Guard, governor D.C.-bound

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday that he has authorized the Arkansas National Guard to deploy about 500 soldiers and airmen to Washington, D.C., to help protect the nation's capital during President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, which the Republican governor said he plans to attend.

The guardsmen will begin deploying Sunday and plan to return before the end of January, according to the Arkansas National Guard.

"As I thought about the request that was made for assistance of our National Guard resources, yes, we want to participate in that," Hutchinson said Thursday during the superintendents symposium for the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators. "We want to do our share to keep our nation's Capitol safe.

"Hopefully .... it will be a very safe venue, but it is important that we have a smooth transition and a peaceful transition that reflects the best of America and we want the world to see that."

Snip

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jan/15/guard-governor-dc-bound/?news-arkansas