Hi Community Members!
With the state legislative session scheduled to end this week, I plan to revert back to sending this newsletter once every two weeks. I will continue to send one-off emails as warranted by the actions of our state and/or federal government. Thank you for your continued engagement!
Local Events
Mon., Apr. 14 at 6:30 p.m. - Democratic Party of Benton County (DPBC) monthly meeting at the Arvest Conference Center on Legion Ln off the square in downtown Bentonville or by zoom; doors open at 6; Gennie Diaz, Founding Director of For AR People will be in attendance to provide a legislative update
Tues., Apr. 15 starting at 5:30 p.m. - DPBC April Social Hour at Rendezvous Junction Brewing (2225 S Bellview Rd, Suite 101) - all welcome
Thurs., Apr. 17 at 6:30 p.m. - League of Women Voters Benton County Monthly Chapter Meeting at the Arvest Conference Center on Legion Ln off the square in downtown Bentonville; members and those considering joining are welcome to attend; also, LWV local leadership is seeking input on programming for ‘25-’36 - fill out their form HERE
Wed., April 23 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Higher Education’s Role in Workforce and Regional Growth in Northwest Arkansas - Northwest Arkansas Council Roundtable moderated by Roby Brock, Editor-in-Chief, Talk Business & Politics; Join a dynamic panel discussion featuring University of Central Arkansas President Houston Davis, University of Arkansas Chancellor Charles Robinson and Northwest Arkansas Community College President Dennis Rittle as they explore higher education’s critical role in workforce development, talent recruitment and regional collaboration. Register HERE.
Community Involvement Opportunities
Provide YOUR feedback
The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission is seeking feedback on Forward2050, NWA's long-range transportation plan that will provide a framework for the next 25 years. Anyone can provide feedback online via the survey link HERE.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Apr. 21 at 6 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Items of Note:
You can access the Citywide Garage Sale info from your smartphone using the city’s app (City of Bella Vista) for the April 25 & 26th yard sale information and routes.
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
“The city got the go-ahead to spend an additional $1 million to improve its water and sewer systems. The City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to amend the city's contract with Mo-Ark Utilities in Missouri for an ongoing project to find and fix leaks in its water service system as part of a larger consent agenda. The $500,000 amendment brings the total of the contract to $1.5 million, which will be funded through the city's utility fund reserves.” Read more from Thomas Saccente’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
From Sam Hoisington at The Bentonville Bulletin, “New Active Transportation Board to Begin Work in May - The new board will help guide Bentonville’s biking, walking, and accessibility efforts.” and from Thomas Saccente at the NWA Dem Gazz, “Bentonville residents to weigh in on trails and bikeways through new Active Transportation Advisory Board - City seeks input of pedestrians, cyclists on development of trails, bikeways”
Coffee with the mayor is Tuesday morning, Apr. 15 - talking about building and fire safety; request zoom access HERE
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
Centerton Cares will be hosting their Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday April 19th from 10am to noon at 72 West, 11507 Hwy 72
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Items of Note:
The Gravette Fire Department will host an open forum at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 16th, at the Gravette Civic Center regarding Voluntary Fire Dues which will appear on the May 13th annual school and special election ballot. The Voluntary Fire Dues affects residents who live outside of Gravette city limits but within the Gravette Fire District.
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 15 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Items of Note:
Lowell Community Easter Egg Hunt in Ward Nail Park will be on Sat., April 19th at 2 p.m.
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 15 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.)
Items of Note:
Is your 15 – 18 years old, passionate about history or the great outdoors, and looking for a summer job? Pea Ridge National Military Park is recruiting for Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) members for the 2025 season (June 2 through August 15). Crew members will assist park staff with landscaping, replacing sections of split-rail fencing, repairing buildings, providing public programs, working in the visitor center, removing invasive vegetation, and other similar tasks. Learn more HERE.
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
Benton County residents can participate in the Electronic Waste Recycling Event on Friday, April 18th & Saturday, April 19th from 8 AM – 2 PM at Pinnacle Hills Promenade (JC Penney Parking Lot).
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 15 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
“Allan Gilbert resigned Wednesday as city administrator after less than two years on the job… Gilbert's resignation came about a week after city directors voted 7-0 to reprimand him for violating city policy. Gilbert said Tuesday he had been reprimanded for granting catastrophic leave for a police officer when he shouldn't have… Public Works Director Kevin Moore has been appointed interim city administrator as the city begins the transition process, according to a news release Thursday from Megan Whitworth, city communications manager.” Read all of Marc Hayot’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 22 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
“City officials on Monday discussed, but took no action on, an ordinance authorizing a $60 million bond issue to finance water and sewer projects to improve the Water Utilities service capabilities on the west side of the city. The City Council will take up the question at its March 11 meeting.” Read more of Tom Sissom’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
County Government Awareness
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Committee of the Whole - Apr. 15 at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - Apr. 16 at 6 p.m.
Development Review Committee - Apr. 23 at 10 a.m.
Quorum Court - Apr. 24 at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
95th General Legislative Assembly:
Session is currently scheduled to end this Wednesday.
Recaps and looks forward - legislative activity:
From the Arkansas Advocate,
“Arkansas Legislature plans to ‘run right through the finish line,’ end session Wednesday - Wide variety of bills, including fiscal year 2026 state budget, await consideration in both chambers”
“House panel rejects proposal to dissolve Arkansas State Library and Board - SB 536 would have put Department of Education in charge of funding public libraries under new criteria, including restrictions on “age-inappropriate” content”
“Bill amended to protect existing Buffalo River watershed moratorium - Legislation would provide approval process for new moratoriums, while leaving existing ones in place” — note how this still exposes other water sources!
“Arkansas Senate committee rejects 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage - Human Services Department opposed the bill; Arkansas remains only state without some version of this coverage option”
From Axios NWA, “Arkansas Capitol roundup: Prison punt and education moves”
Bills of note signed by the governor:
👎 Act 340 - (from AACF): law creates enhanced penalties for certain “serious felony involving violence” convictions if the person committed those crimes while they were present in the U.S. without authorization. The enhanced penalty would run consecutive to (after) the penalty imposed by the court for the crime, and the individual is not eligible for early release on parole, transfer to post-release supervision, or community correction transfer. It also requires the Department of Corrections and county jails to apply for and participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant Officer Program, which allows them to serve administrative warrants (signed by an immigration officer, not a judge). Further, it allows the state to withhold funds from any locality that the Attorney General finds as having policies in violation of this law. More from the Arkansas Advocate HERE.
👎 Act 478 - (from AACF): law creates new requirements for 6th-12th grade social studies standards and courses in public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools. It requires information about the founding fathers’ religious and political beliefs and how their religious beliefs influenced the United States’ founding documents, like the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Act 505 - (from AJRC): amends the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) of 1967, expanding the definition of a public meeting to include formal gatherings of governing bodies, whether in person or via electronic means, explicitly covering state agencies, political subdivisions, and boards supported by public funds. This bill also ensures that members can participate electronically while maintaining transparency and public access and empowers circuit courts to nullify official actions taken in violation of open meeting laws.
👎 Act 509 - (from AACF): law prohibits state government from taking any discriminatory action, such as taking away funding or licenses, against faith-based foster care or adoption agencies that refuse to serve LGBTQ+ individuals and families based on religious beliefs. It also mandates that the state not take action against a foster or adoptive family who “guides, instructs, or raises a child, or intends to guide, instruct, or raise a child, based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief.”
Federal Impacts on Arkansas
The Trump administration’s decisions continue to greatly impact Arkansas - to the extent and exactly how/where is still not quite clear. Here are a few reports to start following:
From Axios, “How much federal money your state gets” - note how significant this amount is in Arkansas…
From 5 News, “ICE offices in Arkansas close to the public without notice, attorneys say - ICE offices in Fort Smith and Fayetteville are reportedly closed to the public, forcing immigrants to travel to Little Rock for regular check-ins.”
Odds & Ends
Just under 30% of municipal offices in towns with more than 10k residents are held by women in Arkansas, see more information in the Center For American Women and Politics recently released reporting HERE
From JVL at the Bulwark, “Trump Just Defied the Supreme Court. What Is John Roberts Going to Do About It?”
From Dan Pfeiffer’s The Message Box, “Why Dems Must Call Out Trump's Authoritarianism - Polls show that voters care more the economy than the fall of democracy, we should try to change their mind”
The Great Gatsby celebrated 100 years since its original publish date last week, read Wesley Lowery’s substack and have your mind blown, “Gatsby’s Secret”