Ex-Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen to head to prison for illegal adoption scheme

Paul Petersen, the former Maricopa County Assessor who pleaded guilty in connection with a human trafficking adoption scheme, must report to prison to serve out the first of his three prison sentences.

Arkansas man photographed sitting at Pelosi's desk during Capitol riot put on house arrest

An Arkansas man photographed sitting at a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office during the riot at the U.S. Capitol last week has been put under House arrest as he awaits trial.

Man charged for beating officer with pole of American flag during Capitol riot, prosecutors say

An Arkansas man was charged after FBI agents identified him in videos appearing to beat a police officer with the pole of an American flag during the violent Jan. 6 pro-Trump Capitol riot.

Richard Barnett, Arkansas man pictured in Pelosi’s chair amid Capitol riot, faces 11 years in prison

Richard Barnett, 60, who was photographed sitting with his leg draped across House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk, could face more than 11 years in federal prison if convicted on multiple charges.

Arkansas doctor clears $650,000 of debt for cancer patients

An Arkansas doctor gave hundreds of patients a clean bill to start the New Year when he cleared their debt.

1 in 5 American prisoners has had COVID-19; 1,700 have died

One in every five state and federal prisoners in the United States has tested positive for the coronavirus, a rate more than four times as high as the general population.

Ex-Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen sentenced to 74 months in prison for adoption scheme

An ex-Maricopa County Assessor who resigned following his arrest in connection with an illegal adoption scheme involving women from a Pacific island will spend just over six years behind bars for the crime.

Former Maricopa County assessor to be sentenced in 3 states for adoption scheme

Paul Petersen, a Republican who served as metro Phoenix’s assessor for six years, also worked as an adoption attorney and paid mothers from the Marshall Islands to give up their babies.

Formerly homeless veteran and mother of 6 becomes 1st-generation college graduate

LaKendra Mackey’s own experiences of facing homelessness, PTSD, and raising a child with special needs inspired her to become a social worker to help others.

Arkansas police officer killed in shooting; 2 arrested

Police in Arkansas are mourning Officer Travis C. Wallace, who was killed in the line of duty during a shootout with a suspect. He leaves behind two children.

Man finds 9.07-carat diamond, thought it was a piece of glass

Kinard, a 33-year-old bank branch manager from Maumelle, Arkansas, found the second-largest diamond ever found in the park’s 48 year history — a 9.07-carat diamond.

Arkansas man gets 2 life terms, 835 years for killing police officer

Demarcus Donnell Parker, 27, was convicted Tuesday, Sept. 8, by a Crittenden County jury of first-degree murder, illegally shooting a weapon from a vehicle, and 21 related charges in the April 2018 shooting death of Forrest City officer Oliver Johnson, according to court documents.

Iowa meth kingpin is 3rd executed by US government this week

A convicted killer from Iowa whose five victims included two young girls is scheduled Friday to become the third federal inmate to be executed this week, following a 17-year pause in federal executions.

Arkansas to require face masks to combat coronavirus surge

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued an order Thursday requiring people to wear face masks in public throughout the state, which has had a surge in coronavirus cases over the past several weeks.