The Arkansas Supreme Court has reinstated a state law banning the use of ‘X’ as a gender identification option on state IDs, reversing a lower court ruling that had blocked the law. The decision eliminates the option for residents to choose a neutral gender marker, drawing criticism from the ACLU of Arkansas, which argued the rule would harm transgender and non-binary individuals.
A mass shooting at a supermarket in Fordyce, Arkansas, resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to several others. The shooter, Travis Eugene Posey, was apprehended after a shootout with police, leaving him and two officers injured. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
A shooting at a grocery store in Fordyce, Arkansas, has left three people dead and ten injured, including two law enforcement officers who exchanged fire with the suspect. The suspected shooter, Travis Eugene Posey, has been arrested and charged with three counts of capital murder.
Powerful storms have wreaked havoc across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, claiming the lives of 15 people, including two children, and leaving thousands without power. A tornado tore through Cooke County, Texas, leaving a trail of destruction and killing seven people, including two young children and three family members. In Oklahoma, guests at an outdoor wedding were injured as storms caused widespread damage, while in Arkansas, at least five people have been confirmed dead, including a 26-year-old woman found outside a destroyed home. Kentucky has also reported one fatality as the storms continue to impact the region. The storms have caused extensive property damage, flipping mobile homes and knocking down trees and power lines. Over 470,000 people are without electricity, with search and rescue efforts ongoing in affected areas.
A federal judge in Arkansas has ruled that the state cannot prevent two high school teachers from discussing critical race theory in the classroom. However, the judge stopped short of more broadly blocking the state from enforcing its ban on “indoctrination” in public schools. The ruling is a partial victory for the teachers, who have argued that the state’s ban is too vague and forces them to self-censor what they teach.
T-Mobile has completed a multi-year 5G network investment totaling over $163 million in Arkansas, bringing faster speeds and better coverage to millions across the state. The enhancements include 170 new cell sites, upgrades to over 450 existing sites, and expanded 5G Ultra Capacity coverage by 260% in just three years. T-Mobile now provides 5G service along 97% of interstate highways and U.S. highways in Arkansas, making it easier for residents and businesses to stay connected, access educational opportunities, and grow their enterprises. The company’s investment also includes T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, bringing reliable and affordable home and business internet connectivity to over 600,000 households in Arkansas. Alongside network improvements, T-Mobile remains committed to community support through initiatives like Hometown Grants, Project 10Million, and Connecting Heroes, empowering small towns, students, and first responders.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has criticized the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program and other educational policies ahead of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona’s visit to Little Rock. In a letter to Cardona, Sanders and Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Olivia expressed concerns about the legality and fairness of the student loan forgiveness program and the mishandling of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program.
