Hi Community Members!
We’re closing in on the last days to sign the petitions for the multiple ballot initiatives collecting signatures to make it on the ballot November 5th. If you haven’t signed yet, please make a plan to sign this week! I’ll have signing opportunities listed later in the newsletter.
Local Events
Tuesday, June 25th at 9 a.m. - Onward Ozarks: The Air Service Landscape at XNA - zoom conversation hosted by Randy Wilburn of I Am Northwest Arkansas podcast, reserve your spot HERE
Thursday, June 27th at 9 a.m. - Thirty Years of Smart Growth: A Case Study of Davidson, NC webinar from Groundwork featuring Jason Burdette, AICP Planning Director from the town of Davidson; reserve your spot HERE
Friday, June 28th - Sunday, June 30th - 2024 NWA Pride Weekend - 20th Anniversary Celebration in Fayetteville - For more information on the parades, festival, youth zone, pool party go HERE
Ballot Petitions - Last Chance to Sign!
Multi-Petition Events in NWA:
Wednesday, June 26: NWACC Signing Drive-thru from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. (1 College Drive, Bentonville)
Thursday, June 27: Bella Vista Public Library Drive-thru from 5 - 7 p.m. (11 Dickens Pl.)
Saturday, June 29: St. Paul’s Weekly Drive-Thru from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (224 N East Ave)
Also look for petitioners at the concert events and farmers markets this week!
Permanent Locations for at least the Abortion Amendment:
Two Friends Bookstore in Bentonville (801 SE 8th St); Tues - Sat 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Kaleidoscope Collective in Rogers (109 W Walnut St); Tues - Sat 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition in Fayetteville (205 N College Ave); Mon - Fri 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Ballot Petitions and their individual signing calendars which will be updated throughout the week:
Ballot Petition Shenanigans - reporting from the Arkansas Advocate:
Ballot measure supporters can collect signatures at Arkansas town’s festival, federal judge rules - Judge agreed with plaintiff’s attorney that Rose Bud’s ordinance to restrict canvassing violated the First Amendment
Hot Springs police handcuff advocate for government transparency, remove her from public venue - Attorney Jen Standerfer said she collected signatures for proposed ballot measures only if supporters approached her; police did not file charges
Community Involvement Opportunities
Pride Weekend Participation Options!
Register to join the Democrats of Arkansas at the following 2024 NWA Pride Parade & NWA Trans March events:
📅 Friday, June 28, 2024
Trans March Line Up Time/Location: To be announced
Trans March Start Time: 7:00 PM - march will end at Fayetteville Town Center
📅 Saturday, June 29, 2024
Pride Festival Time/Location: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Fayetteville Entertainment District
Pride Parade Line Up Time/Location: To be announced
Pride Parade Start Time: 5:00 PM.
Complete the form linked HERE to get registered to walk with Democrats from all over in the Northwest Arkansas Pride Parade and/or the NWA Trans March. You can also help by volunteering to work at an information booth during the Pride Festival.
Once the exact time and location for the Trans March and Pride Parade line up location is provided by the organizers, you will receive an email/text with those details.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, June 24 at 6 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 25 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
From Sam Hoisington at The Bentonville Bulletin, “Steve Galen Announces Bid for Bentonville Mayor - Former Walmart supplier says his campaign will focus on traffic, infrastructure, and housing”. Learn more about Steve and his campaign HERE.
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Items of Note:
Downtown Master Plan Presentation to the public will occur at 6:30 p.m. on June 24th at the American Legion Building (168 Glenwood Ave)
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Items of Note:
The city is accepting applications until July 1st for a new fire chief to replace the previous fire chief who retired on June 7th, read more from Campbell Roper at the NWA Dem Gazz HERE
Lowell’s planning commission approved a 60-dwelling low-income housing development designs (which was previously awarded nearly $4 million in federal funding in 2023), read more from Campbell Roper at the NWA Dem Gazz HERE
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Special Meeting Tuesday, June 25th at 4 p.m., Regular Meeting Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.)
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 25 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
Rogers residents can get four free lawn tickets per household to the annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular at the Walmart AMP which includes a concert by the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Pick up the tickets in person June 24–July 3 at the box office during normal business hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (not available online). Show your water bill as proof of residency.
Rogers recently released their current draft of the Future Land Use and Master Street Plan and the Rogers Street Classifications document
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 2nd at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
The Community Development Team is excited to announce the release of the City Projects Tracker. With this tracker, you can stay updated on city projects, current statuses, and deadlines! Explore the City Projects Tracker HERE
Join the city for an unforgettable Fourth of July Block Party in Siloam Springs on July 4th! Gates open at 5 PM with music from Maud Crawford at 6 PM and Clay Page at 7:45 PM. Enjoy line dancing, food trucks, yard games, and family fun on Sue Anglin Drive, located near the rodeo grounds. Fireworks at dark!
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 25 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
County Government Awareness
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Development Review Committee - June 26th at 10 a.m.
Quorum Court - June 27th at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - July 3rd at 6 p.m.
Finance Committee Meeting - July 9th at 6 p.m.
Development Review Committee - July 10th at 10 a.m.
Committee of the Whole - July 16th at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
94th General Legislative Assembly:
I went on vacation this past week, and while I was gone the Governor called a special legislative session to cut taxes and fund the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Mary Hennigan and Tess Vrbin from the Arkansas Advocate have a thorough write up covering the activity addressed in the session, “Arkansas governor signs tax, appropriation bills after special legislative session ends - Anti-abortion resolution sparks House debate, governor weighs in”
State Senator Greg Leding (D - Fayetteville) recaps the session as well HERE.
Election Information
Upcoming Candidate Filings for Municipal and Other Positions
Local citizens are running out of time to make a decision on running for nonpartisan municipal, Bentonville school board, NWACC board of trustees, and Beaver Lake Water District positions up this November.
Dates to be aware of:
May 9, 2024: First day candidates may start circulating signature petitions to get on the ballot
July 31, 2024 at noon - August 7, 2024 at noon: Filing period at the County Clerk’s offices in Benton County
Position Details:
Bentonville School Board (zone 2)
NWACC Board of Trustees (zones 6, 7, and 9)
In the Ear
District 3 Podcast hosts spoke to the powerful folks from Circles NWA -a community-driven program that works to increase upward mobility for individuals and families in poverty in Northwest Arkansas.
The Underview podcast spoke about schools with Dr. Debbie Jones, Bentonville Schools Superintendent - discussion covered the state of Northwest Arkansas and how our schools contribute to the forming and shaping of our community
“Get the F(OIA) Outta Here: The Week In Review for June 22nd, 2024” from the Arkansas Times - On this week’s podcast: Rhetorical funny business on tax cuts and state surplus, FOIA and education canvassers face harassment, and dashcam footage released in the Bryan Malinowski shooting.
Odds & Ends
Read Worth Sparkman’s reporting in Axios NW Arkansas, “Group sues to stop Arkansas’ school voucher program”
Read Karen Finney’s opinion piece for CNN, “Call it ‘Make America Chaste Again.’ And it’s a losing message for the GOP in 2024”
Remember the two year anniversary of the Dobbs decision with Jessica Valenti, whose Substack: Abortion, Every Day is the go-to daily resource on everything abortion related across the U.S. - “Finding Hope in the Room -How to keep going, two years after Dobbs”