Local Events
Mon., Dec. 8th at 6:30 p.m. - Democratic Party of Benton County Monthly Meeting at the NWACC Peterson Auditorium (900 SE Eagle Way); At this month’s meeting you’ll get to hear from the judicial candidates running in contested races that will appear on every ballot in Benton County on March 3rd - this is a great opportunity to put a face with a name. Meeting is open to all!
Wed., Dec. 10th at 5:30 p.m. - Arkansas Rising: An Evening with the League of Women Voters at the Ashleigh Lounge in Rogers (5500 W Northgate Rd); Join for for an evening of cocktails, light appetizers, and conversation hosted by the League of Women Voters of Arkansas, together with Benton County and Washington County Leagues. Connect with League members, meet community leaders, and learn how we’re gearing up to register new voters, protect ballot initiatives, strengthen turnout, and hold government accountable. Register to attend HERE.
Sat., Dec. 13th at 10 a.m. - Abortion Support Training from Ozark Circle for Choice (OCC); It’s a great way to kickstart involvement with OCC, or just to learn how to support the people in your life getting the care they need. Email [email protected] to request to attend and get more details.
Tues., Dec. 16th from 5 - 6 p.m. - The Hub Monthly Webinar from Arkansas Democrats; zoom is open to all interested in learning more about what Democrats are doing statewide. Register to attend HERE.
Sat., Dec. 20th from 1 - 3 p.m. - Indivisible NWA Monthly Meeting at the Bentonville Public Library (405 S Main St.); Peggy Sissel will speak on the Potluck Food Recovery Program. Bring a personal hygiene item for the Little Food Pantry. Register to attend HERE.
Community Involvement Opportunities
Federal Advocacy
From the great team at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
130,000 Arkansans who get their health insurance through the Marketplace may be priced out of health insurance entirely or be forced into low-quality plans that hardly cover anything. PLEASE take a moment to email your Members of Congress and urge them to extend premium tax credit enhancements for marketplace health insurance. Go HERE to get more talking points and use their platform to email Congress.
Immigration Awareness and Financial Support
The Associated Press reported last week that “Benton County [is] a ‘hot spot’ for ICE efforts.” Please read the entire article.
If you are in a position to help financially, these individuals/organizations would be super appreciative:
Cristina Osornio-Cruz GoFundMe – This is the woman referenced at the beginning of the AP article. This GoFundMe is supporting her family as they navigate housing, deportation-related loss, and recent health crises.
AIRE – strengthening immigrant education, deportation defense, and language justice locally
Canopy NWA - Canopy NWA could especially use donations right now to help stabilize and support refugee families who are facing increased uncertainty, fear, and processing delays as the administration cracks down on refugee admissions in response to the recent National Guard shooting in DC.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Items of Note:
“City leaders will decide next week on including $30,000 in next year's budget to help offset a $600,000 shortfall at the Children and Family Advocacy Center of Benton County stemming from a loss in federal grant money.” - Read more in this important reporting from Steve Andrews in the NWA Dem Gazz HERE. But remember, the underlying issue is due to the CARELESS CANCELLING of FEDERAL funds by the White House/DOGE/Republicans in Congress.
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
Read city news updates from Sam Hoisington in The Bentonville Bulletin, “Downtown Bentonville Bus Route Could Be Added Next Year” and “Bentonville’s Sewer Overhaul to Be Financed by Alice L. Walton Foundation - City plans to pass costs along to new developments”
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Items of Note:
From Jack Travis with KUAF, “Cave Springs looks to the future with award-winning downtown master plan”
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
Centerton Christmas Parade will start at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12th on North Main St.
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Items of Note:
Gravette Christmas Parade will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13th. Learn more about the event HERE.
Highfill
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. (2560 W Hwy 12)
Items of Note:
Council will vote to adopt the 2026 budget during the meeting on the 9th
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.)
Items of Note:
From Annette Beard’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz, “Pea Ridge city employees to receive $2,000 or $1,000 bonuses; mayor to get $15,000 - Planning Commission members getting pay raise”
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
Read Marc Hayot’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz, “Siloam Springs Police Department will use reserves to fund 911 center when Benton County funding ceases - Approximately $2 million available, chief says”
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
Read the City’s Press Release regarding the AP reporting on ICE activity HERE.
From Tom Sissom at the NWA Dem Gazz, “Springdale 2026 budget nears completion; mayor says it will be similar to 2025 budget”
County Government Awareness
Benton County Quorum Court
November Recap from Benton County’s Government Newsletter:
“Benton County Justices of the Peace approved the 2026 Budget, which includes funds set aside for employee raises and future jail operations. $1.9 million was set aside for a 4% merit-based raise, with a cap of 6% per employee. $4 million was set aside for future jail operations, including a new misdemeanor pod. Several new positions were approved and will begin hiring at a later date. Justices of the Peace approved the budget 13 to 2.
The Quorum Court also approved the appointment of Toby Teeter to the Benton County Historical Preservation Committee. Mr. Teeter works for the University of Arkansas, running The Collaborative, and previously helped restore a number of historical buildings in the Joplin area.
Funding for two non-profits was approved during the November meeting. The Center for Non-Profits will receive $100,000 for their Chiller and Airtech expenses per an agreement with the county. $15,300 was approved for the Children & Family Advocacy Center to help fund the 17% of cases that come from Benton County.”
Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Finance Committee Meeting - Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
Development Review Committee - Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.
Committee of the Whole - Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.
Quorum Court - Dec. 18 at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
Update on the State Broadband Proposal
From Antoinette Grajeda’s reporting in the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas’ final proposal for a federal broadband program has received approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), according to a Tuesday press release for the state’s commerce department.
As part of the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, Arkansas has been allocated $1.024 billion in funding to deliver broadband access to more than 79,000 homes and businesses across the state, according to the release. The Arkansas State Broadband Office (ARConnect) is responsible for administering the BEAD program and funding process at the state level.” Read more HERE.
Continuing impacts of laws from the 95th General Legislative Assembly
From Antoinette Grajeda with the Arkansas Advocate, “The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville has identified more than 100 scholarships to be modified to comply with laws related to race and diversity, and at least one donor has ended his financial support as a result.” Read more details HERE.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Roby Brock from Talk Business & Politics interviewed the Governor late last month. She offered thoughts on a variety of policy subjects, including the controversial prison site in Franklin County, potential tax cuts, and rural health care funding. Read the recap and/or watch the video from HERE.
Also, the Governor announced new appointments to the 2030 Arkansas Complete Count Committee which was established this year by Act 449 to address challenges posed by the known 2020 census undercount in Arkansas (estimated to be as high as 5%!). The eight people appointed by the Governor are listed HERE. I’m super concerned that there is no representation from NWA yet on the committee considering there was likely significant undercounting in our part of the state.
In the Ear
Check out Roby Brock’s interview with Democratic Candidate for Secretary of State, Kelly Grappe, on this weekend’s Capitol View HERE.
Enjoy Randy Wilburn’s Thanksgiving episode from last month, “Behind the Mic: What I Am Northwest Arkansas® Is Grateful For” and consider subscribing to get his podcast newsletter updates using the link below:
Odds & Ends
In case you missed the Obama event at Crystal Bridges, you can read a recap of the discussion from the Arkansas Advocate, Axios NWA, and/or Talk Business & Politics; Listen to KUAF reporting HERE; Watch the full interview HERE.
Please encourage/support the parents of young children in your life to READ to their kids frequently! From Jessika Harkey at zero2eight, “Why Parents Aren’t Reading to Kids, and What It Means for Young Students - A recent study found less than half of children are read to daily. The consequences are serious for early learners who enter school unprepared.”
From Arkansas District Two Congressional Candidate, Dr. Chris Jones, “Will AI and Robots End Civilization? - The New Industrial Revolution Is Here, but what does that mean for us.”