Free Republic

In a recent episode of The Purple Principle, a podcast that examines democracy and polarization from a nonpartisan lens, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said that while he was skeptical of ranked choice voting at first, he now sees it as a meaningful solution to elect candidates with the broadest appeal. "I resisted ranked choice and different initiatives that would weaken the two political parties," he said. "Now I don't see it as weakening the parties as much as forcing the candidates to say, 'We've got to appeal to a broad swath of the American electorate." Many voters may not...

The true scale of the number of medical trials using infected blood products on children in the 1970s and 80s has been revealed by documents seen by BBC News. They reveal a secret world of unsafe clinical testing involving children in the UK, as doctors placed research goals ahead of patients' needs. They continued for more than 15 years, involved hundreds of people, and infected most with hepatitis C and HIV. One surviving patient told the BBC he was treated like a "guinea pig". The trials involved children with blood clotting disorders, when families had often not consented to them...

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — UPDATE: Two Kroger customers are being charged with battery after a disagreement led to a shooting inside the grocery store on Wednesday evening. According to a report by the Little Rock Police Department, the incident began at 9 p.m when 48-year-old Yusuf Muhammad began harassing 43-year-old Shearee Jones in the checkout aisle. Witnesses stated that Muhammad was visibly aggressive towards Jones and that she asked him to stop. The report says that he continued after this and assaulted her, leaving an abrasion. In response, Jones brandished a firearm and struck Muhammad with multiple rounds. The report...

The executive director of the Little Rock airport who was shot by federal agents serving a search warrant at his home earlier this week has died. A statement from the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport announced the death of Bryan Malinowski at noon Thursday. The statement from Bill Walker, chair of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission, noted that under Malinowski’s leadership the airport saw “significant growth and success” and offered condolences to Malinowski’s family. “With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of our executive director Bryan Malinowski. Bryan was a 16-year employee of the airport. Under his...

Bryan Malinowski, who was involved in a shootout with federal agents Tuesday, was also involved in a legal fight with a neighbor over the placement of a mailbox, claiming it was placed illegally on his property. A judge would go on to side with Malinowski’s neighbor, years before the 53-year-old director of Little Rock's Clinton National Airport was involved in the Tuesday shooting with agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In August 2018, Malinowski sued Eric and Victoria Pinter, who lived next to a property he owned. He said the year before they “without consultation or...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The affidavit detailing the ATF case against the Little Rock airport executive who was shot and killed by federal agents serving a search warrant at his home was released Thursday. In the heavily redacted warrant affidavit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives claims that Bryan Malinowski purchased numerous firearms that he resold without a firearm dealer’s license. Bryan Malinowski, the Little Rock airport executive shot by ATF agents, dies from injuries According to the warrant, Malinowski purchased more than 150 guns between May 2021 and Feb. 27, 2024, which he then resold.

The executive director of an Arkansas airport bearing the names of former President Bill Clinton and former first lady and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was shot Tuesday, when federal agents attempted to serve a search warrant. Arkansas State Police said the shooting occurred at 6 a.m. local time at a home on Durance Court in Little Rock, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was serving a search warrant at the home of airport Executive Director Bryan Malinowski.

Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Sanders said on Tuesday that the state would ban the use of “X” on driver’s licenses and that state IDs must identify the individual as either male or female, according to an announcement first shared with The Daily Wire. “This policy is just common sense,” Sanders told The Daily Wire. “Only women give birth, men shouldn’t play women’s sports, and there are only two genders. As long as I’m Governor, Arkansas state government will not endorse nonsense.” “This change announced today reflects a commonsense approach that ensures a license or ID issued by the State of...

SALINE COUNTY, Ark. – Deputies said an armed burglary suspect was shot by a Saline County man returning home Tuesday when he saw the suspect draw a weapon as he left the man’s house. Officials with the Saline County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a call of shots fired at the home in the 10000 block of East Sardis Road. When they arrived, the deputies said they found the homeowner, who told them he had called 911. The man said he saw the suspect coming out of his house pointing a firearm at him. The homeowner then said he...

Multiple lanes were blocked on the Memphis-Arkansas I-40 bridge during a pro-Palestinian protest that began at Memphis City Hall on Saturday. Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) cameras revealed a large crowd with traffic completely stopped behind them for some time. As of around 4:30 p.m. these cameras reveal now that some traffic is moving again. Additionally, the I-55 bridge was closed by TDOT for construction during the weekend. The protest began at city hall by organization Memphis Voices for Palestine "in light of the recent ruling by the International Criminal Court," that stated "plausible evidence of genocide happening in Gaza...

Radical abortion advocates in Arkansas are now approved to collect signatures for an extreme amendment that would legalize killing babies in abortions. The measure would also overturn virtually every pro-life law in the state that protects babies from abortions – including the state’s abortion ban protecting unborn children and laws designed to protect the health and safety of women. On Tuesday the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office certified a popular name and ballot title for the Arkansas Abortion Amendment of 2024. The measure’s sponsors now can begin collecting the 90,704 petition signatures necessary to place the measure on the ballot this...

The Navy is about to name a ship in honor of Omaha’s World War II “Hero of the Solomons.” Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced last week that one of the next new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (DDG 142) will be named for Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French, who was born in Arkansas in 1919 but was raised by his sister in Omaha after his parents died. The Navy traditionally names its destroyers after Navy and Marine Corps heroes. Other ships in the Arleigh Burke class have been named for Revolutionary War Capt. John Paul Jones and Civil War...

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday ended his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination after finishing in sixth place in the Iowa caucus. Hutchinson congratulated former President Donald Trump for his win in Iowa, which hosted the nation's first presidential nominating contest on Monday. "Today, I am suspending my campaign for President and driving back to Arkansas. My message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front-runner did not sell in Iowa," according to The Associated Press. With more than 95% of the votes counted Tuesday morning, Hutchinson received 0.2% support...

A group of teens are being hailed as heroes after catching alleged porch pirates stealing packages from an Arkansas home. Ring camera video caught two boys keeping their eye on packages being delivered to a house. When the coast was clear, they grabbed two boxes and fled. However, a group of teens saw the alleged thieves and decided to chase after them. The hero teens counseled the boys as they escorted them back home and advised them to stay out of trouble.

Arkansans for Limited Government reportedly is making a third attempt at placing its pro-abortion amendment on the 2024 ballot in Arkansas. In Arkansas, the attorney general’s office reviews the titles and language of ballot initiatives to ensure the measure’s wording is not misleading or ambiguous. Once approved, the measure’s sponsors can begin collecting petition signatures to place it on the ballot. Attorney General Griffin’s team has previously rejected two versions of the proposed abortion amendment, citing flaws in the measure’s text. If passed, this amendment would write abortion into the Arkansas Constitution and erase decades of good, pro-life laws. Public...

A military officer is retiring from service in protest against the Biden administration’s abortion policies. According to Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), Colonel Dillon R. Patterson voluntarily resigned from his position as the commander of the 188th Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard on December 18. In a letter Sanders addressed to President Joe Biden and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, she explained, “Unfortunately, Col. Patterson was forced to personally choose between either continuing his command or adhering to his sincerely held religious beliefs against abortion.” She continued, “Because he adhered first to his faith instead of overtly...

Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin has denied a second attempt to put a radical amendment on the ballot that would allow abortions up to birth. Last year, Griffin rejected a first attempt to legalize abortions up to birth in the Natural State known by the popular name of “The Arkansas Reproductive Healthcare Amendment.” It was shepherded by “Arkansas For Limited Government,” a pro-abortion group explicitly formed to put the measure on the ballot, similar to the group that was behind Ohio’s successful Issue 1 amendment. Now, Griffin has rejected as second amendment — saying it needs further revisions before it...

Dec. 20 (UPI) -- An Arkansas man who visited Crater of Diamonds State Park for the first time later discovered what he thought was a clear piece of glass was a 4.87-carat diamond. Jerry Evans of Lepanto said he had only been at the park in Murfreesboro when he picked up what he thought was a clear piece of glass and pocketed it. "I thought it might be a piece of glass, it was so clear. I really didn't know," he told Arkansas State Parks officials. "We were picking up everything thinking it was a diamond." A while after leaving...

LOUISVILLE (KSP / News Release) – Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 1 in Mayfield has positively identified remains found nearly 25 years ago thanks to the help of advanced DNA technology. On May 6, 1999, human remains were discovered in Lake Barkley, Lyon County, Kentucky, by two fishermen. The individual was located wrapped in heavy tire chains and anchored with a hydraulic jack. At the time, investigators were unable to identify the male using traditional investigative techniques. In 2016, the body of the victim was exhumed in hopes that further examinations would help make an identification. Despite extensive efforts using...

The remains of an Arkansas World War II soldier are finally home. The US Army Air Force veteran traveled 170 miles before receiving a hero's welcome. Roller-McNutt Funeral Home brought home 2nd Lt. Kenyon Brindley was escorted by the Army from the Memphis Airport to Conway. Lt. Brindley served in the 703rd Bombardment Squadron, 445th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force in the European Theater.