Michael Hibblen
KUAR 89.1 News DirectorAs News Director, Michael Hibblen oversees daily news coverage for KUAR. He handles assignments for the news staff, helps develop story ideas and edits copy. Michael isresponsible for starting a news-sharing partnership between public radio stations in Arkansas in 2009 which laid the foundation for what became Arkansas Public Media. He is also a regular panelist and fill-in host on AETN's Arkansas Week, where journalists discuss issues in the news.
A native of North Little Rock, Michael started in radio in 1988, spending his first five years as a DJ for music stations in central and northeast Arkansas. After a 1993 internship at the C-SPAN Cable Network in Washington, DC, he transitioned to news, working for commercial radio stations KARN in Little Rock, WRVA in Richmond, Virginia and WIOD in Miami, Florida. In 2000, Michael became a nationally heard, Miami-based reporter for CBS Radio News, covering major stories in the region, including the anthrax attack at a tabloid publisher, an international custody fight over Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez, and the 2000 presidential election recount. He was hired by daily newspaper the Miami Herald in 2003 when it partnered with NPR station WLRN providing its local news. Michael initially worked as a morning news anchor and reporter, later becoming the department's editor, then assistant news director. He also wrote frequently for the newspaper.
Michael returned home to Little Rock in 2009 to work for KUAR. At that time he also resumed taking classes at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to finish his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication, graduating in May of 2013. Michael also enjoys researching radio and railroad history in the state and is author of Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas, which was published by Arcadia Publishing in April 2017.
Phone: 501-683-7386
E-mail: michael@kuar.org
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Benjamin Victor is working on a clay model of the civil rights leader this week at UA Little Rock. Statues of Bates and singer Johnny Cash will eventually represent Arkansas in the U.S. Capitol.
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The public can watch work being done on the Bates statue, while approval has been given for the design of the Cash statue. Both will represent Arkansas in the U.S. Capitol.
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Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday night an “invasion of a sovereign nation cannot stand uncontested.”
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COVID-19 continues spreading rapidly. The state reported nearly 13,000 new infections on Thursday, another record.
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The Department of Health reported 7,787 new infections Thursday, which is another record. Hospitalizations grew by 73, which Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Dillaha said has hospitals struggling.
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John Brimley with the American Red Cross says recovery efforts are underway in areas impacted by Friday's Tornado outbreak. Tornados touched down in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri before moving as far east as Kentucky.
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The primary legislation to be considered will be Gov. Asa Hutchinson's tax cut proposal, but some lawmakers have said they will introduce bills related to critical race theory and abortion.
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Member Station KUAR’s Michael Hibblen in Little Rock has reaction from Arkansas abortion opponent, state Senator Jason Rapert (R-Conway), on the oral augments heard on Wednesday over national abortion legislation.
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Members of the Arkansas Board of Apportionment, which is made up of the governor, attorney general and secretary of state – all Republicans – voted Monday to approve new district maps for the state House and Senate.
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The federal grant, coupled with a matching donation from the Walton Family Foundation, will enable work to be completed on the final 13 mile section of the trail. Most of that will cover the expense of renovating railroad bridges.