Arkansas
Arkansas History Commission rules against Fort Smith on flag display waiver – Talk Business & Politics
The Arkansas Historical past Fee on Thursday (Sept. 8) denied the town of Fort Smith’s historic preservation waiver, a transfer that would require the town to exchange the Flags over Fort Smith show on the metropolis’s Riverfront Park.
In April 2020, the town eliminated seven flags that made up the show due to age and situation, in line with court docket paperwork.
The show represented the flags flown over Fort Smith since 1699, together with The French Fleur-De-Lis flag; the Spanish Cross of Lorraine flag; the French tricolor flag; the U.S. flag with 15 stars; the U.S. flag with 20 stars; the U.S. flag with 24 stars; and the Accomplice States of America flag depicting a circle of seven stars with pink and white stripes. Brass markers figuring out every flag had been on the bottom of the flag poles.
Metropolis Administrator Carl Geffken had mentioned flags representing the U.S. Military, Navy, Air Drive, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and maybe Area Drive would fly subsequent to america flag on the park.
Fort Smith legal professional Joey McCutchen filed go well with June 3, 2021, in Sebastian County Circuit Courtroom searching for a declaratory judgment that the town violated the Arkansas State Capitol and Historic Monument Safety Act when it eliminated the historic flag show, which was erected in October 2001. McCutchen alleged that the town eliminated your entire show in an try and not show the Accomplice States of America flag.
The Arkansas State Capitol and Historic Monument Safety Act prohibits the elimination, relocation, alteration or renaming of a memorial that’s positioned on public property. The legislation was largely a response by the Republican-dominated Arkansas Legislature to actions across the nation to take away symbols and statues of Accomplice generals and symbols.
In Might 2021, McCutchen requested the town oblige the Arkansas State Capitol and Historic Monument Safety Act and change the flags that flew at Riverfront Park from October 2001 to April 2020. Sebastian County Circuit Choose Gunner Delay dominated that the town of Fort Smith should get a waiver from the Arkansas Historic Fee concerning the elimination of the Flags over Fort Smith show on the Riverfront Park twice. The most recent ruling was issued Jan. 28. Delay dominated Oct. 4 that the town was in violation of Act 1003 of 2021.
On Oct. 12, the town filed a Movement to Rethink, asking the court docket to vacate its opinion. A listening to on that was held Jan. 19. Delay dominated Jan. 28 he would stick along with his unique ruling. Town contended the Oct. 4 order was not a ultimate order as a result of there have been nonetheless actions required of them after it was entered, the order acknowledged.
Town has been ready since January for guidelines and procedures from the Arkansas Historic Fee to be accomplished so they might know if any motion must be taken relating to changing the flags. The principles pertaining to the Arkansas State Capitol and Historic Monument Safety Act weren’t handed till this summer season. Town nonetheless has in its possession the plaques from the show, Geffken mentioned in January. Administration has changed the outdated and tattered flags that had been eliminated in April 2020.
When the Arkansas Historical past Fee denied Fort Smith’s waiver software Thursday, it denied the primary historic preservation waiver within the state for the reason that Arkansas State Capitol and Historic Monument Safety Act grew to become legislation. The waiver request was denied two to at least one, with Commissioner Brady Banta voting current. Fee members Heather Nelson and Ronald Fuller voted towards the waiver and Micheal Tarver, chairman of the fee, voted for the waiver.
The fee did say Thursday the waiver denial doesn’t imply the town is required to place the flag show again the place it was. McCutchen mentioned that’s as a result of making these choices is just not the responsibility of the fee and the court docket has already selected what must be performed relating to the monument.
“The fee decides on the waivers. They will’t inform the town they should put the monument, as a result of that’s what the flag show was dominated to be – an historic monument, again,” McCutchen mentioned. “In my view, they should put it again although. Choose Delay mentioned the town needed to file the response of the fee with the court docket after which they’ve 10 days to place the monument again up.”
McCutchen mentioned now that the waiver has been denied, the town must file that response with courts and change the monument.
“I’m happy concerning the determination (of the fee). Now Mr. Geffken and the town must work on fixing the consent decree situation, ensuring the brand new Air Drive mission involves Fort Smith and caring for the opposite metropolis problems with significance and cease attempting to cancel our heritage and historical past,” McCutchen mentioned.
Shari Cooper, the town’s public relations and communications supervisor, mentioned Geffken will seek the advice of with the town’s legal professional and the board of administrators for enter and decide subsequent steps.
Arkansas
DoorDash activates severe weather protocol, suspending service in parts of Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Due to the ongoing winter storm sweeping through the Natural State, DoorDash has activated its Severe Weather Protocol and temporarily suspended operations in Little Rock and various parts of the Natural State.
According to a release Friday night, the precautionary measure comes as the winter storms deliver hazardous conditions across the city, including heavy snowfall and strong winds.
Cities with suspended operations include Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Pine Bluff, Jacksonville, Cabot, Searcy, Malvern, Lonoke, Heber Springs, Star City, Clinton, Rison and Sheridan.
“With heavy snowfall and low visibility, the snowstorm is a serious threat to our community, and we’ve taken decisive action by activating our Severe Weather Protocol,” DoorDash spokesperson Julian Crowley said. “We deeply appreciate the patience and understanding of Dashers, merchants and consumers, and will resume operations as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
Officials said they will continue to monitor conditions on the ground and will communicate additional changes to their operations as needed.
Arkansas
Knowing the Florida Gators Opponent: Arkansas Razorbacks
Gainesville, Fla. – The Florida Gators men’s basketball team’s next destination is Fayetteville, Ark., as they’ll take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (11-4, 0-2) on Saturday for their third SEC matchup of the season.
Florida is currently sitting at 14-1 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. They opened their SEC slate with a nail-biting loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, losing 106-100 in Lexington.
However, the Gators were able to avenge this loss with one of the most dominant wins in men’s basketball history on Tuesday over No. 1 Tennessee. They trounced the Volunteers 73-43 in the O’Dome, marking the Gators’ first regular-season win over an AP No. 1-ranked team in program history and the biggest win over a No. 1-ranked team in the NCAA since 1968.
But enough about what Florida has done this season, let’s shift the focus to their opponents, the Razorbacks, and see who they are.
Arkansas’ season started out nice with a win over Lipscomb. However, it wouldn’t be the same for them in their second game of the season against then-ranked No. 8 Baylor, as they found themselves on the losing end of a tightly contested battle.
Then, following a good stretch for the team in red, they were tasked with the current No. 13 in the AP Poll, Illinois, and things wouldn’t go so well for new Razorbacks head coach John Calipari. His team was outclassed in this game 90-77, which ended their winning streak at four.
Arkansas did make amends with their fans a few games later, though. While participating in the Jimmy V Classic, they matched up with then-ranked No. 14 Michigan, who they narrowed past 89-87.
This win over the Wolverines helped maintain a three-game win streak that would eventually turn into a six-game streak. However, since SEC play started for the Razorbacks, they are 0-2 with losses to Tennessee and Ole Miss, who are currently ranked in the Top 25 AP Poll.
These pair of losses put Arkansas at just a 1-4 record against teams on their schedule to have been ranked or that are currently ranked.
While it was a complete roster overhaul for Calipari and the Razorbacks this offseason that was fueled by the transfer portal, their biggest grab has been from the high school ranks.
They added highly ranked players like Johnell Davis, Adou Thiero and Jonas Aidoo all from the portal, but it’s former five-star guard Boogie Fland who’s been arguably the best player for the Razorbacks this season.
Fland is averaging 15.5 points, 5.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game through 15 games this season. He is also connecting on 35.7 percent of his threes, which shows he’s more than just an inside scorer. Additionally, his 5.9 assists rank 24th among his competitors.
But in these first two SEC games, Fland is just 10-for-35 from the field and 3-for-17 from deep.
If the Gators can’t keep him in check like he’s been over these last two, then it might be a long afternoon for the visitors on Saturday.
Despite bringing in tons of talent that should’ve resulted in a great offense, Arkansas has been anything but that.
They currently rank inside the bottom five teams in the SEC in scoring offense, averaging 79.4 points per game. They do have two players scoring at least 15.0 points per game, but that’s pretty much it. Outside of Thiero (16.9) and Fland, they only have one other player in double figures (DJ Wagner, 10.5).
Moreover, if this becomes a free-throw-dominated affair, the Gators shouldn’t be too worried about the Razorbacks’ performance at the line. They are shooting 71.1 percent from the charity stripe, which is good for 12th in the league.
And, lastly, they have little to no presence on the glass. They are the worst team in the SEC in offensive rebounding, and they are 13th out of 16 teams in overall rebounding. These are two areas where the Gators dominate, and if things play out like they have been this season, then the visitors should outmuscle their counterparts.
This game will be televised on Saturday at 4 pm on ESPN.
Arkansas
Viewer pictures: The Natural State transforms into a winter wonderland
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A winter storm rolled into Arkansas Thursday and brought with it snow to the majority of western and central Arkansas.
Many from around the Natural State sent in pictures of their area covered in snow.
Though Arkansas is already full of natural beauty, there’s something about the state covered in snow that makes it even more of a winter wonderland.
Several kids from around the state got out and took advantage of the day off of school by throwing snowballs, digging up the snow, sledding and of course making snow angels.
Many who got out in the snow had enough accumulated to make snow men.
Share your snow day pictures at KARK.com/winter-pics.
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