Good News: Federal Court Rules Against Pope Co. Casino Effort

Gambling, ,

On Thursday, a federal court dismissed the lawsuit over Issue 2 of 2024.

Issue 2 is a constitutional amendment that voters passed last November. The measure prevents the State of Arkansas from licensing a casino in Pope County.

It also prevents any additional casinos from being opened in Arkansas without a new constitutional amendment and without local voter approval at a special election.

Cherokee Nation Business received a license to operate a casino in Pope County before Issue 2 passed. After passage of Issue 2, Cherokee Nation Business filed a federal lawsuit to undo the will of the people and block the amendment.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr., ruled against Cherokee Nation Business’s lawsuit. This decision effectively upholds Issue 2 and keeps a casino out of Pope County. That is something to celebrate.

Gambling has become a scourge in our state. On average, Arkansans gamble millions of dollars every day.

In spite of that, casino tax revenue has not improved Arkansas’ roads or boosted the economy. Instead it’s hurt our communities.

Last year the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council announced it has seen a sharp spike in calls for help with problem gambling.

We have written in the past how gambling companies often oppose safeguards and promote compulsive gambling. 

Unless Arkansans take a stand, gambling addiction is simply going to continue wrecking lives and hurting families in our state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Family Council Submits Statement in Support of Rule to End Pro-Abortion Policies at VA

Abortion, , ,

Last Friday, Family Council submitted a public statement in support of a federal rule change that would help prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs from performing or paying for abortions.

Up until September of 2022, VA hospitals generally did not perform or fund abortions except to save the life of the mother. However, under the Biden Administration, the VA added broad “health” exceptions for abortion as part of an effort to expand abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Health exceptions for abortion are notoriously vague and can lead to abortion on demand in many cases. That’s why states like Arkansas limit abortion to situations where the mother’s life is at risk instead of using a broader “health” exception.

The Trump Administration’s proposed rule change would restore federal policies that were in place prior to 2022 and help protect women and unborn babies from abortion under the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Family Council submitted a public statement in support of the proposal, writing:

Dear Secretary Collins,

Family Council in Arkansas supports the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposal that would restore VA policies against abortion and abortion counseling (RIN 2900–AS31, Federal Register Doc. 2025–14687).

Arkansas’ elected officials have passed laws generally prohibiting abortion except to save the life of the mother. The VA’s 2022 rules contain broad exceptions that could permit abortions at VA facilities in states like Arkansas, contrary to state law. Returning to the pre-2022 rules would help prevent federal policy from undermining democratically-enacted abortion restrictions in states like Arkansas.

We strongly support the proposed rule and ask that it be finalized and implemented as soon as possible.

The federal government has no business trying to overrule state pro-life laws or turn VA hospitals into abortion facilities. Family Council appreciates all of the pro-life leaders who have stood against these bad federal policies, and we appreciate the Trump administration’s decision to rescind President Biden’s flawed rules from 2022.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Family Council Joins Brief Urging Supreme Court to Address School Gender Transition Case

LGBT, ,

Last Friday, Family Council joined an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Lee v. Poudre School District R-1 — a case challenging a Colorado school’s efforts to socially “gender transition” two middle school girls without their parents’ knowledge or consent. The amicus brief was led by Advancing American Freedom, and 42 pro-family organizations took part in it. This case is one of several that could protect children and parents from dangerous transgender ideologies.

Over the past five years, it has become clear that the “consensus” regarding social and medical gender transitions for children has been largely manufactured by pro-LGBT activists. Fortunately, Arkansas’ legislators have pushed back.

In 2021, lawmakers passed the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act generally prohibiting doctors from performing sex-change procedures on children or giving them puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. That law was recently upheld in federal court.

In 2023, Arkansas passed Act 542 protecting teachers or faculty members who decline to use someone’s preferred pronouns at school.

That same year, legislators passed Act 317 to protect privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and similar facilities by requiring public schools to designate these facilities for “male” or “female” use.

The Arkansas Legislature also passed the LEARNS Act overhauling public education in Arkansas, prohibiting critical race theory in public schools, and protecting young elementary school children from inappropriate pro-LGBT material in the classroom.

Taken together, these good laws — and others like them — protect children from social and physical gender transition.

Public school students should not be taught to question their sexual-orientation or their gender, and schools should not lie to parents about what their children are learning at school.

Family Council is pleased to stand up for parents and children. We hope the U.S. Supreme Court will take up this case.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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