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Effort to restrict public’s access to Arkansas records stumbles at start of legislative session

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Effort to restrict public’s access to Arkansas records stumbles at start of legislative session


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ proposal to restrict the public’s access to records about her administration, travel and security stumbled at the outset of a special legislative session that convened Monday, with lawmakers trying to rework the legislation in the face of growing criticism that it erodes the state’s open records law.

The House and Senate ended the day without any action on the legislation, one of several items Sanders placed on the agenda for the special session she announced Friday. The Senate scuttled plans to hold a committee hearing Monday night on the bill, with leaders saying they did not yet have a revised version of the proposed changes to the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

“We’ve made amendment after amendment after amendment today. It’s just not ready,” Senate President Bart Hester told a committee room packed mostly with opponents of the legislation who had been waiting to to testify on the measure for most of the day. Hester said they expected to have a new bill filed later Monday night or Tuesday.

The plan to restrict records has prompted an outcry from press groups, transparency advocates, Democrats and some conservatives who said it undermines the state’s 1967 law that protects the public’s access to government records. Opponents have also questioned the need for quickly pushing for the legislation in a special session.

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“To try to railroad this thing through in one or two or three days is not right and it’s not fair, particularly with the breadth of this legislation,” said Joey McCutchen, a Fort Smith attorney who has specialized in FOI lawsuits.

The legislation would allow the state to wall off details about the security provided Sanders and other constitutional officers, including who travels on the State Police airplane and the cost of individual trips. Sanders has said the changes are needed to protect her and her family. Sanders has cited death threats she’s faced over the years, going back to her time as former President Donald Trump’s press secretary.

More broadly, the bill also would block release of state agencies’ “deliberative process” records such as memos and advisory opinions — an exemption that Sanders has said is modeled after one in federal law. Hester earlier Monday said a new version of the bill would instead expand an exemption for “unpublished memoranda, working papers, and correspondence” of the governor’s office to also include her Cabinet secretaries.

Sanders, who met with Senate Republicans for about a half hour behind closed doors Monday morning, didn’t say whether she was looking at changes to the bill.

“We’re going to continue working with our partners in the Legislature,” she told reporters after the meeting.

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FOI experts have also criticized the measure for adding an attorney-client privilege and for changing how attorney’s fees are awarded to plaintiffs who prevail in FOI lawsuits.

The bill would close off access to records that are at the center of a lawsuit an attorney and blogger has filed against the Arkansas State Police. Matt Campbell, who runs the Blue Hog Report site, has accused the agency of illegally withholding the governor’s travel and security records.

Groups such as the Arkansas Press Association, the Arkansas chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and a task force the Legislature formed in 2017 to review FOI measures have strongly opposed the legislation.

Opposition has also came from groups on the right, including two county Republican Party committees and the state chapter of Americans for Prosperity.

David Couch, an attorney who has authored successful ballot initiatives on medical marijuana and the minimum wage, said earlier Monday he was working on a referendum effort on the FOI changes if they become law.

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“This would be the most overwhelmingly popular issue I’ve worked on,” Couch said.

The open records law changes have drawn far more opposition than other items on the special session agenda, including a tax cut proposal that followed the state reporting its second-largest budget surplus in history.

A Senate committee on Monday endorsed the tax cut legislation, which calls for cutting the top individual and corporate income tax rates by .3%. It also would create a one-time nonrefundable tax credit for taxpayers making less than $90,000 a year. The full Senate is expected to take up the measure on Tuesday.





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Arkansas

Hogs Add Another Major Playmaker to Talented 2026 Class

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Hogs Add Another Major Playmaker to Talented 2026 Class


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Razorbacks received good news on the recruiting front with the addition of four-star wide receiver Dequane Prevo, he announced Sunday night on Instagram.

The 5-foot-10, 160 pound speedster committed to Arkansas over offers from Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss, Oregon and many others. Prevo is the No. 292 ranked prospect in the class of 2026, No. 47 receiver and No. 40 player in the state of Texas.

He ran a 22-second 200-meter dash as a freshman at the football factory known as Liberty-Euylau in Texarkana, Texas. Prevo has shown to be a playmaker at wideout catching 62 passes for 1,355 yards and 20 touchdown receptions.

Arkansas’ current 2026 class is off to an exceptional start ranked in the top ten nationally with four 4-star prospects headlined by Durant, Oklahoma defensive end Colton Yarbrough. 4-star passer Jayvon Gilmore, 4-star safety Adam Auston and 4-star safety and two-time MaxPreps all-American Tay Lockett are also notable commitments for the cycle.

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With the addition of Prevo, Arkansas’ 2026 class keeps the Razorbacks firmly in the top 10 of 247sports composite recruiting rankings for next year’s cycle. The Hogs’ 2023 class soared as high as No. 3 early on during the 2023 class but after a few evaluation periods its class ended up a respectable No. 22 including a No. 11 ranked transfer portal haul.

• Razorbacks avoid third straight loss, beat Arkansas State

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• Calipari’s success best highlighted when compared to Arkansas

• Fans thought this coach was next in line for Arkansas job

• Special teams, turnovers kept Hogs’ game interesting

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How to Watch: Mizzou Basketball Hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff

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How to Watch: Mizzou Basketball Hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff


The Missouri Tigers have been rolling through their non-conference schedule. After a loss on the road to Memphis to open the season, Missouri has won the first four games of a 10-game stretch at home.

Sunday, Missouri will take on Arkansas Pine-Bluff in one of its final two matches before it faces another high major opponent: California in the second annual SEC-ACC challenge on Dec. 3.

Here’s how to watch and find Sunday afternoon’s matchup for the Missouri Tigers.

Who: Missouri Tigers (4-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff Golden Lions (1-5, 0-0 SWA)

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What: Missouri’s sixth game of the 2024-’25 season

Where: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.

When: Sunday, November 24, 4:00 p.m.

TV: ESPN+, SECN+

Radio: Tiger Radio Network

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Series: Missouri leads 3-0

Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2023: Missouri opened the season with a 101-79 win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Five different players scored over 15 points for Missouri, including Sean East II, Nick Honor, Noah Carter, Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates.

Last Time Out, Missouri: The Tigers handled business in a 91-56 win over Pacific. Guard Caleb Grill continued a hot streak, leading the team with 25 points, including 21 from three-point makes. Grill also notched a career-high with five steals.

Last Time Out, Arkansas Pine-Bluff:The Golden Lions fell on the road to Texas Tech, losing 98-64. Arkansas Pine-Bluff shot 52.1% from the field while Texas Tech shot 59.7%. The Golden Lions were led by guard Christian Moore with 20 points.



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Business people | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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Business people | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


Drew Waack has been appointed as mortgage adviser for United Federal Credit Union in Rogers. Waack is based at United’s Promenade branch, 2000 S. Promenade Blvd. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from John Brown University and an associate of arts and sciences degree from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

Makyla Jackson has been hired by Kutak Rock LLP as an associate in the firm’s commercial litigation practice and will be working in the firm’s Fayetteville office. Jackson earned her law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, and a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Kayla Sherrill has been hired by Kutak Rock LLP as an associate for the firm’s litigation practice and will be working in the firm’s Rogers office. Sherrill earned her law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, and a bachelor of science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Chelsey Deel has been hired as associate professor of pathology for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Deel earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and her medical degree at the University of Texas Heath Science Center at San Antonio.

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Alexis Gillett has been hired as associate professor of anatomy for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Gillett received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, her doctorate of physical therapy from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and her doctor of education in educational leadership from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

Stephen Nix has been hired as assistant professor of pathology for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Nix received his bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

Trager Hintze has been hired as assistant professor of pharmacology for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Hintze received his bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Southern Virginia University and his doctor of pharmacy from Idaho State University.

Briefs are for people in Northwest Arkansas who are new hires, were promoted, received an award from outside their organization or received a certification. Email: [email protected] Information must be received by noon Wednesday prior to the Sunday the item is to be published.

    Hintze
 
 
  photo  Nix
 
 
  photo  Waack
 
 
  photo  Gillett
 
 



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