Arkansas

Arkansans fight the power • Arkansas Advocate

Published

2 years ago

March 4, 2024

Arkansans fight the power • Arkansas Advocate

This is why Arkansas needs to keep a strong public records and open meetings law, and make it stronger.

On Dec. 4, Helena-West Helena Police responded to an unidentified caller’s report of a “gang fight that included parents” at the city’s Central High School. Less than 10 minutes later, the school district’s independent campus police department told city officers they weren’t needed.

We know this much about the violence that day thanks to the reporting of Phillips County’s scrappy weekly newspaper The Helena World.

Since then, however, the Helena-West Helena School District has stonewalled newspaper publisher Andrew Bagley’s public records requests for school security video, incident reports and other documents. Even after he filed a lawsuit under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act on Jan. 29.

The school district claimed a broad exemption to disclosing the video and other information under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), but, as the World’s lawsuit points out, FERPA allows the release of information if students’ identities are redacted.

Besides, the district undermined its own position when it held an expulsion hearing on Jan. 4 and not only publicly disclosed the names of students who participated in the melee, but discussed one student’s prior disciplinary record without the student being present or represented.

And, as Bagley pointed out in an article, the school district’s FERPA exemption claim is so broad that a publication “wouldn’t even be given the Honor Roll to print because it could be considered a student record under HWHSD’s claim.”

The school district “just doesn’t want this to see the light of day because it results in negative public relations,” Bagley said in the article.

“People have a right to know what is happening in their schools and how those entrusted with its management deal with issues. Bad things happen. Often, it’s the response to it that results in problems,” he said.

But the publisher’s struggle to make the school district comply with the FOIA isn’t his only public records battle.

After Helena-West Helena Mayor Christopher Franklin fired four police officers amid allegations of use of excessive force in February, the World asked for the officers’ personnel files and body camera footage.

Surprise! The city is stonewalling. City Attorney Andre Valley, citing an ongoing investigation exception for the video, requested an opinion from Attorney General Tim Griffin on whether the records can be released, but Griffin’s office sidestepped the issue, saying the city didn’t ask a clear-cut question, and declined to opine.

Since then, the mayor has left the matter in the hands of the city attorney, who continues to oppose the release of the personnel records and the body cam footage. Worse yet, the county prosecutor supports the city attorney’s position.

“This apparently is going to be the M.O. going forward. Delay, deny, delay,” Bagley said in an interview last week.

A proposed initiated act that would toughen civil penalties for violating the state FOIA and create a commission to help citizens enforce the law would help, Bagley said. He is part of the bipartisan coalition seeking to get the measure on the November ballot.

The proposed Arkansas Government Disclosure Act will “provide an avenue other than through a lawsuit” for citizens to enforce their right to know, Bagley said.

Plus, the criminal penalties in the Arkansas FOIA as it stands are “worthless,” he said. Prosecutors have rarely filed criminal charges under the law’s misdemeanor provision.

Bagley added that his paper’s fight to enforce the FOIA is more than just a local fight.

Proof of that came last month in a Crittenden County Circuit Court lawsuit in which the West Memphis School Board admitted violating the FOIA by interviewing candidates for superintendent without notifying the public of the special meetings and by failing to record the meetings. The court ordered the school district to pay the plaintiffs’ court costs and $1,500 in attorneys fees.

“This lawsuit is a perfect example of why the people of Arkansas are pursuing a constitutional amendment and people’s act to enshrine the right to transparency in our constitution,” attorney and FOIA warrior Joey McCutchen said in a news release about the case. McCutchen represented the plaintiffs.

“This case is the perfect example of the need in the people’s law to allow a Circuit Court to hold individual wrongdoers personally liable with the imposition of a $1,000 civil penalty which will not be satisfied with public funds,” he said, referring to provisions in the proposed Government Disclosure Act.

“Conduct rewarded is conduct repeated,” he said.

Supporters of the disclosure initiative and the proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine the people’s right to know in the Arkansas Constitution are gathering signatures now to get both items on the November ballot.

After years of legislative moves to weaken the FOIA, encouraged last year by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Helena-West Helena and West Memphis cases show why we need the pending proposals.

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Arkansas

Arkansas looks to build on Sweet 16 run with new recruits and transfers

Published

12 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Press Room

Arkansas looks to build on Sweet 16 run with new recruits and transfers

Arkansas (22-14, 8-10 SEC)

After a run to the Sweet 16 following a middling regular season, the No. 14 Razorbacks enter the second year of the John Calipari era having to replace their top three scorers from last season. Calipari reloaded with a highly-rated freshman recruiting class and the Razorbacks picked up a pair of all-conference big men from the portal to bolster a frontcourt that was outrebounded in league play more often than not last season.

Players to watch

Darius Acuff (freshman, G, 6-2). Acuff is the star recruit of Calipari’s 2025 class. He should step into the point guard role that Boogie Fland handled a year ago before transferring to Florida.

DJ Wagner (junior, G, 6-4, 11.2 ppg). Wagner is the only returner who averaged double-figure scoring last season. His experience playing both point and off guard should help bring Acuff and fellow freshman Meleek Thomas along.

Trevon Brazile (senior, F, 6-10, 6.8 ppg). Brazile’s points-per-game totals belie his importance. He was the team’s best player in the late-season run the Razorbacks needed just to make the NCAA Tournament.

Departures and arrivals

Fland is gone, and top scorer Adou Thiero was lost to the NBA.

Acuff and Thomas were both McDonald’s All-Americans last season in high school, while 6-foot-7 guard Isaiah Sealy ranked in the top 100. They’re joined in the frontcourt by Florida State transfer Malique Ewin (6-11, senior, C, 14.2 ppg) and longtime SEC veteran Nick Pringle (6-10, senior, F, 9.5 ppg), who played two seasons at Alabama before playing last year at South Carolina.

Top games

The Razorbacks have five ranked opponents during non-conference play. Texas Tech, the team that knocked the Razorbacks out the NCAA Tournament last year is one of them. They will league play against No. 18 Tennessee at home on Jan. 3. Calipari will face his old Kentucky team in Fayetteville on Jan. 30. And Arkansas travels to defending national champion Florida during the stretch run, Feb. 28.

Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas (1) dribbles the ball defended by Memphis center Thierno Sylla (31), of Guinea, and guard Zach Davis (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. Credit: AP/Nikki Boertman

Facts and figures

Not only have the Razorbacks started the last two years of SEC play at 1-6, but before that they went 1-5, 0-3 and 1-4. Still, Arkansas has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in four of those five seasons, reaching the Sweet 16 all four times. … Arkansas will play 19 games against teams that made the Big Dance last year, including all four Final Four teams in Duke, Michigan State, Houston and Auburn.

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Arkansas

Arkansas High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams – Oct. 28

Published

1 day ago

October 28, 2025

Press Room

Arkansas High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams – Oct. 28

The Arkansas high school football high school football season is nearing its end and the Bryant Hornets remain in the top spot Top 25 rankings.

Besides the Hornets, who else makes the cut for the Top 25 high school football teams list out of Arkansas?

From established powers to emerging programs, here are the top 25 teams in the Natural State, according to Massey.

The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory as of Oct. 28.

1. Bryant Hornets

Bryant (8-0) has maintained the top spot in the Arkansas high school football rankings throughout the season as the head to the regular season finish line. Hornets up next will face North Little Rock (3-5) this Friday night.

The Hornets most recent win was a 49-3 decision over Cabot as they have two games remaining.

All the question marks on offense have been checked off as the Hornets have begun a new era behind center with Kyler Shelby, who saw limited game action in 2024 as a sophomore last season while playing behind Jordan Walker.

2. Bentonville Tigers

Bentonville (9-0) is coming off a tight victory over No. 4 Rogers, with the Tigers winning 31-28.

The 5-time state champion Tigers are coming off a 9-4 campaign and needing to replace plenty of starters on both sides of the ball. Bentonville is armed with a pair of Arkansas commitments in four-star wide receiver Dequane Prevo and three-star Blair Irvin.

The Tigers finish the regular season with games against Springdale and Bentonville West.

3. Greenwood Bulldogs

Greenwood Bulldogs (8-0) having the state’s best quarterback in Kane Archer certainly helps and the Bulldogs boasting the UCF commit behind center makes them dangerous every Friday night on offense.

Archer has made the argument to being the state’s Most Valuable Player as the senior signal caller, with the future Knight completing 172 of 227 passes for 2,141 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The Bulldogs finishes off the season with Southside and No. 11 Mountain Home.

4. Rogers Mountaineers

The Rogers Mountaineers (7-1) are coming off a narrow 31-28 loss to Bentonville last week, but remain in the Top 5 of this week’s rankings.

The Mountaineers’ defense has been solid all season long behind the play of BYU commitment Braxton Lindsey, who leads a defensive unit that’s only yielded. Rogers closes out the regular season with games against Har-Ber and Rogers Heritage.

5. Conway Wampus Cats

Conway (7-1) started the season off with an offensive explosion as they defeated Jonesboro in a 68-37 shootout.

The Wampus Cats feature a couple of the state’s top players in three-star safety Tay Lockett (Arkansas commit) and interior offensive lineman Isaiah Bowman (Arkansas State commit). Lockett is already making an impact on both sides of the ball as Conway has become a viable state title contender.

Last week, Conway won another offensive shootout, 61-38, over Pulaski Academy. This Friday night the Wampus Cats take on Little Rock Christian Academy.

6. Benton (6-2)
7. Shiloh Christian (7-2)
8. Bentonville West (6-2)
9. Joe T. Robinson (8-0)
10. Fayetteville (4-4)

11. Mountain Home (7-1)
12. Little Rock Christian Academy (6-2)
13. Parkview Magnet (5-3)
14. Greenbrier (8-0)
15. Lakeside (7-1)

16. Arkadelphia (7-1)
17. Sylvan Hills (7-1)
18. Pulaski Academy (2-6)
19. Hot Springs (7-1)
20. Jonesboro (4-4)

21. El Dorado (5-3)
22. Farmington (6-2)
23. Searcy (7-1)
24. Har-Ber (3-5)
25. North Little Rock (3-5)

For Arkansas high school football fans, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement in the Natural State.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Foodbank bracing for disruption in SNAP benefits

Published

2 days ago

October 27, 2025

Press Room

Arkansas Foodbank bracing for disruption in SNAP benefits

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The ongoing federal government shutdown is impacting funding for programs like SNAP, and organizations like the Arkansas Foodbank are preparing for a surge in those needing support.

“SNAP is a critical program that helps ensure families all across our state have access to nutritious foods, and even a brief disruption is problematic,” DHS Secretary Janet Mann said in a statement. “Arkansans have a history of coming together to help each other in difficult times. Please check on friends, family, and neighbors and donate time or money to food banks if you are able.”

The Arkansas Foodbank supports 400 partner pantries from urban centers to rural towns. Marketing and Communications Director Sarah Jenkins said they’re rolling out toolkits to help them meet the surge, everything from extra fundraising to extended distribution hours.

“If we made everyone come to Little Rock to go to a mobile distribution, we wouldn’t be able to meet the need, that’s why we’re pushing everyone out to our 400 partner agencies,” Jenkins said.

The Arkansas DHS said it is awaiting additional guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP. The USDA announced it will not issue November benefits unless the federal government reopens, after the Trump administration declined to release $5 billion in contingency funds that would have extended the program.

SNAP, which helps one in eight Americans buy groceries, is a lifeline that also extends to the 240,000 recipients across Arkansas, where food insecurity is among the worst in the nation.

“For every one meal that we can provide, SNAP provides nine,” Jenkins said. SNAP is also great because it provides dignity to the people using it.”

The organization says it’s ready for the short term, but cannot fill the federal gap alone for a state where one in four children does not have reliable access to food.

“We do have to have both community support but also government support,” Jenkins said. “The government has to reopen to support the neighbors that we serve, so we don’t have a timeline on what we can do.”

Last year, the food bank distributed more than 41 million pounds of food, but with SNAP halted, they say every donation counts.

For updates, Arkansans can visit the DHS SNAP website at HumanServices.Arkansas.gov.

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