Arkansas
Prison board will vote Friday on Arkansas prison land purchase as residents stay angry • Arkansas Advocate
Despite public outcry about a lack of transparency, the Arkansas Board of Corrections will vote Friday morning on the state’s $2.95 million purchase of 815 acres in Franklin County for a prison.
Board Chairman Benny Magness confirmed the board’s meeting agenda during a town hall Thursday night in Charleston, where residents defiantly opposed locating a prison in their community.
“As chairman I’m calling the vote tomorrow, and I’m not going to be a part anymore of being put in a position to defend ourselves that we’re stalling the building of a 3,000-bed prison,” Magness told reporters following the meeting.
State officials for years have pursued construction of a new prison to alleviate overcrowding in existing facilities and county jails. The state spends roughly $30 million a year to house about 3,000 inmates in county facilities, according to the governor’s office. More prison beds also likely will be needed in the future due to the Protect Arkansas Act. Backed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the 2023 law overhauls the state’s parole system and eliminates the possibility of parole for the most serious offenders.
“The process we started in ‘22 was not getting the results we needed, so they, and I say they, the governor’s office, chose to do this process,” Magness told reporters.
Hundreds of local residents seeking answers about the state’s decision to purchase land for the prison in the Vesta community north of Charleston packed the local middle school’s gymnasium Thursday evening.
Community members as well as state and local officials said they were not involved in the decision-making process and were blindsided by the governor’s formal announcement about the purchase last Thursday.
The governor’s office touted the prison as an investment in public safety and economic development. The prison is expected to create several hundred construction jobs and employ 800 once it’s operational, according to a press release.
A few hours prior to the town hall, Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace emailed the media letters from the mayors of Calico Rock and Malvern citing the positive aspects of having prisons in their communities.
Security and safety, especially for their children and grandchildren, are major concerns for Jo Stubblefield and her son and daughter-in-law, Brandan and Rosa Cummings, who live on property that shares a fence line with the proposed prison site. Jo Stubblefield, whose husband is a cousin of Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, told the Advocate they “were all very upset, very upset” about the proposed prison site.
The trio questioned how the state could pay for and staff a new prison when other local businesses are struggling to find employees.
“They can’t even pave the roads around here, yet you can buy a bunch of land without nobody knowing? I mean that just blows my mind,” Brandan Cummings said.
Rosa Cummings said a new prison isn’t needed and that releasing nonviolent criminals, like people who’ve been arrested for drugs, would free up bed space. While she hoped that state officials would listen to the community’s concerns Thursday, she said it wasn’t likely.
“I mean it’s the government. We don’t feel too confident obviously, that’s why we heard about it just the other day,” she said.
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State legislators and members of the Department of Corrections and Board of Corrections attended the town hall Thursday. Local residents submitted questions ahead of time that were read by a moderator, including questions about costs and why the community wasn’t notified sooner.
Former Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri said the land purchase was not made public sooner because of concerns over a bidding war. Profiri was hired as a senior adviser to the governor after the prison board fired him in January.
“Ultimately what we were looking at was to make sure that the price of the land didn’t escalate and that we were good stewards of the taxpayer dollars to make sure that we didn’t pay more than the land was worth,” he said.
Profiri said the cost of the prison will depend on what design is ultimately selected, but he noted $330 million has been set aside by the Legislature and there’s another $75 million in reserves. Officials said they looked at a number of sites over several months. Profiri said they chose to purchase the Franklin County property about three months ago.
Magness said he learned about the decision two weeks ago, while state lawmakers like Rep. John Eubanks, R- Subiaco, and Stubblefield said they received word just a few days prior to last week’s formal announcement.
Stubblefield criticized the lack of transparency and said he was going to explore pursuing legal action because he believed officials broke state law by not notifying the public sooner. Wallace said lawyers she spoke with who reviewed the statute in question believed it didn’t apply to the Department of Corrections.
While community members were not allowed to ask questions Thursday night or bring signs, attendees made their opinions known by cheering or booing, and shouting phrases like “we don’t want it,” ‘we don’t consent,” “disrespect” and “liar.”
The town hall concluded after about an hour and a half, and Jo Stubblefield left unsatisfied with state officials’ responses.
“I feel like the governor’s office didn’t answer any questions they were asked,” she said.
The Board of Corrections’ special meeting on Zoom is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Friday. The agenda includes hiring a public information officer and voting on the Franklin County land.
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FAYETTEVILLE – Malique Ewin scored 21 points, making 8-of-9 from the field – including his first career 3-pointer – and 4-of-4 from the line, while Karter Knox posted his second double-double of the season, with 17 points and 10 rebounds, to lead the 21st-ranked Razorbacks to a 115-61 victory over Jackson State Friday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas also got outstanding performances from D.J. Wagner (16 points on 6-of-6 shooting with seven assists) and Billy Richmond III (14 points with three highlight-reel dunks in the first half. Meleek Thomas added 13 points while Darius Acuff Jr. and Isaia Sealy each scored 10 points.
Arkansas put the game out of reach with a 24-0 run that spanned the end of the first half into the start of the second. The Hogs also had a 22-6 run midway through the second half to lead 89-33 with 9:50 left.
The Razorbacks shot 63.9% from the field for the game – 74.2% in the second half – thanks to a season-high 16 dunks. (Arkansas entered the game with 24 dunks in the first five games combined.)
Ewin had five of the 16 dunks and the senior made his first career 3-pointer. (He is now 1-of-2 from deep for his career.) Richmond and Knox each added three dunks.
Tamarion Hoover led Jackson State with 19 points, making 4-of-9 from 3-point range.
Up next, Arkansas will travel to Chicago to face #5 Duke for the CBS Thanksgiving Classic on Thursday (Nov. 27). Tipoff at the United Center is set for 7 pm (CT), and the game will be televised on CBS.
FIRST HALF: ARK: 47 – JSU: 19
- Arkansas went on a 14-2 run to race out to a 22-9 lead. Jackson State was 1-of-9 from the field over the stretch.
- After Jackson State made a 3-pointer to cut their deficit to 12 (31-19), Arkansas closed the half on a 16-0 run to lead 47-19. The run started before the Tigers’ triple and was a 20-3 run over the final 6:43.
- Arkansas shot 53% from the field while holding Jackson State to 21% shooting.
- Jackson State had nine turnovers thanks to seven Arkansas steals.
- Billy Richmond III led Arkansas with 10 points, including three dunks.
- The last time Arkansas held an opponent to fewer than 20 points in the first half was UMES last season (11/26/24) with 15.
SECOND HALF: ARK: 68 – JSU: 42
- Arkansas opened the second half on an 18-4 run, including an 8-0 spurt at the start of the frame.
- From the 15-minute mark to the 9:29 mark, Arkansas out-scored the Tigers 22-6.
- Arkansas had zero turnovers in the second half with 14 assists. Arkansas forced 11 second-half turnovers.
- Ewin scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half. He was 7-of-8 from the field.
- Arkansas scored 68 points in the second half. The last time it scored at least 60 in a half was getting 60 in the first half versus Maryland-Eastern Shore last season (11/26/24).
NOTES:
- Arkansas’ starting lineup was Darius Acuff Jr., D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle. It was the first time for this starting lineup and the fourth starting lineup overall.
- JSU’s Dorian McMillian scored the game’s first points, a layup at 18:23. Nick Pringle scored Arkansas’s first points with two free throws at 18:05.
- Arkansas’s first subs were Meleek Thomas and Billy Richmond III.
- Arkansas is 13-0 all-time versus Jackson State.
- Arkansas improves to 142-6 all-time when scoring at least 100 points. Coach Calipari is 48-0 all-time when scoring at least 100 points.
- Coach Cal is now 18 wins shy of 900 as head coach of a Division I program.
- Arkansas entered the game 8th in the NCAA in fastbreak points (23.6 ppg). The Hogs had 34 fastbreak points, compared to four by the Tigers. The 34 fastbreak points is the most in a game since the stat has been tracked (2011-12) with the previous high being 32 vs Southern this year and UCA in 2021. (HogStats.com)
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.
It’s been a wild week for Texas Football. First, they were dominated by the Georgia Bulldogs. Then speculation over Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian job status became so overwhelming, Sark had to make not one, but two public statements.
Texas has a very, very slim chance at the college football playoff, but a lot has to go right for that to happen. Whatever happens around them, all the Horns can control is their own performance. Texas has to win, especially against a 2-8 Razorbacks team that has seen their coach fired this season.
If the Longhorns don’t win at home against the Hogs, Texas is staring down a 7-5 record that will turn this season from disappointing to complete disaster.
There are some interesting matchups in this game and the Hogs have some good players dotted around their lineup, including quarterback Taylen Green. But ultimately, the Longhorns have to focus on themselves.
Texas’ offense has been inconsistent all season and the running game has been the worst in decades. Many of the causes stem from an offensive line that has struggled in almost every game. The Horns defense has been good at times, but they have also been picked apart like they were last week in Georgia.
Sarkisian and his team need to look inward if they want to salvage what so far has been a very disappointing 2025.
Tommy Bresee Prediction:
Following the Georgia blowout, the confidence around the Longhorns is at a season-low. Arkansas comes into Austin this weekend, with a 3-7 record but one of the most dangerous QBs and offenses in the country. Taylen Green is capable of taking over this game if the Texas defense isn’t prepared to keep him in check. However, returning to home turf should bring the Longhorns defense back to level.
On the other side, there is little reason the Texas offense shouldn’t have a great day. Arch Manning has been incredible the last month and this is a defense that has allowed most every QB they’ve played to have a career day. I expect the same from Arch Manning here and the Texas offense is able to score in bunches. That, combined with my belief the defense will have a bounce back performance makes me think the Longhorns are able to get a rather comfortable win here.
Final score: Texas 38, Arkansas 24
Jamie Gatlin Prediction:
After a disappointing loss at Georgia last weekend, Texas is back in action on Saturday afternoon against Arkansas. This game represents the perfect bounce-back opportunity.
Through ten games, Arkansas is 2-8. The Longhorns will need a much better performance from Arch Manning and the offense. If Manning can return to form, then this is a game Texas should win easily.
Final score: Texas 28, Arkansas 14
Trey Luerssen Prediction:
Does this Texas team heart? Texas has certainly shown heart at times this season. Comebacks at Kentucky and Mississippi State have certainly shown the Longhorns are quitters. But against Georgia, there seemed to be a few white flags raised after the Bulldogs surprise onside kick in the fourth quarter.
But that’s within a game. What about when the season-long goal is dashed? When the preseason No. 1 team in the nation is all but eliminated from the CFP with two games to go? Does Texas have the heart to go beat a team they should destroy, while all the noise of coaching rumors and fan angst swirls around them?
I saw this team does have heart. I think they might play their best game of the year on Saturday. Free of the pressure of expectation, Texas can just go out and play.
Final score: Texas 42, Arkansas 24
Louisiana heads to Jonesboro looking to extend its late-season push, while Arkansas State tries to lock up bowl eligibility after dropping a tight one to Southern Miss.
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The Ragin’ Cajuns arrive with a run-heavy identity and back-to-back wins, but they’re slight underdogs against a Red Wolves team that has taken four of its last five.
With both defenses leaking yardage and rain in the forecast, this matchup tilts toward whichever offense handles the conditions and protects the ball better.
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What our Post expert thinks about Louisiana vs. Arkansas State
Arkansas State’s Jaylen Raynor has topped 2,450 passing yards with a 68.2% completion rate, giving the Red Wolves one of the Sun Belt’s steadier aerial attacks.
Louisiana’s defense has struggled to contain the run, allowing 192.6 yards per game and 22 rushing touchdowns, a troubling matchup against an opponent that leans on balance.
And with Louisiana averaging 186 rushing yards per outing and controlling possession for 38 minutes in its last win, the Cajuns’ ability to dictate tempo could become the decisive swing factor.
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Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.
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