Local Events
Tues., June 10 from 2 - 4:30 p.m. - Arkansas Kids Count Children’s Policy Summit at the Fayetteville Public Library - The coalition will provide a legislative update and talk about ways supporters can continue to advocate even while legislators are not in session. Register to attend HERE.
Sat., June 14 from 2 - 4 p.m. - No Kings Protest in Fayetteville starting at St Paul’s Episcopal (N College) - NO KINGS is a national day of non-violent action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. The Fayetteville event is co-hosted by Indivisible NWA and NWA Community Hub
Thurs., June 19 - Sat., June 21- Juneteenth Festivities - Review this great list of events and find one (or more!) to attend in NWA HERE
Sat., June 21 from 2 - 3:30 p.m. - NWA Pride Ride hosted by All Bodies On Bikes starting at the Bentonville Square - 5 mile, slow ride, returning to downtown and ending at the 21C Pride Party; All types of bikes and humans are welcome. Kids should be able to independently ride 5 miles, or be on a bike with an adult.
Mon., June 23rd at 6:30 p.m. - Democratic Party of Benton County June Meeting at NWACC featuring Richard Gathright of the NWA Equality Center; doors will open at 6 at the Walmart Auditorium (Shewmaker Center at 1000 SE Eagle Way)
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, June 16 at 5:30 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd) - work session
Items of Note:
Three opportunities to provide your feedback about the city’s extensive development code reform project:
• 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 17 at the Bella Vista Recreation Center, 3 Riordan Drive. (This is the main event during which the consultant will be on site with additional content.)
• 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 at the Bella Vista Police Department Training Room, 2483 Forest Hills Blvd.
• 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 19 at the Bella Vista Police Department Training Room, 2483 Forest Hills Blvd.
Read more HERE
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.); Committee of the Whole meeting is tonight, Monday, June 9 at 6 p.m.
Items of Note:
The All Bike(r)s Welcome mural will be up for discussion at tonight’s Committee of the Whole Meeting - learn more about the debate from:
From Thomas Saccente’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz, “The city will restore Little Sugar Creek to a completely free flowing stream when it removes the damaged Lake Bella Vista dam, according to the terms a modified agreement… The recently approved stream-only design is also the least expensive for the city to build and maintain, as well as the most ecologically sustainable, [Parks Director David] Wright said.”
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 10 at 6:00 p.m. (134 N. Main St.) - work session
Items of Note:
Learn more about the Cave Springs City Planner, David Keck, HERE
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
From Jordan P. Hickey contributing for The Arkansas Advocate, “‘Water, sewer building a hot subject around here,’ Northwest Arkansas consultant says - ‘The day of reckoning has come’ for region’s sewer issues, utilities board member says”
From Thomas Saccente at the NWA Dem Gazz, “Centerton closes in on design for $26 million community center project”
Coffee with Mayor will be on Saturday, June 21st at 9 a.m. at the Centerton Community Room (290 North Main)
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 10 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE) - Committee of the Whole
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.) - work session
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
From Gael Langdon in the NWA Dem Gazz, “Rogers seeks designs for new animal shelter while repairing current building - Repairs to current facility expected to be complete by end of year”
City Council member, Hayes Minor, faces charges of DWI and speeding. Read reporting from 5 News Online HERE
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
Free showings of Shakespeare in the Park “As You Like It” at 7 p.m. on June 13th and 14th at the Chautauqua Amphitheater in Memorial Park - bring a lawn chair or blanket
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
From Alex Golden in Axios NWA, “New Springdale hub sets out to streamline regional food systems”
County Government Awareness
Housing Report
Late last month, The Walton Family Foundation released their “Our Housing Future Report” covering the growing housing challenges in NWA.
Read the full report HERE
Read the foundation’s report press release HERE
Read Alex Golden’s reporting in Axios NWA, “NWA housing efforts aren't keep up with crisis, report warns”
Read Antoinette Grajeda’s reporting in the Arkansas Advocate, “Action still needed to address Northwest Arkansas housing issues, study shows”
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Finance Committee Meeting - June 10 at 6 p.m.
Development Review Committee - June 11 at 10 a.m.
Committee of the Whole - June 17 at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - June 18 at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
95th General Legislative Assembly:
From Antoinette Grajeda at the Arkansas Advocate, “Thousands of Arkansans apply to school voucher program as universal access offered for first time” - Keep an eye out for further reporting later this year. LEARNS is going to bust the budget sooner than later…
From Tess Vrbin at the Arkansas Advocate, “Staffing struggles continue for Arkansas foster care system - The state has almost 1,000 fewer foster children than in 2023, but the Division of Children and Family Services still faces strenuous caseloads”
From My Ly in the NWA Dem Gazz, “Rules implementing Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act provisions care clear legislative panel” - “The two rules will next go to the Legislative Council's Administrative Rules Subcommittee, followed by the full council later this month.”
From Michael R. Wickline in the NWA Dem Gazz, “Lobbyists report spending $1.6M in Arkansas for 2025 legislative session - Advertising, call campaigns surpass previous high reported in 2009” - Includes over $700k value of work on behalf of Conservatives for Lower Health Care Costs Inc. which was behind Act 624 that prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies in the state — you may have seen those reports about CVS threatening to leave the state and the Express Scripts lawsuit… and now you can connect the dots…
Arkansas Corrections Board Updates:
The Arkansas Advocate has been keeping up with all the legal ramifications around the Arkansas Corrections Board drama over the last two years:
“Audit criticizes Arkansas Board of Corrections’ hiring of outside counsel in dispute with governor - Board maintains it acted ‘lawfully, reasonably and appropriately’”
“Arkansas prison board tentatively approves design contract for planned 3,000-bed facility - Board will meet again in June in case members want more time to consider the contract before legislative consideration”
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
From Antoinette Grajeda in The Arkansas Advocate:
From Michael R. Wickline in the NWA Dem Gazz, “Audit of Governor’s Mansion finds $5,164 in questionable spending in ’23; Sanders’ counsel disputes report”
State-Wide Information
KIDS COUNT Data Book for 2025 Report Released
From Tess Vrbin’s reporting in The Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas stuck among bottom five states for child well-being, report shows - Advocates worry proposed federal cuts to aid programs will make things worse”
“Arkansas remains among the worst states for child well-being, ranking 45th nationwide for the second year in a row, according to the annual Annie E. Casey Foundation report released Monday. The group’s 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book measures 16 indicators of child well-being in four categories: education, health, economic well-being and family and community. The report ranked Arkansas:
36th in education
45th in economic well-being
46th in family and community
47th in child health
Arkansas has consistently ranked in the bottom 10 states overall and in the specific categories. The state’s statistics worsened for the majority of indicators in 2023, the year the data in Monday’s report was collected.”
Additional reporting from Alex Golden in Axios NWA can be read HERE.
Election Information
From Antoinette Grajeda at The Arkansas Advocate
“Federal panel rules in favor of state in Arkansas congressional redistricting lawsuit” - The final lawsuit challenging the drawing of the second congressional district in the 2021 redistricting process has been dismissed. This confirms we are likely stuck with the federal congressional districts drawn in 2021 until 2031.
“Second Arkansas ballot measure rejected for failing to meet reading-level standard” - The group responsible for the ballot measure plans to meet with the Attorney General’s staff for feedback before attempting to submit another version for approval.
Keep up with the latest on 2026 Ballot Issues from the Public Policy Center at the UA System of Agriculture HERE (the post says Dec. 2024, but the content is updated through May 2025)
From KARK, “President Donald Trump pardons former Arkansas State Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson” - who isn’t getting a pardon anymore?
In the Ear
Check out the bonus episode in May from the “I Am Northwest Arkansas” podcast, “Building a Home for Everyone: Tackling Housing Challenges and Smart Growth in Northwest Arkansas with Groundwork” - Randy chats with Duke McLarty the Executive Director of Groundwork at the NWA Council
Listen to Kyle Kellams KUAF interview from last week, “Olivia Walton's Ingeborg Initiatives aims to improve maternal health”
Odds & Ends
Read Arkansas Strong’s Feature for May, “Creating Community: Finding my People in Small Town Arkansas”
Read about Elizabeth Baldwin’s experience working with Canopy NWA, “From Uncertainty to Purpose: Finding My Path Through Refugee Resettlement”
From Letters from An Arkansan, “Homeless in Fayetteville, Arkansas - The Fayetteville Community Comes Together to Provide a Platform to Speak About Homelessness on the Eve of Another University Sweep to Remove Them from a South Fayetteville Property”
And a little something for you to voice your displeasure with our federal officials, “The Trump administration is trying to block politically inconvenient government data - Hands off the public's data!” from G. Elliott Morris