Arkansas
Arkansas governor signs legislation allowing executions by nitrogen gas
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation Tuesday allowing executions using nitrogen gas, making Arkansas the fifth state to adopt a method that opponents say is unconstitutional.
The measure signed into law by the Republican governor has been promoted by supporters as a way to carry out executions for the first time in eight years. Arkansas currently has 25 people on death row.
Arkansas has not had an execution since 2017, when it put four people to death before a sedative used in its lethal injection protocol expired. The attorney general’s office has said the state has been unable to purchase more lethal injection drugs because of manufacturers’ opposition to their use in executions.
“As a state we have failed to keep our promises to the friends and family of victims to execute those sentenced to death under our laws,” Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement. “That ends now. Act 302 gives the state the tools needed to carry out these sentences and deliver justice.”
Under the nitrogen hypoxia execution method, an inmate is forced to breathe the gas and deprived of the oxygen needed to stay alive. Alabama, the first state to use nitrogen gas, has carried out four executions using that method since it began last year.
Three other states — Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma — have laws allowing it but have not employed the method so far. On Friday a federal appeals court said Louisiana could carry out its first nitrogen gas execution, scheduled for Tuesday.
The number of executions in the U.S. last year remained near historic lows, and they happened in a small number of states.
“The decision to use nitrogen suffocation as an execution method is a dangerous and regressive move that puts Arkansas out of step with national trends away from the death penalty,” Megan Bailey, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties of Arkansas, said in a statement.
Opponents say the method increases suffering, citing accounts from witnesses to Alabama executions who said inmates gasped and shook during executions. State officials say those are involuntary movements associated with oxygen deprivation.
Arkansas has expanded the secrecy surrounding its execution process in recent years, enacting laws shrouding the source of lethal injection drugs and other details. Critics worry that the state is not required to disclose the type or source of nitrogen gas it would use.
The law takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, which will happen in April at the earliest.
No. 22 Michigan State (1-0) is hosting No. 14 Arkansas (1-0) on Saturday for what will be a big, early-season litmus test for both teams.
Even though there are plenty of college football games on as well (both the Spartan and Razorback teams are off), that is not stopping this one from getting national attention. All the details on how to watch or listen to MSU’s first nationally televised game of the season can be found below.
Tip-Off: 7 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Announcers: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst)
Lansing: WMMQ (94.9 FM), WJIM (1240 AM)
Detroit: WJR (760 AM)
Grand Rapids: WBFX (101.3 FM)
Other radio stations from around the state of Michigan can be found RIGHT HERE.
Announcers: Will Tieman (play-by-play), Matt Steigenga (analyst), Zach Surdenik (host)
No. 22 Michigan State 80, Colgate 69
MSU looked a bit shaky during its first official game of the season. The Spartans allowed Colgate to actually tie the game up, although only briefly, two times during the second half. Michigan State was able to use a 15-2 run to open up a 17-point lead later in the second half.
Both guard Jeremy Fears Jr. and forward Jaxon Kohler had double-doubles for MSU. Fears did it with 14 points and 10 assists, only turning it over once, and also getting five steals. Kohler led the Spartans with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
No. 14 Arkansas 109, Southern 77
Between Michigan State and the Razorbacks during Game 1, the advantage has to go to Arkansas. The margin of victory is much higher, and Southern is considered to be a better team by both KenPom and Torvik, which are two sites that power-rate every Division I team.
Forward Trevon Brazile led things for the Razorbacks in this one, scoring 25 points and hauling in 11 boards. The Razorbacks also got multiple other 20-point days from their two five-star freshmen: Darius Acuff had 22 points (20 in the first half) as a starter, and Meleek Thomas had 21 points and seven assists off the bench.
Keep up with all our content when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be sure to share your thoughts on MSU’s upcoming game against Arkansas when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE. Don’t forget to give us a follow on X @MSUSpartansOnSI as well.
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s basketball improved to 2-0 after a 101-49 win over UAPB (1-1) on Friday morning inside Bud Walton Arena.
The Hogs hosted their 15th Elementary Day game with nearly 70 schools and over 10,000 students from the Northwest Arkansas area. The crowd of 13,032 is the second largest for women’s basketball in Bud Walton Arena.
First Quarter – 24-13
- Arkansas controlled the tip and Maria Anais Rodriguez scored the first points of the game.
- An and-1 for Taleyah Jones put the Hogs up 7-2 early.
- UAPB cut into the Hogs’ lead with a pair of threes.
- Jenna Lawrence pushed the Arkansas lead to 10 points with back-to-back threes, her first of the season.
- The Hogs ended the period with three straight makes from the field and an 11-point lead
Second Quarter – 44-23
- Lawrence stayed hot with another pair of threes to stay perfect from beyond the arc (4-4) and bring her point total to 15.
- Both teams went on lengthy droughts to end the quarter. The Lions didn’t score for the final 3:11 of the quarter and Arkansas was scoreless in the last 2:11.
- UAPB shot 22.2% from the field in the second quarter and Arkansas extended its lead to 21 points by halftime.
Third Quarter – 77-41
- Emily Robinson opened the quarter with a pair of threes.
- The Hogs went on a 13-2 run over 3:11 and forced a timeout with back-to-back threes from Taleyah Jones and Bonnie Deas .
- The Lions entered another scoring drought 3+ minute scoring drought.
- Lawrence passed her previous career high of 21 with 17 seconds left in the quarter, her fifth three-pointer of the game.
- Arkansas finished the quarter 4-4 from the field and made 8 of its last 9.
Fourth Quarter – 101-49
- The Hogs opened the fourth with another three, this time from Deas, who entered double figures for the second straight game.
- Arkansas’ defense held UAPB to just 8 points in the fourth.
- Freshman Harmonie Ware exploded for 13 points and went 5-5 from the field in the final 10 minutes.
Game Notes
- Lawrence finished with a career high 26 points and tied her career high with 5 threes made.
- Deas picked up her first collegiate double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She also led the team with six assists.
- Robinson scored in double figures for the second straight game. She had 11 in the opener against Louisiana Tech and finished with 15 against UAPB.
- The Razorbacks’ 15 three pointers were the most in a game since the 2021-22 season, when they had 15 at Alabama on Jan. 20, 2022.
- The Hogs shot nearly 50% from the field (33-68, 49%) compared to UAPB’s 29% mark (19-66).
- Arkansas improved to 14-1 in Elementary Day games and won its 14th straight Elementary Day game.
Up Next
Arkansas will host Central Arkansas on Monday, November 10 at 8:00 p.m. The game will be televised live on SEC Network with Sam Gore (play-by-play) and Tamika Catchings (analyst) on the call.
For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on social media.
Arkansas
Wade Dunn endorsed by family of late Arkansas state Sen. Gary Stubblefield for his District 26 seat | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Michael R. Wickline
Mike Wickline covers state politics, and he has covered the state Legislature for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since November 2000. He previously spent several years covering the Idaho Legislature for the Lewiston Morning Tribune.
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