Local Events
Wed., May 27 at 9 a.m. - Webinar: Planning for Growth on Your Own Terms via zoom; This Groundwork’s session is a practical deep dive into the challenges of peripheral growth, where towns often absorb population without the immediate economic benefits seen by their larger neighbors featuring Mayor Nathan See of Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Audra Butler, Director of Rural Housing at Communities Unlimited. Register to attend HERE.
Thurs., May 28 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Introducing NWA Community Gathering by EngageNWA; Designed to help newcomers build meaningful community connections, this gathering introduces attendees to local organizations, opportunities to volunteer, and a deeper understanding of NWA as a connected region. Register to attend HERE.
Community Involvement Opportunities
Applications for the Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy
The Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy (ACCLA) is a yearlong program that blends academic instruction, civil discourse, practical training, and service-learning. Participants explore how government works, how communities solve problems, and how leaders can engage responsibly in civic life.
ACCLA is designed for:
Undergraduate juniors and seniors
Students interested in public service, government, journalism, nonprofit work, or community leadership
Emerging young leaders seeking practical civic knowledge and statewide connection
Know someone who might be interested in joining the Class of 2027? Applications are due June 1, 2026.
City of Bentonville Public Art Advisory Board’s Call for Student Artwork: America 250 – What I Love About America
Bentonville students in grades 7–12 are invited to submit original artwork celebrating what they love about America. Selected pieces will become part of a large-scale community mural that highlights student voices and perspectives in a meaningful and lasting way. Students can submit proposals through June 15 online. Learn more HERE.
Get Loud Arkansas (GLA) recently relaunched the Easy App, that helps eligible Arkansans complete their voter application electronically, then GLA prints and delivers the completed form to the appropriate county office. This makes the process more accessible, easier to understand, and far more convenient for future voters across our state. Easy App link: https://form.jotform.com/222275227390050.
Please note: This is not an online voter registration portal. An applicant is not registered to vote until the voter registration application has been accepted by their county clerk. Upon acceptance, the applicant will receive a card in the mail confirming their voter registration status.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m. (2483 Forest Hills Blvd)
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m. (305 SW A St.)
Items of Note:
From Thomas Saccente with the NWA Dem Gazz, “Bentonville moving forward with Rainbow Curve intersection improvements, pickleball complex, transformers purchase”
Bentonville is Accepting Applications for the Public Art Advisory Board. Applicants must be a registered voter, reside within the corporate limits of Bentonville, and be available to attend monthly meetings and occasional special meetings. Apply by June 20 HERE.
Dan Grover was appointed to fill the ward 1 council vacancy for the remainder of 2026. Read Sam Hoisington’s excellent recap on how the council selected the new representative (hint, it was messy) in the Bentonville Bulletin HERE
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m. (120 S. Main St.)
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Highfill
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. (2560 W Hwy 12)
Items of Note:
From Randy Moll with the NWA Dem Gazz, “Highfill addressing rapid growth; city sees Arkansas’ largest percentage increase in population in 12-month period - New zoning district, park proposal among changes”
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m. (216 N. Lincoln St.)
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 16 at 6 p.m. (911 Weston St.)
Items of Note:
Mobility Alliance Meeting on Tues., May 26 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at The Garage (190 Smith St.); join in a community discussion and sharing of ideas
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
From Jada Robison with the NWA Dem Gazz, “Rogers council OKs rezoning in Whispering Timbers neighborhood despite resident concerns - More than $500,000 in federal grant funds accepted”
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m. (400 N. Broadway)
Items of Note:
From Marc Hayot with the NWA Dem Gazz, “Siloam Springs holds stakeholders meeting to discuss housing problem in city”
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
From Tom Sissom with the NWA Dem Gazz, “Springdale officials eye downtown parking deck to add space for residents, businesses”
County Government Awareness
Census Bureau Latest Population Estimates
Earlier this month, the Census Bureau released population and housing unit estimates as of July 1, 2025. In Arkansas. Here are some top line items in Benton County:
Cities with at least 1,000 residents but less than 20,000; Benton County has the top three in growth from 2024 to 2025 for the entire state: 1) Highfill 30.6%, 2) Pea Ridge 10.2%, and 3) Decatur 9.4%
Cities with more than 20,000 residents; Benton County again has the three in growth from 2024 to 2025 for the entire state: 1) Centerton 5.7%, 2) Siloam Springs 5.4%, and 3) Bella Vista 3.7%
Northwest Arkansas Community College
“If the Northwest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees approves a campus housing project, it likely will be built on the northern edge of campus. The college's Land Use Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to designate a parcel on the south side of Eighth Street as the general location for the college's first residential housing development. The project would include 300 to 400 beds.” Read more from Edward McKinnon’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
Benton County Planning Board
“The Benton County Planning Board shot down a plan to build a new 200-foot-tall, self-supported telecommunications tower because of the impact it would have on the area… The tower would have been located on eight acres at 8732 Reuben Road in the Bentonville area… The tabling came with the provision the applicant -- the California-based Public Safety Towers -- conduct a study to determine how much sound the proposed tower would generate, as well as incorporate landscape buffering into the plan.” Read more from Thomas Saccente’s reporting in the NWA Dem Gazz HERE.
Benton County Quorum Court
Upcoming County Government meetings at the Admin Building in downtown Bentonville:
Development Review Committee - May 27 at 10 a.m.
Quorum Court - May 28 at 6 p.m.
Drainage Criteria Manual Public Meeting - June 2 at 5:30 p.m. (NEBCO Community Room)
Planning Board Meeting - June 9 at 6 p.m.
State Government Awareness
95th General Legislative Assembly:
From Tess Vrbin with the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas panel picks new design for anti-abortion monument at Capitol - Decision sparks complaints from artist of nearly identical design chosen earlier”
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Worth Sparkman reviewed Governor Sander’s recent touting of Arkansas ranking number one ranking in some recent reports. His piece in Axios NWA goes big picture on the whole state. Read his recap HERE. Additionally, Worth recapped Governor Sanders and Olivia Walton’s appearance on Meet the Press earlier this month where they discussed maternal health. Read that recap HERE.
Arkansas Education in the News:
The 74 highlighted Arkansas Education in their newsletter last week. Check out the following:
From Lauren Wagener, “Sharing Students Is Key to Success for These Arkansas Third Grade Educators - The teaching team at Hunt Elementary School in Springdale has some of the highest growth scores in the state. Other schools are taking notice.”
From Harry Patrinos, “Arkansas Will Soon Hold Back Kids Who Can’t Read. But That Alone Is Not Enough - Patrinos: Research from Mississippi shows 3rd-graders who struggle with literacy need intensive interventions both before and after they are retained.
Federal Impacts on Arkansas
Arkansas continues to be impacted by decisions made by the Trump administration and Congress. From Tess Vrbin, “Looming federal cuts prompt concerns about food aid in Arkansas - The state agency that administers SNAP won’t see a budget increase while the program’s administrative cost faces a multimillion-dollar spike”
Local Candidate Events
Please consider attending the following upcoming event to learn more about and support like-minded candidates running for office in Arkansas.
State Legislature: Candidate Fundraiser for Mitchell Smith in House District 13 (south Bentonville and northwest Rogers)
RSVP to [email protected] for address!
In the Ear
Thanks to the folks from For AR People for highlighting Episode 2 of Extra Credit. In this episode Dr. Glen Fenter sits down with Springdale Superintendent Dr. Jared Cleveland to talk about what public schools are facing right now: poverty, workforce shortages, multilingual classrooms, and the growing pressure placed on public schools that are expected to do more with fewer resources. This episode gets past catchy slogans and legislative jargon. It's about the real-world impact of policy decisions on students, families, teachers, and communities across our state
Odds & Ends
Commentary from Andrew DeMillo at the Arkansas Advocate, “Arkansas children face real dangers. Reading ‘The Odyssey’ isn’t one of them. - Proposal treats libraries as a threat by restricting access to certain books”
From Tracking Arkansas and Janie Ginocchio, read “Part 10: PACs and Prisons Over Prevention - The architects told the state the prison would cost $1.2 billion. The science says half that amount, invested upstream, would change this state for generations. Arkansas chose the prison.”
Wise words from Paul Krugman, “What Happens When Americans Realize How Miserable We Are? - Life is about more than GDP”