NASHVILLE – A 31-year-old man from Dierks died in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday morning on U.S. Highway 278, according to the Arkansas State Police.

The accident occurred at approximately 9:41 a.m. when a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado traveling north on U.S. 278 left the roadway, struck a tree, and overturned into a ditch.

The driver, identified as Jason Cody Sherck, was pronounced dead at the scene. No passengers or other vehicles were involved, and no additional injuries were reported.

Weather conditions were clear, and the road surface was dry at the time of the crash. The victim’s body has been taken to Latimer Funeral Home in Nashville, Arkansas.

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Next of kin have been notified. The crash remains under investigation by Corporal Kyle Jones of the Arkansas State Police.

LITTLE ROCK – As President Donald Trump took the oath of office in the United States Capitol on Monday, critics of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders couldn’t help but notice the number of troopers from the Arkansas State Police that would be in attendance for the inaugural festivities.

A number of Arkansas political insiders set their social media ablaze looking for answers based on the assumption that those troopers would be traveling as the official security detail for Sanders, who has come under fire from some of these same people for what they consider a waste of taxpayer fund in last year’s purchase of a $19,000 lectern for the Governor’s office. One of those who led the charge on that front was attorney Tom Mars, who in years past was appointed by Sanders’ father as the director of the Arkansas State Police.

I’m not surprised that people were in disbelief about the number of State Troopers who accompanied Gov. Sanders to the inauguration. Maybe someone can count the number of hats in this group photo from D.C to get a more precise count.

I have no idea what they’re doing there. 🤦🏻‍♂️ https://t.co/DgA65kxzaH pic.twitter.com/1t86f5inFO

— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) January 20, 2025

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Mars is no stranger to standing up for what he believes is right. After retiring as state police director, he would return to private practice, opening a law firm in Rogers. This is the same Tom Mars who took on the NCAA, filing legal action to drastically change transfer rules a frew years ago, and who represented Houston Nutt in his legal action against Ole Miss in a chain of events that subsequently saw former Coach Hugh Freeze leave the school.

This week however, we find that after first putting out the possibility that Sanders was leading a taxpayer funded entourage, Mars was also more than willing to responsibly clear the air on what actually happened. As Trump took the oath of office Monday, he quickly told his followers that upon further investigation, the situation was not as it originally seemed.

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New confidential information has convinced me that, despite the appearances, there were legitimate, nonpartisan reasons for sending this many ASP Troopers to D.C. and that none of the expenses will be paid by state taxpayer funds. Gov. Sanders played no role in this decision. https://t.co/4RayMRiP6A

— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) January 20, 2025

On Tuesday night, Mars added further clarity to the situation in a multiple Tweet thread.

“The nationwide request for state and local law enforcement support came from the Biden administration long before the election. Police departments from red and blue states agreed to help with the understanding that all expenses would be reimbursed by the Feds,” Mars explained. “At that time, people were openly talking about Jan. 20 being a repeat of Jan. 6 – but worse. Planning with these law enforcement agencies began months ago. When President Trump won the election, the Biden administration couldn’t just stop the twice a month planning meetings and say ‘never mind.’ ”

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Mars concluded the thread by stating that in his mind, at least this time, Governor Sanders was in the clear.

“So in my opinion, it would be wrong to criticize Governor Sanders for this. This wasn’t a partisan decision,” He noted. “Besides, it’s not like we don’t have plenty of other reasons to be critical of the Governor.”

The Arkansas State Police noted in a Tweet of their own that the federally funded mission had been in the planning stages for over a year, long before presidential candidates were selected.

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HENRYETTA, OK – An intense debate is brewing in an Oklahoma school district and their opponents on the basketball court.

Two members of the Wilson High School basketball team were arrested earlier this month in connection with the armed robbery of a convenience store employee in Jenks, Oklahoma. Despite the charges, the students have been allowed to continue playing basketball while wearing ankle monitors, a decision raising significant debate.

KOTV Television reports that the teenagers allegedly covered their faces and used a gun to demand money and cigarettes from a convenience store worker. They were arrested by Okmulgee Police shortly after the incident. The FBI has since taken over the investigation due to the players’ tribal status, though the agency has not confirmed this detail.

Meanwhile, Wilson is the number three team in Class B, and is likely on the run to another state championship. The team recently played in the prestigious Tournament of Champions at the BOK Center in Tulsa.

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Wilson Public Schools in Henryetta has faced backlash from parents and officials for allowing the students to remain on the team. Mark Hudson, superintendent of Preston Public Schools and director of the Muscogee Nation Invitational Tournament, voiced his concerns about the decision in an interview with KOTV.

“That’s a violent crime. That’s not like two kids getting a speeding ticket or getting caught drinking beer,” Hudson said. “Anytime you put on a uniform, there’s a certain degree of accountability.”

Hudson added that if players at his school faced similar allegations, they would be removed from the team until the matter was resolved.

“We love to win ball games, but we will never put that ahead of how we behave and how we act,” he said.

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KOTV reports that representatives from the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) confirmed disciplinary decisions are left to individual school districts, as the alleged crime occurred outside of school activities.

The OSSAA also clarified that there are no specific rules preventing students from playing while wearing ankle monitors, though officials may require the device to be covered if deemed unsafe.

Debate Intensifies Ahead of Tournament

The controversy has drawn heightened attention as Wilson High School prepares to compete in the Muscogee Nation Invitational Tournament, scheduled for January 23-25 at the Muscogee Dome in Okmulgee. The event features eight schools, including Wilson and Preston.

Hudson said he has heard from parents concerned about the players’ participation but noted he lacks the authority to exclude them.

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“I contacted Wilson’s superintendent and head coach to share my concerns,” Hudson told KOTV. “They assured me they felt confident it would be safe and said they were fully aware of the situation.”

Wilson Schools Superintendent Andrea James declined to comment specifically on the students, stating, “I don’t make comments about students.”

As the situation unfolds, debate continues over how schools should balance accountability with the presumption of innocence in cases involving student-athletes.

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LITTLE ROCK – Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has appointed Jerry Halsey to the Arkansas State Highway Commission. Halsey’s term will run through Jan. 14, 2035, replacing Alec Farmer.

Jerry Halsey

“Jerry is an incredibly gifted businessman, a leader in Jonesboro, and most importantly, a great friend,” Sanders said in a statement. “I know his experience in community development in Northeast Arkansas will lend itself to his new role on the Highway Commission, and I look forward to working with him to keep Arkansas the center of America’s road, river, and rail systems.”

Halsey, the founder, CEO, and president of Halsey Thrasher Harpole Real Estate Group, said he was eager to begin his new role. “I thank Governor Sanders for this opportunity to serve, and for her trust and confidence in me. I am excited and ready to go to work,” Halsey said.

A graduate of Arkansas State University, Halsey has built a career in real estate, selling properties during his college years and later expanding his family’s farming business into the real estate sector. He holds licenses in multiple states and has earned recognition for his achievements, including induction into the Northeast Arkansas Board of Realtors Hall of Fame.

Halsey’s public service record includes serving as vice chair of the Arkansas Real Estate Commission and as a member of the Arkansas State Police Foundation Board of Directors. He has also held leadership roles with the Arkansas Building Authority, the Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, and City Youth Ministries, among others.

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WASHINGTON – TikTok has begun restoring service to its millions of users in the United States after reaching an agreement with its service providers and receiving assurances from the federal government. The platform, which has over 170 million American users and supports more than 7 million small businesses, credited former President Donald Trump with providing the clarity needed to resolve immediate concerns over its operations.

The social media giant issued a statement Sunday, thanking President Trump for ensuring that its service providers would face no penalties for continuing to support TikTok. The platform hailed the move as a victory for the First Amendment and a stance against what it called “arbitrary censorship.” TikTok also expressed a commitment to working with U.S. officials to develop a long-term solution that ensures its continued presence in the country.

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has faced scrutiny in the United States over national security concerns. U.S. officials have expressed fears that the app’s vast user data could be accessed by the Chinese government, leading to bipartisan calls for its ban or restructuring. In 2020, during President Trump’s administration, an executive order sought to block TikTok unless ByteDance divested its U.S. operations. Though legal battles delayed the ban, the Biden administration has also voiced concerns, with some lawmakers proposing outright prohibitions.

The announcement marks a significant milestone in TikTok’s efforts to maintain its U.S. operations while navigating geopolitical tensions and regulatory challenges. The company has emphasized its economic impact, noting that it supports millions of small businesses and serves as a platform for creative expression for Americans.

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As TikTok restores full service, questions remain about its long-term future in the United States. Lawmakers continue to debate whether the app’s data security measures and potential links to Beijing pose unacceptable risks