Squirrels live almost everywhere in the United States, terrorizing bird feeders and darting across roads with reckless abandon. They are self-sustaining, free range, and organic. Until 1997, “The Joy of Cooking,” quintessential cookbook that it is, included recipes for preparing them. Given their plentiful nature and mild flavor, they were <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/why-i-eat-squirrel-really">once a staple</a>. During the Great Depression, a young Arkansas boy named Cecil Redditt would head into the woods near a section of the White River, walk five miles to a logging camp, shoot squirrels along the way, and sell the squirrels to the loggers. On the way out, he’d shoot more squirrels to feed his family and then use the money to buy shells for the next day. 
By the time I met Cecil, I was a young man with decidedly more advantages, including the houseboat on land my parents purchased in the unincorporated area of Aberdeen, Arkansas. For us, it was a weekend getaway for hunting and fishing. Cecil, on the other hand, lived there. And like generations of men before and since, he loved telling tales. Maybe it was five miles, maybe it was really just two. The important part wasn’t the veracity of the details, but the storytelling ability. The same is true for Joe Wilson, founder of the World Champion Squirrel Cook-Off, an annual event in Northwest Arkansas, one born not from an exaggeration, but a lie. 
I’ve heard several variations of the cook-off’s origin story. The first through line through all of them is that he’s a character. The second is that when television producers meet him, they start to get ideas about how to get him on the screen. In the first telling I heard, the producers wanted to him to discuss living off the grid and prepping, two things which he very much does not do. But instead of rebuffing them for their ignorance about what people in Arkansas are actually like, he decided to have a little fun, so he invited them to the World Champion Squirrel Cook-Off. 
The only problem was there was no such thing as the World Champion Squirrel Cook-Off, so he had to will it into existence. He had <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3I24C23jtnca4TVM7gZNqO?si=123a7b07943e43d2">three weeks</a>. Naturally, he succeeded, in no small part due to the credulous TV producers. Fellow Southerners would’ve spotted the tall tale before he had a chance to get it off the ground.
As of Sept. 12, 2026, though, the cook-off has been around for 15 years, growing from a smaller gathering held on the Bentonville square to one held at the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozarks Nature Highlands Center, an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission facility in Springdale.
On Saturday, we welcomed 27 teams and somewhere north of 5,600 attendees. Those attendees came not just from the United States, though there were <a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1752960223208308&amp;id=100054830419351&amp;mibextid=wwXIfr&amp;rdid=vmZ9b2bdQBUXDMwJ#">visitors from</a> 15 states. At least one bloke from across the pond was there as well. That’s a whole mess of people coming together for a chance to try some chili and gumbo made from limb chicken.
They come knowing that not everyone gets to sample the competition dishes, which are reserved for the judges. Some teams make extra for those crowds; some don’t. Some people show up and cook other wild game just for the love of the game. Over the years, everything from raccoon to bear to beaver to groundhog have been available for anyone willing to try. For the less adventurous, volunteers whip up plates of fried catfish and chicken tacos. 
The main competition is just there to complete the lie. The real reason for the event, and for its continued success, is because of Wilson’s belief that “we need bigger tables and smaller fences.” And the squirrel cook-off is all about bigger tables and smaller fences, particularly as there are no tickets required for entry into the facility, for samples, for catfish, or for tacos, hence the fact that thousands of people show up knowing they’ll never get a bite of squirrel bacon ranch pizza or squirrel birria. 
Anyone can try the world’s hottest squirrel, though, assuming they want more than a bite. The entrants into that contest scoffed when I made them fill out a waiver, even if it took me a few hours to round up 10 people willing to put their pain receptors on the line. After <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1035744382853979">the contest</a>, when the winners and losers were busy pouring water onto themselves and, to put it delicately, ensuring they weren’t going to actually digest any of that hot squirrel, the waiver didn’t seem so crazy. Perhaps including <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fogh93S26B0">chocolate primotalii</a> pepper in the final sauce was a little much, but doing things halfway isn’t Wilson’s style, as evidenced by the other big side competition of the day.
The newly christened Clifton Jackson Squirrel Skinning Competition, named after a biologist with Arkansas Game and Fish who has been instrumental to the cook-off and won the first four cleaning competitions, required a little magic and a little pageantry. See, Clifton lives in Little Rock and had a funeral to attend Saturday morning, but Wilson couldn’t let him miss the event that was being renamed in his honor, so he put out the call. 
When Andy Griffith exhorted Aunt Bea to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa1ez7yL_T4">call the man</a>, he was highlighting an important thing about community and knowing who to contact when you need to make things happen. In this case, the man was a friend of the cook-off and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cookin-up-a-story/id1624969096">the podcast</a> who arranged a helicopter to bring Clifton from Little Rock to the Springdale. The pilot did a flyover before landing in a nearby field so Clifton could be driven in to attend the naming ceremony and defend his title. 
He came in second, but no matter. The trophies were busts of Clifton, and he sees himself in the mirror every morning. He congratulated the winner, smiled, and gave interviews, grabbing his prize on his way out but forgetting the large bust Wilson had made for him. It’ll decorate the podcast studio until such time as he decides to claim it. 
First place for the actual cook-off went to a crew from my hometown of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, who made squirrel gumbo. It was delicious. Being a small animal without a preponderance of heft, squirrel is best served in dishes where the meat has a chance to fall off the bone. (Wilson’s preferred preparation is a confit.) 
Not a bad day for an event that sprung from a lie Joe told the Travel Channel when its representatives came calling about an episode of “Bizarre Foods” — another version of the story — one hinged on their stereotypes about Southerners. Joe could have been honest. He could’ve gotten upset. He could’ve written it off. A not-so-secret fact about him is that he’s not a native, but originally from California, albeit rural California. He may love Arkansas and call it home, but his dog in this hunt is an adopted one. 
It may be 2026, but perceptions about the South persist. The reality is that most of us in Arkansas, particularly the northwest corner, are more likely to go to a restaurant or Walmart for our dinner rather than heading into the woods. Squirrel isn’t usually what’s for dinner. Joe could have educated the TV folks about that. He may be the official redneck of Northwest Arkansas, but he practices the small fence-big table ethos he preaches, even if he tells some lies from time to time.
And, in the words of George Costanza, it’s not a lie if you <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX6YdtufE7s">believe it</a>. George’s goals may have often been ignoble, whereas Joe’s are more about lifting people up, but the important thing is he did believe his lie and in turn make it a truth. That the people who believed the lie had no idea just how much they were underestimating our region is immaterial. We’re accustomed to being underestimated, except when it comes to the size of our tables.
***
Rich Cromwell is a writer living in Northwest Arkansas. He produces the Cookin’ Up a Story podcast, which you can listen to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cookin-up-a-story/id1624969096" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. You can also follow him on X: <a href="https://x.com/rcromwell4">@rcromwell4</a>.
This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.

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The Wild Southern Tradition That Started With A Made-Up Story

arkansas

food

lifestyle

southern culture

world champion squirrel cook off

The CEO of the popular travel station and retail outlet Buc-ee’s said he&#8217;s happy to target conservative states as the company continues to open new locations.
“We have a lot of opportunities. We’re growing. We’re building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference,” Arch Aplin III <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/2419490991875500">said</a> earlier this week a video clip posted by Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. 
“And I’m starting to realize life’s too short to try to build in places that people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you’re building,” the exec continued.
The beloved travel stop currently boasts locations in Texas, Arizona, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Colorado, Missouri, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, and now, Arkansas. 
Buc-ee’s is known for its mascot, a cheerful cartoon beaver in a red cap. It also boasts exceptionally clean and spacious restrooms, an average of 100 gas pumps per location, and a gigantic retail and food store attached that’s become a cult-like destination for visitors.
It’s not uncommon to see visitors snapping photos of themselves perusing the selection of branded merchandise and exclusive food options, like Beaver Nuggets (crunchy, bite-sized puffed corn coated in a sweet buttery brown sugar glaze), house made fudge, pastries, extensive fresh beef jerky, and Texas barbecue brisket.
The company is also known for having exceptionally high wages for the industry. The Buc-ee’s careers website says general manager salaries range from $200,000 to $275,000 or more, while assistant general managers start at $125,000. And it’s not just management making good money. Cashiers, maintenance, and grocery stockers start at $20 per hour with no experience required. Team leads jump to $23 to $28 range while department managers make $33 per hour.
Buc-ee’s has gotten into some controversy recently, however, after <a href="https://abcnews.com/Business/wireStory/buc-ees-chain-draws-outcry-ohio-launching-fight-135879150?cid=social_twitter_abcn">filing</a> several trademark infringement lawsuits, including a recently filed suit against Beaver&#8217;s Mini Mart in Beavercreek, Ohio. Some people slammed Buc-ee&#8217;s for going after the local convenience store, and Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine called the lawsuit &#8220;ridiculous.&#8221; Buc-ee&#8217;s claims that Beaver&#8217;s Mini Mart&#8217;s cartoon beaver logo, red color scheme, and name cause consumer confusion. The lawsuit was filed shortly after Buc-ee’s expanded into the state for the first time.

Buc-ee’s

Buc-ee’s CEO Lists Reasons He Wants To Expand Into Conservative States

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Eight missing children were safely recovered last week during a multi-agency operation led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&#8217;s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and state officials in Arkansas. 
Operation HOPE Arkansas began on August 18 and brought together HHS, Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Children and Family Services, and other law enforcement and child-welfare partners.
The operation began with four reported cases of missing foster children in Arkansas, with officials recovering three of them on the operation’s first day. Investigators responded to six additional cases that emerged during the four-day effort. 
In total, the operation involved 10 missing children, eight of whom were safely recovered or located, including two Colorado foster children found in Arkansas. The cases involved children missing from foster and residential placements, an alleged child abduction, and cases showing indicators of possible human trafficking. Authorities are continuing to search for two Arkansas foster children who remain missing.
“Every missing child case demands an immediate, coordinated response,” Arkansas Human Trafficking Coordinator Sgt. Matt Foster said. “Operation HOPE brought together the expertise and resources of law enforcement, child welfare professionals, and federal partners to locate vulnerable children, investigate the circumstances surrounding their disappearance, and ensure they receive the support they need once they are found.”
Operation HOPE was first launched in Mississippi in May during which officials recovered 13 of the 15 missing children they were searching for. The operation&#8217;s success in May prompted HHS officials to expand the initiative nationwide, making Arkansas the program’s second target.
“Every child in foster care deserves protection, so when they go missing, it is our utmost responsibility to bring them home,” Administration for Children and Families Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams said. “When the Trump administration launched Operation Hope in May, we promised to replicate its success across the nation. We are proud to have done so with Arkansas, and we will keep working until every child in the nation is accounted for and safe.”
The operation builds on Arkansas’ VALOR initiative, a statewide coalition created in January 2024 to improve the response to missing and endangered children. At the time, Arkansas had between 40 and 50 foster children reported missing. Following Operation HOPE, the HHS Administration for Children and Families says that number has fallen to just two missing children.
Operation HOPE is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to support children in foster care. In April, Secretary Kennedy announced that his department would prioritize early intervention for parents battling addiction rather than waiting until families reach a crisis point. 
“Too often, government intervenes after addiction has already pushed a family into crisis, and a child is at risk of entering foster care,” Kennedy said. “We want to intervene before that happens.”
First lady Melania Trump has also spearheaded the administration&#8217;s effort through her Fostering the Future initiative, which seeks to expand housing assistance, educational scholarships, and financial literacy programs. Shortly before Trump Accounts launched on July 4, 2026, the first lady <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gavin-newsom-gives-full-throated-praise-for-recent-trump-policy?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Gavin+Newsom+Gives+Full-Throated+Praise+For+Recent+Trump+Policy">partnered</a> with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to allow state and tribal child welfare agencies to open and manage accounts for eligible foster children, ensuring they can get Trump Accounts even without a parent or guardian available to enroll them.

Paper foster care family

EXCLUSIVE: How RFK Jr.’s HHS Is Finding America’s Missing Kids

department of health and human services

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robert f kennedy jr

Arkansas is the latest flashpoint as censorship continues to make waves in various forms and across the political spectrum. And one would be forgiven for thinking not much could ruffle the feathers of the American library community. But the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/librarians-face-prosecution-if-kids-access-harmful-books-arkansas-12271147">vowed</a> to “continue fighting attempts to censor books and restrict the freedom to read,” while Book Riot’s Kelly Jensen <a href="https://bookriot.com/arkansas-act-372/">claimed</a> librarians will be “arrested for doing their jobs.”
Was this in response to librarians protecting a series of Penguin Classics, or perhaps uncomfortable political speech? Hardly. The library lobby’s utterly unhinged indignation was a reaction to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/librarians-face-prosecution-if-kids-access-harmful-books-arkansas-12271147">recent ruling</a> that an Arkansas law restricting minors&#8217; access to “harmful” library material is indeed constitutional. <a href="https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/state-news/arkansas-library-law-targets-obscene-material-liability-definitions-unclear/">Based on the law</a>, Arkansas librarians who promote sexually explicit content to minors may face criminal charges. To quote Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, the ruling let Arkansas enforce a law that “protects children from obscene materials while increasing accountability for public-library curation decisions.” Jensen, a former librarian who <a href="https://kellybjensen.com/books/">writes books</a> about gender identity and “our radical anatomy” for minors, <a href="https://bookriot.com/arkansas-act-372/">ended up blaming</a> “white supremacy.” Telling.
First and foremost, the Arkansas law is not targeting books solely for containing controversial material; it focuses on books with sexually explicit material. One such <a href="https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-06-16/librarians-fight-book-challenges-in-saline-and-pulaski-county">example</a> is titled “Sex Is a Funny Word,” a sex education book written for <a href="https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/02/sex-is-a-funny-word-among-titles-causing-controversy-over-books-at-ludlow-middle-school-library.html">children aged eight to 10</a> that promotes a non-binary view of the world. <a href="https://www.broadstreetreview.com/articles/sex-is-a-funny-word-by-silverberg-and-smyth">Quote</a>: “Having a penis isn’t what makes you a boy. Having a vulva isn’t what makes you a girl.” The book also <a href="https://www.broadstreetreview.com/articles/sex-is-a-funny-word-by-silverberg-and-smyth">introduces</a> kids to the concept of masturbation, or “magic touch” — the kind that “can make a hard day a bit easier.”
Who in their right mind would share that with a third grader? Even the American Library Association (ALA) — a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/us/15krug.html">longtime supporter</a> of pornography peddling in school libraries and radical voices like Jensen — <a href="https://www.ala.org/news/2024/12/arkansas-book-banning-law-declared-unconstitutional">acknowledges</a> the Arkansas law is meant to “protect younger minors.”
That is the second point, and a key distinction. The Arkansas law does not prevent an 18-year-old from reading about gender identity and sexual orientation in “Sex Is a Funny Word,” or a <a href="https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-06-16/librarians-fight-book-challenges-in-saline-and-pulaski-county">book</a> like “Two Boys Kissing,” for that matter (another contentious book). Both books are widely available in local bookstores and on <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon</a>, among other options. And that is fine.
The law simply answers the fundamental question: Should a public school library recommend such books to eight-year-olds? Should a librarian introduce a third grader to books that discuss concepts like <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/07/25/american_library_association_is_now_americas_most_radical_activist_154363.html">applying lube or performing oral sex</a>?
The ALA <a href="https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data">identifies and protects</a> thousands of “banned books,” many of them containing pornographic material that is inappropriate for a pre-teenager. But they are not actually “banned.” As we all know, porn is readily accessible online and in-person — from old Playboy editions to new Pornhub videos.
Name me a single controversial book that you can’t find online (you can’t). The supposed book “banners” just don’t want kids reading porn in a local library.
Dating back to the 1960s, the ALA’s <a href="https://www.ala.org/The-Sesquicentennial/post1">official position</a> is that it does not believe “any political or governmental body is qualified to determine what one person should or should not read.” If that means illustrating modern LGBTQ politics for an elementary school student, so be it. If that means stocking the middle school library’s shelves with Playboy or Hustler, so be it too.
But public opinion is not on the library lobby’s side. Most parents don’t want their third grader reading porn, and certainly not without their knowledge and consent. The <a href="https://www.ala.org/advocacy/voters-oppose-book-bans-libraries">ALA’s polling data</a> may suggest voters “oppose book bans in libraries,” but that is because most Americans are impulsively in favor of the First Amendment — and rightly so. (Breaking news: Free speech is a good thing.)
Ask a loaded question, and you will receive an incomplete answer. Ask parents a more direct question — whether they endorse sexually obscene material in school libraries for minors — and the ALA won’t like their response.
Most parents express confidence in librarians, but most also <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/most-parents-favor-age-restrictions-on-books-in-school-libraries.html">favor age restrictions</a> on books. <a href="https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/parent_perception_school_libraries_2023">At least 85%</a> believe that books can be inappropriate for young children. Even more (<a href="https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/parents-objecting-pornographic-material-school-libraries-arent-book-banners">90%</a>) say that sexually explicit content has no place in school libraries, without endorsing its outright ban from broader society.
That’s why parents <a href="https://texasscorecard.com/state/parents-support-plan-to-keep-sexually-explicit-books-out-of-school-libraries/">routinely argue</a> in favor of parental consent requirements for students to access material that is deemed sexually relevant for their age group. <a href="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/partner_surveys/voters_oppose_explicit_books_in_public_schools">Nearly 90% of Americans</a> believe it is important that public schools fully inform parents about what is being taught to their children in classrooms.
Why? Because <a href="https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/partner_surveys/voters_oppose_explicit_books_in_public_schools">most Americans are concerned</a> that school-age children are being exposed to sexually explicit material that is not age-appropriate. It isn’t just me saying so, and no amount of <a href="https://www.arrighttoread.org/">ALA-backed astroturf groups in Arkansas</a> or other states will make the library lobby more than a fringe opinion.
Alas, radical activists now consider protesting porn at school to be out of bounds. Apparently, protecting parental involvement in early education is beyond the pale. Apparently, free speech is only supposed to apply to a librarian or an ALA executive; parents are supposed to just sit down and shut up.
The Arkansas case is a small win for parents, but not an ultimate victory. This culture war is far from over. Because of America’s library lobby, there will be no peace for parents anytime soon.
***
Dan Kleinman is the owner of <a href="https://safelibraries.blogspot.com/">SafeLibraries</a> educational services. He is also executive director of the World Library Association, an alternative to the American Library Association.

ITA-VENICE-ILLUSTRATION

Librarians Are Angry They Can’t Keep Shelves Stocked With Sexually Explicit Kids’ Material

american library association

book bans

library censorship law

opinion

parental rights

Video captured a good Samaritan dressed in a Spider-Man costume rushing across the road to push a struggling man’s wheelchair across the street in busy traffic in Arkansas on Tuesday.
As cars waited for the traffic light, a wheelchair-bound man attempted to slowly cross the intersection. Eventually, he tried thrusting himself forward to move the wheelchair faster. Then, the web-slinger jumped out of a red Jeep and ran to the rescue, pushing the man’s wheelchair across the intersection to safety. 
The 20-year-old hero, Christopher Hellenthal, was coming home from his work at Ultimate Air Trampoline Park in Jonesboro, which held Superhero Day, according to <a href="https://jonesbororightnow.com/news/268862-video-jonesboros-very-own-spider-man-helps-man-cross-busy-intersection/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Jonesboro Right Now</a>. 
“That morning we had a superhero day, and so I brought it for the toddlers, and they had a blast,&#8221; Hellenthal said, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/good-samaritan-spider-man-costume-helps-man-wheelchair-cross-busy-intersection-viral-moment">Fox News</a>. “And I noticed that there was this man, and he was in a wheelchair, and he was having a lot of trouble, he wasn’t going to make it.”
According to Jonesboro Right Now, Hellenthal was “a little bit hesitant at first,” thinking, “Man, I’m wearing this suit, everyone’s gonna think I’m a little dork.”
“But I got out and I went up to him,” he continued. “I said, ‘Don’t worry, I got you.’ And I grabbed a hold of his wheelchair, and I put him somewhere where he’d be safe, out of traffic.”
Afterward, Hellenthal went home to Lake City and took a nap. Later, his mom woke him up to a video shared by the Jonesboro Police Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1346082903745907">Facebook</a>, which quickly went viral.
“Some people say cops are heroes, but even we need a little helping hand,” the post read. “Thank you, sir, for helping this gentleman reach his destination safely. Whether it’s a red light or green light, there is always time to do what’s right!”
Hellenthal said he wears the suit while driving to “get a kick out of people.” Now, the huge Spiderman fan, who wears the costume for all sorts of kid events at the trampoline park, has been interviewed by The New York Times and Good Morning America, as well as other local and national media outlets.  
“This kind of stuff just doesn’t happen,” Hellenthal said. “I’m pretty quiet, I keep to myself, I keep a small group of people around me, and then all of a sudden, I got all sorts of people, and millions of people who know who I am now. It’s just crazy.”
Hellenthal has worked at the Ultimate Air trampoline park for three years, and the business’ assistant manager, Packy Magel, said Hellenthal is a “good kid” and “that’s just like him to help somebody.”

Screenshot

WATCH: Wheelchair-Bound Man Rescued By Superhero As He Struggles To Cross Intersection 

heroism

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Superheroes

Another red state is kicking Pride Month to the curb. In Arkansas, Republican Governor Sarah Sanders is instead declaring June as Fidelity Month. 
“Here in Arkansas, June is Fidelity Month: fidelity to family, fidelity to country, fidelity to God,” Sanders told The Daily Wire.
In a declaration reviewed exclusively by The Daily Wire, President Donald Trump’s former press secretary says that Fidelity Month will be a time for Arkansans to celebrate the “values of faith, liberty, and patriotism.” 
The resolution highlights the state’s goal of creating a healthy society by sowing faithfulness to “God, family, community, and country.” Arkansas aims to provide an opportunity to return to and reflect on its commitments to the values and virtues found in the nation’s founding documents. June is declared as a time to renew dedication to these core principles. 
The nod to traditional values mirrors actions in Tennessee, where Republican <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gods-design-red-state-swaps-pride-month-for-nuclear-family-month">Governor Bill Lee</a> declared June “Nuclear Family Month.” The resolution celebrates the traditional family with “one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children.”
Pride Month celebrations were notably less prevalent in 2025 after the election of President Donald Trump, who made clear in the first year of his presidency that there would be no <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-there-will-be-no-pride-proclamation?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=White+House%3A+There+Will+Be+No+%E2%80%98Pride%E2%80%99+Proclamation">national pride designation</a> from the White House. Pride parades across the country folded up due to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nyc-pride-parade-loses-corporate-sponsors-begs-for-individual-donations?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=NYC+Pride+Parade+Loses+Corporate+Sponsors%2C+Begs+For+Individual+Donations">lack of financial support from large corporations</a>, which pulled away from the LGBTQ movement that they overtly supported during the Biden administration. 
While certain cities in Arkansas hold pride events, the state has never formally recognized pride month. The declaration by Arkansas this year, however, is a clear statement in opposition to pride month that had not been done in past years.
Instead, Sanders says, she’s choosing to use the month to nod to the nation’s founding principles.
“The United States of America was founded on the values of faith, liberty, and patriotism as acknowledged in its founding documents and in the statements of its Founding Fathers,” her declaration states. “The commitment of Arkansas to spiritual and civic institutions is at the core of the State&#8217;s collective identity. Cultivating fidelity to God, family, community, and country contributes to human flourishing and supports a healthy, stable, well-ordered society.”
Under Sanders, Arkansas has been a leader in countering radical gender ideology that has become synonymous with the LGBTQ movement.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Another Red State Is Counter-Programming Pride Month, Focusing On Family Instead

donald trump

lgbtq

pride month

The Arkansas restaurant that kicked the state&#8217;s governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, out, citing concerns that employees were threatened by her presence, has responded to the firestorm, with employees digging in even as ownership says politics had nothing to do with it.
Hours after The Daily Wire revealed the details of the incident at The Croissanterie in Little Rock, in which Sanders was asked to leave after having lunch with two mom friends, and was both shouted at and flipped off as she departed, the restaurant told local press that it had nothing to do with her conservative politics.
&#8220;After the party completed their meal, a member of the security detail was quietly asked to help conclude the visit in line with our standard 90-minute table policy,&#8221; the restaurant told KARK. &#8220;The request was not immediately received, and the party remained for an additional period before departing without incident once communication was established.&#8221;
Restaurant employees didn&#8217;t seem to get the memo. In a widely circulated Facebook post that was taken as a statement from restaurant staff, an employee called the governor &#8220;evil&#8221; and made it very clear that Sanders&#8217; politics made the governor&#8217;s visit controversial.
&#8220;I’m proud af to work here! I’m proud af to be gay and I’m proud af to be an Arkansan,&#8221; the employee wrote. &#8220;My voice matters. Try again.&#8221;
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1062341" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/HDx4MhfWcAAaJ2p-370x576.jpg" alt="" width="370" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/HDx4MhfWcAAaJ2p-370x576.jpg 370w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/HDx4MhfWcAAaJ2p-193x300.jpg 193w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/HDx4MhfWcAAaJ2p-768x1194.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/HDx4MhfWcAAaJ2p.jpg 771w" sizes=" (max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px" /></div>
The restaurant also denies there was any commotion, contrary to the account from the Sanders camp.
&#8220;We want to be clear: there was no disruption in the restaurant,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;Claims that an employee made an inappropriate gesture are incorrect—it was a customer, and the situation has been addressed.&#8221;
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-hen-deja-vu-sarah-sanders-kicked-out-of-arkansas-restaurant-flipped-off-by-staff">Red Hen Déjà Vu: Sarah Sanders Kicked Out Of Arkansas Restaurant, Flipped Off By Staff</a>
There was never any claim by the governor that an employee gave her the middle finger as she left. The Daily Wire reported on Thursday that as Sanders was leaving without making a scene, a group started shouting, “It’s time to leave,” and they flipped her the middle finger in front of other guests. It was not reported that an employee made the gesture.
This is the second time Sanders has found herself in the situation of being kicked out of a restaurant by liberal owners. Back in 2018, when she was White House press secretary, it made national news when a small Virginia restaurant called the Red Hen told her and her family to leave because she worked for Donald Trump. The incident earned the restaurant owner praise from liberal media outlets like the Washington Post, which <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE3JwfWm2EI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hailed the owner</a> for “taking a stand” against Sanders.
The Virginia restaurant <a href="https://www.thenews-gazette.com/article/4303,red-hen-to-close" target="_blank" rel="noopener">permanently closed in 2023</a>.
Though the Croissanterie appears to have received support from liberal members of the community, the social media backlash has been harsh.
&#8220;Absolutely VILE ppl,&#8221; wrote one self-proclaimed Arkansas user. &#8220;I hope this restaurant goes under just like the Red Hen.&#8221;
&#8220;What a classy establishment,&#8221; wrote conservative commentator Guy Benson. &#8220;They took her business &amp; money before performatively throwing her out for &#8216;safety&#8217; reasons, while giving her the finger.&#8221;

Arkansas_Restaurant_response

Restaurant That Booted Sarah Sanders Responds As Staff Contradict Their Own Story

A father accused of killing the man who allegedly sexually abused his teenage daughter has won the sheriff&#8217;s race in Arkansas.
Aaron Spencer, 37, earned close to 54% of the vote on Tuesday in the Republican primary for Lonoke County sheriff, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/elections/arkansas-primary-county-sheriff.html">per</a> The New York Times. He will go on to face Democratic primary winner Brian Mitchell Sr. in the fall general election.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the people of Lonoke County for placing their trust in me. Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign, worked hard, and showed up to vote,” Spencer <a href="https://katv.com/news/local/aaron-spencer-wins-primary-for-lonoke-county-sheriff-in-high-profile-contest">told</a> local ABC affiliate KATV on Wednesday. “This is an important step forward, but we still have one more election ahead. I look forward to continuing this conversation with the people of Lonoke County as we work toward building a safer, strong Lonoke County.”
In October 2024, Spencer allegedly shot and killed Michael Fosler, 67, after claiming to find him with his then 14-year-old daughter. Fosler was out on bond and facing 43 criminal charges in connection with the teen, including sexual assault, at the time of his murder.
“I believe that I did what any good father would do in that situation that I was put in,” Spencer said, per KATV. He touted his actions as being his reason for running in the GOP primary.
“I&#8217;m the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed,” Spencer said in an October Facebook video. “And through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court. I refuse to stand by while others face these same failures.”
Spencer was charged with second-degree murder and pleaded not guilty, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/04/us/lonoke-county-arkansas-sheriff-election">CNN</a>. The trial was postponed from January and will be rescheduled following a hearing later this month. If found guilty, he will not be able to serve as sheriff, per Arkansas law.
When the public heard about Spencer’s arrest, more than $100,000 reportedly poured into a GoFundMe account for legal expenses. However, the platform reportedly pulled the fundraiser without explanation, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/donations-explode-for-dad-accused-of-killing-alleged-sex-predator-found-with-daughter">reported</a>.
“Lonoke County sent a clear message last night, and we’re just getting started,” Spencer said in a statement on social media. “I’m running to restore accountability and integrity to the Sheriff’s Office, and the people of this county just showed they want the same thing.”

GOP Voters Deliver Verdict For Dad Charged With Killing Daughter’s Accused Abuser

Father Charged With Killing Daughter's Alleged Abuser Wins GOP Primary In Arkansas

crime

Republican Primary

Sexual Abuse

At least 14 states have declared a state of emergency as they brace for snow, record cold, and potentially crippling ice from a winter storm that will stretch from New Mexico to Maine.
Around 172 million people are in the storm&#8217;s path this weekend, with the ice being the biggest threat. Up to an inch of ice is possible in some spots in the Southeast, which is enough to down trees and power lines, potentially knocking out power for days. Some cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., could see up to a foot or more of snow, while Minneapolis and Chicago face extreme cold. A polar vortex is expected to bring in frigid Arctic air to around 35 states following the major storm.
States that have declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also preparing to respond to the storm, setting up staging areas in multiple locations, ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/winter-storm-live-updates-tracking-dangerous-ice-snow/?id=129469173">reported</a>. In Louisiana, FEMA is preparing 250,000 meals, 400,000 liters of water, and 30 generators at Camp Minden near Shreveport.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders <a href="https://x.com/arkansasguard/status/2014734071088206232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2014734071088206232%7Ctwgr%5E8379399732f31524804ffc98aa29501a8f40a1f5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2FvDYMbArB%3F_showcaption%3Dfalseapp%3D1">ordered</a> 168 National Guard troops to active duty on Friday to support state police &#8220;until weather conditions improve.&#8221;
&#8220;Winter weather is headed our way as early as this evening. Stock up on essentials now, stay inside, and follow local and state guidance,&#8221; Sanders said on Friday morning.
In the South, where ice remains the biggest risk, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency <a href="https://x.com/TennesseeEMA/status/2014660446154821724">urged</a> residents to finalize their plans &#8220;and get home or to a safe place&#8221; by Friday night. In Texas, officials have warned residents to prepare for a &#8220;long-duration freeze&#8221; that will likely affect the state Saturday night through Monday night. Public buses and light rail trains will be completely shut down on Saturday afternoon in Austin, where the city&#8217;s mayor urged residents to stay indoors.
&#8220;Travel will become difficult, especially on bridges, overpasses, and untreated roadways,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/winter-weather/live-blog/winter-storm-snow-ice-weather-cold-live-updates-rcna255524/rcrd97174?canonicalCard=true">said</a> National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Runyon.
The storm will <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/winter-weather/live-blog/winter-storm-snow-ice-weather-cold-live-updates-rcna255524/rcrd97153?canonicalCard=true">move</a> across Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas on Friday night before ice and snow are expected to reach the Carolinas and Virginia by Saturday and into Sunday. The National Weather Service warned that heavy snow can also &#8220;bring multi-day Power Outages, block emergency routes, and cause Communication Loss from downed lines.&#8221; Cold temperatures are expected to persist throughout the first half of next week, potentially prolonging power outages and travel difficulties in many states that are ill-equipped to clear roads.

Winter Storm

Over A Dozen States Declare Emergencies As Americans Brace For Massive Winter Storm

Over A Dozen States Declare Emergencies As Americans Brace For Massive Winter Storm, Frigid Temps

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north carolina

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Winter storm

A new bill from Republican Senator Tom Cotton would protect National Guard troops from “deranged individuals” who attack or spit on them while they are on duty.
Cotton’s bill would create a 15-foot buffer zone around any National Guard member performing official duties, his office told The Daily Wire. The intent would be to shield troops from people trying to intimidate, harass, touch, or spit on them.
“The brave Arkansans who serve in our National Guard should be protected from deranged individuals. My bill ensures that anyone who attempts to intimidate or harass a Guardsmen will face the full force of the law,” Cotton told The Daily Wire.
Cotton’s legislation comes as President Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops to cities across the country from Memphis to Los Angeles to assist in federal operations.
The bill, known as the ‘‘National Guard Protective Zone Act,” would create a federal misdemeanor for those who enter the protective zone to intimidate, harass, or impede a troop. It would also create a felony for anyone who spits on or throws an object at a National Guard member while on duty. That would be punishable by up to five years in prison.
“Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit activity protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States that is conducted outside a posted protective zone,” the legislation reads.
Since being deployed to Washington, D.C., National Guard troops have faced protests and violence. Just before Thanksgiving, two National Guard troops were shot, with one dying while another was critically injured. The man suspected of shooting the troops was an Afghan refugee who entered the country under former President Joe Biden.
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In another high-profile incident, a man threw a subway sandwich at a Customs and Border Patrol officer during part of the Trump administration’s law enforcement surge to the nation’s capital.
On Wednesday, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals said the Trump administration could keep the National Guard deployed to the district while litigation plays out.
“Another important court victory for President Trump’s agenda: today, the D.C. Circuit unanimously issued a stay in favor of our National Guard deployment to Washington, DC,” Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/2001375227465322966">said</a>. “Our federal surge in DC has saved countless lives, removed hundreds of illegal guns off the streets, and led to a dramatic drop in crime in our nation’s capital city.”

Senate Confirmation Held To Consider John Ratcliffe To Be CIA Director

National Guard Under Attack From ‘Deranged Individuals’ In U.S. Cities, Senator Says

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national guard

politics

tom cotton

Washington D.C.

As she prepared to launch a statewide campaign as a Democrat in deep red Arkansas, the woman hoping to unseat Arkansas Republican Tom Cotton appears to have scrubbed from the internet her work for a nonprofit dedicated to helping people &#8220;make decisions about their sexuality&#8221; in Peru, where she literally led a pro-transgender parade through the streets of the capital city.
&#8220;The only thing Hallie ever wanted to do was farm,&#8221; Democrat Hallie Shoffner&#8217;s campaign <a href="https://www.hallieshoffner.com/about-1">website</a> states. &#8220;But if she can’t farm, she’s going to fight.&#8221;
The tunnel-vision desire to farm somehow brought her to work in South America at Peru&#8217;s Center for the Promotion and Defense of Sexual and Reproductive Rights, &#8220;a feminist non-governmental organization that, through political advocacy, knowledge generation and alliances, helps people to make decisions about their sexuality and reproduction with autonomy, dignity, justice and equality,&#8221; according to an English translation of its <a href="https://promsex.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>.
The group, generally referred to by the acronym PROMSEX, was founded in 2005 to advocate for &#8220;a more just society for all people, free from gender stereotypes and prejudices.&#8221; During her time with the group, Shoffner appears to have run a blog for the group, called <a href="https://perusinglima.blogspot.com/2010/07/pride-in-peru.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PERUsing Lima</a>. The blog was taken down at some point between November 2023 and August 2025, before Shoffner announced her Senate bid. Her work at the nonprofit is not listed on her LinkedIn page or on her campaign website.
But a Daily Wire review of Shoffner&#8217;s social media accounts and an archived version of the blog appear to confirm her involvement. In one LinkedIn post, she touted how she led a &#8220;Gay Pride Parade&#8221; in Peru in July 2010.
“I marched in Lima&#8217;s 9th Annual Gay Pride Parade yesterday (Saturday, July 10, 2010). Now, when I say I marched in Lima&#8217;s 9th Annual Gay Pride Parade, I marched in the FRONT of Lima&#8217;s 9th Annual Gay Pride Parade. I mean in the very front. Leading the charge. My org, Promsex, funded the parade so our staff carried the opening banner,” she wrote at the time, according to an internet <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231122025443/https:/perusinglima.blogspot.com/2010/07/pride-in-peru.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">archive</a> of the blog available on the Wayback Machine.
Shoffner&#8217;s behavior poses a sharp contrast to her state&#8217;s views on transgender issues. Arkansas has been a leader in socially conservative legislation related to transgender surgery for minors. The state&#8217;s Republican governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, has aggressively pursued policies to protect women&#8217;s spaces from transgender-identifying men. She won her office by nearly thirty percentage points.
Shoffner said her experience &#8220;celebrating being gay, lesbian, transexual, [and] bisexual&#8221; was &#8220;incredible!&#8221;
“On occasion, while we were marching, I would stop to take a photo of the very colorful line behind us. When I did, I saw that the front truck would stop too. So when I say I was leading the parade, I&#8217;m not kidding. It was incredible!&#8221;
“The celebration of who you are and what you believe (a celebration of self-love and pride with pure happiness) also defies the nay-sayers. And what were we celebrating? Yes, we were celebrating being gay, lesbian, transexual, bisexual&#8230;we were even celebrating being straight. But, primarily, we were celebrating love and humanity&#8217;s ability to love. That is what we should be most proud of. Some of Promsex&#8217;s staff&#8230;I&#8217;m so happy to be a part of the family!” she continued.
The blog also featured numerous photos of the parade, including shots of Shoffner herself.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1002183 size-full aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/parade-peru-2010-shoffner.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="341" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/parade-peru-2010-shoffner.jpg 512w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/parade-peru-2010-shoffner-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></div>
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<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1002181 size-full aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/shoffner.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="341" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/shoffner.jpg 512w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/shoffner-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></div>
Shoffner did not respond to a request for comment.
Republicans have criticized Shoffner, saying that her values make her a poor representative for Arkansas.
“Hallie Shoffner’s organization funded a trans-pride parade in Peru, she led the parade, and then she tried to hide it from Arkansans — what else is Hallie Shoffner hiding?&#8221; Bart Hester, President pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate, told The Daily Wire in a statement. &#8220;Arkansas has led the way in protecting our kids from trans surgeries, even when far-left activists attacked us. We were the first state to ban these harmful surgeries.&#8221;
“We also passed a law offering recourse to children who are victims of trans surgeries,” he continued. “It&#8217;s one thing for Hallie Shoffner to lead a trans pride parade in Peru, but for her to cover it up and try to hide the evidence shows she should be running for Senate in California, not in Arkansas.”
Cotton has introduced legislation to allows minors who have received “gender-transition procedures” to pursue damages if they choose to do so afterward.
“Gender-transition procedures aren’t safe or appropriate for children. Unfortunately, radical doctors in the United States perform dangerous, experimental, and even sterilizing gender-transition procedures on young kids, who cannot even provide informed consent,” Cotton said in a 2023 statement on the proposal.
Shoffner appears to have worked at PROMSEX while obtaining her Master&#8217;s of Public Service at the University of Arkansas&#8217; Clinton School of Public Service, which said that Shoffner &#8220;developed a fundraising strategy and donor database&#8221; for the organization, according to the school&#8217;s <a href="https://clintonschool.uasys.edu/news/panel-on-international-project/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">webpage</a>.
Currently, PROMSEX&#8217;s main initiative is NosoTrans, &#8220;a project that seeks to help trans women in vulnerable situations exercise their right to health, especially for hormone therapy processes, by accessing safe, reliable and transphobia-free health services in six areas of southern Lima.&#8221;

Arkansas Dem Hallie Shoffner Led Pro-Trans Parade In Peru, Derailing Moderate ‘Farmer’ Image

lgbt

senate

transgender

Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is rolling out workplace reforms for state employees, including implementing a new Infant at Work policy and ceasing future remote work, The Daily Wire has exclusively learned.
The new policy for parents of newborn babies is part of her Arkansas Forward initiative and will allow parents to bring their infants, from four weeks to six months old, into the workplace with supervisor approval. The program was initially piloted in the Governor’s Office and the Department of Human Services, but will now be expanded statewide. Sanders says it gives working families greater flexibility during a child’s earliest months of life.
“As a working mom, I know how important a child’s earliest months are for bonding and education,” Sanders said in a letter that was sent to state employees. “Working moms and dads are a critical component of our workforce, and I want to make sure we provide additional options for families to have flexibility and not have to choose between staying home with their infant or returning to work.”
In addition to the expanded Infant at Work program, Sanders announced another policy change. Starting October 1, Arkansas will end the regular use of remote work in state agencies plus will extend office hours to 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., encourage in-person meetings over virtual ones, and implement standardized flexible and alternative schedules.
“State employees serve our citizens best when they collaborate in person,” the governor wrote in the letter.
Sanders described these changes as part of a broader effort to leave behind “inefficient policies” that had become standard during the pandemic. 
“Five years ago, COVID-19 changed workplaces in Arkansas and around the world. But the pandemic is in the rearview mirror,” she wrote in the letter. “It’s time to leave the inefficient policies implemented five years ago in the past, too.”
The Arkansas Forward program has identified at least $300 million in cost savings while raising salaries for two-thirds of state employees to bring them closer in line with the private sector, Sanders shared. With these new reforms, the governor wrote, the state is attempting to create a more efficient government that doesn’t force families to choose between work and parenthood.
“We all entered public service because we care about the people of this state. I know all of you work hard to deliver for our citizens – but that doesn’t mean we can’t look for ways to improve our best practices. With these new policies, we’ll be able to build the responsive, efficient government our people want and deserve,” the letter from Sanders concluded.

Arkansas Governor Implements Infant At Work Policy, Ends Remote Work For State Employees

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Work environment

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