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Arkansas public education coalition again revises proposed ballot measure targeting voucher rules – Arkansas Advocate

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Arkansas public education coalition again revises proposed ballot measure targeting voucher rules – Arkansas Advocate


An Arkansas coalition attempting to amend the state Constitution’s education clause submitted its fourth proposal to the attorney general Thursday.

The goal of the Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment of 2024 is to require the same academic and accreditation standards for public and private schools that receive state funding.

The most significant change to For AR Kids’ proposed ballot language is defining receipt of state or local funds as the school, a student attending the school or the student’s parents or guardians receiving “any State or local funds, property, or tax credits to cover or defray, in whole or part, the costs of any student attending the school.”

Arkansas attorney general again rejects public education group’s ballot initiative

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The revised measure would also apply to schools whose students or parents or guardians receive financial assistance for the cost of the student attending a school that’s “funded, in whole or in part, by monetary contributions that qualify for a state tax credit under Arkansas law.”

The clarification is a response to Attorney General Tim Griffin’s opinion last week in which he cited ambiguous terms for his inability to certify the proposed ballot title and language. 

For AR Kids again met with Griffin’s staff this week prior to submitting a revised proposal Thursday. 

According to a press release, the group made narrowly tailored changes to address Griffin’s specific concerns and asked for an expedited review to ensure volunteers have enough time to collect the required signatures for the November ballot.

“We have over 450 volunteers already and we are just starting our outreach efforts to train people on how to collect signatures and share details about how the Arkansas Educational Rights Amendment will improve the educational opportunities of ALL Arkansas students,” For AR Kids Secretary Steve Grappe said in a statement. “We are just getting going to build toward our goal of over 2,500 people helping collect signatures for the measure.”

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Griffin has until March 1 to issue an opinion on the updated proposal. If he certifies the ballot language, For AR Kids has until July 5 to collect 90,704 signatures from at least 50 counties to qualify the measure for the 2024 ballot. 

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For AR Kids’ member organizations include the Arkansas Education Association, Arkansas Conference of the NAACP, Arkansas Public Policy Panel, Citizens First Congress and Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CAPES).

The coalition drafted its proposed measure in response to a new voucher program that provides nearly $6,700 per student in state funding for allowable educational expenses, including private school tuition.

Critics say the Educational Freedom Account program, a provision of the LEARNS Act, is unfair because private schools receiving state funding don’t have to follow the same requirements as their public counterparts, such as admitting all students, providing transportation and administering certain standardized tests. 

The LEARNS Act does require private schools to administer approved annual exams for EFA students.

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In addition to equal standards, the proposed constitutional amendment would guarantee voluntary universal access to pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds, after-school and summer programming, quality special education and assistance for children in families within 200% of the Federal Poverty Line ($62,400 for a family of four).

The measure would also establish the minimum quality standards ordered in the Lake View School District No. 25 v. Huckabee court decision. That case, which lasted 15 years, established a process for Arkansas public schools to be adequately funded.

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Griffin rejected For AR Kids’ first submission on Jan. 9. The group resubmitted a second version on Jan. 18, but withdrew and replaced it with a third submission Jan. 25 after meeting with the attorney general’s staff. 

Griffin rejected that submission on Feb. 8. 



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Arkansas

Suspect in Sawmeal Restaurant shooting killed in officer-involved shooting in Arkansas – WBBJ TV

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Suspect in Sawmeal Restaurant shooting killed in officer-involved shooting in Arkansas – WBBJ TV


December 7th, 2024 Adamsville, TN Shooting Update Press Release

📸: North Little Rock Police Department

On the date of December 7th, 2024, just after 4:00pm the Adamsville Police Department responded to the Sawmeal Restaurant located at 731 E Main Street in Adamsville, TN on the report of a gunshot injury that occurred in the parking lot. During the course of the investigation, APD was able to determine that the gunshot injury was directly correlated with an automobile theft that had occurred in the parking lot of the business. The actions and events surrounding that automobile theft included a use of force and intimidation, and the use and discharge of a firearm, in the perpetration of the crime. As a result, a 21-year-old male employee of the Sawmeal Restaurant suffered a single gunshot wound to the upper extremities. The victim was treated on the scene, stabilized by emergency medical services, and transported via aircraft to a medical facility for further treatment.

SEE ALSO: Adamsville Police investigating theft/shooting (12/7/24)

The Adamsville Police Department requested the assistance of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and immediately began to swiftly and diligently investigate this case. As a result of that investigation, we were quickly able to identify a suspect. On the following afternoon of December 8th, 2024, warrants for the arrest of the suspect in this case, Jeffery Lynn Marchbanks Jr., age 35, of Savannah, TN were obtained by the Adamsville Police Department for numerous felony charges to include Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Attempted First-Degree Murder and Carjacking. The Adamsville Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Marshals Service immediately began to work collaboratively to identify the whereabouts of Jeffery Marchbanks Jr. to bring him into custody.

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Participating agencies were quickly able to identify that Mr. Marchbanks had fled the State of Tennessee and was not currently a threat locally. Based on the information gathered, the Adamsville Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and United States Marshals Service began collaborating with Arkansas State Police and the Little Rock Police Department to locate Mr. Marchbanks in the State of Arkansas. On the afternoon of 12/17/2024 APD was notified by North Little Rock PD that Mr. Marchbanks had been fatally wounded in an officer involved shooting in North Little Rock, AR after reportedly attempting to commit an armed robbery at a gas station in North Little Rock. The victim in our case was notified immediately by APD of the circumstances surrounding the incident in North Little Rock, AR. At this time, the case relating to the shooting at Sawmeal Restaurant is considered closed by APD.

I would like to take time to say “thank you” to APD Detective JP Kellum and our staff, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the 25th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for their exhaustive efforts, diligent work, and partnership on this case. Senseless, violent crime will not be tolerated in our community, and we will, as always, continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our community remains a safe place for our citizens and our visitors.

For more local crime stories, click here.





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Arkansas president electors cast votes for Trump, Vance

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Arkansas president electors cast votes for Trump, Vance


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT/KARK) – Arkansas presidential electors cast their ballots for President and Vice President-elect of the United States on Tuesday.

According to content partner KARK, the six votes went to President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. The six electors who cast votes represented the Republican Party of Arkansas.

You can read more on KARK’s website.

To report a typo or correction, please click here.

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Vote: Arkansas high school quarterback of the year (12/17/24)

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Vote: Arkansas high school quarterback of the year (12/17/24)


After another exciting season of football here in the state of Arkansas, it is time to see who were the best high school quarterbacks this season. These phenomenal players led their teams to great seasons, and many will look to continue their career at the collegiate ranks. With that being said, we have nominated eight quarterbacks to be voted on for the quarterback of the year. We ask you, the fans, to vote on who you think had the best season from the quarterback position.

Here are the nominees. Voting concludes Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m.

Just like the running back play in the state, Arkansas produced some outstanding high school quarterbacks this season. Cobb was 357/564 passing for 4,245 yards and 48 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions this season. He completed 63 percent of his passes and averaged almost 12 yards per completion. He is also a threat running the ball. He rushed the ball 165 times for 898 yards and 15 touchdowns. He averaged 5.4 yards per rush, and rushed over 100 yards in four games this season.

Archer, who is a composite three-star recruit, completed 247 passes on 303 attempts this season. That comes out to an 81.5 percent completion percentage, and he passed for 3,880 yards and 57 touchdowns this season with only two interceptions. He also averaged almost 16 yards per completion which shows how accurate of a passer he is. Lastly, he rushed for 795 yards and 10 touchdowns on 81 carries.

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The junior was 273/454 with 3,635 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. His completion percentage was 60 percent, and he averaged 13.3 yards per completion. He showed his aggressiveness as a passer which is something you like to see out of a quarterback.

The junior was one of the bright spots on a team that struggled this season. However, he showed the ability that he can lead his team to great things next season. He was 249/413 for 3,134 yards and 29 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions this season. He averaged just over 60 percent with his completion percentage, and he averaged 12.6 yards per completion. Thompson also showed that he is a capable runner by rushing for 435 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.

The senior quarterback was 224/321 with 2,877 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. He threw only six interceptions, and he completed almost 70 percent of his passes. Miller is also a capable runner. He rushed for 638 yards and 11 touchdowns this year while averaging five yards per carry.

The sophomore stepped up into a big role this season as the signal caller for the Pirates. He was 173/298 for 2,830 yards with 35 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He averaged 16.4 yards per completion, and he completed 58 percent of his passes.

Wolcott is another junior who had a spectacular season. He was 157/234 passing the football with 2,554 yards and 32 touchdowns. He completed 67 percent of his passes, and he threw only five interceptions. He also got one rushing touchdown this season in the win over De Queen.

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The senior quarterback completed 152 passes on 235 attempts for 2,529 yards with 34 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also completed just under 65 percent of his passes this season. His running game was also superb this season. Washington rushed for 932 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per carry.



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