As Arkansas's execution plans, initially scheduling an unprecedented eight lethal injections over an 11 day period drew national and international attention, news staff from KUAR and Arkansas Public Media have been reporting the blow-by-blow developments for NPR programs and news outlets worldwide. Below you can hear or find links to many of those reports. The entire news team has also been regularly filing short newscast reports for NPR News.
News Director Michael Hibblen's even made an appearance on Israeli television network i24NEWS Friday, April 14, which can be watched at this link.
On Monday, April 17, Arkansas Public Media's Sarah Whites-Koditschek went on WNYC's The Takeaway ahead of that night's first two scheduled executions, which had stays put in place.
That afternoon Whites-Koditschek also filed this report for NPR's All Things Considered:
On Thursday, April 20, KUAR's Jacob Kauffman was on NPR's Morning Edition.
He was also on BBC Radio's Outside Source (to be posted) and the KCRW Los Angeles program To The Point.
Arkansas Public Media's Bobby Ampezzan reported on All Things Considered Thursday afternoon about the international media that has converged on the state to cover the scheduled executions.
Later in the afternoon Ampezzan provided a live update on the legal situation for All Things Considered while traveling down to Cummins Prison.
After covering the execution of Ledell Lee just before midnight Thursday, Ampezzan filed this spot for Morning Edition on the first execution Arkansas had carried out in 12 years.
Arkansas Public Media's Sarah Whites-Koditschek was on NPR's The Takeaway, Friday, April 21 after the first execution was carried out explaining what's next with three additional executions scheduled the following week.
On Monday, April 24, Arkansas carried out the executions of Jack Jones and Marcel Williams despite requests for last minute stays of execution from both in state and federal courts. Jacob Kauffman filed this for Morning Edition.