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2 Arkansas school districts deny state claims that they broke a law on teaching race and sexuality

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2 Arkansas school districts deny state claims that they broke a law on teaching race and sexuality


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Two Arkansas school districts deny some of the state’s claims that they violated Arkansas’ ban on teaching certain things about race and sexuality.

The Pulaski County and Lakeside school districts tell the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that some of the incidents listed on a document circulated to reporters by the state Department of Education either never happened, or do not violate state law.

Lakeside Superintendent Bruce Orr told the newspaper that he met with state Education Secretary Jacob Oliva on Wednesday, and that Oliva confirmed the issues attributed to Lakeside were not violations.

“He told me, ‘You do not have any indoctrination violations,’ because that was my first question that I asked him,” Orr said in an interview Friday. “I know what I heard and I am 100% positive about that.”

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Department spokesperson Kimberly Mundell denied Friday that any such confirmation was given.

Pulaski County school district spokesperson Jessica Duff said that despite what’s claimed in the list, it’s not true that elementary schools in the district displayed messages on their signs about LGBT Pride month.

Mundell said the document “reflects examples from around the state that were submitted to the department.” She didn’t respond to questions about whether the department stands by the truthfulness of the listed incidents.

Orr wrote an email Thursday to Oliva saying Education Department officials should investigate allegations and determine whether they are true before disseminating them.

A law signed in March by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders prohibits teaching on “divisive concepts” about racism and critical race theory, a way of thinking about America’s history through the lens of racism. Sanders had banned such teaching in an executive order that she issued Jan. 10, after being inaugurated. The law also prohibits classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation before fifth grade, similar to a Florida prohibition that critics have called the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

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The law is part of a broad conservative backlash nationwide about what is taught in school.

Orr said that a picture of a slide in the document had been used in a Lakeside classroom, but said it was taken years before Sanders was inaugurated. She said it would even be legal now because it hews to Arkansas’ frameworks for teaching American history.

“We were told if you teach the frameworks then you’re fine,” Orr said.

Orr said a second picture of a document titled “Sex, Gender & Society” was never used in Lakeside schools.

Pulaski County spokesperson Jessica Duff said that despite what’s claimed in the list, it’s not true that elementary schools in the district displayed messages on their signs about LGBT Pride month in June.

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The Education Department document states also states Pulaski County let teachers “hang divisive materials in their classrooms, including the pride flag.”

“This politicized symbol gives students the impression that only one outlook on gender and sexuality is acceptable in schools,” the document states.

Duff said the flags were hanging in classrooms before the first day of school. She also agreed that the district and schools made a social media post affirming gay pride month.

Arkansas State University and the North Little Rock school district were criticized on the list because of a June 9 teacher training on discipline touched on whether participants might harbor unconscious bias against Black people. An Arkansas State employee wrote that the specific training “will not be presented again” according to an email cited by the newspaper.

The list also includes the Fayetteville school district for asking students about their gender or gender identity in a student survey and asking teachers on a training session handout if they rejected “any privileges that come with white racial identity,” and if they were “brave equity warriors.” Sanders criticized the district for the actions in March. Fayetteville district spokesperson Alan Wilbourn said in March that the handout was for self-reflection. He declined further comment Friday.

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Arkansas

Hogs Add Another Major Playmaker to Talented 2026 Class

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Hogs Add Another Major Playmaker to Talented 2026 Class


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Razorbacks received good news on the recruiting front with the addition of four-star wide receiver Dequane Prevo, he announced Sunday night on Instagram.

The 5-foot-10, 160 pound speedster committed to Arkansas over offers from Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss, Oregon and many others. Prevo is the No. 292 ranked prospect in the class of 2026, No. 47 receiver and No. 40 player in the state of Texas.

He ran a 22-second 200-meter dash as a freshman at the football factory known as Liberty-Euylau in Texarkana, Texas. Prevo has shown to be a playmaker at wideout catching 62 passes for 1,355 yards and 20 touchdown receptions.

Arkansas’ current 2026 class is off to an exceptional start ranked in the top ten nationally with four 4-star prospects headlined by Durant, Oklahoma defensive end Colton Yarbrough. 4-star passer Jayvon Gilmore, 4-star safety Adam Auston and 4-star safety and two-time MaxPreps all-American Tay Lockett are also notable commitments for the cycle.

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With the addition of Prevo, Arkansas’ 2026 class keeps the Razorbacks firmly in the top 10 of 247sports composite recruiting rankings for next year’s cycle. The Hogs’ 2023 class soared as high as No. 3 early on during the 2023 class but after a few evaluation periods its class ended up a respectable No. 22 including a No. 11 ranked transfer portal haul.

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• Special teams, turnovers kept Hogs’ game interesting

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How to Watch: Mizzou Basketball Hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff

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How to Watch: Mizzou Basketball Hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff


The Missouri Tigers have been rolling through their non-conference schedule. After a loss on the road to Memphis to open the season, Missouri has won the first four games of a 10-game stretch at home.

Sunday, Missouri will take on Arkansas Pine-Bluff in one of its final two matches before it faces another high major opponent: California in the second annual SEC-ACC challenge on Dec. 3.

Here’s how to watch and find Sunday afternoon’s matchup for the Missouri Tigers.

Who: Missouri Tigers (4-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff Golden Lions (1-5, 0-0 SWA)

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What: Missouri’s sixth game of the 2024-’25 season

Where: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.

When: Sunday, November 24, 4:00 p.m.

TV: ESPN+, SECN+

Radio: Tiger Radio Network

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Series: Missouri leads 3-0

Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2023: Missouri opened the season with a 101-79 win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Five different players scored over 15 points for Missouri, including Sean East II, Nick Honor, Noah Carter, Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates.

Last Time Out, Missouri: The Tigers handled business in a 91-56 win over Pacific. Guard Caleb Grill continued a hot streak, leading the team with 25 points, including 21 from three-point makes. Grill also notched a career-high with five steals.

Last Time Out, Arkansas Pine-Bluff:The Golden Lions fell on the road to Texas Tech, losing 98-64. Arkansas Pine-Bluff shot 52.1% from the field while Texas Tech shot 59.7%. The Golden Lions were led by guard Christian Moore with 20 points.



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Business people | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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Business people | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


Drew Waack has been appointed as mortgage adviser for United Federal Credit Union in Rogers. Waack is based at United’s Promenade branch, 2000 S. Promenade Blvd. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from John Brown University and an associate of arts and sciences degree from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

Makyla Jackson has been hired by Kutak Rock LLP as an associate in the firm’s commercial litigation practice and will be working in the firm’s Fayetteville office. Jackson earned her law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, and a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Kayla Sherrill has been hired by Kutak Rock LLP as an associate for the firm’s litigation practice and will be working in the firm’s Rogers office. Sherrill earned her law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, and a bachelor of science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Chelsey Deel has been hired as associate professor of pathology for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Deel earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and her medical degree at the University of Texas Heath Science Center at San Antonio.

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Alexis Gillett has been hired as associate professor of anatomy for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Gillett received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, her doctorate of physical therapy from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and her doctor of education in educational leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

Stephen Nix has been hired as assistant professor of pathology for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Nix received his bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

Trager Hintze has been hired as assistant professor of pharmacology for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Hintze received his bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Southern Virginia University and his doctor of pharmacy from Idaho State University.

Briefs are for people in Northwest Arkansas who are new hires, were promoted, received an award from outside their organization or received a certification. Email: [email protected] Information must be received by noon Wednesday prior to the Sunday the item is to be published.

    Hintze
 
 
  photo  Nix
 
 
  photo  Waack
 
 
  photo  Gillett
 
 



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