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Axios NW Arkansas
AI enters Northwest Arkansas' local news and party scene
Jay Price could make your worst nightmares come true. Think robot revolution and AI overlords.Fortunately, he's super affable and talks with the joy of a kid at Christmas. He's not likely to flip on Terminator's SkyNet.Why it matters: Price, who runs NWA Apps as his full-time job, uses "bots" to scrape the internet, then create artificial intelligence-generated content for a local news site (OkayNWA.com) and an events-calendar app (OkayNWA).Each entry is accompanied by a piece of AI-generated art as a visual representation.State of play: Price launched the app about a year ago as a try at resolving a common gripe...
The Agenda: Public art, debris removal
What a couple of your city councils will discuss tonight:. Six temporary art installations at the library from OZ Art. Allowing installation of "The Physics of Being" by artist Justin Tyler Tate at Creekside Park. The $21,849 work will be made of wood and include an arrow and the word "here" and will be paid for by the city Advertising and Promotion Commission.
Razorbacks football is back
It's time for a bunch of college athletes to determine your emotions for the next several months.State of play: The Razorbacks take on the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on Thursday. The first home game in Fayetteville is Sept. 14 against the University of Alabama at Birmingham.Mark your calendars for some games of note:Sept. 21 — Auburn awaySept. 28 — Texas A&M awayOct. 19 — LSU at homeNov. 2 — Ole Miss at homeNov. 16 — University of Texas at homeSee the full scheduleFlashback: Last season was rough for the Razorbacks, who won just four of their 12 games.Coach Sam Pittman says getting off to a fast start is key this season, Whole Hog Sports reported.What we're watching: This is the first season since the rehiring of former head coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator — news that sent shockwaves through Hog country.Petrino was fired in 2012 after hiring a woman with whom he was in a romantic relationship, which came to light after an infamous motorcycle accident with her as the passenger.Go deeper: Four sports bars where you can watch the games
More than 80% of SNAP-eligible seniors in Arkansas aren't getting benefits
Data: National Council on Aging and Urban Institute; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosAn estimated 80% of older adults in Northwest Arkansas who are eligible for a federal food-assistance program are not taking part, a new report finds. Why it matters: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, can help low-income Americans afford groceries — but those who qualify must apply in order to be helped.The big picture: Just over 70% of Americans 65 and older who qualified for SNAP in 2018 weren't participating, per the report from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Urban...
Your week ahead: Razorbacks, music, baseball
It's feeling like back-to-school season.🐗 Call the Hogs — The Arkansas Razorbacks' football season begins Thursday at 6:30pm against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Watch on ESPNU.🎤 Catch live music — Enjoy a free community party with live music at downtown Springdale's Live! At Turnbow on Thursday night, or get tickets starting at $45 to see Dan + Shay at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, also Thursday.⚾️ Go to a baseball game — The Northwest Arkansas Naturals play a six-game series against the Frisco Rough Riders starting tomorrow. Get tickets starting at $9.
Monday Munchies: Blackberry Brasserie brunch in Rogers
I haven't stopped thinking about the savory Southern plates at The Blackberry Brasserie since I tried them back in January, so news that the Rogers restaurant had added a brunch menu was my cue to return.🍳 State of play: Just like at dinnertime, the restaurant takes well-known dishes and adds its own spin. I did not know that I wanted mushroom gravy, collard greens and squash on my eggs Benedict, but I certainly do now.The mushroom gravy, in particular, is the almost-surprisingly delicious thing tying this Greens 'n Things Benny ($17) together.The dish is also served with hollandaise sauce and...
Your weekend plans: Fair, restaurants, concerts
Make this weekend a good one.🍽 Bentonville Restaurant Week — Catch the end of the event today and tomorrow, and try special menu items and get discounts at participating Bentonville restaurants.🎤 Live music — +LIVE+ and Stone Temple Pilots with Soul Asylum are playing Saturday night at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion. Get tickets starting at $30.Electronic music producer and DJ deadmau5 will be at The Momentary on Saturday night. General admission tickets are $85 — or $68 for members and $30 for students.🎡 Washington County Fair — The fair continues today and Saturday with rides, food and livestock. Full schedule.
Ideas for improving the maternal health crisis in Arkansas
Improving maternal health in Arkansas will involve changes in mindset, policy and how health care professionals work together, panelists said Wednesday during a roundtable hosted by U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Arkansas) in Bentonville.Why it matters: Arkansas has the nation's highest rate of maternal mortality — deaths related to pregnancy, birth and postpartum complications. And Black women in Arkansas are about twice as likely to die of such difficulties than white women, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.The state also has one of the highest infant-mortality rates, which tends to correlate with maternal health, nurse/midwife Cara Osborne said.State of play:...
The Shift: Entrepreneurial activity heats up in Northwest Arkansas
Back to school means more than football season — it's also when NWA's entrepreneurial activity ramps up.A couple of recent developments:Arkansas Starters CoalitionThe new initiative will help advance entrepreneurship across the state by convening innovators, as well as identifying and removing barriers to starting businesses.The coalition will work to engage with everyone, including those who have been historically excluded, Jeannette Balleza Collins, coalition manager of Right to Start, told me.State of play: Right to Start is focused on fostering entrepreneurship and its economic benefits across the U.S., in part by growing ecosystems for small businesses.Arkansas' coalition consists of 12 founding-member...
University of Arkansas expects record enrollment, plans to build dorms
It is the first week of fall classes for the University of Arkansas, and the state's flagship school expects record enrollment, spokesperson John Thomas told Axios. By the numbers: The university saw an all-time high of 32,140 students in fall 2023, including undergraduate, graduate and law students. The numbers for this fall won't be available until the 11th day of classes, but officials expect even larger undergraduate and overall enrollment numbers, plus its second-largest freshman class.
Arkansas students to get credit for AP African American studies
At least eight Arkansas schools in five districts will offer Advanced Placement African American studies this school year, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. Why it matters: In the past, conservative lawmakers around the country have expressed outrage over the curriculum, claiming it teaches critical race theory, a college-level framework that's often conflated with general teachings on systemic racism.
The Agenda: Fayetteville trash fees
The Fayetteville City Council meets tonight. Here's a quick preview on what's up for action:The council plans to vote on:Issuing $15 million in bonds for street and park improvements. This is part of the $226 million bond issue voters approved in 2019.An $111,858 contract with Raftelis Financial Consultants to study the city's recycling and trash-collection fees to determine whether the city should increase rates.If you go: 5:30pm at City Hall or online.
Fayetteville gets Outside magazine nod as a "best bike town"
Fayetteville made a fairly elite list, landing as No. 10 on Outside magazine's "10 Best Bike Towns in America."Why it matters: Outside is the gold standard for anyone who ventures outdoors.State of play: The magazine focused on towns with populations less than 100,000, and used data from People for Bikes and the League of American Bicyclists.🧮 By the numbers: Fayetteville has a People for Bikes score of 50 and gold status with the league.Outside says there are 50 miles of paved trails inside Fayetteville and a total of 154 pathways.The story also notes it connects to the Razorback Regional Greenway, which runs about 40 miles from Kessler Mountain to Bella Vista.🔎 Zoom out: Other cities included Park City, Utah (No. 6); Aspen and Crested Butte, Colorado (Nos. 1 and 4); and Jackson, Wyoming (No. 3).
Your week ahead: County fair, art, "A Raisin in the Sun"
We hope August is treating you well.🎡 Go play at the Washington County Fair — The fair with a petting zoo, pageant, carnival rides and classic fair food kicks off tomorrow and runs through Saturday at the fairgrounds off North McConnell Avenue in Fayetteville. Tickets are $5 cash or $7.50 with a credit card for ages 6 and up. Kids under 6 get in free.🎨 Explore an art exhibit — "Scrap" features artwork from recycled materials at Fenix Arts Gallery at Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville; it recently opened and is on display until Sept. 29. Weekday gallery hours include 1-5pm Thursday and Friday, plus 10am-6pm Saturday and 1-4pm Sunday.🎭 See a play — "A Raisin in the Sun" runs Wednesday through Sept. 15 at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville. Get tickets starting at $27, although some $15 tickets are available for people under 30.
Monday Munchies: Springdale's Japanese spot
The culinary scene in NWA improves almost weekly. There's so much going on, I missed when Menya Kitakara opened last month in downtown Springdale.The setup: The ramen maker shines like a new nickel on the town's development-dusted Emma Avenue. Patrons can watch Springdale progress from giant windows while they sip, slurp and suck noodles cooked in light-but-hearty broth.The food: I ordered the No. 3 — Asahikawa — which is noodles in chicken and pork broth with pork, a soft-boiled egg, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and scallions ($14).This followed appetizers of spicy edamame ($6) and pork gyoza ($7).The verdict: If you like...
Some Arkansas medical marijuana likely sold on black market
Some of the medical marijuana sold in Arkansas may be going to the black market, as cardholders exploit legal loopholes, a new study found.Why it matters: The pounds legally sold in the state have increased nearly 50% in the past two years, while the number of card holders have increased only about 24% — from about 85,000 to 105,296.State of play: Joseph Thompson, president and CEO of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI), presented to a state-level joint health committee Wednesday some preliminary findings of a study on the state's program.It's the first population-based report on medical marijuana to...
Spanish bookstore Ambivert Books opens with pop-up
A store dedicated to carrying books written in Spanish will debut this weekend at the second annual Northwest Arkansas Book Fest.Why it matters: Ambivert Books owner Brittany Johnson told Axios she wants the store to be accessible to those who speak Spanish as a first language, as well as Spanish-language learners looking to build on their skills by reading Spanish books.State of play: Ambivert will open as a popup and online store, with tentative plans to eventually open a brick-and-mortar shop in Springdale.Customers can request books, order them online, catch Ambivert at events, join a book club or subscribe to...
Your weekend plans: Festivals to check out
NWA has plenty of festivals to entertain you this weekend.🎈 Soar Fest — Enjoy tethered hot-air balloon rides, live music, helicopter rides and kids' activities today and Saturday at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Bentonville. Get tickets starting at $5 for kids and $15 for adults.📚 NWA Book Fest — The second annual festival for book lovers tomorrow will feature author talks, panel discussions and story times. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Fayetteville Town Center.🎸 Anvil Fest — This two-day music festival is happening today and Saturday at Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville. Get tickets starting at $15.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Nw Arkansas.
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