Community Involvement Opportunities
Time to purchase your SOUP SUNDAY tickets!
The annual Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families Soup Sunday fundraiser will be held on Sunday, Feb. 1st from 4:30 - 7 p.m. at the Rogers Convention Center (3303 S. Pinnacle Hills Pkwy). This event is family friendly! Come hungry and enjoy soups from over 30 local restaurants.
Come join me at the most fun and relaxed fundraiser you’ll ever attend. And don’t forget to bring your muffin tins to hold your soups (IYKYK)!
County Government 101 Course Now Online
Want to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of elected county officials? Sign up for Introduction to County Government in Arkansas, a free online course offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
This self-guided course includes four sections.
An overview of county government
Mandated and non-mandated services
Roles and responsibilities of elected county officials
How counties are funded
Create a free account at https://learn.uada.edu.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Items of Note:
From Rachel Dickerson and Doug Thompson with the NWA Dem Gazz, “OZ Trails Bike Park plans already affecting Bella Vista community, mayor and others agree”
Applications for the board vacancy on the Board of Construction Appeals has been extended to Jan. 9th. Learn more about the Board and the application process HERE.
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
Read the City’s Press Release on the Proposed Wastewater Development Fee which will be approved at Monday’s meeting
The Mayor is appointing Roland Smith and Jennifer Doherty to the Library Advisory board (both terms ending in 2030)
Read Alex Golden’s reporting on Bentonville’s 2026 budget in Axios NWA HERE
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Items of Note:
From Ron Wood at the NWA Dem Gazz, “Cave Springs treasurer claims she was stripped of duties; city maintains it had to be done”
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
From Thomas Saccente at the NWA Dem Gazz, “Centerton City Council tables vote on water and sewer rate increases to Monday [Dec. 22nd]”
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Highfill
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. (2560 W Hwy 12)
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.)
Items of Note:
The City of Pea Ridge is currently accepting letters of interest for seat(s) on the Planning Commission. Read more about the opportunity HERE and turn in your letter of interest by Dec. 29th.
From Annette Beard at the NWA Dem Gazz, “Pea Ridge aims to be ‘catalyst’ for disc golf in Northwest Arkansas with part of new course open - Front 9 holes are open, next 9 soon”
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
Read Alex Golden’s reporting on Roger’s 2026 budget in Axios NWA HERE
“With the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission's final draft of a Razorback Greenway improvement plan in hand, Rogers leaders are working to come up with a plan for what they want greenway improvements within the city to entail.” Read more from Jada Robison’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz, HERE.
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
From Marc Hayot at the NWA Dem Gazz, “Siloam Springs board to consider second reading of utility increase Tuesday - Administrator puts impact on customers’ monthly bills around $8”
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
Read Alex Golden’s reporting on Springdale’s 2026 budget in Axios NWA HERE
County Government Awareness
Benton County Quorum Court
Recap from Benton County’s Government December Newsletter:
“The Benton County Quorum Court approved a resolution expressing strong support for poultry producers in the Illinois River Watershed and urging a return to good-faith, science-based negotiations to address ongoing environmental concerns.” Read press release HERE.
“Justices of the Peace voted to table the ordinance to create a regional Industrial Development Authority [until February]. The Industrial Development Authority would be a partnership among Benton, Washington, and Madison Counties to promote and attract investments and create new job opportunities for the region.” Reporting on the tabling is in the NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
“Justice of the Peace Joel Edwards resigned from District 15 during [December’s] meeting. Mr. Edwards is running unopposed for the seat of County Collector. Governor Sarah Sanders will appoint a new Justice of the Peace.”
Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Election Commission Meeting (1428 W. Walnut St.) - Dec. 22 at 11 a.m.
Election Commission Meeting (1428 W. Walnut St.) - Dec. 30 at 1 p.m.
Planning Board of Appeals Hearing - Jan. 5 at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - Jan. 7 at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
State Supreme Court:
Earlier this month, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that state lawmakers can change citizen-led constitutional amendments, reversing seven decades of precedent. Check out reporting on this ruling from the following media outlets across the state:
Additionally, the U of A Public Policy Center has a detailed writeup on the change with the historical reference information on previously approved citizen initiatives HERE.
Arkansas Health Awareness
“New findings from the University of Arkansas’ health survey indicate nearly one in three people suffer from depression, which is higher than the estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 23.3%.” Read more about the survey results in the Talk Business and Politics writeup HERE. Or check out this recap from Worth Sparkman at Axios NWA HERE
Special Prison Overcrowding Coverage
The staff at the Arkansas Advocate have published a series of articles covering the current state of inmate overcrowding in Arkansas.
From Asinsley Platt, “Overcrowded: Tighter parole, probation rules set stage for Arkansas prison population increases - Relief unlikely to come soon due to 2023 Protect Arkansas Act” and “Overcrowded: Protect Arkansas Act to drive continued prison population growth for at least a decade - But opponents of a new prison meant to alleviate long-standing bed shortages said that money could be put to more productive use”
From Antoinette Grajeda, “Overcrowded: Arkansas’ prison system costs inmates, taxpayers - Fines and fees can prevent formerly incarcerated individuals from moving forward after release, advocates say”
From Tess Vrbin, “Overcrowded: Reducing recidivism in Arkansas is an uphill battle, experts say - Almost half of supervision cases over 10 years involved revoking parole and returning offenders to prison or giving them new sentences”
If you are looking for ways to learn more about reforming our prison system, check out the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition (AJRC). The AJRC envisions a state that centers safety, prevention of harm, and alternatives to incarceration.
Additionally, if you are concerned with the plan to develop a mega (3k bed) prison in rural Franklin County, check out Gravel & Grit. It is a grassroots alliance of bipartisan Arkansans dedicated to dusting off rural voices, empowering citizens through education, and holding our government accountable by advocating for increased transparency, a seat at the table for stakeholders, and data driven decision making.
Odds & Ends
Please share the following petition with your Washington County friends to support the Gulley Ranch - a responsible rural project in Wash. Co. HERE
A reminder about the importance in our county’s founding on the separation of church and state from Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American for December 21, 2025
And finally, grab a box of tissues and read this beautiful, heart-wrenching piece from Stephen Rodrick in Rolling Stone, “Melissa Hortman Died in a Shocking Act of Political Violence. This Is the Story of Her Life - The Minnesota Speaker’s closest friends and family open up for the first time” — It’s a devastating read, but worth getting to the end… “She wouldn’t have stood there, helpless, and moony-eyed. No, she would have asked a single question. ‘Are you gonna stand there and moan, or are you going to help me pull these damn weeds? ……. LFG’”
Happy Holidays everyone! See you in 2026!