Four Arkansas basketball players invited to NBA Draft Combine

4 RAZORBACKS RECEIVED AN INVITE TO THE 20-26 N-B-A DRAFT COMBINE IN CHICAGO. THE ONLY PLAYERS WHO áFOR SUREá WON’T BE ON THE TEAM NEXT YEAR ARE DARIUS ACUFF, JUNIOR. HE IS A SURE-FIRE, TOP-10 PICK. AND, TREVON BRAZILE, WHO IS GRADUATING. BUT, BILLY RICHMOND AND MELEEK THOMAS ARE ALSO HEADING TO THE DRAFT TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THEY COME BACK TO COLLEGE NEXT SEASON. AFTER THE WEEK-LONG EVENT ENDS, RICHMOND AND THOMAS WILL HAVE UNTIL MAY 27TH TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY’D LIKE TO KEEP THEIR NAMES IN THE DRAFT. OR, COME BACK AND PLAY FOR COACH CAL ALONGSIDE THE NUMBER 1 RECRUITING CLASS IN THE NATION. áááHOUR BY HOURááá OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, WARM TEMPS AND MOSTLY SUNNY TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES ARE EXPECTED. A SMALL CHANCE OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE MONDAY NIGHT, BUT LOOKS TO REALLY PICK UP TUESDAY WHICH IS A SEVERE DAY. áááSPCááá THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A LEVEL 2 OUT OF 5 DAY 3 SLIGHT RISK FOR ALL OF THE VIEWING AREA. LOOKS TO BE MOSTLY A WIND AND HAIL RISK FOR NOW, BUT CHANCES OF TORNADOES ARENT ZERO. áááCPCááá WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE ON THE WAY HEADING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, LOOK TO BE AROUND AVERAGE FOR PRECIP CHANCES AS WELL. ááá5 DAY TEMPSááá ABOVE AVERAGE THROUGH TUESDAY BEFORE A FRONT MOVES THROUGH, COOLING DOWN THROUGH WEDNESDAY. áááHOUR BY HOURááá OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, WARM TEMPS AND MOSTLY SUNNY TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES ARE EXPECTED. A SMALL CHANCE OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE MONDAY NIGHT, BUT LOOKS TO REALLY PICK UP TUESDAY WHICH IS A SEVERE DAY. áááSPCááá THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A LEVEL 2 OUT OF 5 DAY 3 SLIGHT RISK FOR ALL OF THE VIEWING AREA. LOOKS TO BE MOSTLY A WIND AND HAIL RISK FOR NOW, BUT CHANCES OF TORNADOES ARENT ZERO. áááCPCááá WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE ON THE WAY HEADING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, LOOK TO BE AROUND AVERAGE FOR PRECIP CHANCES AS WELL. K TO ááá5 DAY TEMPSááá ABOVE AVERAGE <“SPIRIT AIRLINES IS SHUTTING DOWN. I’M JACKIE DEFUSCO IN WASHINGTON WITH WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR STRANDED TRAVELERS ARE REBOOKING FLIGHTS AFTER SPIRIT AIRLINES ANNOUNCED ITS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS THIS WEEKEND. THE ULTRA-LOW- COST AIRLINE HAD GONE BANKRUPT TWICE BEFORE, BUT THE COMPANY SAID THE RECENT SPIKE IN OIL PRICES STEMMING FROM THE IRAN WAR PUSHED THEM OVER THE EDGE. OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT JACKIE DEFUSCO JOINS US WITH HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS RESPONDING. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING WITH OTHER AIRLINES TO OFFER TEMPORARY RELIEF TO TRAVELERS. BUT CONSUMER ADVOCATES EXPECT SPIRIT’S CLOSURE WILL ULTIMATELY PUSH UP TICKET PRICES. EMPTY CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNTERS AND CANCELLED FLIGHTS — AS SPIRIT AIRLINES BEGINS SHUTTING DOWN OPERATIONS. <“I’m upset. I’m upset, and then also it makes me nervous”> THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS SOME AIRLINES ARE CAPPING TICKET PRICES FOR SPIRIT CUSTOMERS SCRAMBLING TO REBOOK… OTHERS HAVE PLEDGED TO HOLD DOWN FARES ON POPULAR SPIRIT ROUTES. BUT THAT RELIEF IS EXPECTED TO BE SHORT-LIVED, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CONSUMERS LEAGUE. <“We know that when spirit began flying on a particular route that other airlines would respond by lowering their prices and so, without Spirit in the game anymore, I think consumers can expect is that there will be less pressure on prices, which is particularly painful now given how expensive its becoming because of the jet fuel price is related to the Iran war.”> IN A PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING ITS WIND-DOWN — SPIRIT SAID “the sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately has left us with no alternative.” <“Spirit was in dire straits long before the war with Iran”> TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY SAID THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAD BEEN WEIGHING A POTENTIAL BAILOUT OF SPIRIT, BUT A DEAL DIDN’T COME TOGETHER… HE ALSO ADDRESSED OTHER LOW-COST AIRLINES SEEKING GOVERNMENT RELIEF DUE TO HIGH JET FUEL PRICES FROM THE WAR. <“I would say that at this point, I don’t think it’s necessary. They do have access to cash. If they want to come to the US government, we would be a lender of last resort.”> AND ASKED ABOUT CONCERNS THAT TICKET PRICES WILL INCREASE — SECRETARY DUFFY SAID IT’S SOMETHING THE DEPARTMENT IS MONITORING… BUT HE ALSO PLACED BLAME ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR BLOCKING A PROPOSED MERGER BETWEEN SPIRIT AND JETBLUE IN 2023. IN WASHINGTON, I’M JACKIE DEFUSCO, 40-29 NEWS. 17 THOUSAND SPIRIT EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO OUT OF WORK NOW. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS SOME AIRLINES WILL OFFER THOSE LOOKING TO CONTINUE THEIR CAREERS IN AVIATION PRIORITY IN JOB INTERVIEWS. NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT KEEPING YOUR BRAIN ACTIVE MAY LOWER YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA. SCIENTISTS CALL THIS “COGNITIVE ENRICHMENT”, AND IT MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WAYS TO KEEP YOUR MIND SHARP AS YOU AGE. WITH MORE, HERE’S ABC NEWS ALEX STONE. NEW RESEARCH FROM RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER MAY GIVE YOU A GREAT REASON TO PICK UP A CROSSWORD PUZZLE. THE STUDY FOUND PEOPLE WITH A LIFETIME OF BRAIN- STIMULATING ACTIVITIES HAD A 38% LOWER RISK OF DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. HOBBIES LIKE READING, PLAYING GAMES, OR VISITING MUSEUMS ALL SEEMED TO OFFER A PROTECTIVE EFFECT. THE BIGGEST BENEFITS WERE SEEN IN PEOPLE WHO STAYED MENTALLY ACTIVE IN MID- AND LATE-LIFE. AND ONE SURPRISING FINDING: LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE EARLY IN LIFE PROVIDED LASTING PROTECTION. SO EVEN CHILDHOOD ENRICHMENT HELPED. TO HELP KEEP YOUR BRAIN SHARP INTO YOUR GOLDEN YEARS, HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW: MAKE TIME EACH DAY FOR SOMETHING THAT CHALLENGES YOUR BRAIN — AND INVITE FRIENDS OR FAMILY TO JOIN YOU. BECAUSE KEEPING YOUR MIND ACTIVE TODAY MAY HELP PROTECT IT FOR YEARS TO COME. WITH THIS MEDICAL MINUTE, IM ALEX STONE. NOW TO THE SUPREME COURT… FACING YET ANOTHER MAJOR RULING ON ABORTION. A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY FILED AN EMERGENCY APPEAL SATURDAY – AFTER A LOWER COURT ON FRIDAY BLOCKED A POPULAR ABORTION PILL FROM BEING DISPENSED THROUGH THE MAIL. HERE’S ABC’S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, OLIVIA RUBIN. the most sweeping abortion restriction since the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe versus Wade, taking effect around the country. A three-judge appeals court panel, two appointed by President Trump, temporarily barring women from accessing the abortion pill, Mifepristone, by mail. The ruling a win for Louisiana, which sued in part on claims the buy-mail pill skirted its statewide abortion ban. The FDA approved Mifepristone in 2000, but eased restrictions in 2023 under the Biden administration, no longer requiring women to see a certified healthcare provider in person. But under the Trump administration, HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordering an FDA review of the safety and efficacy of the drug. Dr. Alok Patel: It’s very efficacious and has less than 1% complication rate. For people living in rural counties or in states with strict abortion laws, people who cannot access a health care provider in person, having the option of medication abortions via telemedicine is potentially life-saving. The ruling now significantly curtailing access to one of the most common abortion methods, medication abortion, which in 2023, accounted for more than 60% of all abortions in the country, according to Guttmacher Institute. OLIVIA RUBIN, ABC NEWS, WASHINGTON. LAST YEAR, 5.8 MILLION DOGS AND CATS ENTERED SHELTERS AND RESCUES — NEARLY A THIRD OF THEM SURRENDERED BY OWNERS, ACCORDING TO A-S-C-P-A ESTIMATES. MANY SHELTERS SAY ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS PEOPLE SURRENDER A PET IS THE COST. IN TODAY’S CONSUMER WATCH, JENN SULLIVAN LOOKS AT WHY VET BILLS ARE SO EXPENSIVE AND HOW PET OWNERS CAN SAVE MONEY. NAT FURRY FRIENDS FILL OUR HEARTS WITH SO MUCH JOY BUT THEY CAN ALSO EMPTY OUR WALLETS. Dr. Michael Bailey, American Veterinary Medical Association: “We talk about ultrasound, CT, MRI, they’re very expensive.” DR. MICHAEL BAILEY — PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION — SAYS RISING COSTS FOR MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE CAUSING VETS TO CHARGE MORE. AND JUST LIKE HUMAN HEALTH CARE, ANIMAL HEALTH CARE IS EXPENSIVE — ANDMOST OWNERS ARE PAYING THEIR PET BILLS OUT OF POCKET. Dr. Michael Bailey, President, American Veterinary Medical Association: “You can get pet insurance which is one of those things that’s there for any catastrophic event.” HIS GROUP ESTIMATES ONLY 4% OF U-S PETS ARE COVERED BY PET INSURANCE. BAILEY SAYS THERE ARE MULTIPLE INSURANCE OPTIONS, AND SOME EMPLOYERS OFFER THEIR EMPLOYEES DISCOUNTED RATES. THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ESTIMATED IN 2021 THAT ANNUAL COSTS FOR A DOG WERE NEARLY $1,400 AND MORE THAN $1,100 FOR CATS . . THOSE COSTS ARE EVEN MORE DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR BECAUSE OF EXTRA EXAMS AND VACCINES. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP KEEP COSTS DOWN? Dr. Michael Bailey, President, American Veterinary Medical Association: “Work with your veterinary health care team. They’re there not to make things expensive, they’re there to make sure you have a long healthy life with our furry friend.” BAILEY RECOMMENDS TALKING TO YOUR VET ABOU


Anchor/Multi-Media Journalist

Four Arkansas Razorbacks, including Darius Acuff Jr., Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond and Meleek Thomas, received an invite to the AWS NBA Draft Combine 2026. Darius Acuff Jr., a likely top-10 pick, is a first-year. Trevon Brazile is a senior. Billy Richmond and Meleek Thomas are expected to head into the draft to receive feedback that will determine whether they come back to college basketball next season. After the week-long Draft Combine ends, Richmond and Thomas will have until May 27 to decide whether they’d like to keep their names in the draft or play for Coach Calipari for another season.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —

Four Arkansas Razorbacks, including Darius Acuff Jr., Trevon Brazile, Billy Richmond and Meleek Thomas, received an invite to the AWS NBA Draft Combine 2026.

Darius Acuff Jr., a likely top-10 pick, is a first-year.

Trevon Brazile is a senior.

Billy Richmond and Meleek Thomas are expected to head into the draft to receive feedback that will determine whether they come back to college basketball next season.

After the week-long Draft Combine ends, Richmond and Thomas will have until May 27 to decide whether they’d like to keep their names in the draft or play for Coach Calipari for another season.