Arkansas

Tommy Robinson, Arkansas sheriff and congressman, dies at 82

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2024

Tommy Robinson, Arkansas sheriff and congressman, dies at 82

Tommy Robinson, a former U.S. congressman who captured attention while serving as an Arkansas sheriff, using tactics that included chaining inmates outside a state prison to protest overcrowding, died July 10 at a hospital in Forrest City, Ark. He was 82.

St. Francis County Coroner Miles Kimble confirmed the death but did not provide a specific cause.

Mr. Robinson was first elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984, representing a district that included Little Rock and central Arkansas. He switched parties and became a Republican in 1989 before losing the GOP primary for governor the following year.

But it was Mr. Robinson’s actions and comments during his years as Pulaski County sheriff that gained him national attention. He was elected to the post in 1980 after serving as state director of public safety.

He had complained about a backlog of state inmates being held in the county’s jail and in 1981 had a group of them chained to a gate outside an Arkansas prison.

“The bottom line is, I’m not going to keep state prisoners,” he said at the time. “It’s their problem, not mine.”

Mr. Robinson also clashed with prosecutors and judges during his time as sheriff. He was jailed by a federal judge for contempt for two days after kicking out a special master appointed to oversee conditions at the jail.

Following a string of robberies, Mr. Robinson had deputies hide randomly at convenience stores armed with shotguns to deter would-be robbers.

During his time in Congress, Mr. Robinson aligned with the “boll weevil” bloc of conservative southern Democrats who voted for many of President Ronald Reagan’s policies. When he switched parties in 1989, Arkansas was a predominantly Democratic state, but Mr. Robinson complained that the party had become too liberal.

Mr. Robinson ran for the GOP nomination for governor in 1990, hoping to unseat Gov. Bill Clinton (D). He was defeated by Sheffield Nelson in the Republican primary, and Nelson lost to Clinton that fall. Clinton was elected president in 1992.

Tommy Franklin Robinson was born in Little Rock on March 7, 1942. Early in his career, he served with the North Little Rock Police Department, the Arkansas State Police and the U.S. Marshal Service.

Mr. Robinson remained in the news in the years after leaving Congress. In 1992, he was named as the worst offender in an overdraft scandal involving the House bank. The bank closed in 1991.

Over a 16-month period, he wrote 996 checks on insufficient funds, overdrafts that totaled more than $250,000. A Justice Department report later said no one would be prosecuted for the overdrafts because it was bank policy to routinely honor checks written on insufficient funds.

Mr. Robinson was appointed to the state Pollution Control and Ecology Commission and the Parole Board by Gov. Mike Huckabee (R).

Mr. Robinson ran as the Republican nominee in 2002 for the 1st Congressional District in eastern Arkansas and lost to incumbent Marion Berry, a Democrat, in the general election.

A list of survivors was not immediately available.

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Arkansas

5-Star Center Obinna Ekezie Jr. Reveals MCBB Commitment Between Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas, More

Published

9 hours ago

May 3, 2026

Press Room

5-Star Center Obinna Ekezie Jr. Reveals MCBB Commitment Between Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas, More

One of the top basketball prospects in the class of 2027 has made his commitment.

Per On3’s Joe Tipton, 5-star center Obinna Ekezie Jr. is reclassifying to the class of 2026 and will play for Louisville this fall.

Ekezie is considered to be the No. 4 overall player and the No. 2 center in his class by 247Sports’ composite rankings. The Orlando, Florida, native is also the No. 2 player in his state.

The 7-footer had Arkansas, BYU, Kentucky and Maryland in his final group alongside Louisville, but ultimately went with Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals.

“I chose Louisville because it has everything I need in terms of winning and development. I have a great opportunity to develop and showcase my game at both the 4 and 5 alongside Flory Bidunga,” he told Tipton. “Louisville already feels like home to me and we’re going to be an incredibly competitive team. We’re striving to win a National Championship.”

Ekezie, of course, has dreams of playing at the professional level, and he felt moving up to the class of 2026 would help him reach those goals.

“After my high school season, I evaluated the rewards and risks and felt college was the right move for my development,” he said. “I get to practice every day against elite competition and develop at a much faster rate. I want to compete at the highest level and this gives me the best opportunity to grow as a player.”

The Cardinals have had a successful offseason, landing Kansas transfer center Flory Bidunga, Oregon transfer point guard Jackson Shelstad, Iowa transfer forward Alvaro Folgueiras, Arkansas transfer wing Karter Knox and more.

Now, Louisville will add even more talent in Ekezie.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Derby winner Renegade finishes 2nd in Kentucky Derby

Published

21 hours ago

May 3, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Derby winner Renegade finishes 2nd in Kentucky Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Renegade, the Arkansas Derby winner, finished second Saturday in the Kentucky Derby, as more than 30,000 fans gathered at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort for the final day of the racing season.

The race often called the “fastest two minutes in sports” drew strong reactions from the Oaklawn crowd, where fans watched together as one of their own track’s top horses competed on racing’s biggest stage.

Renegade entered the Derby as one of the favorites after winning the Arkansas Derby in March. The horse’s second-place finish fell just short of a win, disappointing some bettors but still energizing the crowd.

“I’m cheering for Renegade, that’s where my money’s at,” said Chris Ho, Oaklawn’s vice president of marketing.

Fans across the venue said the day was about more than just the outcome of a single race, as Oaklawn wrapped up its racing season with large crowds and a festive atmosphere.

“I’m having a blast, losing some money but having some fun,” said attendee Zachary Willmuth.

The event brought together both longtime racing fans and newcomers experiencing the tradition for the first time.

“I have an aunt who had a derby party every year, so I went every year,” said first-time Oaklawn visitor Jayna Monical. “This is the closest I’m going to be to the derby.”

Others said attending races at Oaklawn has been a longstanding tradition.

“As soon as I got my driver’s license at 16, I started coming here,” said Robert Trammell. “I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Despite some losing tickets, the crowd remained lively throughout the day, with cheering and celebrations echoing across the track during both the Kentucky Derby watch and Oaklawn’s final races.

For some, the experience ensured a return trip.

“I think it’s exciting,” Monical said. “We have a whole crew that’s coming next year.”

Saturday marked the end of Oaklawn’s racing season, closing out months of competition in Hot Springs.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.

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