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 education leaders celebrate groundbreaking of STEM-focused university at former Walmart HQ
Arkansas

Arkansas education leaders celebrate groundbreaking of STEM-focused university at former Walmart HQ

5:17pm ET
Antoinette Grajeda
https://arkansasadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/20261002_Benton… Click above to listen to guests speak at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bentonville Institute of Technology on Oct. 2, 2026. A new STEM-focused university being built on the site of Walmart’s former headquarters in Bentonville aims to create...
Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says humility key to democracy  
Arkansas

Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says humility key to democracy  

Sep 30, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
https://arkansasadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260930_Condol… Listen to former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s conversation with Olivia Walton, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art board chair, in its entirety above. Humility, listening and serving others are important pieces of democracy, former U.S. Secretary of...
Arkansas Explained: How to register to vote in the midterms
Arkansas

Arkansas Explained: How to register to vote in the midterms

Sep 30, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
In just under five weeks, Arkansans will have the opportunity to cast their vote for municipal, state and federal offices during the midterm elections. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton are seeking reelection, as are all four...
Arkansas governor hopefuls focus on health, education, prisons
Arkansas

Arkansas governor hopefuls focus on health, education, prisons

Sep 30, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Democratic state Sen. Fred Love and Libertarian Colt Shelby said they would address affordability, healthcare, education and the state’s prison system if elected governor, but differ in their strategies. Lowering taxes “at a time when...
Arkansas State University appoints its first African-American chancellor 
Arkansas

Arkansas State University appoints its first African-American chancellor 

Sep 28, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
Calvin White Jr. became Arkansas State University’s first African-American chancellor when the board of trustees approved a recommendation to appoint him to the post Monday. The board also appointed Ike Wheeler as chancellor of ASU-Newport. He had served as interim...
$10M grant announced to address Arkansas food insecurity
Arkansas

$10M grant announced to address Arkansas food insecurity

Sep 25, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
A $10 million Walmart Foundation grant will support a new statewide initiative designed to tackle food insecurity in the country’s hungriest state, the Arkansas Community Foundation announced Friday. Through the Arkansas Full Table Fund, a five-year grant program, nonprofit organizations...
Arkansas awards $54M in second round of federal rural healthcare funding
Arkansas

Arkansas awards $54M in second round of federal rural healthcare funding

Sep 24, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
Arkansas awarded $54.6 million to dozens of recipients through a new federal program to support projects aimed at bolstering rural healthcare, state officials announced Thursday. Established through a 2025 federal tax and spending law called the One Big Beautiful Bill...
4 candidates seek to fill Arkansas state Senate seat vacancy
Arkansas

4 candidates seek to fill Arkansas state Senate seat vacancy

Sep 24, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
Four Arkansans filed by Thursday’s deadline to run in the Jan. 5 special election to fill the Senate District 18 vacancy, according to the secretary of state’s office. Independent candidates Steven McClelland and Trevor McGarrah, Democrat Camille Feyen and Republican...
Rate of insured Arkansas children continues to grow, report shows
Arkansas

Rate of uninsured Arkansas children continues to grow, report shows

Sep 23, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
Action is needed to address the uninsured rate for Arkansas children, which remains at its highest level in a decade, according to an Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families report released Wednesday. Nearly 57,000 kids — 7.7% of Arkansas children...
Appeals court hears arguments over Arkansas’ Ten Commandments in classrooms mandate
Arkansas

Appeals court hears arguments over Arkansas’ Ten Commandments in classrooms mandate

Sep 22, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
A federal appeals panel is considering whether to allow six Arkansas school districts to enforce a 2025 state law requiring Ten Commandments displays in all public school classrooms. A three-judge 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel heard arguments Tuesday...
Arkansas health department schedules free flu clinics statewide
Arkansas

Arkansas health department schedules free flu clinics statewide

Sep 21, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
The Arkansas Department of Health will host free community flu vaccine clinics across the state beginning Monday. No appointment is needed and vaccines will be provided at no charge, according to a press release from the department. Arkansans should bring...
Arkansas governor schedules special election to fill vacancy created by state senator’s resignation
Arkansas

Arkansas governor schedules special election to fill vacancy created by state senator’s resignation

Sep 18, 2026
Antoinette Grajeda
A special election to fill the Senate District 18 vacancy resulting from former Sen. Jonathan Dismang’s resignation this week will be Jan. 5, 2027, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Friday. A special primary election for eligible parties will coincide with...