LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — A new rule is being introduced that is aimed at increasing transparency among individuals and organizations lobbying on behalf of foreign governments considered adversarial to the United States.

Issued by the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office, the rule requires anyone acting as an agent of a designated hostile foreign power to register with the office and disclose their activities.

Secretary of State Cole Jester said the measure is intended to protect Arkansas’s political process from outside influence, reinforcing, he said, the principle that state government and elections should be decided by Arkansans.

“Simply put, Arkansas elections, Arkansas government is for Arkansans, not for Russia, not for China, Iran or North Korea,” Jester said.

Under the new policy, the Secretary of State’s office is granted expanded enforcement authority, including the ability to investigate foreign-funded lobbyists who fail to properly disclose their work and to issue fines when violations are found.

Jester said the rule is focused on safeguarding the democratic process.

“We are fighting back to protect our birthright, the democratic process,” he said.

State officials say concerns about undisclosed foreign involvement in government decision-making have existed for years.

State Representative David Ray, who supported the legislation, said the rule builds on a law passed during the 2025 legislative session and is focused on accountability.

“You have to be honest with the people of Arkansas about who you represent,” Ray said.

He also cited broader national security concerns, including foreign theft of technology, drug trafficking, and cyber threats, which he said can have consequences at the state level.

“China steals our technology, our intellectual property, and attempts to steal military secrets. They also traffic deadly drugs like fentanyl into this country, killing tens of thousands of our citizens each and every year,” Ray said.

According to Ray, Arkansas has already experienced cases that illustrate those risks, including the theft of agricultural technology and lobbying by companies with foreign ownership ties.

“We’ve seen instances in Arkansas where Chinese nationals have stolen valuable seed technology from agricultural companies. We’ve also seen companies with Chinese ownership lobbying at the state capitol,” Ray said.

Lawmakers also emphasized the importance of protecting critical infrastructure, such as utilities and water systems, which they say may be vulnerable to cyberattacks from foreign governments.

“A lot of that critical infrastructure is susceptible to cyberattacks from hostile foreign governments. It’s important for people to understand what we’re trying to protect against with laws like this,” Ray said.

The new rule also allows Arkansas residents to submit complaints to the Secretary of State’s office if they believe the disclosure requirements have been violated.

State officials say the measure is designed to strengthen oversight and transparency within Arkansas’s political system.

Just a few days after getting trounced in Nashville by the Vanderbilt Commodores 80-55, the Kentucky Wildcats bounced back in major fashion as they went to Bud Walton Arena and handed John Calipari and the No. 15 Arkansas Razorbacks their first home loss of the season, 85-77.

In what was a very chippy contest from start to finish, Kentucky could’ve easily folded after two ridiculous back-to-back technicals in the 2nd half that immediately handed over the momentum in favor of the Hogs, but the Wildcats grit and determination propelled them to victory when it was all said and done. Otega Oweh was completely unstoppable in the Cats’ upset victory over the Razorbacks as he went for 24 points and 8 rebounds.

The Cats are back at home for the next two games as they welcome the Oklahoma Sooners Wednesday night at 9:00 and have another showdown with the No. 25 Tennessee Volunteers Saturday night at 8:30.

Here are the risers in the Wildcats’ win over the Hogs this past Saturday:

Sophomore forward Trent Noah came up huge in Saturday night’s game against the Hogs as he finished the game with 9 points and 7 rebounds in his 19 minutes off the bench. In a game that had a lot riding on the Wildcats season, the Kentucky native who’d recently been cut out of the rotation stepped up big in a hostile environment to help the Cats prevail over the Razorbacks. With Kam Williams out indefinitely, Trent Noah’s going to have a lot more opportunities to play a huge role for the Wildcats off the bench.

Another individual who played a huge role in the Cats’ win was sophomore guard Collin Chandler. Chandler finished Saturday night’s outing with 13 points and also shot 2/4 from 3. He also hit arguably the two most important shots of the night: one came midway through the 2nd, when it seemed like Kentucky had lost all momentum, and he stepped up and hit a long 3, which shifted the momentum back in the Cats’ favor.

Then, with a little over a minute left and the shot clock winding down, he hit a fadeaway that all but sealed the victory for the Wildcats. Collin Chandler has continued to be one of Kentucky’s go-to guys for a needed basket down the stretch as of late.

Freshman center Malachi Moreno was also huge for the Cats this past Saturday as he consistently grabbed rebound after rebound throughout the game. Moreno finished Saturday night’s outing with 11 points and 7 rebounds (5 OREB). While he won’t get a lot of credit for it, Moreno also hit some very much needed free throws in several instances when the Cats needed them the most.

By far the best player on the court out of both teams in Saturday night’s win in Fayetteville, senior guard Otega Oweh came out with lots of urgency from start to finish as he ended with a season-high 24 points, 8 rebounds, and dished out three assists. The Hogs simply had no answer for him this past Saturday night as he continuously got to his spots and got downhill whenever he wanted all game. Oweh is now averaging a little over 20 ppg in nine games of conference play for the Wildcats.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — The latest season of “American Idol” is in full swing, and tonight’s episode on ABC features two talented Arkansans ready to shine. Makiyah Mustifal from Pine Bluff and Michael Garner from the Forrest City area are set to showcase their musical prowess.

Micaiah shared her journey to the “American Idol” stage, saying, “I was at home and I was scrolling on Facebook, and I seen an ad come across my Facebook News Feed saying, Arkansas registration for American Idol. And I clicked on it, just to see, you know, is this real? Is this fake?”

She snagged the last spot to meet with executive producers and later auditioned in Nashville. Her audition will air this Monday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. central time on ABC and Hulu.

Reflecting on her experience, Micaiah said, “The energy was amazing. I’ve never would have imagined, you know, myself being in front of them and to sing my heart out.”

As an R&B soul artist, Micaiah hopes to release an album featuring powerhouse vocals like her idols, Fantasia and Mary J. Blige.

Meanwhile, Michael Garner dreams of touring the states and making a name for himself. He shared, “I definitely hope to tour. You know, it’s always been a big dream of mine, touring the states and everything. Getting people knowing my name and everything.”

Michael’s musical journey began at a young age, with his grandpa teaching him guitar chords at 13.

His advice to aspiring musicians is simple: “Just never quit. If, when things get hard in music, you just got to push through.”

Catch these Arkansan talents on ABC and cheer them on as they chase their dreams on “American Idol.”