Arkansas

Federal judge bars Arkansas public schools from displaying the Ten Commandments

Published

3 months ago

August 6, 2025

Press Room

Federal judge bars Arkansas public schools from displaying the Ten Commandments

The federal judge called the law ‘obviously unconstitutional’ and said passing it was likely part of a coordinated strategy to inject Christian religious doctrine into public schools.

A federal judge on Aug. 4 blocked Arkansas public school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms and libraries.
Other states have passed similar laws, including in Louisiana and Texas, and legal challenges are underway against those measures.

A federal judge on Aug. 4 barred several Arkansas school districts from implementing what he described as a “plainly unconstitutional” state law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms and libraries.

The preliminary injunction, a temporary measure that maintains the status quo until a court hears the merits of the case, was issued a day before Arkansas Act 573 was set to go into effect.

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Brooks wrote that the Protestant displays would unconstitutionally violate the right to free exercise of religion as well as the Establishment Clause, a provision of the First Amendment that prohibits the government from favoring religion over non-religion.

He noted that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a “nearly identical” law in Kentucky in 1980.

“Why would Arkansas pass an obviously unconstitutional law?” he wrote. “Most likely because the State is part of a coordinated strategy among several states to inject Christian religious doctrine into public-school classrooms.”

He went on to say that such states, including Louisiana and Texas, may be taking such measures in light of the Supreme Court’s recent rulings in favor of religious expression and accommodation in public spaces.

Several civil liberties groups – Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas, the ACLU and the Freedom From Religion Foundation – and the New York-based law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP are representing the plaintiffs, a group of multifaith families with children in Arkansas public schools.

The Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville and Siloam Springs school districts are defendants in the case. The state of Arkansas, on behalf of Attorney General Tim Griffin, is listed as an intervenor in the case – a third party who’s not part of the original lawsuit but requests to get involved.

Following Brooks’ order, Griffin told Axios he was “reviewing the court’s order and assessing our legal options.”

Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders also disagreed with the order.

“In Arkansas, we do in fact believe that murder is wrong and stealing is bad,” Sanders told Axios. “It is entirely appropriate to display the Ten Commandments – the basis of all Western law and morality – as a reminder to students, state employees and every Arkansan who enters a government building.”

BrieAnna Frank is a First Amendment Reporting Fellow at USA TODAY. Reach her at bjfrank@usatoday.com.

USA TODAY’s coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.

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Arkansas

Acuff leads No. 21 Arkansas against Winthrop after 20-point game

Published

12 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

Acuff leads No. 21 Arkansas against Winthrop after 20-point game

Winthrop Eagles (2-2) at Arkansas Razorbacks (3-1)

Fayetteville, Arkansas; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Razorbacks -20.5; over/under is 167.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 21 Arkansas hosts Winthrop after Darius Acuff Jr. scored 20 points in Arkansas’ 79-75 victory over the Samford Bulldogs.

Arkansas went 22-14 overall last season while going 13-4 at home. The Razorbacks averaged 76.8 points per game last season, 35.7 in the paint, 14.1 off of turnovers and 12.2 on fast breaks.

Winthrop went 23-11 overall a season ago while going 5-8 on the road. The Eagles averaged 84.7 points per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 34.2% from 3-point distance last season.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Arkansas

Vrba Heads to Orlando for ITA Singles Championships

Published

1 day ago

November 17, 2025

Press Room

Vrba Heads to Orlando for ITA Singles Championships

Lucas Clifton
November 17, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas men’s tennis team will have a representative at the ITA Singles Championships for the first time since 2022, as Jakub Vrba takes part in the tournament after qualifying through the ITA Central Sectional Championships. The last Razorback to reach this feat was Alex Reco.

Vrba has posted a 9-3 record in ITA singles events, including five wins against ranked opponents. He collected his highest ranked victory of the fall after a win against No. 30 Alexander Bernard (Ohio State). Vrba started the preseason ITA rankings at No. 123 and navigated his way through multiple qualifying tournaments to earn his bid to the NCAA Singles Championships.

No. 123 Vrba will take on No. 49 Peter Benjamin Privara (Harvard) on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 8 a.m. CT in the Round of 64.

The tournament will take place at the UTSA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., with a total of 64 singles player qualifying for the competition. Singles matches begin on Tuesday, Nov. 18, with one round of play taking place each day of the tournament with the championship match being scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 23.

The NCAA Singles Championships bracket is here and will be updated after results are final each day. Live streaming will be available on ESPN+.

For the latest information on all things Arkansas Men’s Tennis, follow the Hogs on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Men’s Tennis) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackMTennis).

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Arkansas

Kentucky volleyball clinches another SEC title with Arkansas sweep

Published

2 days ago

November 16, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky volleyball clinches another SEC title with Arkansas sweep

The Kentucky Wildcats volleyball team swept the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday, and completed a sweep of the SEC in the process. The Cats won their 19th straight match 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-12) and finished the regular season with a 22-2 record and 15-0 in the conference. The win gives Kentucky their 9th consecutive SEC championship, edging out the Texas A&M Aggies.

Kentucky jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first set, then extended the lead with a four-point run that put them up 19-12. Brooklyn DeLeye had six kills and the Cats closed it out 25-16.

The second set was a closer one. Arkansas actually took a 9-8 lead early one, but the Wildcats scored four straight points. They’d lead 19-12 at one point, but the Razorbacks fought back valiantly, cutting into the lead, but ultimately fell 25-20.

Set three wasn’t competitive. Kentucky got out to an 18-12 lead, then scored the final seven points of the set to take the set 25-12, and the match 3-0.

Eva Hudson had 15 kills in the match to lead the way for the Wildcats, and DeLeye added 13 of her own along with 3 service aces. Kassie O’Brien had 35 assists.

Next up is the SEC Tournament. Kentucky will play on Sunday, Nov. 23 against an opponent yet to be determined. Congratulations on the SEC championship.

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