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Hot chicken! John Calipari cooks spicy dish for Arkansas Razorbacks basketball | Toppmeyer

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Hot chicken! John Calipari cooks spicy dish for Arkansas Razorbacks basketball | Toppmeyer


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  • An antihero and a chicken man teamed up in Arkansas, where the Razorbacks are assembling an impressive haul of transfers from FAU to Tennessee.
  • By leaving Kentucky for Arkansas, John Calipari forced himself to adapt how he builds his rosters.
  • Arkansas booster John Tyson is believed to be fueling a mighty NIL push for John Calipari’s Razorbacks.

The last time a chicken man and an antihero teamed up, both fellas met grisly ends.

“Breaking Bad,” that story was called.

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For the sequel, a tastier development is unfolding for the Arkansas Razorbacks, where mega-booster John Tyson and John Calipari are cooking up some spicy kind of dish.

The former Kentucky coach is building the best roster chicken patties can buy.

Neither Calipari nor Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek hid the reality that Tyson, the chairman of the Tyson Food company’s board, wielded significant influence in getting his friend, Calipari, to leave Kentucky for Arkansas.

The unstated implication: Calipari would enjoy rich NIL backing to reload Arkansas’ roster.

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Arkansas basketball transfers came from Florida Atlantic to Tennessee

Just look at what Calipari already has on the grill.

He’s assembled a robust transfer class featuring Florida Atlantic’s Johnell Davis, Tennessee’s James Aidoo and Kentucky’s Zvonimir Ivisic.

Big Blue Nation must be wondering, where was this Calipari in Lexington? This marks a pivot from how Calipari built his Kentucky rosters, where he relied on blue-chip youngsters, even after the transfer era took hold. Although Calipari didn’t completely ignore transfers, he undervalued them.

TOPPMEYER: Hope in Mark Pope? A few more thoughts on Kentucky’s basketball hire to replace John Calipari

While transfers starred for other teams making deep NCAA Tournament runs, Calipari insisted on doing things the old way at Kentucky, signing one ballyhooed recruiting class after another of talented teenagers, rather than stock up on a few more experienced veterans from the portal.

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As Kentucky’s coach, Calipari stubbornly admitted he wouldn’t adapt how he built his roster.

“I’ve done this with young teams my whole career. It’s going to be hard for me to change that. … I don’t see myself just saying, ‘OK, we’re not going to recruit freshmen,’ ” Calipari said after his final game at Kentucky, a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to 14th-seeded Oakland.

While UK’s freshmen struggled in that loss, Oakland rallied around the sharp shooting of 24-year-old Jack Goelke, a Division II transfer.  

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By leaving Kentucky, John Calipari forced himself to adapt

Change is more difficult when surrounded by temptation.

If you want to lose weight, you don’t stock the cupboard with sweets. Likewise, Calipari enjoyed the ability to stockpile McDonald’s All-Americans at Kentucky, making it difficult for him to reserve more roster spots for proven transfers.

Now, he’s forced to adapt.

Calipari inherited an Arkansas roster with one player on it. Literally, one guy: walk-on, Lawson Blake.

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As Calipari quipped shortly after his hire: “I met with the team. There is no team.”

Calipari could not possibly field a competitive roster next season without relying on transfers.

Fueled by necessity and chicken bucks, he’s landed some good ones – none better than FAU’s Davis. You’ll recall Davis starred in the 2023 NCAA Tournament while the Owls hooted and hollered into the Final Four. Aidoo and Ivisic are no Zach Edey, but they’re helpful big men with March Madness experience.

By escaping out Kentucky’s hatch door while the posse closed in, Calipari bolted off the hot seat and ran toward freedom. He also gave himself permission to change his ways, because he has no other choice.

Arkansas afforded Calipari a fresh lease on coaching. This may be no “dream job,” as Calipari called blue-blooded Kentucky, but it’s a good job with ample resources. And Calipari is proving that, whatever coaching shortcomings he might have displayed throughout a few disappointing NCAA Tournament exits these past few years, he remains a master at luring talent.

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As Calipari correctly stated after his hire, the best teams don’t rely exclusively on transfers, but feature important players whom the program signed, retained and developed.

Look to UConn for the model. The Huskies’ top two scorers were transfers, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer. They melded one-and-done freshman Stephon Castle and a few talented veterans whom UConn developed in-house.

That’s the golden ticket.

Calipari never will completely turn his back on elite recruits. Three national top-30 prospects who had planned to play for Calipari at Kentucky will follow him to Arkansas. They’ll blend with this impressive transfer haul. Building roster chemistry will form Calipari’s next task.

Calipari is damaged goods, but this forced reboot could do him good. Now, this antihero enjoys the power of pollo behind him.

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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s SEC Columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.

A digital subscription will allow you access to all of his coverage. Also, check out his podcast, SEC Football Unfiltered, or access exclusive columns via the SEC Unfiltered newsletter.





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Congressional subcommittee to hold hearing in Little Rock on ‘failures’ of local housing authority | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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Congressional subcommittee to hold hearing in Little Rock on ‘failures’ of local housing authority | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


Joseph Flaherty

jflaherty@adgnewsroom.com

Joseph Flaherty covers the city of Little Rock for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of Middlebury College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, he has worked for the newspaper since 2020.

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11 people arrested in connection with various charges in Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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11 people arrested in connection with various charges in Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


Arrests

Benton County Sheriff’s Office

Scott Minor, 45, of Elm Street in Jefferson City, Mo., was arrested Friday on suspicion of computer child pornography and sexually grooming a child. Minor was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with a $150,000 bond set.

Bentonville

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Damond Drake, 52, of West Highland Drive in Rogers was arrested Saturday on suspicion of delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine. Drake was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.

Fayetteville

Cornelius Anderson, 33, of Dawn Street in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of third-degree assault on a family member, third-degree domestic battery, first-degree criminal mischief and theft of property. Anderson remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Eduard Korshakov, 37, of Prairie Dunes Trail in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of aggravated assault on a family or household member, kidnapping, first-degree false imprisonment, third-degree domestic battery and interference with emergency communications. Korshakov remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Efrain Quiroz, 29, of North Shamblin Avenue in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of second-degree battery and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Quiroz remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.

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Leo Ward, 21, of West Tanner Drive in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of aggravated residential burglary and stalking. Ward was released from the Washington County Detention Center Monday on $25,000 bond.

Rogers

John Jenkins, 21, of Arkansas 351 in Jonesboro was arrested Saturday on suspicion of fraudulent use of credit/debit card. Jenkins was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.

Springdale

Ashlyn Neal, 19, of Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping, second-degree battery, endangering the welfare of a minor, resisting arrest and obstruction of government operations. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

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Jose Neal, 37, of South Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree domestic battery, third-degree domestic battery, interference with emergency communications and resisting arrest. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

Skyler Shane, 31, of Highway 62 in Westville, Ok., was arrested Sunday on suspicion of Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, carrying a prohibited weapon and disorderly conduct. Shane was released from the Washington County Detention Center Sunday on $3,500 bond.

University of Arkansas Police Department

Celso Adame-Gallegos, 19 of Jade Street in Springdale was arrested Friday on suspicion of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with intent to deliver. Adame-Gallegos was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

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Erika Kirk to Join Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders for Announcement at Arkansas State Capitol

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Erika Kirk to Join Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders for Announcement at Arkansas State Capitol


Arkansas leaders are set to take the stage at the State Capitol Wednesday afternoon for an announcement already drawing statewide attention.

At 1 p.m., Sarah Huckabee Sanders will appear alongside Erika Kirk, the chairwoman and CEO of Turning Point USA, at the Arkansas State Capitol.

While officials with the governor’s office have not yet released details about the announcement, the joint appearance is expected to draw significant attention from political leaders and supporters across the state.

The moment also brings renewed focus to the legacy of Erika Kirk’s late husband, Charlie Kirk, a nationally recognized conservative activist who built one of the country’s largest student political organizations aimed at mobilizing young voters on college campuses.

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In 2025, Kirk was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University. Authorities say the gunfire erupted during a gathering connected to student political programming, sending attendees scrambling for safety.

Kirk was rushed from the scene but later died from his injuries, sparking shock and an outpouring of reaction from political leaders, students, and supporters across the country.

In the weeks that followed, memorials and tributes appeared nationwide. In Arkansas, supporters and lawmakers honored Kirk’s life and work with a memorial exhibit displayed inside the Arkansas State Capitol, recognizing the influence he had on conservative youth activism and campus politics.

Following his death, Erika Kirk stepped into a leadership role at Turning Point USA, pledging to continue the organization’s mission and expand its outreach to students across the nation.

On Wednesday, Kirk will again be at the Arkansas State Capitol, this time standing beside Governor Sanders for a joint announcement, as leaders gather and the state waits to learn what the two will unveil.

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