Hi Community Members!
Early voting for the March 3rd Election starts tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 17. If you missed my voter guide email from last week, you can view it HERE. Please make a plan to vote (and encourage others to vote as well).
Local Events
Tues., Feb. 17 from 5-6 p.m. - Arkansas Democrats Present: The Hub webinar; updating Arkansans on the work Democrats are doing across the state; sign up to attend the zoom HERE
Wed., Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m. - DPBC Morning Coffee Chat at Table Au Pain in Bella Vista; anyone is welcome to come in and grab a coffee and chat with local Democrats
Sat., Feb. 21 from 1 - 2:30 p.m. - Indivisible NWA Monthly Meeting at the Alton Center, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville; sign up to attend HERE
Sun., Feb. 22 from 4 - 6 p.m. - Community Candlelight Vigil hosted by Moms Demand Action in partnership with Students Demand Action on the U of A campus at the Giffels Auditorium; learn more about the event and register to attend HERE
Tues., Feb. 24 from 6 - 8 p.m. - The Weave Gathering at BloomHouse in Springdale (302 Holcomb St.); The Weave Gathering hosted by Weaving NWA is a gathering space for community builders to meet like-minded neighbors, share stories, and get fuel for weaving. Learn more and register to attend HERE.
Thurs., Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. - Kids Count Policy 101: PASSE 101 webinar presented by the Arkansas Kids Count Coalition about Arkansas’s PASSE (Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity) Medicaid program focused on Arkansans with complex behavioral health needs and people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Register to attend HERE.
Thurs., Feb. 26 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. - Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition (AJRC) Monthly Meeting at the AJRC Community Hub in Fayetteville (203 N College Ave); dinner provided during meeting
Community Involvement Opportunities
League of Women Voters Board Opening
The League of Women Voters of Arkansas (LWVAR) Education Fund has a vacancy on the board of directors. The position will be to fill a term ending September 30, 2026, and the person is eligible to serve another two year term. The requirements for board membership are that they are a member of the League. The new board member will be asked to attend monthly board meetings and to provide some ongoing support for the organization.
Nominate yourself or someone you know (who’s a member) via this FORM by Monday, Feb. 23rd. If you have questions or need additional information, please email [email protected].
Protect AR Rights Ballot Initiative - Volunteer Opportunities
Protect AR Rights is one of the two direct democracy campaigns working to undo laws recently passed by the state legislature limiting Arkansans constitutional rights to make changes to Arkansas laws and/or the state constitution via a citizen led ballot initiative process.
The campaign coalition is asking for volunteers across the state interested in supporting with the signature collection campaign to sign up via this FORM on their website.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Items of Note:
From Steve Andrews in the NWA Dem Gazz, “Business owners react to news that Bella Vista will require business licenses starting Monday - Opinions mixed on need for change”
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
At the Planning Commission meeting on Tues., Feb. 17th, the committee will review the proposed Downtown Center Overlay District, review it HERE
From Sam Hoisington in The Bentonville Bulletin, “5 Ways Bentonville Changed Public Art Policies After Mural Controversy - The changes come after a dispute over a trailside mural generated significant controversy last year.”
Coffee with the Mayor is Tuesday, Feb. 17th at the Bentonville Community Center and will be a discussion around the City’s Parks Department, sign up to attend using the form at the bottom of the page HERE
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 10 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
Monthly coffee with the mayor will be Sat. Feb. 21st at 9 a.m. at 290 N Main St
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Highfill
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. (2560 W Hwy 12) - Special due to rescheduling of previous meeting since quorum was not met
Items of Note:
Jamie Redding and Cameron Wolfe will be appointed to the Highfill Planning Commission during the special city council meeting
Annual Chili Supper and Pie auction will be this Saturday, Feb. 21st at 4:30 at the Highfill Fire Station (1218 W 1st Ave)
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.)
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
Michael Rowley was appointed to the A&P Commission at the last council meeting (term ends in Feb. 2030)
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. (410 N. Broadway)
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
County Government Awareness
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Committee of the Whole (Benton County ROGERS location) - Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.
Development Review Committee - Feb. 25 at 10 a.m.
Quorum Court Meeting (Benton County ROGERS location) - Feb. 26 at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - Mar. 4 at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
Court Ruling!
Pulaski County Circuit Judge Shawn Johnson finally released his ruling on the League of Women Voters of Arkansas lawsuit against Act 236 of 2023. This is the law that increased the number of counties (from 15 to 50) required to gather a minimum number of voter signatures for ballot initiatives. The judge’s ruling stops the state from enforcing the law. This is GOOD news!
Read more reporting from the Arkansas Advocate HERE.
Other State Related News:
From Tess Vrbin at the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas public libraries’ state aid delayed after board questions rules for audits, use of funds - State Library Board, Department of Education, attorney general’s office plan to meet to clarify the rules”
From Worth Sparkman at Axios NWA, “AG opens office at University of Arkansas and addresses dean fallout”
Local Candidate Event
Please consider attending the following upcoming event to learn more about and support a candidate running for office in Arkansas.
State Legislature: Candidate Fundraiser for Dan Holtmeyer in House District 15 (central Rogers):
Election Information
Reference Information for the March 3rd Election:
AR Votes website
My Voter Guide
Axios NWA voting information newsletter
NWA Dem Articles about candidates appearing on Benton County ballots:
U.S. Senate Dem Primary - Dunbar & Shoffner
Governor Dem Primary - Love & Xayprasith-Mays
Supreme Court - Adams & Bronni
Count of Appeals - Capp & Carter
Circuit Court District 4 - Herrera & Hindmarsh
Circuit Court District 6 - Armstrong & Robinson
Circuit Court District 8 - Blue & McDonald
Benton County Judge - McCollum & Smith
From Antoinette Grajeda at the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas Democrats seeking nomination for governor focus on voucher program, economic development”
In the Ear
From Matthew Moore with Ozarks at Large comes this timely reporting, “Out-of-state groups, money shape Arkansas’ March 3 primary”
From Fayette Forward, learn more about the role of the Justice of the Peace in county government in this interview with Democratic representative JP Evelyn Rios Stafford in Washington County HERE
Odds & Ends
From Beau Tremitiere and Kyle Miller at the If You Can Keep It substack, “Stop calling it immigration enforcement - DHS is carrying out violent crackdowns in our communities”
From Bruce Katz and Colin Higgins with The New Localism, “50 Shades of Housing: State Approaches to the Crisis”
Looking for local businesses to support? Check out Alex Golden’s reporting in Axios NWA, “NWA businesses rally for immigrant community”
And finally read this from JVL at the Bulwark, “You Can Do Something To Hurt the Oligarchs - Boycotts, strikes, and the Abstinence Fallacy”, and then let me know what you cancelled!