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Arkansas health officials warn of latest COVID-19 Omicron variant

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Arkansas health officials warn of latest COVID-19 Omicron variant


Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

A brand new COVID-19 variant, BA.5, is now the dominant pressure within the U.S., Axios’ Tina Reed writes.

Why it issues: The variant is probably the most transmissible to this point.

  • Additional mutations within the spike protein make the pressure three or 4 instances extra proof against antibodies, although it would not seem to trigger extra critical sickness.

What they’re saying: “We anticipate that when faculty begins, we’ll see elevated transmission of this specific variant, and for that motive it will be crucial for individuals to start out their vaccination course of now in the event that they haven’t been vaccinated but, particularly for adolescents and kids,” Jennifer Dillaha, director of the Arkansas Division of Well being, mentioned final week throughout a name with reporters.

Be good: Youngsters as younger as 6 months previous are eligible to get vaccinated.

By the numbers: The state reported 273 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 11,283 lively instances on July 5, a rise from 211 hospitalizations and 10,183 lively instances one week earlier.

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Arkansas

Trent Sellers enjoyed Arkansas visit, commits to Hogs

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Trent Sellers enjoyed Arkansas visit, commits to Hogs


FAYETTEVILLE — Mobile (Ala.) The Faith Academy three-star Class of 2025 edge Trent Sellers took his first official visit and gave very high marks to Arkansas.

Sellers, 6-5, 240, was one of eight recruits at Arkansas this weekend as the Hogs wrapped up the June portion of official visits. He committed to the Hogs and became the 15th pledge.

“It felt like a good fit for me,” Sellers said. “A family fit.”

The visit obviously helped Arkansas and Sellers talked about that.

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“It went good,” Sellers said. “I feel like I really like it up here. I like the campus and coaches.”

Sellers talked about the highlight of the official visit.

“It’s more than I was expecting up here,” Sellers said. “I thought it was going to be more empty up here, but there’s actually a lot of stuff up here.”

Despite offers from such schools as Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Jackson State, Nebraska, UAB and many others Arkansas landed him.

“This is my first official visit,” Sellers said.

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At Arkansas, Settles will be coached by Deke Adams. The defensive line coach has made a strong impression on Settles.

“Coach Adams is a real nice guy,” Settles said. “He keeps it real. Will tell you the truth not just what you want to hear. I feel like he really cares for me as a player and person. It helps me become a better player and person.”

As a junior, Sellers had 69 tackles, 42 solo, 10 for loss and five sacks. He talked about what he feels are his strengths on the field.

“My ball get off,” Settles said. “I am good putting pressure on the quarterback”

Click here for his highlights.

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Arkansas’ Commitments for 2025

Grayson Wilson, QB, 6-3, 185, Conway

Quentin Murphy, QB-ATH, 6-1, 205, Little Rock Parkview

Markeylin Batton, RB, 6-0, 174, Atlanta, Texas

Antonio Jordan, WR, 6-6, 230, Warren

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Kamare Williams, WR, 6-3, 185, Delray Beach Palm Beach Central, Fla.

Blake Cherry, OT, 6-6, 295, Owasso, Okla.

Kash Courtney, OL, 6-5, 295, Carthage, Texas

Connor Howes, OT, 6-6, 300, Osceola Saint Cloud, Fla.

Ja’Quentin Madison, DT, 6-2, 280, Alpharetta, Ga.

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Keiundre Johnson, Edge, 6-4, 230, Terrell, Texas

Trent Sellers, Edge, 6-5, 240, Mobile The Faith Academy, Ala.

Caleb Bell, DL, 6-3, 270, Alpharetta Milton, Ga.

Jayden Shelton, LB, 6-1, 205, Dallas South Oak Cliff, Texas

Taijh Overton, S, 6-2, 180, Mobile Williamson, Ala.

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Evan Noel, K, 6-2, 155, Bay Saint Louis St. Stanisisus, Miss.



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Arkansas grocery store shooting was 'completely random,' police say

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Arkansas grocery store shooting was 'completely random,' police say


The shooting at an Arkansas grocery store on Friday was “a completely random, senseless act,” Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said in a press conference Sunday.

Police have not determined a motive for the attack at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce that killed four people and wounded 10 others, Hagar said, noting that they have found no connection between the suspect and any of the victims or the store.

The four people killed were identified as 23-year-old Callie Weems, 50-year-old Roy Sturgis, 62-year-old Shirley Taylor and 81-year-old Ellen Shrum.

The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey, was shot by officers at the scene and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

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Law enforcement officials are on the scene of a shooting in Fordyce, Arkansas, on June 21, 2024.

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Posey is believed to have opened fire in the parking lot “immediately” upon exiting his vehicle, then entered the store where he continued his rampage.

“He simply started engaging victims indiscriminately, just as targets of opportunity,” Hagar said.

Hagar said the suspect had “very limited” previous criminal history, or possibly none at all.

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Posey faces three capital murder charges and is currently being held at Ouachita County Detention Center, according to Hagar.

He could face the death penalty, Hagar said.

One of the victims, Weems, a nurse, died while attempting to treat another victim, Hagar said.

“During the incident, we observed the very best and the very worst of humanity,” he said. “As an example, instead of fleeing from the obvious danger, Callie Weems began using her training as a nurse to render aid to a gunshot victim and, unfortunately, became a victim herself as a result of her selfless actions.”

Hagar thanked the police officers who responded to the incident, who he said neutralized the suspect within five minutes of the shooting beginning.

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“These officers literally and intentionally put themselves between the suspect and defenseless citizens,” he said. “Their actions were nothing short of heroic.”



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Fourth Victim Dies After Arkansas Grocery Store Shooting

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Fourth Victim Dies After Arkansas Grocery Store Shooting


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Police said a fourth victim has died after a shooter opened fire at an Arkansas grocery store, wounding nine others and riddling cars with bullet holes as panicked bystanders scrambled for cover.

The person died Saturday evening, Arkansas state police said in a statement, listing a total of 14 people as hit by gunfire: “11 civilians, two law enforcement officers and the suspect.”

The dead were identified as Shirley Taylor, 62, Callie Weems, 23, Roy Sturgis, 50, and Ellen Shrum, 81 — “all civilians,” according to the statement.

The wounded range in age between 20 and 65, police said. Four were still hospitalized, including a woman who was in critical condition.

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The wounded agents were identified as Fordyce Police Officer James Johnson, 31, who was released from a hospital Saturday evening, and Stuttgart Police Officer John Hudson, 24, whose injuries were said to be minor.

Police said the suspect is Travis Eugene Posey, 44, of New Edinburg, and he will be charged with four counts of capital murder.

“He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement” and was then released to police custody and taken to the Ouachita County Detention Center, police said in the statement.

Police have not released a motive. A media briefing to update about the shooting was announced for 2 p.m. Sunday.

As of Friday, a state police spokesperson did not know if Posey had an attorney, and there was no immediate response to a phone message left with the agency’s public information office Saturday night. The Ouachita County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Saturday that he was being held at the detention center but had no information about a possible lawyer. No inmate record was online for him yet.

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The shooting took place around 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, a city of about 3,200 people located 65 miles (104 kilometers) south of Little Rock.

Roderick Rogers, a member of the city council, said he called the sheriff when employees at his restaurant nearby notified him of the shooting. When he got there, he saw people running for cover in every direction, even one running to the hospital nearby.

“People were just jumping into cars to get to safety,” Rogers said Friday.

Video posted on social media showed at least one person lying in the parking lot, while another captured multiple gunshots ringing out.

Images from reporters on the scene showed a slew of bullet holes in the store’s window, and spent shell casings strewn throughout the parking lot. In video images, local and state agencies could be seen responding with at least one medical helicopter landing nearby.

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It was the latest mass shooting with a grocery store as its backdrop. In 2022 a white supremacist killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket. That came a little more than a year after 10 people were fatally shot at supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.



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