Arkansas governor to sign bill nullifying gun restrictions

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday that he'll sign a bill that would bar state and local law officers from helping enforce new and future federal gun restrictions — a move critics say would be unconstitutional and create confusion about which gun limits the state does recognize.

The new legislation, which is a scaled back version of a bill Hutchinson vetoed, declares invalid in the state any federal gun restrictions enacted on or after Jan. 1, 2021, that violate the constitutional right to bear arms. Lawmakers voted largely along party lines early Wednesday to send the measure to the Republican governor for his consideration.

"It is tough and sends a message that we will protect the 2nd Amendment in Arkansas, but it supports law enforcement and will not jeopardize our critical partnerships in public safety," Hutchinson said in a statement.

Republicans in Arkansas and elsewhere have sought to preempt any federal gun control measures that President Joe Biden's administration might pursue, despite questions about the constitutionality of such legal maneuvering.

Read more: https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2021/apr/29/arkansas-governor-sign-bill-nullifying-gun-restrictions/869138/

Gonzalez seeks presidential meeting over seized border land

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez is seeking a meeting with the president to urge him to take swift action on two pressing issues facing residents in his district — the risk of flooding from gaps in the Rio Grande Valley’s levee system, and the taking of private land — both related to the construction of a border wall the president has pledged to halt.

Gonzalez, D-McAllen, announced his intent to meet with President Joe Biden in a letter released Wednesday.

“This administration cannot repeat the mistakes of the past with respect to our border communities,” the letter reads, in part.

“Our people should not be left on the wrong side of the wall, detached from the rest of the country, and left with land worth less than it was absent a wall, and with no compensation for that loss. Our community continually bears the burden of failed policy, and when we offer solutions to the problems in our back yards, it appears that our voices are not heard,” the letter further reads.

Read more: https://myrgv.com/featured/2021/04/28/gonzalez-seeks-presidential-meeting-over-seized-border-land/
(McAllen Monitor)

Bart Reagor makes first appearance in Amarillo federal court since being indicted

In an Amarillo courtroom filled with about 15 family and friends, former Reagor Dykes Auto Group owner Bart Reagor appeared in federal court Monday after a federal grand jury indicted him last week.

Reagor was indicted Thursday on two counts of bank fraud and one count of making false statements to a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Reagor, accompanied by his lawyer and his legal team, waived the arraignment during Monday’s proceedings and was released on a personal recognizance bond, but with travel restrictions.

Reagor was charged with lying about using business loans for personal expenses, as well as diverting more than $1.7 million to personal bank accounts after it was initially loaned to the auto group, which filed for bankruptcy in August 2018. The company, while based out of Lubbock, had locations in Amarillo, Plainview, Floydada, Snyder and elsewhere in West Texas.

If convicted, Reagor faces up to 90 years in federal prison, and will be required to forfeit any property traceable to the alleged offense, according to previous reports. This comes after 15 of Reagor’s former employees pled guilty to various crimes at the auto group, including dummy floor planning and check kiting.

Read more: https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/2021/04/26/bart-reagor-makes-first-appearance-amarillo-federal-court-since-being-indicted/7381245002/

Tim Ryan Announces Bid for U.S. Senate in Ohio

Carthage man accused in U.S. Capitol riots to be on pretrial release

A federal judge has granted pretrial release for an East Texas man held on charges related to the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Judge Thomas F. Hogan ordered Monday during arraignment that Alex Kirk Harkrider, 34, of Carthage, will be released on electronic monitoring pending trial. No such order was granted for Ryan Nichols, 30, of Longview, who was also in court Monday on charges related to the riots.

-snip-

Harkrider is charged with civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, theft of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon on capitol grounds or buildings, disorderly conduct in a capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building in the District Court for the District of Columbia.

Nichols is charged with civil disorder obstruction of an official proceeding entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon on capitol grounds or buildings, disorderly conduct in a capitol building, assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon, and act of physical violence in the capitol grounds or buildings in the District Court for the District of Columbia.

Both men are accused of interfering with law enforcement performing official duties, attempting to impede or obstruct an official proceeding before Congress through civil disorder, and both men are accused of unlawfully entering the Capitol building with deadly or dangerous weapons. According to court documents, Harkrider was armed with a tomahawk ax and Nichols with a crowbar and pepper spray.

Read more: https://www.news-journal.com/news/local/carthage-man-accused-in-u-s-capitol-riots-to-be-on-pretrial-release/article_183da30a-a768-11eb-94bf-dfa869fd8659.html
(Longview News-Journal)


Ryan Nichols, left, and Alex Harkrider are seen Jan. 6 outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The two men have been charged in connection with the Capitol riot.
Special to the News-Journal

It's 'Anyone's Guess' Who Will End Up In The Runoff Expected For Texas' 6th Congressional District

An election to replace late Republican Congressman Ron Wright in Texas’ 6th District is likely headed for a runoff. Twenty-three candidates are vying for Wright’s seat, including Wright’s wife, Susan Wright.

Jim Riddlesperger, political science professor at Texas Christian University, says it’s "anyone’s guess" who will end up in a runoff. Texas election law requires a runoff if a candidate doesn’t receive at least 50% of the votes. And a runoff will feature the top two vote-getters.

The historically conservative district that’s south and southeast of Dallas has some potential to flip to a Democrat, Riddlesperger says. Texas has become more competitive over the last 10 years, and Democrats tried to capitalize on that in 2020 by attempting to flip the seat Wright eventually won. A flip could be possible if more Democrats turn out (turnout is usually low during special and runoff elections.) Still, Riddlesperger says a Republican is more likely to prevail.

Susan Wright is one strong contender. Former President Donald Tump endorsed her on Monday. But Riddlesperger says she’s one among several “Trumpy” candidates. Others in the race worked in the former president’s administration.

Read more: https://www.kut.org/politics/2021-04-27/its-anyones-guess-who-will-end-up-in-the-runoff-expected-for-texas-6th-congressional-district

Texas man dies after attack by aggressive swarm of bees

BRECKENRIDGE, Texas (AP) — A Texas man died after going into cardiac arrest when he was attacked by an aggressive swarm of bees outside his home, authorities said.

Thomas Hicks, 70, was mowing his lawn Monday when he was repeatedly stung by the bees outside his home in Breckenridge, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) west of Dallas, authorities said.

The Breckenridge Fire Department said first responders faced “very aggressive bee activity” when they arrived at the home. Medics and firefighters attempted emergency care but Hicks died, the fire department said.

Hicks' wife, Zoni Hicks, told TV station KTAB that she had been out grocery shopping when she returned to find her husband screaming and covered in bees.

Read more: https://theeagle.com/news/national/texas-man-dies-after-attack-by-aggressive-swarm-of-bees/article_f0ce6796-7161-5627-848d-c287c480bf62.html
(Bryan-College Station Eagle)

South Dakota last Juneteenth holdout as Hawaii close to recognizing day

HONOLULU — Hawaii was poised to become the 49th state to recognize Juneteenth after the House and Senate on Tuesday passed legislation designating June 19 as a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

If Hawaii’s governor signs the bill, South Dakota would be the only remaining state that doesn’t recognize the day as either a state holiday or a day of observance. South Dakota’s Senate passed a measure earlier this year that would observe the day, but the bill didn’t make it through the House. In North Dakota, the governor on April 12 signed legislation designating it a ceremonial holiday.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige hasn’t indicated his plans for the bill, which will not make the day a state holiday.

Akiemi Glenn, the founder and executive director of the Popolo Project, said the legislation is a way of honoring the ancestors of Hawaii’s Black people.

Read more: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/28/juneteenth-hawaii-close-honoring-day-leaving-south-dakota-holdout/4876128001/

Jimmy Kimmel's Interview with Mike Lindell

Supreme Court hears recreational pot case. Now South Dakota awaits a decision.

PIERRE — Nearly six months after a majority of South Dakota voters cast ballots in support of legalizing marijuana, a government-led legal challenge seeking to keep marijuana use a crime has had its last day in court.

But the fate of Constitutional Amendment A, a measure approved by voters last November that would make possession, cultivation and sale of pot legal starting July 1, won't be known until the South Dakota Supreme Court hands down its decision in the coming weeks.

"I'm going to completely defer to the court on that," Sioux Falls attorney Brendan Johnson told the Argus Leader in reference to when a ruling might be issued.

His comment came moments after he concluded his final arguments in defense of Amendment A on behalf of South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, which placed the question of legal recreational marijuana before the voters.

Read more: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2021/04/28/south-dakota-supreme-court-hears-recreational-pot-case/4865925001/