Arkansas
Judge dismisses FOIA lawsuit against Arkansas governor by blogger who revealed lectern purchase • Arkansas Advocate
A Pulaski County Circuit judge dismissed blogger Matt Campbell’s lawsuit against Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday.
Campbell sued Sanders in October, claiming her office violated the state Freedom of Information Act. Campbell spent weeks last fall using the FOIA and his Blue Hog Report blog to scrutinize the governor’s office’s use of public funds, including $19,000 spent on a lectern.
Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office filed a motion Monday to dismiss Campbell’s case because the plaintiff did not deliver the lawsuit’s summons and complaint to Sanders’ office within 120 days of filing the complaint, according to court documents.
Before Monday, there had been no action in the case since February, when Campbell filed a motion asking for more time to deliver the documents. Judge LaTonya Honorable never granted the request.
Campbell said Tuesday that he will refile the lawsuit with additional allegations of FOIA violations. He said he has been planning to do so for weeks and let the deadline to serve process pass on purpose.
Griffin said in a news release that the dismissal was “the proper outcome for this baseless case” and that “cases like this waste taxpayer dollars and clog up our judicial system.”
Campbell, who was a practicing attorney before the Arkansas Times hired him as a reporter last year, said he found it laughable that Griffin “would file a procedural motion and try to tout it as a win.”
Arkansas lawmakers question governor’s lectern purchase, potential law violations found in audit
In September, Campbell revealed on X that Sanders’ office had used a state-issued credit card to buy the lectern and a travel case for $19,029 from a Virginia-based event design and management firm with political ties to Sanders.
“Lecterngate” subsequently led to national and international attention for the Sanders administration. Arkansas Legislative Audit investigated the purchase from October to March and published a report in April detailing several instances of potential lawbreaking by Sanders’ staff throughout the purchase, delivery and record-keeping process.
Cortney Kennedy, Sanders’ chief legal counsel who defended the lectern purchase before lawmakers last month, denied two of Campbell’s FOIA requests to the governor’s office on Oct. 23, according to court documents.
Campbell requested:
- First Gentleman Bryan Sanders’ Outlook calendar.
- All messages to and from Bryan Sanders’ two state email addresses.
- “Aall bills of lading or other documents showing shipping and/or delivery of the lectern ordered from Beckett Events,” the firm that sold the lectern.
- “All communications sent from (or on behalf of) the Governor’s Office to any person making a FOIA request” since Jan. 1, 2023.
Kennedy claimed Campbell’s requests went against the FOIA’s exemption for “[u]npublished memoranda, working papers, and correspondence of the Governor.”
Campbell filed the lawsuit the next day, claiming that Kennedy’s denial of the requests was illegal because Bryan Sanders is not a state employee and therefore the exemption she cited did not apply.
In September, Sanders called a special legislative session and supported several exemptions to the FOIA that met bipartisan opposition in the Legislature and from the public. The only FOIA change that made it through the Legislature was an exemption for records related to the governor’s security. Sanders signed Act 7 of 2023 the day before Campbell made the lectern purchase public knowledge.
Bill to shield Arkansas officials’ security records moves forward
Sanders called the special session three days after Campbell filed a previous lawsuit over unanswered FOIA requests for Arkansas State Police communications related to security for the governor and first gentleman, as well as documents reflecting ASP security costs for the Sanderses.
Rep. David Ray, R-Maumelle, Act 7’s House sponsor, mentioned the lawsuit while encouraging his fellow House members to vote for the bill. The lawsuit was dismissed after Campbell contracted COVID-19 and was unable to appear in court.
In October, Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, requested the audit into the lectern purchase and an additional probe into “significant expenditures involving the governor’s office” shielded by Act 7. Lead auditor Roger Norman said in April that the second audit was still in the early stages.
Arkansas
What TV channel is Arkansas vs Louisiana Tech football on today? Live stream, spread, game odds
In the Afternoon slate, the Arkansas Razorbacks host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in Week 13 nonconference action. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 23 with a live TV broadcast only on ESPN Plus.
• WATCH: Razorback vs. Bulldogs football is streaming live only on ESPN+
This game is a must-win for both teams if either wants to gain bowl eligibility. Arkansas is 5-5, with No. 23 Missouri remaining on its schedule. Louisana Tech is 4-6, with 1-9 Kennesaw State left to play.
What TV channel is Arkansas vs. LA Tech football on today?
When: Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) on Saturday, November 23
Where: Razorback Stadium | Fayetteville, AR
TV channel: SEC Network Plus on ESPN+ (Not available on traditional broadcast TV, only streaming on ESPN’s live sports streaming platform. Here’s a look at how you can watch ESPN+ live on your TV.)
Watch live stream online: You can watch a live stream of this game for less than $11 on ESPN+ (It’s just $10.99/month or $109.99/full year subscription, and you can cancel anytime.)
What TV channel is SEC Network Plus on?
SEC Network Plus or SECN+ is not a TV channel. It is basically it’s on division within ESPN Plus for SEC games that are not airing on TV, but are SEC games airing exclusively on the ESPN+ streaming platform.
What does SEC Network Plus cost? What does an SECN+ subscription include? SEC Network Plus is a part of ESPN Plus, so as long as you are signed up for ESPN Plus, you will see every SECN+ game available to stream on the watch ESPN app when you sign in or sign up for the ESPN+ service. ESPN+ costs just $10.99/month and you can cancel anytime.
Arkansas vs. Louisiana Tech spread, latest betting odds
Moneyline: ARK -2500 | LT +1100
Spread: ARK -23.5 | LT +23.5
Over/Under: 48.5
- Get promo codes, signup deals and free bets from our Oregon Betting News home page.
Arkansas
Steals, slams winning combo for Hoop Hogs against Little Rock
Behind a fully-torqued defensive effort, the No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1) claimed victory 79-67 over the Little Rock Trojans inside Bud Walton Arena on Friday night in Fayetteville.
Arkansas’ intensity was evident at the get-go, as head coach John Calipari’s club ripped off five steals on Little Rock’s first five possessions, good enough to hand the Hoop Hogs a quick 11-0 advantage.
That pressure never relented in the first half, as the Razorbacks had eight steals and nine forced turnovers at the under-8 mark, and 10 steals and 11 forced turnovers by halftime.
“That first five or six minutes of the game we were a deer in headlights,” Little Rock head coach Darrell Walker, a former Razorback, said postgame. “We were terrified for no reason. We turned the ball over. Now, they got 19 turnovers. We turned the ball over 19 times and they got 28 points off of that. I told my team before the game, ‘We cannot have a lot of turnovers. If you do, this team is really good in the open court. You put them in half court you’re going to have a chance to get in the game.’”
Leading the way for most hands in the cookie jar was forward Adou Thiero (six steals), though five Razorbacks recorded at least one steal and four Hogs totaled 2+ steals.
“The biggest plays were effort plays,” Calipari said of Thiero. “Those were the biggest plays he made. He had six steals — all effort steals. Just he out-worked the other guy to get the ball.”
As a result of the defensive ferocity, Arkansas pushed the pace in transition to the tune of 22 fastbreak points, 28 points off turnovers and five slams through both halves.
“From watching all the film of all the games they’ve played, I knew this was going to be an off-the-dribble game,” Walker said. “And when they shoot the ball well they can become dangerous. But they really an off-the-dribble team and a transition team right now. I’m sure Cal is still trying to figure things out. This is early in the season, just like I’m trying to figure things out with my basketball team. He’s got some key guys hurt.”
One can’t mention Arkansas’ up-and-down court explosion without further crediting Thiero, who racked up a team-high 23 points, a team-high eight rebounds, two blocks and pulled off an immaculate left-handed windmill transition dunk.
“There was a will to win,” Calipari said. “I don’t care who it’s against. When a game gets like that, that stuff was on us, and Adou making that play on the offensive rebound, again, he’s standing out how he’s playing. He’s getting it done.”
Up next, Arkansas will close its home-stand with a matchup against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday. That game is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. CT and will stream on SEC Network+.
Arkansas
Arkansas basketball vs Little Rock score today: Live updates, game highlights, how to watch
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas basketball will welcome one of the best players in program history back to Bud Walton Arena tonight.
The No. 24 Razorbacks (3-1) will host Little Rock (3-2) Friday. The Trojans are coached by Darrell Walker, who was a consensus All-American for the Razorbacks in 1983 and is a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame and the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor.
The Hogs are in the midst of a four-game homestand and are coming off a 91-72 victory over Pacific Monday. They’ve been stingy through the early portion of the season and rank 10th in the nation in KenPom’s defensive efficiency metric.
This will be just the second meeting between the two Natural State programs. Arkansas won 93-78 in 2021, and the Trojans are coming off a road victory over Tulsa in their most recent contest.
Below are live score updates, highlights and other notes from Arkansas basketball’s fifth game of the season.
Arkansas basketball vs. Little Rock score updates
This section will be updated when the game begins.
What time does Arkansas vs. Little Rock play today?
- Date: Friday, Nov. 22
- Time: 8 p.m. CT
- Location: Fayetteville
What channel is Arkansas vs. Little Rock game on today?
- TV channel: SEC Network
- Streaming: FUBO (Free Trial), ESPN+
Arkansas vs. Little Rock live stream options
Arkansas vs. Little Rock will be broadcast on SEC Network. The matchup can also be streamed with a subscription to FUBO, which has the option for a free trial, and ESPN+, which includes ESPNU and all other ESPN channels.
Arkansas vs. Little Rock prediction
Arkansas 79, Little Rock 63: This game could follow a familiar theme to earlier home games, with a mid-major squad staying close thanks to 3-pointers, but Arkansas’ talent eventually wearing out the opposition. A blowout is more likely if one of Trevon Brazile or Jonas Aidoo returns to the floor for the Hogs.
Arkansas vs. Little Rock betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Friday morning:
- Spread: Arkansas -20.5
- Over/under: 143.5
- Moneyline: Little Rock +1250
Arkansas basketball schedule
Record: 3-1
(Next five games)
- Little Rock, Nov. 22
- Maryland Eastern Shore, Nov. 25
- Illinois (Kansas City), Nov. 28
- at Miami, Dec. 3
- UTSA, Dec. 7
Little Rock schedule
Record: 3-2
(Next five games)
- at Arkansas, Nov. 22
- at Illinois, Nov. 25
- Maryland Eastern Shore, Nov. 27
- Central Arkansas, Dec. 4
- Ouachita Baptist University, Dec. 10
Arkansas basketball news
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