Arkansas
Audit of Arkansas governor's security, travel records from State Police says no laws broken
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Auditors reviewing travel and security records that were restricted from public release under a measure Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed last year did not find any violations of law in how money was spent, according to a report released to lawmakers on Friday.
The review of about $4 million spent by State Police on security and travel for the governor was the second part of an audit lawmakers requested last year that had initially focused on a $19,000 lectern purchased for Sanders’ office that had drawn widespread scrutiny.
Auditors earlier this year said that purchase potentially violated state laws on purchasing and state records, though a local prosecutor declined to pursue criminal charges.
Friday’s audit reviewed expenses related to the governor’s protection between June 1, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2023. The reviewed covered roughly the first year of Sanders’ administration and the last six months of her predecessor, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Sanders last year signed into law a measure that shielded much of the information about her security and travel from public view, after initially proposing more far-reaching changes to the state’s open records law. Under the new law, State Police is required to submit quarterly reports on its expenses protecting the governor — though those reports don’t detail costs of individual trips.
The audit said the first two quarterly reports had understated expenses by $58,973 because it used outdated hourly cost rates for its airplane and helicopter. State Police has since updated how those are calculated, the report said.
“So the bottom line is there wasn’t anything wrong with this?” Republican Sen Kim Hammer asked, aside from the expenses initially being understated.
“Yes, sir, that’s it,” Field Audit Supervisor David Gasaway responded.
Sanders’ office did not comment on the audit’s findings, and State Police said it would defend any governor and their family in accordance with state law.
“We constantly reevaluate and update our methods and procedures based on numerous factors, including the number of protectees and threat level that vary with each administration and from day to day,” Col. Mike Hagar, the director of state police and public safety secretary, said in a statement.
The travel and security report was released with much less fanfare than the audit surrounding the lectern, which had drawn national attention from late night host Jimmy Kimmel to the New York Times. Only a couple of members of the panel asked questions after a brief presentation of the report.
The lectern for Sanders, who served as former President Donald Trump’s press secretary, was initially purchased with a state credit card. The Republican Party of Arkansas later reimbursed the state for the purchase, and Sanders’ office has called the use of a state credit card for the lectern an accounting error.
Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey, who had requested the audits, said he believed the review was necessary to address concerns about the changes to the open-records law.
“I believe that legislative audit committee, in approving that request, it was something they needed to do to provide that transparency and that oversight to the citizens out there,” Hickey said.
Arkansas
Arkansas men’s track and field sends 21 entries to NCAA Outdoor Championships | Whole Hog Sports
Arkansas
What channel is UCLA vs Arkansas softball on? Time, TV for WCWS elimination game
Alabama softball ace Jocelyn Briski is prepared for opportunity vs UCLA in WCWS
Alabama softball ace Jocelyn Briski is prepared for the Crimson Tide’s opportunity vs. UCLA at the Women’s College World Series.
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)
UCLA vs Arkansas softball time today
- Date: Friday, May 29
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET | 8:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Devon Park (Oklahoma City)
First pitch for UCLA vs. Arkansas is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on May 29 from Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
WCWS bracket, schedule 2026
All times Eastern
Thursday, May 28
- Game 1: No. 11 Texas Tech 8, Mississippi State 0 (5 innings) (RECAP)
- Game 2: No. 7 Tennessee 6, No. 2 Texas 3 (RECAP)
- Game 3: No. 1 Alabama 6, No. 8 UCLA 3 (RECAP)
- Game 4: No. 4 Nebraska 5, No. 5 Arkansas 3 (10 innings) vs. (RECAP)
Friday, May 29
- Game 5: Mississippi State vs. No. 2 Texas | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
-
Game 6: No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arkansas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Saturday, May 30
- Game 7: No. 11 Texas Tech vs. No. 7 Tennessee | 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Game 8: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 1 Alabama 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Sunday, May 31
- Game 9: 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Game 10: 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Monday, June 1
- Game 11: Noon | ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 12 (if necessary): 2:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 13: 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
- Game 14 (if necessary): 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Wednesday, June 3
- WCWS finals Game 1: 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Thursday, June 4
- WCWS finals Game 2: 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Friday, June 5
- WCWS finals Game 3 (if necessary): 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Arkansas
Dave Van Horn press conference: Arkansas baseball coach, players preview NCAA Lawrence Regional | Whole Hog Sports
-
New Mexico47 seconds agoPatrick Brenner: New Mexico can’t afford permitting paralysis | Carlsbad Current Argus
-
North Carolina3 minutes agoNorth Carolina felon gets 22 years for 15 guns, fentanyl pills, meth and cocaine
-
North Dakota9 minutes agoHow popular is mail-in and absentee voting in North Dakota?
-
Ohio16 minutes ago
Ohio voters literally can’t believe our eyes. Danger of AI ads not overblown | Letters
-
Oklahoma19 minutes agoOklahoma’s dramatic literacy goals now up to elementary schools to implement
-
Oregon24 minutes ago
Oregon Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 4 results for May 29
-
Pennsylvania31 minutes agoCheers to summer: Try these Western Pennsylvania beers that pair perfectly with warm weather
-
Rhode Island33 minutes agoR.I. House Finance budget phases in millionaires tax over three years – The Boston Globe