Arkansas

Arkansas judge agrees with Board of Corrections, grants preliminary injunction

Published

2 years ago

January 5, 2024

Arkansas judge agrees with Board of Corrections, grants preliminary injunction

A judge has sided with the Arkansas Board of Corrections in a lawsuit filed against Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Patricia James heard testimony Thursday from corrections officials about safety in state prisons. She also listened to legal debates over the constitutionality of the way the board is managed.

Last year, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed several criminal justice-related laws. These included the “Protect Act” which required violent criminals to serve more of their sentence, and Act 185 which gives the governor more oversight over prison management.

In her ruling Thursday, James sided with the Corrections Board, blocking Act 185 and parts of the Protect Act from going into effect until the lawsuit’s resolution.

Background

The laws, and current lawsuit, come amid calls for prison expansions from state officials. The Corrections Board approved 400 of the 600 additional prison beds requested by the Department of Corrections earlier in 2023. Shortly after, the governor held a press conference with Attorney General Tim Griffin calling the board’s reluctance to completely fulfill the request “unacceptable.”

Members of the Board of Corrections say conditions at state prisons are not safe enough to justify adding the extra beds. They cite issues with a lack of staff and quality facilities, putting inmates and corrections officers at risk.

Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri attempted to add the beds against the wishes of the Board of Corrections. After this, he was suspended and the current lawsuit was triggered. The lawsuit argues that Amendment 33 of the state constitution protects the board. The amendment regulates the governor’s involvement with boards in the hope of preventing political interference.

Thursday’s hearing

Traditionally, the board would receive legal representation from the state attorney general, but since they are suing the state, they hired outside council.

In his opening statement, Corrections Board attorney Abtin Mehdizadegan said his opposing counsel was not making arguments “on the merits.” He argued that allowing the governor to have a say over the Board of Corrections could set a dangerous precedent. He said it could, for example, give the governor the ability to appoint employees of public colleges.

He went on to say that the Board of Corrections “did their best” to add new prison beds.

His opening statements were interrupted by a bomb threat which caused the courtroom to be evacuated for several hours. Upon returning to the courtroom, Mehdizadegan said the evacuation was a good example of the importance of prioritizing safety, and that the Board of Corrections merely had the same concerns.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Noah Watson responded by explaining that no one he represents had broken ethical rules.

Four witnesses testified in Thursday’s hearing. The first was Benny Magness, chairman of the Arkansas Board of Corrections. He said Corrections Secretary Profiri defied the board when he added 70 beds to the gymnasium of a prison in Malvern without permission. Magness called the bed placement “unorthodox” and said the board is required to provide prisoners with “some form of recreation.”

He also said it was irresponsible to add the beds without also adding extra staff.

“You have to put a whole new post together,” he said.

Profiri allegedly told Magness that he added the beds at the governor’s request. He also said the governor had attempted to give Profiri a $40,000 raise. When asked if he approved the raise, Magness responded “absolutely not.”

His comments were echoed by William Byers, a member of the Board of Corrections. Byers also said he “served at the pleasure of the board” and not the governor. Though on cross-examination, attorneys pointed out that the board has final approval on added beds.

Tommy James, an auditor for the board, testified next. He had previously authored a report detailing how state prisons are overcrowded and lack the right amount of staff.

“An understaffed prison leads to not enough supervision,” he said.

He referenced a recent incident where a man in seclusion at an Arkansas prison died of suicide. The man stayed in his cell for over an hour and a half before someone noticed.

“There were three people that should have been doing a minimum of five jobs,” he said of the prison guards.

During cross-examination, lawyers pointed out James had previously been fired from a corrections oversight job after it was revealed that he helped former inmates with their taxes pro bono.

In her ruling on the case, James said the Board of Corrections had “met their burdens.” She said the Corrections Secretary Profiri should continue serving “at the pleasure of the Board of Corrections.”

Profiri is currently barred from going back to work. The injunction also bars parts of the Protect Act and Act 185 from going into place.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Bested by Mizzou on Sunday

Published

8 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

It was a tight battle all the way through, but ultimately No. 7 Missouri took down No. 8 Arkansas in Sunday’s SEC dual, 197.425-197.225.

There was plenty for the Gymbacks to be proud of in the meet, starting with the all-around performance of freshman Allison Cucci. She earned a new career high of 39.500, good for the all-around crown and the highest of any freshman in the nation this season. Cucci also tied for first on vault (9.900) and got second on beam (9.925).

Redshirt junior had a fantastic outing as a floor specialist and scored a 9.900 on vault and 9.925 on floor. Both marks were good for a share of first place on the events. Senior Morgan Price earned a big 9.925 at bars anchor, which tied for first on the event.

The last two events of the day kept Arkansas in contention with Mizzou, as the Gymbacks went 49.425 on both floor and beam, the latter a season high.

Bars

After a 9.675 from Joscelyn Roberson in the lead-off spot, Hailey Klein got the Gymbacks on pace again with a 9.875. Avery King made her collegiate debut next and delivered a great 9.825 routine in a last-minute situation. Her fellow freshmen Avalon Campbell and Allison Cucci went next and scored a 9.750 and 9.800, respectively. Morgan Price anchored with the energy Arkansas needed and capped her routine with a stick to score 9.925. Arkansas finished the bars rotation with a 49.175.

Vault

Cami Weaver and Leah Smith opened the vault rotation with Yurchenko fulls, scoring 9.800 and 9.750. Cucci and Klein were the team’s first 1.5s of the day, and the two scored 9.875 and 9.800, respectively. Lauren Williams went 9.875 in the fifth position and Morgan Price earned a 9.850. The Gymbacks scored 49.200 total on vault.

Floor

Arkansas started out floor with a 9.825 from Hailey Klein and a 9.850 from Cami Weaver. Cucci then broke into the 9.900 range with a new career high 9.900 midway through the rotation. Smith went 9.850 in the fourth position, keeping Arkansas on pace. Williams and Roberson closed the rotation strong with scores of 9.925 and 9.900, which pushed the Gymbacks’ floor total to 49.425.

Beam

Madison Gustitus began the beam rotation with a 9.775, and Priscilla Park went 9.875 next for the Gymbacks. Klein concluded her all-around day with a 9.850 on beam midway through the final rotation. Cucci came up next and got a huge 9.925, a new personal best for her. Weaver followed with a 9.875, which brought Roberson up to anchor. She did her usual and scored a 9.900, and Arkansas closed the meet with a 49.425 event score on beam, a new season high.

Up Next

Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena for its home finale against No. 1 Oklahoma on Friday, March 6. The meet has been deemed a White Out, and the team is pushing fans to help break the NCAA gymnastics attendance record, which is currently just over 16,000. It will also be Senior Night, honoring a fantastic class of Razorbacks. Action is set for 7:15 p.m. and tickets are available online, by phone, or in person. The meet will be streamed live on SEC Network+.

More Information

Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Gymnastics. You can also find the Razorbacks on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Gymnastics) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackGym).

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Arkansas

OPINION | WALLY HALL: Arkansas will need more than Robinson’s coerced contribution | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

20 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Wally Hall

whall@adgnewsroom.com

Wally Hall is assistant managing sports editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock after an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force, he is a member and past president of the Football Writers Association of America, member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, past president and current executive committee and board member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and voter for the Heisman Trophy. He has been awarded Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year 10 times and has been inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and Arkansas Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame.

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Arkansas

Who is Taylen Green? Arkansas QB dazzles with record-setting NFL combine performance

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Who is Taylen Green? Arkansas QB dazzles with record-setting NFL combine performance

Move over, Anthony Richardson. There’s a new quarterback athletic marvel at the NFL scouting combine.

On Saturday in Indianapolis, Arkansas’ Taylen Green broke Richardson’s top marks at the position since 2003 for both the vertical leap and broad jump. Green’s 43½-inch vertical topped Richardson’s previous high by three inches, while his 11-2 broad jump beat the Indianapolis Colts signal-caller’s measurement by five inches.

Then, Green reeled off a 4.36-second 40-yard dash time. That stood as the second-best time for any quarterback since 2003, trailing only Reggie McNeal in 2006 (4.35 seconds). Richardson, for comparison, logged a 4.43-second mark in 2023.

Green didn’t even bother with a second attempt after his initial time.

The testing profile created quite the stir around the 6-6, 227-pound passer, who had widely projected as a developmental option for teams on Day 3.

NFL Network’s Charles Davis said Green told him that no teams had approached him about working out as a receiver, adding that he would not be interested in a position switch.

Green started for the Razorbacks for the last two seasons after playing the first three years of his career at Boise State. Known for his running ability and ample arm strength, Green threw for 2,714 yards and 19 touchdowns last year while adding 777 yards and eight scores on the ground.

It was a banner day for Arkansas, as running back Mike Washington Jr. also stood out among his peers with a group-leading 4.33-second 40-yard dash as well as strong marks in the vertical leap (39 inches) and broad jump (10-8).

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