Local Events
Wednesday, June 28, from 7- 8 p.m. - Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition monthly community meeting at St. Pauls church in Fayetteville (224 N East Ave) or via zoom. Come hear about how to request information from government officials and offices.
Friday, June 30, 7 - 8:15 p.m. - SoNA Beyond and Crystal Bridges present “I Paint What I See” at Crystal Bridges Museum - SoNA and Crystal Bridges collaborate to bring together the visionary voices of musical curator and conductor Felipe Tristán, a SoNA chamber orchestra, SoNA Music Director Paul Haas, and Crystal Bridges curator Jen Padgett. The collaboration will focus on the exhibition’s key themes, using the arts to highlight the profound beauty of the working class and everyday life, especially as it relates to Mexico’s mestizo and Indigenous roots. SoNA is also thrilled to announce that members of the Carlos Chávez (Mexican composer) family will be present and will join in remarks at the concert. Ticketed event
Tuesday, July 4 at 8 p.m. - Fireworks Spectacular with Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SONA) at the Walmart Amp in Rogers; SoNA’s concert will celebrate the beauty and grandeur of America and honor our nation’s veterans and those who bravely serve in our nation’s armed forces. Ticketed event (but cheap!)
Thursday, July 6, noon - 1 p.m. - Virtual Step Forward Workshop with Emerge Arkansas and Vortex PAC; this workshop was created to help Democratic women answer the questions, “Should I run for office?” and “What does it take to run a successful campaign?”; Registration required
Friday, July 7, from 5 - 9 p.m. - Bentonville First Friday on the downtown square - the Democratic Party of Benton County (DPBC) will have a booth at the event. Stop by and say hi to local Democrats, learn more about the organization and their work in Benton County, sign the CAPES ballot petition to repeal the LEARNS Act, and more!
Community Involvement Opportunities
Arkansas Kids Count
Register today to attend the Arkansas Kids Count Coalition Children’s Policy Summit in Northwest Arkansas on July 11th from 1:30 - 4 p.m. at the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s (1200 W. Walnut, Rogers).
Hundreds of bills were passed this legislative session that will impact the lives of children and families in our state. Join the Coalition for a conversation about some of the major new laws, missed opportunities, and important victories for kids in the 94th Arkansas General Assembly. Share your thoughts on what came out of the state Capitol this year and how you think the new laws will affect your community. There will also be opportunities for advocacy even now that the legislature has adjourned.
Northwest Arkansas Council - Community Listening Project
The American Journalism Project is partnering with the Walton Family Foundation to learn how people in Northwest Arkansas get the local news and information. This is a paid opportunity. The project runs through July 2023.
Some options:
Become a Community Listening Ambassador
Take Online Survey
Participate in a focus group
Leadership Opportunities
Applications for the Arkansas State Chamber sponsored Leadership Arkansas 18th class are now open. The program is designed for leaders from diverse backgrounds and industries. It offers participants a nine-month program filled with immersive experiences, expert-led sessions and engaging discussions about all things Arkansas. Previous local class participants include Rogers City Council Member April Legere, Attorney Bourgon Reynolds, Democratic Candidate for JP District 8 Carol Vella, and Democratic Party of Benton County Communications Chair Clint Schaff.
The application process includes an online application submission, color photograph, biography, $25 application fee, and two letters of recommendation. The application period will close on August 4th.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Items of Note:
At this evening’s council meeting, council members will be asked to approve four ordinances and three resolutions - read Bennett Horne’s Dem Gazz article for more information, “Bella Vista council to vote on requiring sewer connection rather than septic tank when service becomes available”. Note, the sewer connection is only required upon sale.
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 27 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 11 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
Mayor invites the public to a Public Input Meeting on Tuesday, June 27th at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Drive) to discuss proposal to update Morningside Park - restrooms and a BMX park are being considered
Representative from ARDOT will present an update on Hwy 72 - Versailles curve open to the public on Wednesday, June 28th at 5:30 p.m. (3090 Oak Tree Dr)
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 18 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, July 11 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - Committee of the Whole
Items of Note:
From Annette Beard at the NWA Dem Gazz “Pea Ridge City Council talks salary for city clerk” - really great write-up on City Clerk Sandy Button who has worked for the city in some capacity for 47 years
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 27 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
Congratulate Jim White, Rogers Parks and Recreation Director, on his retirement at a reception prior to tomorrow’s city council meeting at 5 p.m.
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, MMM DD at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
Siloam Music Festival is this Saturday from 7:15 - 9:30 p.m. at the Chautauqua Amphitheatre (bring a picnic and your friends)
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 27 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
The city will hold a public hearing Tuesday, July 11 to consider a street name change from Savage Street to Marty Street. Meeting will be at 201 Spring St (2nd floor) at 6 p.m.
County Government Awareness
Benton County Quorum Court
June 29th at 6 p.m. full Quorum Court meeting - On the agenda: discussion to spend $30k for possible jail expansion design work (yes, this is AFTER Benton County voters said NO to a jail expansion in 2022)
Other County Related News
Bentonville school board will vote on a final presentation for the 2024-2025 school year changes in attendance zones (below high school) during their July 17th meeting at 5:30 p.m. (500 Tiger Blvd). Watch last week’s meeting on YouTube (discussion starts at the 45 minute mark).
Read Worth Sparkman from Axios NW Arkansas for latest housing update, “Northwest Arkansas’ hottest housing’s topic: Attainability”
State Government Awareness
Courts and Arkansas:
Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Robin Wynne unexpectedly passed away last week, read more about Wynne and filling his vacancy from Hunter Field at the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Robin Wynne dies at 70”
From Tess Vrbin & Antoinette Grajeda at the Arkansas Advocate, “A year without abortion in Arkansas: more sterilizations and continued struggle with maternal health”
From Tess Vrbin at the Arkansas Advocate, “Federal judge strikes down Arkansas ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth”
Election Information
Earlier this month, the Arkansas Ethics Commission (AEC) adopted an increase in the maximum campaign contribution a single individual donor can contribute per candidate per election from $2,900 (21-22 cycle) to $3,300 (23-24 cycle). Per Arkansas rules, this matches the Federal Election Commission limits (for Federal campaigns). Final approval will be made by Arkansas legislators in August.
Example for Election purposes: If a person runs for a partisan state representative position, they can receive up to $3,300 from Jane Doe Donor for their primary election and an additional $3,300 for their general election.
Note on PAC donations: The ACE also adopted an increase in the maximum PAC contribution from a single individual donor per year from $5,000 to $10,000.
Political Training Opportunities
National Democratic Training Committee:
So You Want to Run for Office? - July 10, noon
How to Recruit & Train Volunteers - July 11, noon
How to Have Meaningful One-on-One Conversations - July 13, noon
Odds & Ends
Read Mel Leonor Barclay’s article in the 19th, “The woman who would be the Cherokee voice in Congress”
Read Melinda French Gates editorial in Time Magazine, “Why I’m Focusing on Getting More Women In Public Office”
Sign up to receive week day email newsletters from NWA Daily - newsletter focused on NWA events, culture items, jobs and other NWA news
Learn more about Robert Bruce Burns, the Director of the Walton Family Foundation’s Home Region Program (NW Ark. Dem. Gazz.)
One Year from Dobbs
Read gifted column from Alexandra Petri via the Washington Post, “I don’t know how to write about all that hasn’t happened since the fall of Roe”
From Susan Rinkunas from Jezebel, “The Abortion Stories We Don’t Talk About” A year after Roe was overturned, women who were unable to get abortions are giving birth to babies they weren’t prepared to have.
From Kate Zernike, gifted article, via the New York Times, “How a Year Without Roe Shifted American Views on Abortion” New and extensive polling shows public opinion increasingly supports legal abortion, with potential political consequences for 2024.