Local Events
Tues., Mar. 18 at 9 a.m. - Onward Arkansas’s panel on 10 Years of Amazeum; join Onward Ozarks for a virtual discussion where Scott Family Amazeum CEO Sam Dean and Chief Philanthropy Officer Jennifer Martinez Belt will reflect on the Amazeum’s 10-year journey and detail plans for its $25 million expansion and capital campaign. Register HERE.
Thurs., Mar. 20 at 6:30 p.m. - League of Women Voters of Benton County Monthly Chapter Meeting at the Arvest Conference Center (210 N Main St, Bentonville)
Sat., Mar. 22 from 1 - 2 p.m. - Musk or US: Empty Chair Town Hall for Sens. Cotton and Boozman, and Rep. Womack; event at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (2925 Old Missouri Rd) in Fayetteville; register to attend HERE
Fri., Mar. 28 at 1 p.m. - Arkansas’s Maternal Health Crisis: Women Across the State Share their Experiences and Views webinar hosted by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF); Join this virtual discussion of AACF’s recent report Arkansas’s Maternal Health Crisis: Women Across the State Share their Experiences and Views. Based on our series of focus groups, learn the key themes AACF heard from the women they talked with. Register HERE.
Community Involvement Opportunities
Canopy NWA
Canopy NWA is looking for community members to expand their advocacy for the program and the refugees they support.
Learn More! - If you are part of a civic group, school, faith community, or business and would like Canopy to speak about refugees and the communities Canopy serves, please reach out to request a speaker HERE. The organization would be honored to share insights, stories, and lived experiences that highlight the journey of refugees in Northwest Arkansas.
Volunteer! - Interested in getting involved with Canopy? Sign up HERE for a Canopy Volunteer Informational Session on Saturday, March 22nd from 9 -10 a.m. at the Canopy office in Fayetteville (1142 N Futrall Dr.). They will discuss how current events affect Canopy and our different opportunities to get involved as a volunteer.
Donate! - Even as new arrivals are on pause, Canopy continues to support over 750 individuals through their Long Welcome Program. Learn more about the program and donate HERE.
The Equality Crew
The Equality Crew has multiple ways for community members to help support the organization and its mission.
SURVEY! - The Equality Crew is interested in learning more about the needs of Rainbow Families (any family unit with an LGBTQ+ person) in order to facilitate programming that is in alignment with our community. Take the survey HERE.
Join the Board! - The organization has 5 spots on their working board reserved for those willing to dedicate a minimum of 10 hours/month to supporting the cause. They are especially excited about those with volunteer management, graphic design, HR and accounting/bookkeeping experience. Learn more and apply HERE.
Numbers person? - The Equality Crew is seeking referrals for a local affirming or LGBTQ+ accountant or bookkeeper with QuickBooks experience. If this sounds like you or someone you know, email [email protected].
Mental Health provider? - Are you a therapist, counselor, or other mental health provider in Northwest Arkansas who is affirming of LGBTQ+ identities? The organization is growing their affirming therapist database, and they are seeking additional practitioners who are comfortable being included in their resource list. Join the list HERE.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Mar. 17 at 5:30 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd) - work session
Items of Note:
The city is accepting applications for a position on the Tree Advisory Board. This is a 3-year term expiring in May 2028 and meets quarterly. Must live or own property in city limits. Apply online by Wednesday, March 26 HERE
The city is accepting applications for the 2025/2026 session of the Youth Council, starting in the fall 2025. Positions are open to Bella Vista residents who will be juniors or seniors in high school at the start of the 2025/26 school year. Learn more and apply online HERE by Friday, Aug.
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 8 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
Mayor Orman invites residents to join her for a Virtual Coffee Tues., March 18 at 8:00 a.m. She will be recognizing community Spirit of Bentonville award winners, talking with Dan Weese, Director of Transportation, and chatting with Kurt Templeton about the reopening of the Walmart Museum. Register HERE.
The City of Bentonville is participating in Keep Arkansas Beautiful's Great Arkansas Cleanup by organizing a city-wide "Clean the Streets Day" on Saturday, April 12th from 9:00 am to noon. Volunteers are needed to help pick up litter along Bentonville city streets, trails, creek beds, and in drainage ways. All supplies are provided. Pre-register yourself or a group HERE
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 24 at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Apr. 8 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
Nick Jewett was appointed to the Centerton Planning Commission (term ending June 30, 2027) at March’s meeting
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Items of Note:
The city is accepting nominations from the community for the 2025 Gravette Day 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 under the 'Events' Gravette Day tab!
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.)
Items of Note:
The Friends of the Pea Ridge Library will be holding a spring bake sale to help raise money to support the Pea Ridge Library’s upcoming programs. Items will be available for sale from 2 - 5 p.m. on Thurs., March 27th (cash please).
Pea Ridge spring clean-up will be held April 2 - 5 from 7 to 7. Go HERE for detailed list of what will or won’t be accepted.
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 25 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Monday, Mar. 17 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
Mara Whiteside was appointed to the Springdale Library Board (term expiring Dec. 31, 2030) last meeting
County Government Awareness
Census Bureau Data
Information below is from Jeff Della Rosa’s reporting in Talk Business and Politics. Read his full reporting HERE.
New population estimates are as of July 1, 2024 (note, city estimates for the same time period will be released in May)
State of Arkansas: 3.08 M
NWA (Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro area): 605,615
Benton County: 321,566
“Northwest Arkansas’ population rose by 2.3% to 605,615 in 2024 from 591,895 in 2023. The metro area added 13,720 people in 2024 and became the 96th most populous metro area in the United States, up two positions from 2023.”
“Benton and Washington counties added the most people in the state between 2023 and 2024. Benton County added 9,318 and grew by 3% to a population of 321,566. Washington County added 4,304 and grew by 1.6% to 266,184. Benton County is the 76th fastest-growing county among 3,144 U.S. counties. It also had the 82nd-largest numerical gain in population. Its growth rate was the 118th fastest in 2023, while the numerical gain was the 45th largest.”
Benton County Registered Voters
Information below is from Benton County Facebook Page:
Keep an eye on your mailbox! Thousands of Benton County voters will receive a blue or yellow postcard in their mailbox over the next few weeks. These mailers are sent out to verify voters’ addresses and update other voter information. Both the blue and yellow postcards are already postmarked! Simply fill it out and return to your mailbox.
A blue postcard will be sent if the resident has not voted in two years, or an attempt to communicate with the voter via mail has resulted in the mail being returned “undeliverable”.
Voters will receive a yellow postcard if they did not previously respond to a blue postcard two years ago and have not voted in any election in the last four years. This postcard is a notice of impending cancellation. If you do not send back the notice of impending cancellation within 30 days, your voter registration will be canceled and the voter will need to re-register to vote no less than 30 days prior to any election in which they wish to vote.
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Committee of the Whole - Mar. 18 at 6 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting - Mar. 19 at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
95th General Legislative Assembly:
Recaps from last week’s legislative activity:
“Arkansas' Capitol round up: Petitions, kids and Commandments” from Alex Golden and Worth Sparkman at Axios NWA
From Antoinette Grajeda at the Arkansas Advocate, “SESSION SNAPSHOT: Arkansas legislators seek to clarify FOIA, overhaul state employee pay plan”, and “Stalled energy bill advances out of Arkansas Senate”
From Benjamin Hardy at the Arkansas Times, “Arkansas GOP lawmakers seek to force local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE - Another Republican-backed bill would make ‘harboring illegal aliens’ a felony”
Bills of note in committees this week:
👎️🚨SB434 - Sen. Dotson (R-Bentonville); Ironically, this bill is called the “Protect Our Constitution Act,”. It requires a majority of ALL REGISTERED VOTERS to pass a ballot initiative. As you likely know, Arkansas is the worst state in the nation for voter turnout. If this bill passes, future ballot initiatives would likely need more than 75% of the vote to pass. This will make it impossible to pass nearly any citizen-led ballot initiative. The bill will be heard in the Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs on Tuesday, March 18 at 10 a.m.. ACTION ITEM!!! Email/call the committee members (listed HERE) and ask them to vote NO.
👎️SB314 - Sen. Irvin (R-Mountain View); Increases penalties for sexual solicitation, elevating first offenses to a Class A misdemeanor and subsequent offenses to a Class D felony. The bill passed the Senate Floor and is now waiting to be heard by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, March 18 at 10 a.m.. Rather than offering support, the bill further criminalizes sex workers, many of whom are already marginalized and vulnerable to exploitation and violence. (via AJRC)
👍 HB1004 - Rep. Pilkington (R-Knoxville); This bill would extend pregnancy Medicaid coverage to a full year postpartum. Right now, such coverage ends just 60 days after delivery. Despite our state having the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, Arkansas is the only state that has not extended postpartum coverage for women beyond 60 days. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18. ACTION ITEM!!! Email/call the committee members (listed HERE) and ask them to vote YES. (via AACF)
HB1685 - Rep. Underwood (R - Cave Springs); This is the companion bill to SB377. The content in HB1685 and SB377 is identical. This bill would exempt food and food ingredients from state sales tax (currently 1/8th of a cent on the dollar or 0.125%). It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Revenue and Taxation at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18. Read more from Alex Golden at Axios NWA HERE.
👎️🚨HB1705 - Rep. Duke (R - Gravette); This bill would create new requirements for 6th-12th grade social studies standards and courses in public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools. It would require information about the founding fathers' religious and political beliefs and how their religious beliefs influenced the United States’ founding documents, like the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is on the agenda of the House Committee on Education at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18. ACTION ITEM!!! Email/call the committee members (listed HERE) and ask them to vote NO. (via AACF)
Bills of note signed by the governor:
👍ACT268 - This bill clarifies that no copayment or deductible is required for mammograms, breast ultrasounds, or diagnostic procedures like breast MRIs for breast cancer examinations (via AACF)
👎️ACT274 - says canvassers must read the ballot title to each and every potential signer before they can sign (via APPP)
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
From Antoinette Grajeda in the Arkansas Advocate, “Governor’s aide appointed to University of Arkansas Board of Trustees” and to give you insight into the cronyism, read Austin Gelder in the Arkansas Times, “Governor appoints longtime crony Judd Deere and political ally Randy Lawson to UA System board”
Arkansas State Supreme Court:
Drama continues on the Arkansas State Supreme Court. Read more about the latest legal proceedings from Tess Vrbin at the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas Supreme Court chief justice harassed court staff, per human resources report - Report led court administrator in January to inform Chief Justice Baker she was no longer allowed near certain offices; Baker’s attorney seeks Justice Wood’s recusal”
Election Information - The People Rule????
Want to know why “The People Rule” is now in question? Read Daniel Nichanian’s reporting in Bolts, “‘It Just Feels Like Death’: Barrage of New Rules Target Arkansas Ballot Initiatives - Faced with popular initiatives to protect abortion rights and other measures they dislike, state Republicans are passing new bills that local advocates say will hollow out direct democracy.”
With the Republican led assault on the ballot initiative process, the League of Women Voters of Arkansas is planning a 2026 ballot measure to save the process and reverse the restrictive bills from the last few legislative sessions. Read more about the ballot initiative from:
Political Training Opportunities
Emerge Virtual National Boot Camp
Emerge Boot Camps are designed specifically for those who are planning to run for office in this election cycle. The next National Boot Camp is being held virtually in June 2025 for those who are planning to run for office in 2025 or 2026. The Boot Camp is developed to give program members the skills they need as they launch & run successful campaigns. Learn more about the program by registering HERE for the virtual Information Session on Wed., March 19th at noon.
Odds & Ends
Read Sherrilyn Ifill’s substack piece, “Selma is Stronger than MAGA - On loving your country”
If you don’t have the Signal app on your phone, you should. Read more from Brian Barrett at Wired, “How to Use Signal Encrypted Messaging - The best end-to-end encrypted messaging app has a host of security features. Here are the ones you should care about.”
From Tim Dickinson at Rolling Stone, “Progressives Are Pissed. This Group Wants Them to Run for Office - The Trump backlash includes record numbers of progressives who want to win local elections”