Local Events
Tues., Mar. 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., Mar. 18 at 6:30 p.m. - Benton County League of Women Voters Online Meeting; The first 30 minutes will cover League business. The second half will feature a condensed, practical training on how to conduct voter registration drives and canvass petitions effectively and confidently.
Sat., Mar. 21 at 1 p.m. - Indivisible NWA Monthly Meeting at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (2925 N. Old Missouri Rd) in Fayetteville; Join for RISE & ORGANIZE, a community work session to prepare for No Kings 3.0, scheduled for March 28. You’ll have the opportunity to make signs, organize supplies, and come together in solidarity as the community gets ready to show up peacefully, visibly, and powerfully.
Sat., Mar. 28 - Indivisible: No Kings Protests
Community Involvement Opportunities
2026 Weaver Awards Application Open April 1st
Who is eligible?
A local advisory group from Northwest Arkansas will choose twenty weavers to receive $5,000 each. For someone to be considered for an Award they need to:
Be 18 or older
Live and serve in Washington or Benton County
Have a project that helps connect neighbors and fosters relationships between them
If the project is part of an organization, the organization must have an annual budget below $250,000
Welcome any neighbor who wants to participate in their initiative
What makes a good nomination for a Weaver Award?
They are looking for folks that get neighbors together to tackle a shared issue in their community. It can be anything from a youth mentorship program to park cleanups to a music program. The project must also welcome anyone who wants to join it and foster relationships between participants.
The folks who received a 2025 NWA Weaver Awards have initiatives that bring neighbors together around food, art, entrepreneurship, storytelling, and mental health, among many others. You can meet all twenty 2025 NWA Weaver Awardees HERE.
Learn more about the award and application process HERE. Additionally, there will be an in-person information session on Tuesday, Mar. 24th from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at the Red Kite Coffee Company (7058 West Sunset Ave.) in Springdale.
Arkansas Advocacy Information
Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Report
The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (WFA), with support from Ingeborg Initiatives, released “Holding It All Together: Working Moms and Childcare in Arkansas,” a research report examining how childcare costs, workplace flexibility and paid leave are shaping workforce participation and economic stability for families across the state.
The research makes clear that for many Arkansas families, financial realities drive the decision about whether a mother works outside the home. When the cost of childcare rivals or exceeds a mother’s paycheck, or leaves razor-thin margins after expenses, many families decide that the mother remaining at home is the most financially rational option.
Arkansas Appleseed Report
Arkansas Appleseed just released a sobering look at the state of public school funding. The "Funding Students First" report reveals that Arkansas trails the national average for public school funding by nearly 30%—a gap of roughly $4,000 per student, per year.
The racial disparities in the current system are alarming: only 21% of Black students in Arkansas attend an A or B-rated school, compared to 53% of White students. A staggering 25% of Black students attends an F-rated school.
Arkansas Appleseed believes that improving learning outcomes requires targeted investments in the students who need it most. Check out the full report to see how policymakers can improve public education funding in Arkansas.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Mar. 23 at 6 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Items of Note:
Community members are invited to celebrate the completion of the new side path connection and help “Pack the Path” on Friday, March 20th from 3 - 4 p.m.. Join in at Metfield Park to walk, ride, or roll the path as part of the celebration and be among the first to enjoy the new route. Event details HERE.
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 31 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
The City of Bentonville’s Public Art Advisory Board has issued a Call for Art proposals for a large-scale sculptural artwork to be installed inside the roundabout at Water Tower Road and SE 8th Street. Proposals must be submitted through the City’s online application form no later than Wed., May 27th. Guidelines and application details can be found HERE.
From Sam Hoisington with The Bentonville Bulletin, “Live Nation Proposes 2,500-Capacity Music Venue in Downtown Bentonville”
Coffee with Mayor is Tuesday, Mar. 16 at 8 a.m. (402 SW A St.) for a discussion about the City’s Planning Department. RSVP HERE.
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 24 at 6 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Items of Note:
From March 17 - March 19, the City of Cave Springs and Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) will work with the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) and national urban design experts for the “Cave Springs Main Street Corridor and IRWP Sanctuary Revitalization” Legacy Project. Learn more HERE.
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 14 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
From Thomas Saccente with the NWA Dem Gazz, “Batter up: Centerton reopens Kinyon Sports Complex with renovated ball fields after $1.3 million makeover” and “Centerton mayor talks past and future projects in State of City report; council member cites reactive leadership - Election opponent says there are challenges he failed to mention”
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 17 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Items of Note:
The city is now accepting nominations from the community for the Gravette Day parade Grand Marshal. If you know someone who has made an impact on the Gravette and Hiwasse communities, consider submitting their name for this honor HERE.
Gentry
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Apr. 6 at 6 p.m. (104 E Main St.)
Items of Note:
Gentry School Board is looking to fill a vacancy for zone 5 due to the retirement of current board member Jim Barnes. Applicants must live in zone 5 an be a registered voter. More information can be found HERE.
From the NWA Dem Gazz, “Gentry [School District] to expand free school supplies program to all students next school year”
Highfill
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 14 at 6 p.m. (2560 W Hwy 12)
Items of Note:
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is proposing to construct a north-south connector between Highway 412 and Interstate 49 (Bella Vista Bypass), west of Highway 112 in Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas. ARDOT will host a meeting about the proposal on Tues., Apr. 7 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Highfill. Learn more HERE.
The Highfill Planning Commission is working to update the city’s Future Land Use Plan and Master Street Plan and they want to hear from residents. Learn more HERE.
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 17 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 17 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.)
Items of Note:
Friends of the Pea Ridge Public Library is looking for a volunteer to help with grant writing. Interested parties can reach out to the organization at [email protected]
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 24 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 17 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 31 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
From Tom Sissom at the NWA Dem Gazz, “Mayor: Springdale faring well, but challenges loom for city and region” and “Springdale to receive $5.1 million grant for Dean’s Trail extension”
County Government Awareness
Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)
“Northwest Arkansas Community College could carry out a handful of capital projects featured in its master plan over the next decade, though none of them has a confirmed timeline at the moment. A long-term growth plan includes construction projects geared toward growing academic program capacity, athletics, on-campus housing and student life opportunities. The college administration plans to present student housing concepts to the Board of Trustees in June.” Read more from Edward McKinnon’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Committee of the Whole - Mar. 17 at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - Mar. 18 at 6 p.m.
Planning Board of Appeals - Mar. 19 at 6 p.m.
Development Review Committee - Mar. 25 at 10 a.m.
Quorum Court - Mar. 26 at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
95th General Legislative Assembly:
From Antoinette Grajeda, “Arkansas governor proposes 3% increase to state budget - Plan would set aside $70 million in surplus money for school vouchers”
From Michael R. Wickline with the NWA Dem Gazz, “Arkansas legislators’ reimbursed expenses hit $3.25 million in 2025” - Senator Dotson (R - Bentonville) is again one of the top leaders in reimbursements.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Even though she had some election losses this month, Governor Sanders made sure she was in the news this past week. In a sit down interview with Politico’s Jonathan Martin she continued to support President Trump and did not dismiss a future run for the presidency 🤮. You can subject yourself to the entire interview HERE or read Worth Sparkman’s writeup of the interview in Axios NWA HERE.
Last week, in a press conference with Erika Kirk, “Gov. Sanders signed a proclamation Wednesday [March 11] encouraging students in every Arkansas high school and college to establish a chapter of the conservative organization founded by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk… “It encourages all our high schools and our colleges to accept students’ reasonable participation in clubs and political or religious speech, and if school administrators try to suppress students’ freedom of speech as we have seen in other states, let me assure you that conservatives have just as much of a right to speak their mind as anyone else in the country. We will stand up for you,” Sanders said… The proclamation signed by Sanders mirrors similar partnerships announced in several other GOP-led states, including Texas and Oklahoma. High schools can start Club America chapters, while colleges can have Turning Point USA chapters.” This recap was from Aisnsley Platt with the Arkansas Advocate. Read the full piece HERE and additional reporting about the event and the proclamation:
Election Information
A few notes on the March 3rd election results:
Nicholas Bronni defeated John Adams in the Arkansas Supreme Court race, keeping the court makeup 5-2 majority conservative, read more from the Arkansas Advocate HERE
Judges on the Benton County ballots that won (good news across the board):
Court of Appeals: Sarah Capp
Circuit Court: Div 4 - Hadley Hindmarsh, Div 6 - Mike Armstrong, and Div 8 - Tim McDonald
In a special election in Pulaski County, a Democrat flipped a state house seat (district 70) and will serve the remainder of the vacancy’s term (2026) - read more about the victory from the Arkansas Advocate HERE
State Representative Austin McCollum will be Benton County’s next County Judge (4 year term beginning in 2027)
Total turnout in Benton County was 16.4% which is about average for a non presidential primary election
On the bright side, nearly 32% of all ballots chosen were Democratic - that’s double the typical 15% in previous primaries!
Finally, as a reminder of the importance of every single vote… Little Flock’s sales tax question ended in a tie which means the tax increase request by the city failed; read more from the NWA Dem Gazz HERE
In the Ear
Content below is from the excellent KUAF Connects newsletter:
Ozarks at Large's (OAL) Matthew Moore spoke with Andrew DeMillo, editor in chief of the Arkansas Advocate, about the results of Tuesday's elections and what they could mean for Arkansans. Listen HERE.
Arkansas public school enrollment recently reached its lowest level in at least 20 years. That's bringing challenges for district funding, staffing and educational programs. Education leaders cite economic pressures, immigration policy and the state's voucher program as potential causes. OAL's Casey Mann spoke to Northwest Arkansas superintendents and education advocates about what this shift might mean for the future of Arkansas public education. Listen HERE.
A new third grade promotion policy, part of the LEARNS Act, is intended to confirm a student is at the necessary reading level to advance to fourth grade. Josh McGee, an associate professor in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, said about 36% of Arkansas students are not scoring proficient on the state exam. According to McGee, Arkansas ranks 43rd on the fourth grade national exam and 39th on the eighth grade national exam on reading. Listen HERE.
Odds & Ends
From multiple authors at News from the States, “Taxpayer dollars flood pregnancy centers. Oversight hasn’t followed.”
From Dr. Gail Choate, “A Wider Doorway - If Arkansas is serious about civic engagement, it has to belong to more than one brand”
It’s “Sunshine Week”, and to help honor our state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), read this great and short writeup from the Arkansas Advocate HERE.