Arkansas
Retired Army colonel faces Republican incumbent in Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District race
The race to represent Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District is the contest between the current congressman and the former Army officer, the incumbent and the hopeful.
Democrat Col. Marcus Jones and incumbent Republican Congressman French Hill are vying for a seat representing Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. The two will face off in a debate held by Arkansas PBS Monday.
On one hand, Rep. French Hill has been serving Arkansas from Washington, D.C. since 2015.
“We were all taught in fifth grade when we did Arkansas history,” he said. “That you could build a wall around Arkansas and live independently of the rest of the universe.”
Hill is the Republican in the race, once serving as an advisor to former governor Mike Huckabee. Before serving in Congress, Hill was a banker. Now, he uses this knowledge to chair the House Financial Services Committee.
On the other side of this contest: Ret. Col. Marcus Jones. He’s running as a Democrat.
Jones said he felt called to challenge Hill after serving in the military for almost 30 years. His retirement became official a year ago.
“There was a lot of discussion in our house,” Jones said. “A lot of soul searching on the part of me and my entire family.”
While in the Army, he traveled the world, lived in eight different states and deployed to Iraq twice as a field artillery officer. In describing that job, Jones said “imagine rockets.”
Both Hill and Jones have similar stances when it comes to hot-button foreign policy issues. They both support aid for Ukraine after the country was invaded by Russia.
“Vladimir Putin has shown in Georgia, in Crimea, that unless he is stopped he will continue an expansion,” Jones said.
“Defeating Putin [in Ukraine] is to defeat Putin elsewhere,” said Hill.
Both also support aid for Israel to help the country fight the terrorist group Hamas, but Jones especially supports humanitarian aid for Gaza along with military aid to Israel.
But Jones disagrees with Hill on more specific policy issues. In his ad, Jones says the incumbent “isn’t a bad guy, he is just the wrong guy.”
“Polling data indicates that the majority of Arkansas are in support of women’s reproductive rights,” Jones said. “My opponent clearly is not. Is it in the interest to put prohibitions in place on whether or not members of Congress can trade stocks, my opponent voted against that.”
Jones supports progressive policies like expanding access to healthcare and addiction services. He wants to pass legislation to lessen food insecurity in children and would vote to expand the child tax credit.
Jones described the role of government this way:
“The first thing the government ought to do is not hurt people and the second thing is it ought to work to make things better for us.”
Congressman Hill says the role of government is to protect individual rights.
“We the people rule, and our government is set up as a strict separation of powers.”
Both candidates had childhoods in Arkansas. Hill grew up in Little Rock. He said he first became civically minded when he was a Boy Scout in his youth. Jones said he has been repeatedly taken with the “optimism and spirit” of the state’s culture.
Unlike Jones, Hill has a deep well of conservative credentials that have helped him to get repeatedly elected in Arkansas, even against well known local democrats like Clarke Tucker and Joyce Elliott.
One analysis showed that Hill has voted with former President Donald Trump 95% of the time. He supports legislation to require proof of citizenship to vote, wants to strengthen border security, and be tough on China.
He called the guilty verdict against Trump a “political gotcha game.”
Right now, Hill says one of his biggest priorities is easing inflation for working families.
“The Federal Reserve kept interest rates too low,” Hill said. “The Biden Administration spent too much money.”
He thinks this can be accomplished by making more energy at home and minimizing banking regulations. He also believes strongly in minimal government spending.
“And that takes bipartisanship,” he says.
In 2021, he broke with some of his colleagues in voting to support an investigation in the January 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol. But after it was over, Hill found fault with the committee handling of the investigation.
“The January 6th commission that former Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi created was a very political, one-sided investigation.”
Then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told his fellow Republicans to stay away from the commission.
But, Jones said he would have made the same call to vote in favor of the commission.
“As someone who, since they were 17 years old, swore an allegiance to the Constitution,” Jones said. “I am an absolute believer that the January 6th commission needed to investigate.”
The 2nd Congressional District covers eight counties including most of Pulaski, Saline and Faulkner counties.
Arkansas
Arkansas State Police release details in crash that killed one Greenwood student and injured another | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
HUNTINGTON — Details of the crash that left a Greenwood High School student dead have been released by the Arkansas State Police.
Chloe Walters, 19, of Huntington was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu northbound on U.S. 71 in Huntington around 3:10 p.m. Thursday when the crash occurred, according to a fatal crash report from the State Police. The Malibu lost control and traveled into the southbound lane and was struck by a southbound 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Daran Stovall, 58, of El Paso, the report states.
A female minor passenger in Walters’ vehicle died, according to the report.
A social media post from the Greenwood School District states Walters’ sister, Cadence Walters, was killed in the crash.
Chloe Walters and Stovall were both injured in the crash and taken to Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, according to the State Police.
The trooper investigating the crash reported the weather was rainy and the road wet at the time of the accident.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Cadence and the ongoing medical situation with Chloe. Both students are active and well loved throughout the school community,” the School District’s post states. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Walters family during this incredibly difficult time. As a school community, we stand together to support them in every way possible.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the Walters family where those wishing to help may make donations. By Saturday afternoon, the page had raised $12,242 of a $20,000 goal with 198 donations received.
Greenwood High School counselors are available for students, staff and community members who need support, the district’s post states.
Anyone needing assistance may email info@greenwoodk12.com or reach out to a school counselor, teacher or administrator through the School Status app, the post states.
Arkansas (7-6, 3-5 SEC) won its final game of the 2024 season with a 39-26 victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl on Saturday behind a strong performance by quarterback Taylen Green.
The redshirt junior, who just wrapped up his first season with the Razorbacks, finished the game with 422 yards of total offense — 341 through the air and 81 on the ground. He ended the game tied with running back Rodney Hill as the Hogs’ leading rusher in the game and Green was named Liberty Bowl MVP for his efforts.
“I think it was a fast start,” Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said after the game. “(The defense) made a fourth down stop and then really the offense took over. Taylen took over. We have Taylen Green, a lot of teams don’t and it gives us opportunity to win.”
The Razorbacks started the game firing on all cylinders and scored on each of their first three possessions. Green was a key cog in that machine, as he scored the first touchdown of the game on a 12-yard rush. He followed that drive up by showcasing his arm with passes of 17 yards and 56 yards to wide receiver Issac TeSlaa, which set up a touchdown run by running back Braylen Russell on the goal line.
Touchdown No. 3 of the first quarter came on a slant route to redshirt freshman receiver Dazmin James, who caught Green’s pass and took it 94 yards to the end zone — the longest pass play in Arkansas program history.
Texas Tech didn’t go down without a fight, though. The Red Raiders cut the lead to 24-19 by halftime, and Arkansas needed another spark. Cue Green again, who found running back Tyrell Reed Jr. alone and unguarded for a 43-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter.
“(Reed), he’s always ready,” Green said after the game. “He’s always in the back learning whether it’s from (Ja’Quinden Jackson) or from (Rashod Dubinion). From (Rodney Hill). He’s always taking things in, asking questions. When he had his opportunity to shine, he made the most of it.”
A native of Lewisville, Texas, Green only had one blemish on his stat line, as he was sacked in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter, but Pittman said afterward that a blocking miscue in the backfield led to the miscue.
Green’s 341 passing yards broke the previous Arkansas record in a bowl game, which was set by Bill Montgomery, who threw for 338 against Ole Miss in the 1970 Sugar Bowl.
The former Boise State transfer also became the first Arkansas passer to eclipse 300 yards in a bowl game since Brandon Allen threw for 315 yards in the 2016 Liberty Bowl against Kansas State.
“I’m gonna take (the MVP trophy) to my parents’ crib,” Green said. “Shout out to my mom, shout out to my dad, shout out to my sisters, and we gonna celebrate.”
Arkansas football’s 2024 season has now come to a close. Up next, the Razorbacks will look to close out transfer portal season strong. Be sure to follow along at The Trough premium message board for updates on the offseason recruiting action.
Arkansas
Taylen Green provides offseason hope in Arkansas football’s Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hope springs eternal every offseason, but Arkansas football got the optimism train for 2025 off the tracks Friday night in its 2024 season finale.
The Razorbacks (7-6) led from start-to-finish in a 39-26 victory over Texas Tech at the Liberty Bowl. The Hogs racked up 559 yards on offense, held the Red Raiders (8-5) to just seven points in the second half and played a near-perfect game on special teams. In all three phases, Arkansas executed, giving the Razorbacks their third winning season in the past four years under head coach Sam Pittman.
But there is also a beacon to the hope in the form of redshirt junior quarterback Taylen Green. The Texas native was dynamic against the Red Raiders, throwing for 341 yards and running for 81 more. He accounted for three touchdowns, and as Arkansas ran away in the second half, Texas Tech’s defense had no answer.
Green will return to Arkansas for his final college season next year, and why shouldn’t coaches or fans believe he can give SEC defenses the same issues in 2025?
“Taylen took over,” Pittman said. “We have Taylen Green, a lot of teams don’t, and it gives us opportunity to win.”
Green did all of the things Arkansas fans have seen in flashes throughout the season Friday night. He hit receivers in stride and extended plays with his legs. Some of those resulted in long runs, and others finished with him finding an open target on the move.
The quarterback led Arkansas to touchdowns on its first three possessions of the game and slammed the door shut on a potential Texas Tech comeback with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Reed Jr. in the third quarter. It was the first reception of Reed’s Arkansas career.
A similar milestone was set in the first quarter. The first catch of Dazmin James’ college career resulted in a 94-yard touchdown that gave Arkansas a 21-3 lead. It was the longest touchdown reception in Arkansas history and the longest pass in Liberty Bowl history.
“It’s crazy, we were talking about that slant in the hotel, the whole week, and it came to fruition,” Green said.
Reed and James’ production keyed the Arkansas victory, but it also represented a question answered for Green’s development.
All season, Green relied heavily on wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, who accounted for more than 30% of Green’s passing yards in the regular season. Sometimes, Green keyed too much on Armstrong.
Against Texas Tech, Green showed he can thrive regardless of his weapons. In addition to Armstrong, Arkansas was without the services of Luke Hasz and Isaiah Sategna. James finished with three catches for 137 yards, and freshman CJ Brown had four catches. The only familiar target, Isaac TeSlaa, had three catches for 107 yards.
“It just speaks to our depth, not just at the receiver position, but the running backs, tight ends, O-line,” Green said. “That’s the one thing you know I knew when I committed here — I knew y’all probably didn’t know yet — but just the weapons that we have offensively. I’m just grateful and excited that they have their opportunity.”
Just as he has all season, Green deflected the praise to his teammates and coaches. He walks the walk and talks the talk as a starting quarterback and program figurehead in the SEC.
Arkansas will have plenty of holes to fill this offseason. The Hogs need to find three new starters on the offensive line and three more at wide receiver. They’ve already started finding replacements through the transfer portal and have a good foundation returning on defense.
But Green is the central focus for any offseason hope. It will be nine months before Arkansas takes the field against Alabama A&M in the 2025 season opener. Taylen Green will be under center, and that’s as good a starting point the Razorbacks can ask for.
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