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Hi Readers!

It’s National Library Week! With attacks against public libraries in Jonesboro and in Saline County, Arkansas librarians need our help more than ever. Read “Book Bans Affect Everybody - Here’s How You Can Help”. It’s from 2022, but still good advice for taking your first step today.

- Christine

Local Events

  • Tuesday, April 25 at noon - The FutureIsNow Speaker Series - Free luncheon (registration required) with speakers Emily Hamilton (George Mason University) and Matthew Petty (Pattern Zones Co) - discussion about land use/alternative zoning moderated by Randy Wilburn at 314 Goad Springs Rd., Lowell

  • Tuesday, April 25 at 6 p.m. - Emerge Arkansas Virtual Step Forward Workshop; the online discussion will help Democratic women answer the questions, “Should I run for office?” and “What does it take to run a successful campaign?” Participation is free, but registration is required.

  • Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. - Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition monthly meeting in person (St. Pauls (corner of Dickson/College in Fayetteville) or via Zoom

  • Thursday, April 27 at 5 p.m. - Say No to LEARNS Rally by CAPES at the Washington County Courthouse (Dickson/College in Fayetteville)

  • Saturday, April 29 from 4 - 9 p.m. - Bentonville Together 2023 - City of Bentonville at Orchards Park; This free, family-friendly event is a commemoration of the many cultures that call Bentonville home

  • Monday, May 15 from 11 - 1 p.m. - Mother’s Monday Celebration 4th annual virtual event started by Bentonville’s own Gayatri Agnew; this year’s event will feature a fireside chat with Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton and will feature panel discussions, which will focus on three key issues that significantly impact working mothers and other caregivers: childcare, parental leave, and return to work support

Special Shoutout

Project in process on Saturday at 8th and Main.

Congratulations to Sam Slaton (former JP candidate in 2018 and 2020) and his Urban Studies students at Thaden School for completing their public art project this past weekend! This project came about as a safety and beautification need at the intersection of 8th and Main in downtown Bentonville. The students developed the pitch for the art project and presented to the City Council, the Traffic, Safety & Signage Committee, and the Public Arts Advisory Committee. Watch the 40/29 interview HERE.

Municipal Government Awareness

Bella Vista

  • Next Council Mtng: Monday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd - NEW LOCATION!)

  • Items of Note:

    • Citywide Garage Sale Friday and Saturday! More info, including addresses listed HERE.

Bentonville

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, April 25 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)

  • Items of Note:

    • Attend the Bentonville Public Library’s Groundbreaking Ceremony for the expansion - Thursday, April 27 at 1 p.m.

    • Attend the Bentonville Connections event and hear from Mayor Orman and City staff about their departments and community updates - Thursday, April 27 at the Public Library from 11:30 - 1 p.m. or from 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Cave Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)

  • Items of Note:

    • April City Council Work Session Video

Centerton

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 9 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)

  • Items of Note:

    • Centerton’s first Farmer’s Market will be on Wednesday’s from 4- 8 p.m. at the Centerton City Park (290 N Main St.) starting May 10th

Gravette

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, April 25 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)

Lowell

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)

Pea Ridge

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - Committee of the Whole

  • Items of Note:

    • City appointed Matt Blood to the Ward 1 vacant city council position

Rogers

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, April 25 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)

Siloam Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)

  • Items of Note:

    • Board of Directors meeting video from April 18th (Directors workshop is first then the meeting)

Springdale

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, April 25 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)

County Government Awareness

Benton County Quorum Court

  • Live-stream of Finance Committee on April 11th can be found HERE

  • Next Meetings (215 E Central):

    • Benton County Quorum Court - Thursday, April 27th at 6 p.m.

    • Benton County Planning Board - Wednesday, May 3rd at 6 p.m.

Benton County School Districts

  • A public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25th, at the NEBCO Fire-EMS Building to discuss the proposal of a new publicly funded charter school (Garfield Scholars’ Academy) taking over the Garfield Elementary School which the Rogers School District is closing after the 23-24 school year. Read more HERE.

  • Bentonville school board unanimously approved a 6.5% raise for all salary structures for the 23-24 school year

  • Rogers school board unanimously approved a $2,000 raise (this is from LEARNS) and a $800 step increase for certified teachers for the 23-24 school year. The superintendent is also contemplating a $1,000 bonus for teachers in the fall if funding allows

State Government Awareness

94th General Legislative Assembly:

Election Information

Early Voting starts next Tuesday, May 2 and runs through Friday, May 5 and again on Monday, May 8. Election day is Tuesday, May 9th. Voting times and locations can be found HERE.

What’s on the Ballot?

  • School Board Elections (can only vote if you live in the zone):

  • Beaver Lake Volunteer Fire Department annual dues increase question

  • City of Springdale Bond Issue

  • NWACC Millage - all voters in the Bentonville and Rogers school districts are eligible to vote - please vote FOR✅ ; additional info on the millage:

    • The millage would restore the rate from 2.6 to 3.0 (the originally established amount approved by voters). The projected increase will be about $20-25 per year based on the average home cost in the area.

    • The millage will be used to bring staff salaries more in line with typical salaries for similar employees across the state of Arkansas; allowing the school to obtain high quality candidates and to eliminate many currently unfilled positions.

    • The millage will allow for development of further certificate and degree programs like the currently in development LPN program and trails related certifications.

    • The millage will provide a discount of almost 1/2 the cost of out-of district tuition to in district students. Allowing for example, a 2 year RN nursing degree to be obtained for around $4,500.

    • Last year tuition was raised for the first time in 8 years, the millage restoration will help limit the need to consider additional increases in the near future.

***For any of you that live in or know voters in the Fayetteville School District (Washington County), please vote for Keaton Smith✅ for the At-Large school position!

Abortion

The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), a nonprofit-nonpartisan independent research organization, released a report in February on abortion attitudes in a Post-Roe world with findings from all 50 states. The report also breaks down shifts in attitudes by party affiliation, religious affiliation, race/ethnicity, education, gender/sexual orientation, and age.

In the Arkansas data:

  • 43% say abortion should be legal in most or all cases (this is next to last with SD and UT at 42%)

  • 14% say abortion should be illegal in all cases (this is tied for the highest with ID, KY, LA, TN, TX & WV)

  • 48% favor or strongly favor overturning Roe v. Wade (highest by 3%)

Read the entire report HERE.

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If you’re interested in more abortion related content from across the nation, I have three free subscriptions to gift from Jessica Valenti’s “Abortion, Every Day” substack. Her compilations of all things related to abortion/women’s health are top-notch! Send me a note if you would like a gift subscription!

Political Training Opportunities

DNC Best Practices Institute - Train the Trainer (T3) Webinar Training Program

T3 is a FREE six-week, twelve-part webinar course, covering several aspects of grassroots campaigning. This program seeks to expand the skills of progressive activists and volunteers, by ensuring that comprehensive training is free and accessible for Democrats all over the country.

T3 trainings are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 - 7 p.m., from May 16, through June 22. The deadline to register is Sunday, May 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Participants must complete all twelve sessions in order to receive certification. All training sessions will include a skills test to track retention and participation. Trainings will be recorded and made available following each session via a weekly wrap-up email, delivered on Fridays, so you can still complete the program if you miss a live session.

Register for T3 Training

National Democratic Training Committee - Free!

Odds & Ends

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