Declining access to maternity health care in Arkansas could be worsened by Medicaid cuts

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Kameron Macrorie

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    ROGERS, Ark. (KHBS , KHOG) — Access to maternity health care has reached an extreme low in multiple counties across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, according to a study by maternal care-focused nonprofit March of Dimes.

Arkansas leaders are warning that looming cuts to Medicaid could make this issue worse.

A 2024 report by March of Dimes found that more than 2 million women of childbearing age in the U.S. live in ‘maternity care deserts,’ or areas without hospitals that offer obstetric and labor and delivery services.

Here at home, Arkansas is among the states with the highest percentage of maternity care deserts, with more than 45% of Arkansas counties falling under that definition.

In Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, that includes Madison, Logan and Scott counties.

According to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, there are currently 33 hospitals around the state with labor and delivery units. Since 2019, seven hospitals have closed their labor and delivery units due to financial or staffing issues.

“Arkansas continues to face serious challenges when it comes to maternity care,” said Jennifer Wessel, interim director for the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement. “Especially in rural areas, they may not experience as many deliveries, but they’re still having to keep their labor and delivery services open, so hospitals can’t offset the cost somewhere else. Oftentimes, these labor and delivery units are the first to close.”

She said that women in counties without birthing hospitals have to drive much farther for maternity care, increasing the risk of complications for them and their baby.

Medicaid cuts are on the horizon as part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed this summer, and Arkansas lawmakers say they could threaten rural health care.

40/29 News spoke to lawmakers on both sides about these cuts. While they disagree about how Medicaid dollars are currently used, they agree it’s a tough road ahead when they’re taken away.

“If we don’t have Medicaid coverage for these moms, those providers can’t make their business work,” said Arkansas State Representative and House Minority Leader Andrew Collins. “In a lot of places, you’ve seen closures of rural hospitals or providers.”

“We have got to start back as a state, looking at every dollar that is spent, knowing that we have to have the flexibility to meet needs or challenges that may come up from federal cuts,” said Arkansas State Sen. Bryan King.

He said cuts to Medicaid are inevitable due to “governmental dysfunction,” but Collins says Medicaid abuse is a minor issue.

“I think that we should undo a lot of the things that we have done in this Big Beautiful Bill,” Collins said. “There is some bipartisan agreement about the value of enhanced [Medicaid] subsidies. If we extend those, you won’t see these huge increases in premiums.”

The federal government remains shut down as Democratic lawmakers insist changes to healthcare funding is addressed. Republicans say these negotiations can happen after the government is reopened.

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Investigation underway after inmate dies following medical emergency at Jackson County jail

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Nick Sloan

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    JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (KMBC) — The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 44-year-old inmate who was hospitalized after a medical emergency at the Jackson County Detention Center.

The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the jail at 1300 Cherry Street around Oct. 19 and took the man to a hospital for treatment.

The sheriff’s office said Tuesday it was notified the inmate had died.

A preliminary investigation found there was no physical interaction between the inmate and corrections officers, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Detectives are still investigating the circumstances of the death.

“The loss of a life is always tragic, and our hearts go out to those affected as we work to learn what happened,” Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté said in a statement.

The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.

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St. Tammany coroner rules mysterious Twin Span death a homicide by hit-and-run

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Metia Carroll

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    LOUISIANA (WDSU) — The St. Tammany coroner is asking the public to report any information related to a mysterious death on the Slidell Twin Span early Tuesday morning.

Louisiana State Police responded to the crash around 2 a.m.

State police said Edashia Caraway, 26, of Appleton, Wisconsin, was walking on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 when a Mazda, also traveling eastbound, hit her.

According to police, preliminary findings suggest that another car may have hit Caraway before the Mazda.

Caraway was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to St. Tammany Coroner Christopher Tape, Caraway’s death is unusual.

Tape said in an issued press release that Caraway’s family paid for her to travel to New Orleans for a concert.

Tape said her hotel room was secured by state police, and he also requested a sexual assault nurse to collect evidence during the autopsy.

According to Tape, Caraway died from multiple blunt-force injuries from being hit by a car. Her cause of death has been ruled a homicide from a hit-and-run.

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Prosecutor ‘vigorously opposes’ John Carter’s request for early prison release

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Matthew Dietz

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    BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio (WLWT) — The man serving time for the death of Katelyn Markham is asking a judge to let him out of prison early and Butler County’s prosecutor is responding.

Katelyn Markham disappeared from her Fairfield townhome in August 2011, and her remains were found almost two years later in Indiana.

It took a decade, but in 2023, Carter was indicted for murder.

Last year, right before he was supposed to go on trial, he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to three years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed under Ohio law.

Now, 15 months into his sentence, Carter’s attorneys are asking for his early release, saying he has been a model inmate and will do everything necessary to never return to prison.

This week, Butler County prosecutor Mike Gmoser filed a lengthy response to that request, saying his office “vigorously opposes” it.

Gmoser said Carter has never expressed remorse for Katelyn’s death or offered an apology to her family.

“The State of Ohio agrees with popular sentiment that three years is way too short a time to lose his liberty as the court imposed to a maximum. Too short a time for punishment as provided by the laws of this state. Nevertheless, he should serve every millisecond of the maximum sentence imposed in the sole discretion of the Court and nothing less,” Gmoser said.

The request will now go to a judge, who will either deny the motion or grant a hearing on the matter.

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Polk County leader hopeful for partnership with Linn, Johnson County for water quality funding

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Abigail Kurten

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Polk County Board Chair Matt McCoy says accurate water quality data isn’t just important; it’s essential.

That’s why Polk County pledged to allocate $200,000 to Iowa’s Water Quality Information System (IWQIS) Tuesday morning.

“To interrupt that data would be detrimental to the center for the research and for the science,” McCoy said.

IWQIS lost a large amount of funding in 2023 when Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law diverting $500,000 from the system. Since then, it’s survived on grassroots funding that’s set to expire next year. Polk County’s contribution isn’t coming from the county’s general fund, however.

$90,000 is coming from leftover funding from the Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment from earlier this year. The other $110,000 comes from leftover American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funding. While this covers a significant portion of the $500,000 it takes to keep all 80 water monitors running, it’s not a permanent solution.

“Next year, it’ll be harder to maintain,” McCoy said. “But at least we know that it’s a budget item now.”

McCoy went on to say he hopes other large counties, like Linn and Johnson County, will help keep the system running with their own contributions. He also hopes to work with lawmakers to restore the diverted funding.

“Hopefully, in the effort to balance the state budget and work with our partners, they’ll see the value in this and work together,” he said.

In an email to KCCI, Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green told KCCI that IIHR Hydroscience and Engineering, the organization behind the water quality monitor, will present to the board next month. Though due to a “difficult budget situation,” it’s unclear whether Johnson County will be able to contribute a significant amount of funding.

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South Carolina man sentenced to decades in prison for abusing an 8-year-old girl

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Zach Rainey

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    SOUTH CAROLINA (WJCL) — A man in South Carolina has been sentenced to decades behind bars for subjecting an 8-year-old child to physical, emotional, and psychological abuse.

On Monday, 28-year-old Ian Tatro, of Wellford, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of unlawful neglect of a child and one count of obstruction of justice.

The seventh circuit solicitor’s office said the crimes occurred while the child lived with her stepmother and father, Tatro.

According to court documents, the child was given animal feces as a Christmas gift, made to stand in a garbage can for hours with trash thrown on her, locked in a closet, made to wear a diaper, restricted from using a bathroom, repeatedly hit with a cutting board, yelled at, force-fed laxatives, and beaten by Tatro.

Officials said Tatro also used temporary tattoos to disguise the bruises left on the child from the abuse.

Cases against the others who participated in the abuse remain pending

“The amount of abuse this child suffered at the hands of adults who should have loved and cared for her is staggering,” Solicitor Barry J. Barnette said. “The abuse was not just physical abuse but repeated psychological abuse.”

Circuit Court Judge R. Keith Kelly sentenced Tatro to a total of 50 years in prison.

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Former professor sues Auburn employees over firing tied to post on Charlie Kirk’s death

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Ayron Lewallen, Riley Conlon

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    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WVTM) — A former educator at Auburn University and the University of Alabama is suing several school leaders over her firing, which she says occurred due to a statement she made on social media regarding the assassination of conservative-activist and Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk.

Candice Hale, formerly a lecturer in Auburn’s College of Liberal Arts, argues her comments about Kirk’s death were constitutionally protected speech on matters of public concern and that the university’s decision to fire her was a violation of her First Amendment rights.

“Such retaliation cuts to the heart of democratic principles, where open discourse and the free exchange of ideas are essential to the preservation of liberty and justice,” the complaint reads.

The statement that allegedly led to Hale’s firing was posted to Facebook on Sept. 11, the day after Kirk was killed.

On Sept. 17, Auburn University released a statement announcing the termination of employees that had made “social media posts that were hurtful, insensitive and completely at odds with Auburn’s values of respect, integrity and responsibility in violation of our Code of Conduct.”

While Kirk’s death was not mentioned in the statement, U.S. Senator and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville attributed the move to comments about the assassination.

“Thank you, @AuburnU, for taking action and FIRING these sick people who mocked the assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Tuberville posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday. “They have NO PLACE in our state’s public education system.”

That same day, Hale alleges that she was asked to join an online meeting with Scott Forehand, Director of Compliance, Investigations, and Security at Auburn University, and Chris Hardman, a Behavioral Threat Assessment Coordinator.

Hale says she was asked several questions regarding her post, including:

“How students who were in the University’s Turning Point USA chapter would feel about her comments.” “How she would interact with white male students if they identified themselves with Kirk’s views.” “If she had access to firearms or had any intent to harm anyone in the Turning Point USA chapter at Auburn.” Hale says that, following the meeting, Forehand and Hardman found her not to be a threat to the safety of those on campus.

However, two days later, Hale was requested for another meeting, this time with Tami Poe, Senior Manager of Human Resources in the Dean’s Office, and Jason Hicks, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Ahead of the meeting, Hale was told that she was being placed on paid leave and would not be allowed to contact her students.

On Sept. 22, Hale alleges she was told by Poe that she could not have legal counsel during the meeting. Hale joined the second online meeting the next day and was told they planned to fire her and offered her a severance agreement.

Poe, Hicks, Forehand, Hardman and Auburn President Christopher Roberts are all named in the suit, which seeks both monetary compensation and job reinstatement, along with measures to prevent future retaliation.

Hale says is also pursuing legal action against leadership at the University of Alabama where she was employed in an adjunct position and allegedly fired for her comments on Kirk’s death as well.

“Both institutions have tried to silence my voice,” she said in a Facebook post Thursday. “I reject these efforts. I remain steadfast in defending my right to speak truth to power and to challenge white supremacy, misogyny, and injustice—especially within academic spaces.”

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National human trafficking operation leads to several Mississippi arrests

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Kelcie Bolden

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    Mississippi (WAPT) — Mississippi was a part of a cross-state human trafficking operation that led to the recovery of several victims in Jackson.

The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office says during Operation Coast to Coast conducted this week, one person was arrested and six victims were found in Jackson.

Nationally, the operation led to 34 arrests and the recovery of 68 victims.

The attorney general’s office says the initiative spanned 15 states and included more than 150 law enforcement agencies.

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Louisville Slugger’s monstrous baseball bat celebrates 30 years as city landmark

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Addie Meiners

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    LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WLKY) — Louisville’s iconic Slugger bat celebrated its 30th birthday on Tuesday, marking three decades since the massive structure was installed downtown.

Tuesday’s celebration included a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” highlighting the bat’s significance to the community.

It was Oct. 21, 1995 when Louisville’s iconic baseball bat made its way through the streets of downtown to the Slugger Museum.

Andrew Soliday, with the museum, recounted the bat’s journey to its current location, “I think they were down on Preston, and they brought that down 12 miles. Shut down some of the roads. They had to take down a street light on Brook and Main, so it could make the turn. And it made it through. So it was really just an exciting time.”

The bat, which is hollow inside, but made of hand-painted steel on the outside, has become likely the most photographed bat in the world.

Soliday emphasized its social media appeal, saying, “I mean, you want to talk about Instagram worthy? Social media worthy? That’s it right there.”

Seventy million people have visited the bat over its 30-year lifespan, making it a major tourist destination.

Louisville residents Hope Zeller and Joe Desensi expressed their enthusiasm for the birthday.

“I mean, if you love Louisville, like, this is just one of those things that you like to be a part of,” Zeller said.

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Hollywood actor Luis Guzmán reflects on living in Vermont, service and staying grounded

CNN Newsource on October 22, 2025

By Adrian Pastor

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    SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WPTZ) — Luis Guzmán, a legend in Hollywood, is known for bringing characters to life for decades, most recently introducing Gomez Addams on Netflix’s “Wednesday,” to a new generation. The actor says Vermont is where he’s simply “Luis” — a neighbor proud to call the Green Mountain State home.

“I’m lucky to be here. I’m lucky to have the neighbors that I have,” Guzmán said. “I take a lot of pride in telling people that I live in Vermont.”

Guzmán first connected with the state in the 1970s during a trip to Goddard College while working as a social worker on New York City’s Lower East Side.

“That kind of became my connection to Vermont, and it was my escape from the city,” he said.

He has lived in Vermont since the 1990s and has volunteered his time with several local groups, including Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Hunger Free Vermont and Neighbors in Action.

“When I was a social worker … I saw the need to service and help people,” he said. “But my mentality was always helping people to help themselves.”

What began as a hobby became a decades-long career on the big and small screen, and Guzmán said he has watched Hollywood evolve during that time, creating more authentic Latino stories.

“We’ve been dealt some pretty heavy hands in our existence,” he said. “We’ve powered through. We continue to power through. We take pride in who we are.”

As the next generation of actors and creatives begin to embark on their journeys, Guzmán said his message is simple.

“Ask questions, be focused. Stay off the phone,” he said. “Humble yourself … Be a giver. Be willing to help. Be willing to be a team player. Be willing to learn something new.”

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