📅 Week of:   April 12, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas If you are on my subscriber list, you will receive two newsletters this week. That’s by design—some issues require more focused attention and transparency. I want to continue to keep updates clear and focused so you can stay informed without being overwhelmed. Sometimes there's just too much going on for one update. ____________________________________________________________ Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition (AJR

Former Crisis Stabilization Unit Building I have prepared this “Special Report” separate from my regular newsletter because what I am covering here warrants focused attention. The community—and particularly those with expertise in criminal justice reform—should be aware of what the county has applied for and evidently plans to do. That includes incarcerated and previously incarcerated individuals. What is the Community Rebuilding Initiative? a/k/a CRI: The CRI is a jail-ba

📅 Week of:   April 5, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY This week’s County Services meeting made something clear: when processes are unclear or inconsistently applied, it creates real consequences—for businesses, for residents, and for the county as a whole. Some agenda items highlighted gaps in enforcement, communication, and transparency. I’ve outlined the key takeaways below so you can see exactly what’s happening and why it

📅 Week of:   March 29, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas Last week, I sat down with Conduit News to discuss key issues facing Washington County — including transparency, accountability, and the direction of county leadership. ▶️ I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16ncRkYH83/ In this interview, I discuss: ✔️ The importance of open and transparent government ✔️ Concerns about decisions being made without full public discussion ✔

📅 Week of:   March 22, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas _________________________________________________________ 🏛️ Community & Civic Engagement  🗳 Republican Primary Runoff – March 31 Secretary of State: Hammer • Norris County Judge: Shepard • Deakins ✔ Eligible voters: Republican ballot • Nonpartisan ballot • Did not vote March 3 📍 Early Voting: Washington County Clerk’S Office  March 24– March 30 | 8:00–4:30   (No Saturday voting) Citizen Complaint Raises Question

📅 Week of:   March 15, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas _________________________________________________________ 🏛️ Community & Civic Engagement  🗳 Republican Primary Runoff – March 31 Secretary of State: Hammer • Norris County Judge: Shepard • Deakins ✔ Eligible voters: Republican ballot • Nonpartisan ballot • Did not vote March 3 📍 Early Voting: Washington County Clerk Mar 24–30 | 8:00–4:30 (No Saturday voting) ______________________________________________________

📅 Week of:   March 8, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas 🗳️ Thank You to Voters ✨ 2,190 Votes of Confidence Although I was unopposed in this year’s primary election, 2,190 voters took the time to cast their vote for my continued service as your Justice of the Peace. I am deeply grateful for your support and trust. It is an honor to serve Washington County, and I remain committed to transparency, accountability, and thoughtful leadership on behalf of our community. — Beth

📅 Week of:   March 1, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas _________________________________________________________ 🏛️ Community & Civic Engagement  On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Fayetteville Council Member Sarah Moore and I toured the “ Covid Mitigation Project ” (CMP) at the Washington County Detention Center (WCDC). (Note: Yes, I have always, and still do, believe that using ARPA funds for jail expansion is not legal under U. S. Treasury Rules and Regulations.   See

📅 Week of:   February 22, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas 🔎 Equity Doesn’t Wait for a Budget Cycle _________________________________________________________ 🏛️ Community & Civic Engagement  UA Journalism Students & Me On the first day of early voting, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by seventeen journalism students from the University of Arkansas, alongside Fayetteville Council Member Sarah Moore and Sheriff Jay Cantrell . The students posed thoughtful questio

📅 Week of:   February 15, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas 🔎 Equity Doesn’t Wait for a Budget Cycle _________________________________________________________ 🏛️ Community & Civic Engagement This Week This week I had the honor of officiating multiple weddings, including two at the jail, speaking to the Leadership Fayetteville Class  about the quorum court and what it does, and updating my OLLI group  about SB361  (Industrial Development Authorities).  I was also honored

📅 Week of:   February 8, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas 🔎 Equity Doesn’t Wait for a Budget Cycle All meetings, with the exception of the Washington County Election Commission, are at the WC Courthouse, 280 N. College, Fayetteville, Arkansas.                    _________________________________________________________ 🟠 Finance & Budget Committee Tuesday, February 10, 2026 — 6:00 PM 📍 Read the agenda HERE . Livestream/Meeting Link:   https://www.youtube.com/user/wash

🏛️ Transparency Corner: Public Records 📌 Washington County’s 2023 Federal Audit Report .  Apparently this audit was completed last summer, but the Quorum Court (at least this JP) did not receive a copy.  It may have been posted on the county website, but it has not been seen or discussed in a public meeting.   This federal report sheds some light on the 2023 Audit Report  with reference to problems in the county’s reporting of ARPA spending.  ( See Note 7:  P. 16 ) 🗳️ ELEC

Transparency • Accountability • Fiscal Responsibility - We have to do better. 📅 Week of:   January 25, 2026  📍 Washington County, Arkansas 🔎 As of publication, no county meetings are posted. I will update if that changes. _________________________________________________________ 🏘️ LAND USE & ZONING WATCH 📅 Thursday, 2/12/26, immediately following the 5:00 PM Planning Board meeting : 📍 Project / Location:  Special Quorum Court Meeting - Appeal of O’Brien Ready Mix Facil

Week of January 18, 2026 📅 This Week’s County Meetings – NONE (As of this Publication) O'BRIEN READY MIX APPEAL O'BRIEN READY MIX APPEAL RESET INFORMATION FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION Here is a Review of Candidates  and Candidate Review of Ballot Content  furnished by the Washington County Election Commission.  Re: March 3, 2026 Primary Election Check your voter registration HERE . 🏛️ Transparency Corner: Public Records 📜 What the Law Requires: Legislati

Week of January 11, 2026 _________________________________________________________________________ 🏛️ Transparency Corner: Public Records The audit of Washington County for the year 2023  was published on the Arkansas Legislative Auditor website Friday 1/9/26 and is now public record. Some notes I made of concerns:   First page of Legislative Audit Cover Letter .  “We have identified the following significant risk:  “...management override of controls as a significant risk.”

📅 This Week’s County Meetings – FOUR (4) 🟠 County Services Committee Tuesday, January 6, 2026 — 6:00 PM 📍 Quorum Court Room, Washington County Courthouse  280 N. College Avenue, Fayetteville, Arkansas Read the agenda here . Livestream/Meeting Link:  https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar What to Expect: ▫️ Juvenile Detention Report  - Chris Tinsley ▫️ Sheriff’s Report  - Jay Cantrell.  This report format contains limited information compared to the detailed monthly reports

🟧 JP COGER’S WASHINGTON COUNTY UPDATE Week of December 28, 2025 This is a photo of the "Little Free Closet" at the Washington County Detention Center. This closet provides clothing to people who are being released from jail, often after several months of incarceration. With the cold weather, we are always looking for donations of warm, gently used men and women's coats, jackets, scarfs, gloves, boots, etc. Anything that will help someone stay warm. You may drop your donati

Week of December 21, 2025 🎄 Washington County Courthouse Closure Notice The Washington County Courthouse will be CLOSED Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 24–26, and will reopen Monday, December 29. 🦌  (A separate ordinance to approve the Friday closing   PASSED  at the full quorum court meeting Thursday) 📅 GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, WEEK 12/21/25: There will be a Special Meeting of the Washington County Quorum Court Monday, 12/22/2025, 6:

Week of December 14, 2025 Evidence-Based Decisions • Fiscal Responsibility • Human Impact 📬 REMINDER OF SPECIAL QUORUM COURT MEETING 12/22/25:  There will be a Special Meeting of the Washington County Quorum Court Monday, 12/22/2025, 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse.  At this time, the special meeting is to hear appeals of the Gulley Ranch Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and the O’Brien Ready Mix CUP . 📅 GOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, WEEK 12/14/25

📬 A NOTE FROM BETH:  There will be a Special Meeting of the Washington County Quorum Court Monday, 12/22/2025, 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse.  At this time, the special meeting is only to hear appeals of the Gulley Ranch Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and the O’Brien Ready Mix CUP. You can read Judge Patrick Deakins’ response to my FOIA request about this meeting here.  Here is Catherine Baker’s response  to my FOIA.  📄  CRI & CAP November Reports Submitted to the Quo