Latest news with #ArkansasTimes
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sarah Sanders begs her old boss Trump to reconsider after president rejects Arkansas' request for disaster relief funds
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has begged President Donald Trump to reconsider his rejection of her request for disaster relief funds after tornadoes devastated her state last month. The former Trump White House press secretary wrote to Trump in March after storms ravaged the state, killing three people. Sanders, who often sparred with journalists in the press room as White House Press Secretary during Trump's first administration, declared a state of emergency and asked her former boss to declare a major disaster so the state could secure a federal handout. But the Trump administration rejected the request and said the damage could be handled by the state. In an appeal to Trump, her former boss, Sanders and the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management wrote again on April 18 and pleaded with the president that Arkansas is 'in dire need of federal assistance.' 'The severe storms and tornadoes that occurred on March 14 and 15, 2025, produced catastrophic impacts across the state. The sheer magnitude of this event resulted in overwhelming amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the tragic loss of three lives, and injuries to many others,' Sanders said in the letter, the Arkansas Times reports. She described how a second wave of severe weather hit Arkansas less than three weeks later. 'Given the cumulative impact of these events, federal assistance is essential to help our communities recover,' Sanders said. The plea for help marks a significant departure from statements Sanders made in 2023. 'As long as I am your governor, the meddling hand of big government creeping down from Washington DC will be stopped cold at the Mississippi River,' she wrote in a post on X in January 2023. Still, the Biden administration swiftly allocated federal funds to support Arkansas when storms that same month killed five people. During the gubernatorial race, Sanders campaigned for the 'right to be free of socialism and tyranny.' Trump has floated abolishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which responds to all kinds of natural disasters and other emergencies across the nation, and leave the task of responding to emergencies up to individual state governments. Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk have been looking for ways to slash the federal budget by reducing programs and staffing. 'You know what? If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it ... and then the federal government can help them out with the money,' Trump said in January. 'FEMA is getting in the way of everything. And the Democrats actually use FEMA not to help North Carolina. It makes no sense.' Before she asked Trump for a handout, Sanders backed Musk's cost-cutting efforts and said her state was doing the same. 'What @elonmusk is doing with DOGE is a game changer,' Sanders said in a post on the billionaire's X platform at the end of February. 'Arkansas did the same thing and uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars in waste and inefficiencies and I know @DOGE is going to find even more.'
The Independent
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Sarah Sanders begs her old boss Trump to reconsider after president rejects Arkansas' request for disaster relief funds
Sarah Huckabee Sanders has begged President Donald Trump to reconsider his rejection of her request for disaster relief funds after tornadoes devastated Arkansas last month. The former Trump White House press secretary wrote to Trump in March after storms ravaged the state, killing three people. Gov. Sanders, who often sparred with journalists in the press room during Trump's first administration, declared a state of emergency and asked her former boss to declare a major disaster so the state could secure a federal handout. But the Trump administration rejected the request and said the damage could be handled by the state. In an appeal to Trump, Sanders and the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management wrote again on April 18 and pleaded with the president that Arkansas is 'in dire need of federal assistance.' 'The severe storms and tornadoes that occurred on March 14 and 15, 2025, produced catastrophic impacts across the state. The sheer magnitude of this event resulted in overwhelming amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the tragic loss of three lives, and injuries to many others,' Sanders said in the letter, the Arkansas Times reports. She described how a second wave of severe weather hit Arkansas less than three weeks later. 'Given the cumulative impact of these events, federal assistance is essential to help our communities recover,' Sanders said. The plea for help marks a significant departure from statements Sanders made in 2023. 'As long as I am your governor, the meddling hand of big government creeping down from Washington DC will be stopped cold at the Mississippi River,' she wrote in a post on X in January 2023. Still, the Biden administration swiftly allocated federal funds to support Arkansas when storms that same month killed five people. During the gubernatorial race, Sanders campaigned for the 'right to be free of socialism and tyranny.' Trump has floated abolishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which responds to all kinds of natural disasters and other emergencies across the nation, and leave the task of responding to emergencies up to individual state governments. 'You know what? If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it ... and then the federal government can help them out with the money,' Trump said in January. 'FEMA is getting in the way of everything. And the Democrats actually use FEMA not to help North Carolina. It makes no sense.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ark. Gov. Sander's School Voucher Asked Parents This Nonsense!
The Arkansas Department of Education is under fire over a particular question asked on their applications for school vouchers for the 2025-2026 school year. However, some people seem to think that it isn't all bad. On March 3, online applications opened up for state-funded school vouchers for the 2025-2026 school year. These vouchers can give families up to $7,000 that can be used for homeschooling or private school tuition. Labeled the LEARNS Act, it was created by former White House press secretary and current Governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, according to the Arkansas Times. Shortly after online applications went live, people noticed a multiple-choice question that asked families while they were applying. Of the nine options, one particular drew the ire of critics; 'to access a different racial mix of students for my child.' The frustration over the question on social media caused the Arkansas Department of Education to delete that option from the application entirely just hours after the application went live. More from the Arkansas Times: In the roughly six hours the original response options were available, 110 applicants representing 129 students clicked to indicate that accessing 'a different racial mix of students for my child' was among the top three reasons they wanted a school voucher. No one who filled out the survey on the first day indicated their students qualified for a voucher in the current school year but declined to use it to avoid religious instruction or being held back a grade, or because the student didn't pass an admission test to a private school. Several people on social media said it was an attempt by Gov. Sanders to segregate schools once again. One user commented on Facebook, 'The voucher program is a conservative attempt at resegregation, besides being a handout for wealthy Christian families.' @McDuB126 commented on X, 'It's amazing how she [Gov. Sanders] tries to spin segregation into a freedom thing.' Shelley Smith wrote on Facebook, 'What??? 'Access a different racial mix'? Is this a new politically correct way to say 'blatant racism'? However, others did not think the question was harmful at all and is a good question for parents who want their children around a diverse group of students. Rachel Barber wrote on Facebook, 'I assume it means you want your child to experience people who are different from themselves see diversity.' Shannon Fields commented on Facebook, 'My child is Asian so I want him to be around a good mix of cultures, not just white, so I think the question could be looked at multiple ways.' For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Associated Press
18-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Attorney Jason Hatfield Featured in Arkansas Times for Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in Arkansas
Springdale, Arkansas – Attorney Jason Hatfield was recently featured in the Arkansas Times, earning the title 'Lawyer of the Year.' Mr. Hatfield also appears on the Arkansas Times list of the Best Lawyers in Arkansas for both workers' compensation and personal injury plaintiffs. Jason M. Hatfield is one of only three lawyers in Arkansas to receive the 'Lawyer of the Year' distinction for plaintiff's personal injury litigation. These three attorneys represent the top of their professional field in Arkansas when it comes to representing those injured by another's negligence. Mr. Hatfield was also recognized as one of Arkansas' top attorneys for workers' compensation claims, helping injured workers fight for the compensation they deserve. These distinctions aren't the first for Jason M. Hatfield this year. Mr. Hatfield was also named to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list in 2024 for the 11th time. He also received his third nomination to the Super Lawyers Top 50 list in 2024. Admitted to the State Bar of Arkansas in 1997, Jason M. Hatfield has worked to secure significant verdicts for clients and support his colleagues' professional efforts ever since. His work includes serving on the Board of Governors of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association and as President of the Washington County Bar Association, among other roles. Attorneys are chosen for the Best Lawyers list solely by the ranking of their professional peers. Lawyers vote on the work of other attorneys in their practice areas, ensuring that those casting votes fully understand the role's demands and the skills required to attain excellence. Attorney Jason Hatfield, along with other lawyers who receive this distinction, was chosen for the Best Lawyers distinction based on his reliability and integrity in professional service. The 'Best Lawyers in Arkansas' list is compiled each year from The Best Lawyers in America, a research-based list that collects information about outstanding attorney efforts across a range of practice areas. Best Lawyers has been published yearly since 1983, covering attorneys in 148 specialties and all 50 U.S. states. The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch rankings are published annually by BL Rankings, LLC. At the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A., we are seasoned veterans of the Arkansas legal system. We have families who are proud to live, work, and play in Northwest Arkansas – from Fayetteville to Bentonville. Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. 1025 E Don Tyson Pkwy Springdale, AR 72764 (479) 888-4789 Press Contact : Jason Hatfield Distributed by Law Firm Newswire Legal Disclaimer:
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Little Rock, Arkansas, Drops Intrusive, Ineffective ShotSpotter System
The city government of Little Rock, Arkansas, recently dumped ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection tool that's been adopted by some crime-troubled cities, but which has long been controversial. While billed as a means of speeding response to violent crime the technology has a history of unreliability, generating large numbers of bogus reports. Also, being based on the use of microphones, ShotSpotter can capture sounds other than gunshots, including private conversations. Altogether, even acknowledging the city's struggles with crime, it made the right choice in putting its resources elsewhere. Last week's vote by the Little Rock Board of Directors (essentially the city council) apparently came as something of a surprise when the decision to extend the contract with SoundThinking Inc., the company behind ShotSpotter, failed by one vote. One important factor in dropping the contract was that the city has relied since 2018 on federal funding to pay for what the Arkansas Times describes as "dozens of ShotSpotter sensors in a 2-square-mile area south of Interstate 630," but would have needed to tap tax revenues to continue the project. But disappointing results also played a role. "I cannot support this continuation of this contract because I do not think the technology is there," Director Kathy Webb commented. That's a fair concern considering not just the expense of the contract—the original deal cost $290,000 for two years—but also of the resources tied up in responding to false ShotSpotter reports. Other cities have run into the same problem, finding that relatively few incidents reported by the technology result in the discovery of criminal activity. "Of the 50,176 confirmed and dispatched ShotSpotter alerts, 41,830 report a disposition—the outcome of the police response to an incident," a 2021 report from Chicago's Inspector General noted of the technology's record in that city from 2020 to 2021. "A total of 4,556 of those 41,830 dispositions indicate that evidence of a gun-related criminal offense was found, representing 9.1% of CPD responses to ShotSpotter alerts." Even fewer alerts, 2.1 percent, led to an investigation. The Chicago Inspector General concluded that "ShotSpotter alerts rarely produce documented evidence of a gun-related crime, investigatory stop, or recovery of a firearm." Worse, then-65-year-old Michael Williams spent a year in jail after Chicago police tried to massage a ShotSpotter report into a homicide case against him during the unrest of 2020. Prosecutors eventually conceded they had insufficient evidence to go to trial. Then, last year, Chicago police responding to a ShotSpotter alert fired at a teenager who was lighting fireworks. Fortunately, they missed. A 2021 report from the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock was less negative than its Chicago counterpart, but still not encouraging. In Little Rock, ShotSpotter was implemented alongside the creation of a Crime Guns Intelligence Unit (CGIU) by the police department, and the two were assessed together. While there was some decline in violent crime during that period, "analyses of gun-involved homicides did not provide evidence of an effect of the CGIU or ShotSpotter on homicides. It is likely that the sample size of homicides was too small to identify a significant effect." Little Rock has spent a lot of money on a gunshot detection system that doesn't seem to do much of anything, and what little results are seen could be attributed to a dedicated unit within the local police department. That might be OK so long as the price of the surveillance system is paid by gifts from the feds, but not when it comes from locally sourced tax revenue. Then there's the fact that a microphone-based technology inherently has the ability to record more than just gunshots. As Anthony Fisher wrote for Reason in 2015, "when ShotSpotter is triggered, it captures a few seconds of sound before and after the triggering moment. Though the microphones are as high as 100 feet above the ground, they have the ability to pick up intelligible conversations." In Oakland, California, ShotSpotter captured the last words of a dying man and helped to identify the killer. That might be called a win for the system. But audio surveillance of streets is sufficiently worrisome that a court in Massachusetts excluded a ShotSpotter recording of an argument from evidence as a violation of the state's wiretap laws. There are inherent risks in sprinkling microphones around populated areas and counting on the people controlling them to not misuse their tools to eavesdrop, or to listen only to bad people. You never know which people, neighborhoods, or businesses the powers-that-be will decide are worthy of extra scrutiny, and which verbal exchanges might attract their attention. "People in public places—for example, having a quiet conversation on a deserted street—are often entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, without overhead microphones unexpectedly recording their conversations," the Electronic Frontier Foundation's (EFF) Matthew Guariglia warned about the surveillance tool as he called on "cities to stop using ShotSpotter." Unsurprisingly, EFF applauded Little Rock for discontinuing its arrangement with SoundThinking for the ShotSpotter system. Through its Atlas of Surveillance, EFF maintains a list of agencies that still use ShotSpotter and other surveillance technologies. Incidentally, SoundThinking has developed a reputation as a matchmaker for linking local law enforcement agencies with federal grants that fund the use of ShotSpotter. "In at least three cases, the company offered to prepare a police department's application for a federal grant and get letters of support from other government officials," Jon Schuppe and Joshua Eaton reported for NBC News in 2022. That encourages the adoption of the system by localities that are happy to use anything that somebody else is paying for—at least for the first few years. With the new Trump administration looking to improve government efficiency and setting DOGE loose to trim wasteful and unnecessary federal expenditures, it might be useful to take a look at those grants. Why should the federal government be subsidizing clumsy and dangerous local surveillance schemes? As a threat to our civil liberties that doesn't live up to its anti-crime billing, ShotSpotter would be a worthy place to cut spending. 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