Arkansas
Arkansas’ last racial quota for a state board struck down by federal judge
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — The last racial quota for a state board in Arkansas was recently struck down by a federal judge. Rather than defend that quota, the state actually agreed with the plaintiff suing to remove it.
Former University of Arkansas professor Jay Greene, a white man, sued the state in October over a law mandating that one member of the Arkansas Ethics Commission be of a minority race.
Greene’s attorneys say he had previously put forward his name for consideration for the commission.
“But because this statute states that there must be a member of a minority race on the commission, when the opening came up, he was disqualified due to no reason other than his race. It’s just a straightforward racial quota. And the Supreme Court has said that essentially the government can’t do that,” said Pacific Legal Foundation Sr. Attorney Caleb Trotter, who represented Greene.
The Ethics Commission’s racial quota was part of the 1991 initiated act that established the body. That’s likely why it survived longer than other race quotas, as the legislature couldn’t remove it from Arkansas’ Constitution without a two-thirds vote because the five-member commission was created by a vote of the people.
Each seat holder on the commission is appointed by a different state official, one by the governor, lieutenant governor, House speaker, Senate president pro tempore, and attorney general.
When commission member Miguel Lopez’s term came to an end last summer, the law demanded that his replacement be of a minority race because he was the only non-white commission member at the time. Attorney General Tim Griffin didn’t appoint a replacement, refusing to comply with the race quota.
Lopez has remained on the commission since.
Griffin’s refusal perplexed then-director of the commission, Graham Sloan.
“The people of the state of Arkansas said they wanted a five-member board and that they wanted certain people to be represented, certain groups to be represented on that board. It’s never proven to be a problem for the commission. You know, and I’ve been here more than 25 years and there’s never been a problem,” Sloan told KATV in June.
“Minorities constitute 20 percent of the Arkansas population. And so a law that would say that there’ll be one member of a minority race on the board, you know, it gives that 20 percent of the population. It gives them representation on the board,” Sloan said.
Last week, state officials with appointing power sided with the plaintiff suing them and filed a joint motion alongside Greene asking the court to declare the race quota unconstitutional, a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
“And traditionally, you would have either a trial or briefs and then the court makes a decision weighing both arguments,” Trotter said, “but here we had all five state officials agreeing with our position that this racial quota for the Ethics Commission is unconstitutional.”
The next day, the court permanently eliminated the race quota.
“No longer does the attorney general or any other state official have to consider someone’s race in making these appointments,” Trotter said, “and that’s a great day for the Constitution. It’s a great day for equality under the law and for all Arkansans.”
Jeff LeMaster, spokesman for the attorney general’s office, told KATV that Griffin plans to announce a new appointment to the commission soon.
Arkansas
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Arkansas
Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a long-term partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union, marking a significant step in the credit union’s growing commitment to Northwest Arkansas. Facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season.
Rooted in more than 85 years of helping individuals and families achieve financial peace of mind and building on a 65-year legacy of service in Arkansas, CommunityAmerica is excited to engage with Razorback fans and support the communities they call home.
“This is so much more than a name on a stadium. It’s about becoming part of the Razorback Nation experience and helping fans, students, student-athletes and the communities we and the university serve,” said Lisa Ginter, Chief Executive Officer of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and when we evaluate partnerships like this, it starts with what matters most to them. The University of Arkansas is a powerful source of pride and connection for people across the state and in many of our markets. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to Northwest Arkansas, where we look forward to growing our presence and helping more families achieve financial peace of mind. We’re already deepening our roots with plans for a campus location and several new branches throughout the region.”
The multi-phased partnership extends beyond naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will also serve as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics, supporting student-athletes and fans alike. The comprehensive partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on gameday. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will engage directly with Razorback student-athletes providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.
“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Beginning with the 2027 football season, the partnership will expand into its second phase with the naming of CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium and the launch of CommunityAmerica Razorback Checking, Debit and Credit Cards.
With a legacy of serving members across Arkansas and nationwide, CommunityAmerica is ranked among the most trusted and innovative credit unions in the country and among the largest in the Midwest. CommunityAmerica is excited to engage and serve Razorback fans and members more deeply with a variety of financial products and services that align to their passion for the University.
“Our members are proud of where they live and what they stand behind, and for so many in Arkansas and across our shared communities, that means being part of Razorback Nation,” Ginter said. “As we look ahead to launching Razorback-branded products in 2027, we’re excited to offer experiences that celebrate that pride, strengthen relationships and deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve.”
“This is a historic partnership featuring an innovative brand with a passion and proven track record of supporting their community, paired with one of the leading college athletics programs in the country,” said Allison Fillmore, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Learfield. “Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties are excited to collaborate with Arkansas Athletics, which will enhance fan and student-athlete experiences for years to come.”
Razorback Sports Properties is the locally based Learfield team that is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Arkansas Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Razorbacks.
About the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics pursues its vision to “Be Our Best” while developing 465+ student-athletes into Razorbacks and Champions for Life. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Razorbacks consistently compete at the nation’s highest levels while proudly representing the University of Arkansas and the entire state. Arkansas has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the nation, winning nine NCAA titles and over 50 SEC Championships in recent years.
About CommunityAmerica Credit Union
CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution committed to helping members get on a path to thrive and achieve financial peace of mind. Founded in 1940, and with Arkansas roots dating back to 1968, CommunityAmerica has grown to meet the evolving financial needs of its members. With nearly $10 billion in assets and more than 600,000 members, the credit union is ranked among the nation’s 50 largest credit unions. It is the largest credit union in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and one of the largest financial institutions with expanding operations in Northwest Arkansas. CommunityAmerica offers a full suite of financial products and services for individuals and businesses, including checking and savings, mortgages, loans, commercial banking, wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance. Federally chartered, CommunityAmerica serves members across multiple markets nationwide with branch locations in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. Learn more at CommunityAmerica.com.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
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