives in the 2026 midterms.
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Andrew DeMillo @ademillo.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The post-Labor Day sprint to the midterms has begun. Check out @tessmvrbin.bsky.social’s look at the state of play in Arkansas in the @arkansasadvocate.com today! Democrats see rare signs of hope in solidly red Arkansas’ midterms arkansasadvocate.com/2026/09/08/d...
arkansasadvocate.com
Democrats see rare signs of hope in solidly red Arkansas’ midterms | Arkansas Advocate
Democrats are trying to capitalize on President Donald Trump’s disapproval ratings while Libertarians pitch themselves to those frustrated by both major parties.
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Eviction Lab @evictionlab.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
“Two out of every 100 renting households received eviction filings between Aug. 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026, according to the Eviction Lab data hub.” arkansasadvocate.com/2026/09/01/e... By @arkansasadvocate.com’s @tessmvrbin.bsky.social
arkansasadvocate.com
End of rental aid creates uncertainty for central Arkansas families facing eviction, homelessness | Arkansas Advocate
A North Little Rock loan fund stopped administering multiple rental aid programs earlier this year, leaving many families' rent unpaid with no solution in sight.
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I talked to a mother of five who never missed a rent payment and a mother of three whose rental assistance program didn't expect her to pay rent at all. Both families got evicted from their homes and don't know where they're going next.
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Reposted by Tess Vrbin
Pittsburgh Pirates @pirates.com · 02/09/2026
That's the ballgame‼️
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
More Act 372-related news this week for those interested:
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
The settlement comes as libraries across the state are bracing for: 1) Act 372 to go into effect and put librarians at risk of prosecution for "furnishing a harmful item to a minor" 2) the state to start requiring libraries to restrict kids' access to certain books in order to receive state funds.
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Wisconsin Examiner @wisconsinexaminer.com · 26/08/2026
Tennessee’s Dolly Parton dies at 80 after a life of music and giving. A masterful obit by our colleague Sam Stockard at @tennesseelookout.com buff.ly/HMQVJWt
wisconsinexaminer.com
Tennessee’s Dolly Parton dies at 80 after a life of music and giving • Wisconsin Examiner
Dolly Parton, the personification of Tennessee music, died Tuesday at age 80 after decades of entertaining the world.
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Antoinette Grajeda @grajeda.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The head of Arkansas State Police said Monday he would be unable to appear before the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus to discuss a state trooper punching an 18-year-old during a traffic stop because of pending litigation. #arpx #arleg
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Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 20/08/2026
Via Ainsley Platt and Arkansas Advocate: At least six Arkansas cities — Centerton, Greers Ferry, Searcy, Mayflower, Farmington and Pea Ridge — have opted to either let their contracts with Flock Safety expire or end them early since the end of July. ow.ly/mvUA50ZBE5v
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Librarians have three options: remove books, adopt a detailed and strenuous policy to monitor children's access to books, or risk prosecution for doing neither, said Nate Coulter, executive director of the Central Arkansas Library System and one of the 18 plaintiffs challenging the 2023 library law.
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Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 01/08/2026
Check out Advocate reporter @tessmvrbin.bsky.social's recent appearance on 5News talking about her coverage of Arkansas' rural hospitals and the challenges they face. www.5newsonline.com/video/money/...
5newsonline.com
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Three years after being blocked on First Amendment grounds, Arkansas' law governing "obscene" library content can go into effect, an appeals court ruled. The law creates criminal liability for librarians and gives local governments power over book challenges. arkansasadvocate.com/2026/07/30/a...
arkansasadvocate.com
Appeals court allows Arkansas to enforce law restricting library materials | Arkansas Advocate
The law creates criminal liability for librarians who distribute content that some consider “obscene” and gives local government the final say over library content.
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Andrew DeMillo @ademillo.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Congrats to the @arkansasadvocate.com team @tessmvrbin.bsky.social @grajeda.bsky.social @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social for winning first place in in-depth reporting at the Arkansas SPJ Diamond awards!
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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
static.klipy.com
Pittsburgh Pirates Mascot Waving Flag
ALT: Pittsburgh Pirates Mascot Waving Flag
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Updated with more meeting discussion and public comment, plus a video of the audience reacting to the vote to keep PBS on the air:
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Things that don't usually appear in my stories: Buc-ee's mention Things that appear in this story: that, an explanation of the proposed cut to Saline County library funding, and what supporters and opponents have said about it arkansasadvocate.com/2026/05/19/a...
arkansasadvocate.com
An Arkansas county’s voters will decide whether to slash library funding by $1.4M | Arkansas Advocate
Saline County has been a primary battleground over Arkansas libraries’ funding and content. Other counties have seen proposed library funding cuts with varying outcomes.
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Got a new phone today after my old one croaked -- I'm missing some contacts, so for anyone who wants to be in touch for story tips, friendly chitchat, gossip, etc... Feel free to email me (tvrbin@arkansasadvocate.com) or DM me your contact info and I'll save it ASAP. Thanks in advance!
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Jacob Fischler @fischler.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
and ICYMI, we published a @statesnewsroom.com explainer this morning about how what happens in the Strait of Hormuz affects the price of filling your gas tank
newsfromthestates.com
How the Strait of Hormuz affects the price of filling your gas tank
On paper it makes little sense. Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, roughly 7,000 miles from the United States, is restricted and gasoline prices in this country soar?
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
In case anyone missed this Friday:
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Arkansas Times @arktimes.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
A reporter who hails from Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, has won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting.
arktimes.com
Pencil Bluff woman rocks the journalism world - Arkansas Times
A reporter from Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, has won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting.
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
The latest in Arkansas' years-long effort to put up a monument commemorating abortions obtained during Roe: it's still delayed after the Capitol grounds commission lost its quorum today. The artist behind one of the monument proposals read Psalm 45 to the panel. arkansasadvocate.com/2026/04/14/a...
arkansasadvocate.com
Arkansas Capitol grounds panel postpones vote on ‘monument to the unborn’ proposals | Arkansas Advocate
The monument will most likely be placed in the grassy space behind the Capitol and to the north of the Supreme Court building.
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@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Some very good news on Local News Day: @statesnewsroom.com is bringing its excellent local reporting to @ms.now's election coverage. If you don't know SN, you should: it's in all 50 states, it's free, no paywall and the news reporting is top notch.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher for our democracy in this election year, and this partnership with MS NOW elevates our state-level reporting, which provides essential context to today’s national news,” Chris Fitzsimon, publisher of States Newsroom, said. 

States Newsroom’s seasoned journalists will appear on all MS NOW platforms for primary nights, election night and more, amplifying state coverage to provide important local context to a national audience. States Newsroom’s coverage and journalists are already regularly featured on MS NOW, including for such stories as immigrant detention center expansion across the states, ICE arrests of U.S. citizens and the impact of recent severe federal funding cuts. Both newsrooms retain full editorial independence and control of their journalism.
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Missouri Independent @missouriindependent.com · 07/04/2026
Multicultural student organizations at the University of Missouri are losing tens of thousands in direct funding as campus leadership cites federal guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion. #moleg #mogov
missouriindependent.com
Mizzou student leaders decry cuts to Black, LGBTQ+ and Latino groups • Missouri Independent
Students at the University of Missouri-Columbia pack a lecture hall to discuss cuts to minority student organizations.
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Ainsley Platt @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Steve and Debi Manire are not Steve and Debi today. Today, they are Josiah and Mary Bartlett. Josiah Bartlett was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the one of the first governors of New Hampshire. Listen to interview with the protesting couple here: #NoKings @arkansasadvocate.com
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Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 28/03/2026
The early #NoKings dispatch from @tessmvrbin.bsky.social and @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social. Follow the Advocate for more this afternoon. “No Kings” events held throughout Arkansas protesting Trump administration arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/28/n...
arkansasadvocate.com
"No Kings" events held throughout Arkansas protesting Trump administration | Arkansas Advocate
Thousands of people crossed the Broadway Bridge connecting Little Rock and North Little Rock on Saturday as rallies and other events were underway in Arkansas as part of the third "No Kings" demonstra...
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
#NoKings march across Broadway Bridge from Little Rock to North Little Rock has officially begun. @arkansasadvocate.com
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Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 28/03/2026
#NoKings protesters gathering near the Broadway Bridge in downtown Little Rock (video by @tessmvrbin.bsky.social)
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Ainsley Platt @ainsleyplatt.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Morning folks — @tessmvrbin.bsky.social and I are reporting from the #NoKings protest in Little Rock today. Stay tuned for more. #arpx
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
That game in a nutshell
media.tenor.com
bugs bunny and daffy duck are holding a sign that says `` we 're ok '' .
ALT: bugs bunny and daffy duck are holding a sign that says `` we 're ok '' .
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Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
My latest @npr.org story: The U.S. Postal Service’s leader says the mailing agency — which is mainly funded by stamps and service fees, not tax dollars — is set to run out of money in less than a year and may have to stop deliveries if it doesn't change its business model
npr.org
The Postal Service may be out of cash in 2027 without Congress' help, postmaster says
The U.S. Postal Service's leader says it is set to run out of money in less than a year and may have to stop deliveries because of declining mail volume and what USPS sees as burdensome requirements.
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
More detailed story coming up!
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
EXCLUSIVE: PBS CEO Paula Kerger talked to me this morning about Arkansas TV (formerly Arkansas PBS) planning to cut ties with PBS and the efforts to convince the station to change course. She'll be at tomorrow's PBS commission meeting, which might be crowded: arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/11/p...
arkansasadvocate.com
PBS chief calls for Arkansas public TV commission to ‘take a pause’ on leaving national network | Arkansas Advocate
In an interview with the Arkansas Advocate, PBS CEO Paula Kerger talked about the efforts to get the commission to rethink its decision.
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Almost 17K more Republican voters cast ballots in the 2024 GOP presidential primary than in Sen. Cotton’s primary. More than 49K more Democratic voters weighed in on Cotton challenger Hallie Shoffner’s primary than the 2024 Dem presidential primary, when then-President Joe Biden was on the ballot.
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Arkansas' U.S. Senate race in November: GOP Sen. Tom Cotton, 2-term incumbent who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and aligns with Trump's agenda vs. Democrat Hallie Shoffner, who decided to run after her family left the farming business due to tariffs arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/03/s...
arkansasadvocate.com
Shoffner, Cotton win primaries for U.S. Senate seat in Arkansas | Arkansas Advocate
Cotton won a three-person primary for the GOP nomination, while Shoffner defeated Ethan Dunbar in the Democratic primary.
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Alex Holladay won the special election to succeed GOP Rep. Carlton Wing, who resigned to take over Arkansas' public TV station. Rep.-elect Holladay will run for the same seat in November after winning tonight's Democratic primary. #arpx Follow our live updates: arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/03/l...
arkansasadvocate.com
Live Coverage: 2026 Primary Election | Arkansas Advocate
Thousands of Arkansans are expected to cast their ballots Tuesday in the primary and nonpartisan judicial elections.
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Marisa Demarco @papermarisa.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
North Little Rock voters encounter long waits, frustration at one polling place @arkansasadvocate.com @tessmvrbin.bsky.social
arkansasadvocate.com
Live Coverage: 2026 Primary Election | Arkansas Advocate
Thousands of Arkansans are expected to cast their ballots Tuesday in the primary and nonpartisan judicial elections.
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Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 26/02/2026
Issue Spotlight: Where Arkansas’ U.S. Senate candidates stand on immigration policy arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/26/i...
arkansasadvocate.com
Issue Spotlight: Where Arkansas’ U.S. Senate candidates stand on immigration policy | Arkansas Advocate
Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton has been one of the leading supporters of President Donald Trump’s mass deportations and immigration enforcement.
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Arkansas Advocate @arkansasadvocate.com · 26/02/2026
Red states target SNAP fraud, errors under threat of costly federal penalties arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/26/r...
arkansasadvocate.com
Red states target SNAP fraud, errors under threat of costly federal penalties | Arkansas Advocate
State officials across the country are looking to crack down on fraud and mistakes in the nation’s largest food assistance program, spurred by looming federal rules that will force states with high er...
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Arizona Mirror @azmirror.com · 26/02/2026
If you've seen the news today about transgender Kansans having their drivers licenses suddenly revoked, check out the deep reporting our colleagues in Kansas have been doing on the subject for months 🧵 👇 👇 👇
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NPR @npr.org · 19/02/2026
Liu is the first American woman to win an individual figure skating gold medal since Sarah Hughes in 2002. n.pr/3OhUjzv
n.pr
U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu said she didn't care if she medaled. She won gold
Liu is the first American woman to win an individual figure skating gold medal since Sarah Hughes in 2002.
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Members of the previous State Library Board tried to withhold library funding because of "sexually explicit" content. It didn't work. The new board delayed library funding today, saying the rules about libraries' annual audits and uses of funds are unclear. arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/13/a...
arkansasadvocate.com
Arkansas public libraries' state aid delayed after board questions rules for audits, use of funds | Arkansas Advocate
The board’s lack of action stems from two counties' decision to withdraw from the White River Regional Library system, which hasn't been audited in years.
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Karl Bode @karlbode.com · 11/02/2026
Likely-historic photo by NBC News of all the Epstein victims asked to raise their hands if they've not yet been asked to meet with the DOJ as Bondi testifies in foreground
photo of Pam Bondi testifying in the foreground as a group of 7 women and 1 men raise their hands
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Tess Vrbin @tessmvrbin.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Arkansas TV, formerly Arkansas PBS, wants to "march boldly forward with a business model that can work for the long term," CEO Carlton Wing said. In the short term, viewers all over the state are cancelling their donations and PBS Passport subscriptions. arkansasadvocate.com/2026/01/26/a...
arkansasadvocate.com
Arkansas public television viewers, parents disillusioned with network's plan to cut ties with PBS | Arkansas Advocate
Some viewers are threatening to not just tune out, but no longer give money to the network, according to emails obtained via a records request.
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Minnesota Reformer @minnesotareformer.com · 24/01/2026
Another person in Minneapolis shot and killed by feds minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/24/a...
minnesotareformer.com
Another person in Minneapolis shot and killed by feds • Minnesota Reformer
Over 10 shots can be heard in the video, but it’s unclear if more than one agent fired a weapon.
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Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 23/01/2026
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
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