Local Events

  • Wednesday, Mar. 29 at 7 p.m. - Town Hall with Ark. Education Secretary Jacob Oliva - Zoom webinar where Sec. Oliva will present information about the new Arkansas Childrens Educational Freedom Account (EFA) Program and will take questions; note this is being led by the Reform Alliance which supports the LEARNS Act

  • Saturday, Apr. 1 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Holi - festival of colors - free community event celebrating Holi (801 SE 8th St., Bentonville)

  • Saturday, Apr. 1 from noon to 3 p.m. - Arkansas Youth Civic Engagement Day free event sponsored by Arkansas Public Policy Panel at the Josephine Pankey Community Center (13700 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock); event will focus on engaging teens and young adults

  • Sunday, Apr. 2 at 3 p.m. - April NWA Moms Demand Action Meeting at FCC Waterway Church in Bentonville, come for the meeting and stay for the Wear Orange Planning session

  • Tuesday, Apr. 4 from 6 - 8 p.m. - Round-table discussion on the Criminal Legal System with the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition at the Meteor Guitar Gallery (128 W Central Ave, Bentonville)

  • Sunday, Apr. 21 at 6 p.m. - Scott Family Amazeum UnGala adults (21+) only annual fundraiser at the Amazeum in Bentonville

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Arkansas Democrats Reception with California Governor Gavin Newsom in Bentonville from 5 - 6: 30 p.m. on Sunday, April 2nd.

This is a ticketed event and fundraiser for the Democratic Party of Arkansas. Ticket information can be found here.

The Democratic Party of Arkansas is bringing back it’s annual Fisher Shackelford dinner this May! The dinner is named for the longest serving State Treasurer, Jimmie Lou Fisher, and the party’s longest serving DNC member and former LR Mayor, Lottie Shackelford.

Tickets, tables and sponsorships are available for the event on May 20th at the William Grant Still Ballroom in the Robinson Auditorium in Little Rock. Reception runs from 5:30 - 6:30 and dinner starts at 6:30.

Community Involvement Opportunities

LEARNS Rulemaking Work Groups

Arkansans are invited to participate in the implementation of the LEARNS Act. Participants will contribute to the development of rules and policies in volunteer work groups organized by the following topics:

  • School Safety

  • Early Learning

  • Parental Empowerment

  • Teaching and Learning

  • Educator Workforce

  • Career Readiness

Meetings will be virtual and face-to-face and will require a commitment to attend over the next few months. Applicants must complete a form and upload resumes by March 31st.

Arkansas Dept. of Ed Commissioner’s Memo
Application Form

Municipal Government Awareness

Bella Vista

  • Next Council Mtng: Monday, Mar. 27 at 6:30 p.m. (612 W. Lancashire)

  • Items of Note:

    • Register for the Spring Appliance Pickup by noon on Thursday, Mar. 30th via email ([email protected]) or 479-876-1255 (opt. 7)

Bentonville

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 28 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)

  • Items of Note:

    • Coffee with Mayor Orman virtual call Mar. 28 at 8 a.m., discussing the Bentonville Parks and Recreation department - registration link

    • The City is accepting applications from residents interested in serving on the Short-term Rental Work Group. To learn more about the Short-term Rental Work Group, visit Bentonville’s site. Applications are due by Friday, Mar. 31st.

Cave Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 28 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)

Centerton

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 11 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)

Gravette

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 28 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)

Lowell

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 28 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)

  • Items of Note:

    • City is looking for volunteers to help stuff easter eggs for the annual hunt. Stuffing occurs at 9 a.m. on Apr. 1st at the Lowell Fire station on N. Lincoln St.

Pea Ridge

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 11 at 5:30 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - Committee of the Whole

  • Items of Note:

    • Wendy Martin has been hired as the new Pea Ridge Community Library director

Rogers
Siloam Springs

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar 28 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)

  • Items of Note:

    • The Unite Siloam group is collecting signatures to recall city Directors David Allen and Lesa Rissler over the firing of City Administrator Phillip Patterson. Petitions can be found at Heart of the Home and Ivory Bill Brewing Co. Read more here.

Springdale

  • Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 28 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)

  • Items of Note:

County Government Awareness

Benton County Quorum Court

  • Justices of the Peace approved a resolution to apply for a grant from the Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance to pay for an adult mental health court in the county. Read more here.

  • Justices of the Peace approved a new ordinance to reduce the speed limit to 40 mph on unmarked roads that aren’t paved in unincorporated areas of the county (matching state law)

State Government Awareness

94th General Legislative Assembly:

Week 10 Recap from

Bills of note to follow this week:

  • HB1307 - Read Grant Tennille’s opinion piece: “ESG legislation is anti-business, will cost Arkansas retirees money”; Status: Passed the Senate and will be voted on by the House Monday, Mar. 27.

  • HB1385 - GOOD bill alert! The following came from Senator Clark Tucker’s newsletter, “the bill would ensure healthcare providers are properly reimbursed by Medicaid for providing patients long-acting contraceptives either after childbirth or during the postpartum window. “ Status: Passed the house and sent to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

  • HB1559 - By local Rep. McAlindon, this bill would make it so that public schools cannot require that teachers or staff take implicit bias training. Status: Passed by the House Monday, Mar. 27, and will be sent to the Senate for review by the Senate Education Committee.

No surprise… Lawsuits from signed legislation have started to be filed. Senator Bryan King (R - Green Forrest) and the League of Women Voters Arkansas filed a lawsuit against Act 236 on March 10th. The lawsuit states that the law “places additional requirements on the initiative and referendum process in direct conflict with the state constitution… place[s] unwarranted and unconstitutional restrictions on the ability of citizens to circulate petitions and will prevent the placement of initiative and referendum on the ballot for the general statewide election to be held in November of 2024 and all subsequent elections."

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:

Earlier this month the Governor announced support for the Social Media Safety Act (SB396). From For AR People, the “policy proposal would require parental consent for children to access social media sites or require proof of digital identification to confirm one’s age.”

Also from For AR People; things to understand about this bill:

  • It will pass

  • It will likely not be enforceable due to existing federal law

  • It does not fix the problems it’s meant to address

  • This isn’t about kids, it’s about Sarah’s political future

Election Information

Annual School and Special Elections of May 9, 2023

  • Contested School Board Elections:

    • Pea Ridge Zone 1: Ryan Heckman vs. Adam Yager

    • Siloam Springs Zone 3: Gary Wheat vs. Aric Berthold

    • Springdale At Large Position 2: Donald C. Tippett vs. Director Michelle-McCaslin Cook

  • Northwest Arkansas Community College millage election

    • Bentonville and Rogers School District registered voters​

  • City of Springdale Bond Issue

  • Beaver Lake Volunteer Volunteer Department annual dues increase ordinance

Election Timeline:

  • Register Vote by Apr. 10th (check registration here)

  • Early Voting from May 2 - May 5 & May 8th (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

  • Election Day May 9th (7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.)

Voting Locations

Political Training Opportunities

National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC)

Odds & Ends

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