Antoinette Grajeda

Antoinette Grajeda

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Antoinette Grajeda is the Deputy Editor at the Arkansas Advocate. She is a multimedia journalist who has reported since 2007 on a wide range of topics, including politics, health, education, immigration and the arts for NPR affiliates, print publications and digital platforms. A University of Arkansas alumna, she earned a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and a master’s degree in documentary film.

Arkansas students learn about 9/11 attacks through oral histories 
Army veteran Wesley Jackson remembers his confusion when co-workers told him two planes struck the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. After processing the news of the terrorist attacks, Jackson realized his days as a peacetime...
Video of 2 Mississippi County traffic stops prompt calls for Arkansas State Police investigation
The Democratic Party of Arkansas and the NAACP Arkansas State Conference are calling for a review of state police’s use-of-force policy after a video released over the weekend showed an officer pulling a man by his dreadlocks and punching him...
Northwest Arkansas hospital becomes latest site for state’s maternal health program
A program aimed at supporting high-risk pregnancies has expanded to Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, Department of Human Services officials announced Monday. The Maternal Life360 program provides low-income pregnant Arkansans with home visits from trained community outreach workers through a child’s...
2 candidates file for Arkansas House vacancy created by lawmaker’s resignation
Two candidates are seeking to fill the vacancy left by Republican Rep. Austin McCollum’s resignation following domestic violence charges this month. Republican Kara Armas of Pea Ridge and Democrat Parker Stohlton of Bella Vista filed by the noon deadline Friday...
Arkansas awards nearly $150 million in rural health program funding
Arkansas awarded $149.3 million in federal funding to 50 projects to support rural healthcare efforts statewide, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Thursday. Created last year through a federal tax and spending law called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the...
House Armed Services chair urges defense industry at Arkansas summit to rebuild stockpile
https://arkansasadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260812_Defens… Listen to an audio version of this story produced by reporter Antoinette Grajeda. Broadcasters: Here is a downloadable version with a host intro script. The U.S. House Armed Services Committee chairman called on the defense industry to help rebuild...
Arkansas State Police director cancels appearance before Black lawmakers to discuss traffic stop
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. Col. Mike Hagar had...
Hogue named Arkansas’ new state fire marshal 
Longtime investigator John Hogue has been appointed the next state fire marshal, the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management announced Monday. Hogue is a certified investigator of fire and explosions, and a licensed private investigator, according to a press release from...
Federal judge permanently blocks Arkansas laws restricting direct democracy process
A federal judge on Friday declared laws restricting Arkansas’ initiative and referendum process unconstitutional and permanently blocked their enforcement. U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks wrote Friday that laws requiring all canvassers to be Arkansas residents and paid canvassers working on...
Special election called to fill vacancy created by Arkansas lawmaker’s resignation
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussions of domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. A special election to fill the House District 8 vacancy resulting from Austin McCollum’s...
Arkansas Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit challenging rejection of direct democracy ballot measure
The Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday that sought to reverse the secretary of state’s decision to disqualify a direct democracy ballot measure from the ballot. Supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment filed the lawsuit earlier this month after...
Issue Spotlight: Gubernatorial candidates on future of Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion 
Arkansas’ next governor will likely help shape the state’s Medicaid expansion , which faces an uncertain future. The state requested permission to continue the program through the end of 2028 after the Trump administration denied its request to renew the...