Arkansas

Arkansas lawmakers question implementation of federal refugee resettlement program • Arkansas Advocate

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2024

Arkansas lawmakers question implementation of federal refugee resettlement program • Arkansas Advocate

Arkansas lawmakers on a split vote approved an amended Department of Human Services appropriations bill Thursday and promised continued discussion about the state’s involvement in a federal refugee resettlement program.

The Joint Budget Committee advanced an amended version of House Bill 1077 that changed some appropriations for DHS’ Division of County Operations, but the refugee program’s appropriation remained at $272,846.

Van Buren Republican Rep. Ryan Rose said his qualms about DHS issuing a roughly $65,000 subgrant to the state’s social services designee for the refugee program, Canopy Northwest Arkansas, shouldn’t “torpedo” the Division of County Operations’ budget. However, Rose said after this contract ends, the legislature should not send more money to the nonprofit organization.

“For a number of us, the challenge is we have significant concerns with the funding going to an organization that has the reputation that it does in this arena and that the only security we have on these individuals who come into our state is that they’re federally vetted,” Rose said. “That’s the only kind of outlier there is, hey, we should feel comfortable because they’re federally vetted, which doesn’t give me any comfort.”

Division of County Operations Director Mary Franklin said vetting by the U.S. State Department typically lasts about two years and some applicants have lived in refugee camps as long as 15 years before starting that vetting process. She also noted that if officials discover significant criminal history, refugees would not be allowed to continue the process.

Rose told the Advocate concerns have been voiced by legislators and local residents about the impact of refugee resettlement and the transparency of organizations involved, such as Canopy NWA, which has resettled hundreds of refugees.

“This has raised questions about potential strains on resources, infrastructure and social services in our state,” Rose said. “Additionally, there are concerns about the ideological alignment of organizations like Canopy NWA with the values and priorities of our communities.”

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The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement was established by the Refugee Act of 1980. Individuals granted refugee status by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are brought to the United States by the State Department, according to the Federal Register. Voluntary agencies and the ORR help resettle refugees, who are eligible for benefits and services when they arrive in the country.

As Human Services’ social services designee, Canopy NWA can help refugees get settled by assisting them with housing or accessing required health screenings, Franklin said. Meanwhile, state agencies can coordinate the distribution of federal funds through cash and medical assistance to eligible refugees for up to 12 months after they enter the United States.

Franklin said the cash assistance and eligibility requirements for refugees are the same as those for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The amount is $81 a month per individual with a limit of $523 per month regardless of household size.

In response to lawmakers’ questions about the state’s partnership with Canopy NWA and its continued participation in the federal program, DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam said that under its current arrangement, the state is able to designate an agency to provide data about refugees resettling in Arkansas.

“Without that ability to make that designation, if Arkansas were to opt out completely, we would lose any ability that we have to have insights and information and coordination with the agency to know what kinds of outcomes there are, the locations where people are resettling. We would not have that information,” Putnam said.

Franklin said 169 refugees resettled in Arkansas in federal fiscal year 2023. For fiscal year 2024, which began in October, that number is currently 130.

The number of refugees admitted to the U.S. is controlled by the federal government. President Joe Biden in September set a refugee admissions target of 125,000 for fiscal year 2024. The U.S. has admitted more than 3 million refugees since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980.

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Arkansas

No. 5 Arkansas Razorbacks’ Historic Season Comes to an End at WCWS

Published

1 hour ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

No. 5 Arkansas Razorbacks’ Historic Season Comes to an End at WCWS

Hunter Corneliusen
May 30, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – No. 5 National Seed Arkansas Razorbacks’ historic season came to an end on Friday night with an 11-0 (5 inn.) loss to UCLA at the Women’s College World Series inside Devon Park.

With the loss, Arkansas finished its season with a 47-13 record that culminated in the program’s first Women’s College World Series berth. The Hogs’ 47 wins were the second-most in program history, trailing only the 2022 team’s 48-11 overall record.

Tianna Bell, Atalyia Rijo, and Kailey Wyckoff all recorded base hits for Arkansas in the loss. Wyckoff and Karlie Davison both drew walks. Payton Burnham (14-4) took the loss for Arkansas after allowing four runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of work.

Taylor Tinsley (33-7) took the win for UCLA, pitching five shutout innings while striking out two and allowing three hits and two walks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Payton Burnham made her 19th start of the season for Arkansas, while UCLA went with senior Taylor Tinsley.

In the top of the first inning, Atalyia Rijo had a hand in all three outs of a 1-2-3 frame that featured a pair of groundouts and a popout. Tinsley responded with a 1-2-3 inning herself, courtesy of a strikeout, flyout, and lineout in the home half of the first inning.

Aleena Garcia gave UCLA a 1-0 lead with a lead-off solo home run to dead center field in the top of the second inning. Kaniya Bragg got hit by a pitch, and Alexis Ramirez singled before Soo-Jin Berry made it a 4-0 game with a three-run home run to left field. Following Ramirez’s homer, Saylor Timmerman entered in relief for Arkansas. Megan Grant later extended the Bruins’ lead to 7-0 by way of a three-run home run to center field, her 42nd of the season. Senior LHP Robyn Herron entered with two runners on and two outs in the inning. UCLA extended its lead to 9-0 courtesy of a two-RBI double off the top of the wall in right field by Bragg.

In the bottom of the second inning, Karlie Davison became the first baserunner of the game for Arkansas after reaching on a two-out walk. She later advanced to second base on a single from Atalyia Rijo. Kailey Wyckoff later walked to load the bases, but UCLA would escape with a flyout to get out of the inning.

In the top of the third inning, Herron registered a pair of strikeouts while UCLA made it 10-0 by scoring a run by way of a wild pitch. Tinsley retired the Hogs in order in the bottom of the third inning.

Herron retired UCLA in order in the top of the fourth inning while picking up a pair of strikeouts. Tianna Bell singled down the third-base line to lead off the bottom of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Bruins’ Jolyna Lamar increased the UCLA lead to 11-0 with a solo home run to right field.

Kailey Wyckoff singled down the third-base line to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning before UCLA retired three consecutive batters to end the game.

NOTABLES

Arkansas finished the season with a 47-13 overall record. The Razorbacks’ 47 wins were the second-most in program history, trailing only the 2022 team’s 48-11 overall record.

Up Next

The Razorbacks will be back in action in the spring of 2027.

For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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Arkansas

Arkansas men’s track and field sends 21 entries to NCAA Outdoor Championships | Whole Hog Sports

Published

11 hours ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas men’s track and field sends 21 entries to NCAA Outdoor Championships | Whole Hog Sports

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Arkansas

What channel is UCLA vs Arkansas softball on? Time, TV for WCWS elimination game

Published

23 hours ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

What channel is UCLA vs Arkansas softball on? Time, TV for WCWS elimination game

It’s win or go home for half of the Women’s College World Series field on Friday, May 29.

In the nightcap of the WCWS elimination games is No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arkansas, two teams that suffered come-from-behind wins on May 28 by Alabama and Nebraska, respectively. The Bruins couldn’t take advantage of back-to-back home runs against Jocelyn Briski in the third, eventually falling 6-3 to the top-seeded Crimson Tide.

Watch UCLA vs Arkansas softball live with Fubo (free trial)

The Razorbacks’ loss was arguably more painful (or, at least, took longer). Arkansas twice led against Nebraska and USA Softball Player of the Year Jordy Frahm, but was unable to maintain either lead before Ava Kuszak walked the Razorbacks off in the bottom of the 10th inning in the 5-3 defeat.

Now the Bruins and Razorbacks both must gear up for a second game in as many days, with their WCWS hopes on the line. Here’s how to watch as UCLA takes on Arkansas in a pivotal win-or-go-home game:

What TV channel is UCLA vs Arkansas softball on today?

ESPN will broadcast Friday’s elimination game between UCLA and Arkansas. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream WCWS games live with Fubo (free trial)