NPR

Finding a tasteful design for Arkansas' 'monument to the unborn' has been fraught

By Josie Lenora

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

An Arkansas bill allowing for a so-called monument to the unborn on Arkansas State Capitol grounds was signed into law last spring. The monument is intended to memorialize the abortions performed in the state during the nearly 50 years the procedure was legal under Roe v. Wade, but the law does not specify what an appropriate memorial would look like. And as Little Rock Public Radio's Josie Lenora reports, this has led to some debate and discomfort over what design to choose for such a public and political piece of art.

JOSIE LENORA: The memorial is supposed to celebrate the end of legal abortion in the state. Here's Senator Kim Hammer, a Republican lawmaker from the suburbs of Little Rock, giving his pitch for the monument to the Arkansas legislature back in March.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

KIM HAMMER: It is a monument that is recognizing the 236,243-plus babies that were never born as a result of Roe v. Wade.

Finding a tasteful design for Arkansas' 'monument to the unborn' has been fraught

An appeals court has struck down a key path for enforcing the Voting Rights Act

By Hansi Lo Wang

Updated November 20, 2023 at 4:15 PM ET

A federal appeals court has struck down a key path for enforcing the Voting Rights Act.

The new ruling in an Arkansas redistricting lawsuit may set up the next U.S. Supreme Court fight that could further limit the reach of the Voting Rights Act's protections for people of color.

The legal dispute is focused on who is allowed to sue to try to enforce key provisions under Section 2 of the landmark civil rights law, which was first passed in 1965.

An appeals court has struck down a key path for enforcing the Voting Rights Act

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Demonstrators hold up large cut-out letters spelling "VOTING RIGHTS" at a 2021 rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

This selfie above China's balloon was taken over Missouri. Here's how we know that

By Geoff Brumfiel

It's arguably the greatest selfie ever taken. A pilot aboard the Air Force's legendary U-2 spy plane is looking down at China's alleged spy balloon as it hovers somewhere over the United States.

The photo, taken on Feb. 3 and released by the Department of Defense on Wednesday, has reportedly reached legendary status inside the Pentagon.

But where, exactly, was it taken?

https://www.kuaf.com/npr-news/2023-02-23/this-selfie-above-chinas-balloon-was-taken-over-missouri-heres-how-we-know-that

Department Of Defense

A U.S. Air Force pilot looked down at the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it hovered over the Central Continental United States February 3, 2023. The pair was flying over Bellflower, Missouri.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders will give the Republican response to the State of the Union

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR) will deliver the Republican Address to the Nation from Little Rock, Arkansas following the State of the Union address next Tuesday, February 7th:
  
Speaker McCarthy said: “Americans are still struggling from inflation, a border crisis, record crime, and a failing school system. As House Republicans work to fix these problems in Congress with our Commitment to America, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is addressing them head on with her conservative agenda outside of Washington. The youngest governor in America, Sarah is fighting on behalf of parents, small businesses, and ordinary taxpayers. She is bringing new ideas for a changing future, while also applying the wisdom of the past, including from the leadership of her father, Mike. She is a servant-leader of true determination and conviction. I’m thrilled Sarah will share her extraordinary story and bold vision for a better America on Tuesday. Everyone, including President Biden, should listen carefully.” 
 
Leader McConnell said: “While President Biden keeps repeating old mistakes and failing Americans, a rising generation of Republican Governors are fighting for families, advancing new solutions, and winning. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the youngest Governor in the nation and a powerful advocate for the popular, commonsense conservative principles that will put our country back on a better course. The American people deserve better than Democrats’ runaway inflation, surging crime, open borders, and failing schools. I am excited for the nation to hear from Governor Sanders on Tuesday and witness a sharp contrast with this exhausted and failing Administration.”
 
Governor Sanders said: “I am grateful for this opportunity to address the nation and contrast the GOP’s optimistic vision for the future against the failures of President Biden and the Democrats. We are ready to begin a new chapter in the story of America – to be written by a new generation of leaders ready to defend our freedom against the radical left and expand access to quality education, jobs, and opportunity for all.” 
 
Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the 47th Governor of Arkansas. Inaugurated on January 10, 2023, she is the first woman to serve as governor of the state and is currently the youngest governor in the country. Prior to her historic victory, Sarah served as White House Press Secretary for President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019. A trusted confidant of the President, she advised him on everything from press and communications strategy to personnel and policy. Sarah was only the third woman – and the very first mom – to ever hold the job of White House Press Secretary. Sarah grew up in Pine Bluff and Texarkana and is a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High and Ouachita Baptist University. She lives in Little Rock with her husband, Bryan, their children Scarlett, Huck, and George, and their golden retriever, Traveler.

Will Newton/AP

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks after taking the oath of the office on the steps of the Arkansas Capitol Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Little Rock, Ark.

Governor Asa Hutchinson on NPR about the Republican National Convention

Monday marks the beginning of the 2020 Republican National Convention, with the first night’s agenda including the state roll call to nominate President Donald Trump for re-election. 

This year’s convention, similar to the Democratic National Convention, will be mostly digital due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who spoke during the 2016 RNC, said Monday on NPR’s Morning Edition that his statements about then-candidate Trump being "transparent and straight-talking" remain true.  

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/gov-asa-hutchinson-rnc-convention-trump-needs-articulate-vision-second-term

Gov. Asa Hutchinson On RNC Convention: Trump Needs To Articulate Vision Of A Second Term

Monday marks the beginning of the 2020 Republican National Convention, with the first night's agenda including the state roll call to nominate President Donald Trump for re-election. This year's convention, similar to the Democratic National Convention, will be mostly digital due to the coronavirus pandemic. Arkansas Gov.