Arkansas
Arkansas officials react to death of Sen. Lindsey Graham
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has died after a “brief and sudden illness,” his office said. He was 71.
Hours later, another statement from Graham’s office said the Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia’s preliminary findings are the senator died of aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. That is an aorta rupture stemming from hardening of Graham’s arteries.
Arkansas officials released statements following the death of Graham.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders released the following statement:
“Bryan and I are sending our deepest sympathies to the people of South Carolina as they mourn the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. He was a veteran, a longtime public servant, and a leading voice on foreign relations, but I remember him most for his partnership during the fight to get Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Working on the White House team, we needed allies like Senator Graham who would fight hard for what they knew was right, and it was thanks to his forcefulness that we were able to get Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation over the finish line. America has lost one of its finest Senators, and my prayers are with Senator Graham’s family, staff, colleagues in the U.S. Senate, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Attorney General Tim Griffin posted on Facebook:
“Lindsey Graham will long be remembered as a stalwart of the U.S. Senate. His legacy is that of a problem solver and a passionate advocate for our national security. He understood America’s leadership role in the world and helped craft policies that supported that role. In addition to his 23 years in the U.S. Senate, he also served his country with distinction as a JAG officer in the United States Air Force for 33 years. Rest in peace, Senator Graham. A grateful nation thanks you for your service.”
Fellow Sen. John Boozman posted on X:
“The sudden passing of my friend and colleague Lindsey Graham is an incredible loss for the Senate, his beloved South Carolina and our country. Public service, whether in the Air Force or in Congress, was his life’s work. We were fortunate to serve with such a fierce advocate for American leadership through both diplomacy and a strong military. Cathy and I are heartbroken and join all those praying for his family, friends and staff as we mourn a dear friend and patriot.”
Sen. Tom Cotton also posted on X:
“Lindsey Graham was an American original. A truly self-made man, he lost his parents at an early age and cared for his younger sister. That same sense of responsibility and duty took him into the Air Force and the Congress. Lindsey was a great champion for our military, our troops, and our national security. A lover of liberty and a true patriot, Lindsey never stopped working on behalf of South Carolina and America. His premature death is a tragedy for all those who knew him. Anna and I join all Arkansans in extending our deepest condolences to Lindsey’s family and friends.”
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Arkansas
High school football player in Arkansas practices with a venomous snake in his helmet
Arkansas
Video of Arkansas trooper punching 18-year-old during traffic stop draws calls for investigation
Newly released footage of an officer tackling an 18-year-old Black woman to the ground and punching her in the head after a traffic stop in Arkansas is causing anger and demands for a use-of-force investigation.
Alisa Hackett, of Osceola, Arkansas, was pulled over on State Highway 18 near Manila at about 10:45 p.m. on Aug. 1 after she was seen driving 71 mph in a 60-mph zone with the vehicle’s hazard lights on, according to an Arkansas State Police report of the incident.
When she was pulled over, Hackett told state trooper Moisses Arellano she was rushing home because her car’s window had broken, according to the police report.
Arellano noted that Hackett was not wearing her seat belt, had her license plate covered and had a cold bottle of liquor in the front seat, according to the police report. In the dashcam footage, Arellano can be heard saying, “Why do you have a Tito’s bottle, you’re not even 21?” Later in the footage, Arellano acknowledges the bottle was sealed.
Arellano described Hackett as “being difficult” when he issued her citations, according to the report. He then called another trooper who said Hackett had been pulled over for speeding “a few days earlier” and had an open alcohol container in her vehicle, but was let go with a warning.
The other trooper is heard in the footage telling Arellano, “Well, she got an attitude, take her ass to jail.”
Arellano then decided to arrest Hackett, who is 5-foot-1 and 118 pounds, and asked her to step out of the car, according to the report. After initially complying, “she began turning around and repeatedly asked what she had done,” the police report said, adding she continued to pull away from the officer and he “took her to the ground.”
“After giving multiple commands for her to roll over without compliance, I delivered one closed-fist strike to the left side of her face in an attempt to gain compliance,” Arellano wrote in the report. “After the strike, she continued resisting by pulling her wrists away and refusing to roll over.”
He pointed a stun gun at her midsection, but did not fire, and she then complied in putting her hands behind her back and she was arrested, the report said.
In the video, Hackett can be heard saying, “You cannot punch me in my face.” Arellano responds, “Who said? Who says?” and then “Who said I can’t punch you in your face?”
As he was taking her to the back of his patrol car, Hackett began yelling “Help me” and “Call my momma” to passing motorists, Arellano wrote.
When she was in the back seat of the police car, Arellano can be heard saying, “If you resist, I can punch you, I can read you the policy.”
Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump said in a statement Monday he wanted Arkansas State Police to open a use-of-force investigation through its Office of Professional Standards, make it public and release any previous use-of-force reports related to Arellano.
“This trooper slammed an 18-year-old girl to the ground and punched her in the face. He wrote it down himself: a closed fist, because she would not roll onto her stomach,” Crump said in a statement. “Alisa asked him what she had done, and the video shows what she got for asking.”
“Arkansas State Police have to explain to the public how that is a reasonable response to a teenager at a traffic stop,” Crump continued. “If you cannot handle a teenage girl without taking her to the ground, cursing at her, and punching her in the face, you should not be wearing a badge.”
Hackett was arrested for refusal to submit to arrest, possession of alcohol by a minor, speeding, not wearing a seat belt, improper display of license tags and an offense for improper headlights.
Attorney Luther Sutter filed a civil rights lawsuit against Arellano on Hackett’s behalf Monday alleging excessive force. However, Sutter said he received a letter from Hackett saying she was switching her representation to Crump, according to local news outlet NEA Report.
In response to a request for comment, the Arkansas Department of Public Safety said, “Our long-held practice is not to comment on matters that are pending litigation.”
The department did not answer whether Arellano is still on active duty.
Arkansas
Travs Sign 20-year Lease to Stay at Dickey-Stephens
Founded in 1901, the Travs are one of the longest-running franchises in Minor League Baseball. The club has been the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners since 2017 and has played its home games at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock since the ballpark opened in 2007.
Issues with sinkholes in the outfield led to a dispute between the city and club over which side was responsible for the cost of repairs.
Recent investments at Dickey-Stephens include a new LED video board, LED lighting and an indoor batting cage.
“This agreement is a commitment to the Travelers, to North Little Rock and to the generations of fans who have made this franchise such an important part of central Arkansas,” said Pat Battle and Peter Freund, executive chairman and CEO of Diamond Baseball Holdings, respectively, in a joint statement. “When we acquired the Travelers, we were entrusted with one of the great traditions in Minor League Baseball, and we knew that honoring that tradition meant investing in its future. We are grateful to the city of North Little Rock for its partnership and look forward to building an even stronger future together for the Travelers and the entire community.”
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