LGBTQ+

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The nation's first trial over a state's ban on gender-confirming care for children begins in Arkansas this week, the latest fight over restrictions on transgender youth championed by Republican leaders and widely condemned by medical experts.

The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Thursday (Aug. 25) upheld a preliminary injunction against an Arkansas law that bans gender transition procedures for those under age 18. Plaintiffs say the law, Act 626, violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause.

The Craighead County-Jonesboro Public Library Board is expected to discuss and finalize how to move forward with selecting a new library director. David Eckert currently fills the role, in which he has held for just under 10 years. On November 11, Eckert submitted his resignation from the library, which is set to go into effect on January 1, 2022.

Craighead County-Jonesboro Library Director David Eckert is resigning to take a position at another library. Eckert has served as the library's director since 2013.

The library board voted on Monday night to not adopt a policy that would have board members approve sensitive materials before being allowed in the collection.

KASU's Brandon Tabor speaks to KLEK 102.5 FM general manager LaGanzie Kale about how the fight over sensitive materials in the library has evolved beyond censorship.

A new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll of 535 Arkansas voters finds the 93rd General Assembly with only a 32% approval rating, while 45% disapproved of its actions.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit Tuesday (May 25) against the state of Arkansas over a newly passed law that prohibits health care professionals from providing gender-transition procedures to individuals under age 18.

"My own personal view that this is too extreme, it was too broad and did not grandfather in those young people who are currently under hormone treatment," he said, before apologizing.

Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson vetoed a bill today that would have stopped doctors in Arkansas from treating transgender youth with hormones, puberty blockers or surgery.