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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Northwest Arkansas, written by local reporters.

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Board overturns Swarm Aero classification in Arkansas

Swarm Aero must now decide whether to appeal the board's decision, seek to rezone the property on S. School Avenue or move.

Aerospace

Fayetteville&#x27;s Board of Adjustments on Monday ruled city planning staff misclassified drone maker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Swarm Aero" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/04/02/arkansas-drone-deal-sparks-ethical-and-safety-concerns" data-vars-content-id="220cf887-a0c4-4cce-880f-912c51b0a2e0" data-vars-headline="Board overturns Swarm Aero classification in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/04/02/arkansas-drone-deal-sparks-ethical-and-safety-concerns" target="_self">Swarm Aero</a> as a &quot;heavy commercial and light industrial&quot; business.Why it matters: The classification allowed the startup to lease a facility near Drake Field and begin operating without a public rezoning process.<ul><li>Swarm Aero must now decide whether to appeal the board&#x27;s decision, seek to rezone the property on S. School Avenue or move.</li></ul>

Monday Munchies: Hearty meals at a Belgian-inspired tavern

We tried a few dishes at 1834 Tavern Lafayette in Fayetteville.

Food and Drink

Fayetteville has a new Belgian-inspired restaurant, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="1834 Tavern Lafayette" data-vars-click-url="https://1834tavernlafayette.com/" data-vars-content-id="27f3cbd2-bd53-44cc-84eb-d46cbc787db8" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Hearty meals at a Belgian-inspired tavern" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://1834tavernlafayette.com/" target="_blank">1834 Tavern Lafayette</a>.🇧🇪 The vibe: If there&#x27;s another spot in NWA with a similar aesthetic, I haven&#x27;t found it. The business calls itself an &quot;intimate old-world tavern,&quot; and you&#x27;ll find deep green and purple hues, small tables smushed close together and decor with a flair for the ornate.

More families turn to surrogacy, navigating uneven state laws

See which laws are on the books in Arkansas.

News

Without a federal law, surrogacy in the U.S. is governed by a patchwork of state regulations that can determine everything from whether agreements are legally binding to who is recognized as a parent at birth.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="More Americans are turning to surrogacy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/29/surrogacy-popular-numbers" data-vars-content-id="d2f04254-b3f0-41d7-a8bf-553741d93ccf" data-vars-headline="More families turn to surrogacy, navigating uneven state laws" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/29/surrogacy-popular-numbers" target="_self">More Americans are turning to surrogacy</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="build their families" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/02/future-of-fertility-demographics" data-vars-content-id="d2f04254-b3f0-41d7-a8bf-553741d93ccf" data-vars-headline="More families turn to surrogacy, navigating uneven state laws" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/02/future-of-fertility-demographics" target="_self">build their families</a>, making ethical, legal and cultural tensions harder to ignore.

Judge rejects Oklahoma, poultry company settlements

The judges said the proposed settlements wouldn't actually fix the pollution

Business

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a deal that would have eased penalties on several Northwest Arkansas poultry companies, leaving in place an extensive cleanup plan, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/apr/08/judge-rejects-settlements-in-the-illinois-river/" data-vars-content-id="aa8ea599-d9e8-4118-b0e9-a58d68bcbbd4" data-vars-headline="Judge rejects Oklahoma, poultry company settlements" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/apr/08/judge-rejects-settlements-in-the-illinois-river/" target="_blank">reported</a>.Why it matters: That order mandates a 30-year cleanup, limits on poultry litter use in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Illinois River Watershed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.irwp.org/" data-vars-content-id="aa8ea599-d9e8-4118-b0e9-a58d68bcbbd4" data-vars-headline="Judge rejects Oklahoma, poultry company settlements" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.irwp.org/" target="_blank">Illinois River Watershed</a> and court oversight funded by the companies, a move that could reshape the poultry industry in NWA.

Arkansas Legislature to decide state budget

Arkansas lawmakers will convene Wednesday to kick off the fiscal session to consider budget proposals for the state, including a boost in school voucher funding.Why it matters: During fiscal sessions, the Arkansas General Assembly decides how taxpayer money is spent for state departments.

University of Arkansas students push back on athletics plan

82% of students who voted in a referendum opposed supporting athletics with tuition hikes, fees or reallocations.

Education

A majority of University of Arkansas students who voted in an Associated Student Government referendum oppose using university dollars to boost Razorbacks athletics, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/22/student-referendum-opposition-university-arkansas-funds-athletics/" data-vars-content-id="5fb8392e-1959-4f86-81c5-da64d2be4dbd" data-vars-headline="University of Arkansas students push back on athletics plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/22/student-referendum-opposition-university-arkansas-funds-athletics/" target="_blank">Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette</a> reported.Why it matters: The debate highlights a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="growing tension" data-vars-click-url="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/11/college-sports-spending-football/684983/" data-vars-content-id="5fb8392e-1959-4f86-81c5-da64d2be4dbd" data-vars-headline="University of Arkansas students push back on athletics plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/11/college-sports-spending-football/684983/" target="_blank">growing tension</a> in college sports over how to fund competitive athletics without shifting costs onto students.

Judge blocks Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments in schools

A federal judge on Monday permanently blocked enforcement of an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas law" data-vars-click-url="https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FACT573.pdf" data-vars-content-id="7c3becaa-132d-4f20-a6d6-95c4cb8c290b" data-vars-headline="Judge blocks Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments in schools" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FACT573.pdf" target="_blank">Arkansas law</a> requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms if they are donated.State of play: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ruling" data-vars-click-url="https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/document/2026/03/16/10Commandments.pdf" data-vars-content-id="7c3becaa-132d-4f20-a6d6-95c4cb8c290b" data-vars-headline="Judge blocks Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments in schools" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/document/2026/03/16/10Commandments.pdf" target="_blank">ruling</a> by Chief Judge Timothy Brooks <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="prohibits six school districts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/16/federal-judge-strikes-down-10-commandments/" data-vars-content-id="7c3becaa-132d-4f20-a6d6-95c4cb8c290b" data-vars-headline="Judge blocks Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments in schools" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/16/federal-judge-strikes-down-10-commandments/" target="_blank">prohibits six school districts</a> — Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Siloam Springs, Conway and Lakeside — from displaying the commandments.

NWA leaders push AI training in health care

See the Northwest Arkansas Council's plan.

The health care industry in Northwest Arkansas needs more artificial intelligence training, a study commissioned by the Northwest Arkansas Council found.Why it matters: The region&#x27;s health care industry is rapidly expanding to accommodate a growing population. AI is more likely to augment health care roles than to replace them and can expand the workforce&#x27;s capacity to care for patients, according to the council.

UAMS lands $40M to tackle maternal and infant mortality

The money comes from federal appropriations legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump.

Health

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="receive $40 million" data-vars-click-url="https://news.uams.edu/2026/02/09/uams-to-receive-40-million-in-congressional-appropriations-championed-by-arkansas-u-s-sen-john-boozman/" data-vars-content-id="67167921-8ea0-4c0c-a4d1-78d885fb66c0" data-vars-headline="UAMS lands $40M to tackle maternal and infant mortality" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.uams.edu/2026/02/09/uams-to-receive-40-million-in-congressional-appropriations-championed-by-arkansas-u-s-sen-john-boozman/" target="_blank">receive $40 million</a> in federal funding aimed largely at improving maternal and infant health outcomes, the school <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced" data-vars-click-url="https://news.uams.edu/2026/02/09/uams-to-receive-40-million-in-congressional-appropriations-championed-by-arkansas-u-s-sen-john-boozman/" data-vars-content-id="67167921-8ea0-4c0c-a4d1-78d885fb66c0" data-vars-headline="UAMS lands $40M to tackle maternal and infant mortality" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.uams.edu/2026/02/09/uams-to-receive-40-million-in-congressional-appropriations-championed-by-arkansas-u-s-sen-john-boozman/" target="_blank">announced</a> Monday.The big picture: Arkansas&#x27; maternal mortality rate was the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fourth-highest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/maternal-mortality/mmr-2018-2022-state-data.pdf" data-vars-content-id="67167921-8ea0-4c0c-a4d1-78d885fb66c0" data-vars-headline="UAMS lands $40M to tackle maternal and infant mortality" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/maternal-mortality/mmr-2018-2022-state-data.pdf" target="_blank">fourth-highest</a> in the U.S. during 2018-2022, and its infant mortality rate was the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="second-highest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/state-stats/deaths/infant-mortality.html" data-vars-content-id="67167921-8ea0-4c0c-a4d1-78d885fb66c0" data-vars-headline="UAMS lands $40M to tackle maternal and infant mortality" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/state-stats/deaths/infant-mortality.html" target="_blank">second-highest</a> in 2023, according to the CDC.

Walton-backed STEM university names first president

Penn State University's David Mazyck will lead the school.

The planned Bentonville <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="STEM university" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/08/waltons-stem-university-bentonville-walmart" data-vars-content-id="25460435-7456-4052-9011-2c8541430ff2" data-vars-headline="Walton-backed STEM university names first president" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/08/waltons-stem-university-bentonville-walmart" target="_self">STEM university</a> on Wednesday named its first president and said it&#x27;s preparing to demolish the former Walmart Home Office, where the school will be located.Why it matters: Turning a former corporate landmark into a STEM university positions the project as a long-term anchor for education, talent development and downtown growth in Bentonville.

Northwest Arkansas schools shuttered for 2nd snow day

Temps dipped into the single-digits early Monday and are forecast to remain below freezing until Wednesday.

Kids rejoiced and some parents cringed when the major NWA school districts called off classes for the second day in a row. The big picture: Many NWA weather forecasters last week predicted 8–10 inches. The National Weather Service snowfall <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports for the weekend" data-vars-click-url="https://www.weather.gov/source/crh/snowmap.html?zoom=10&amp;lat=36.14&amp;lon=-94.17&amp;hr=72" data-vars-content-id="3ecf9d2e-78ec-428e-995a-a4ad7949821b" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas schools shuttered for 2nd snow day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.weather.gov/source/crh/snowmap.html?zoom=10&amp;lat=36.14&amp;lon=-94.17&amp;hr=72" target="_blank">reports for the weekend</a> show totals as high as 12 inches in Siloam Springs and as low as 3.3 inches in east Fayetteville.

Bentonville schools debunk ICE field trip rumors after mix-up

Bentonville officials clarified that students didn't tour an ICE facility, despite viral claims. The mix-up involved two DHS-listed buildings.

Bentonville Public Schools officials clarified Saturday that students did not tour an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility this week, despite online claims that they had taken a field trip there.Driving the news: In a Saturday email to district employees, students, and families obtained by Axios, Superintendent Debbie Jones said the mix-up occurred when a bus briefly took Gifted and Talented students to the wrong building before transporting them to the intended destination, a Homeland Security Investigations office in Fayetteville. It was for forensics education, she said.

University of Arkansas rescinds law school hire under political pressure, legislator says

The university said it had received "feedback from key external stakeholders."

The University of Arkansas had hired a new dean for its law school but has since rescinded its offer — because of political pressure, a state legislator says.Why it matters: This raises concerns over freedom of speech and academic expression, American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas executive director Holly Dickson said Thursday in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="statement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.acluarkansas.org/press-releases/aclu-of-arkansas-statement-on-unconstitutional-political-interference-in-university-of-arkansas-law-dean-hiring/" data-vars-content-id="f2e30c1e-9528-4e07-94fe-ca57104b4606" data-vars-headline="University of Arkansas rescinds law school hire under political pressure, legislator says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.acluarkansas.org/press-releases/aclu-of-arkansas-statement-on-unconstitutional-political-interference-in-university-of-arkansas-law-dean-hiring/" target="_blank">statement</a>.

Northwest Arkansas' 2025 in headlines

The big picture: 2025 was a rollercoaster.

It&#x27;s time to take a beat and reflect on the year through the news that changed our region.The big picture: 2025 was a rollercoaster.

Education 📚

Arkansas Legislature to decide state budget

University of Arkansas students push back on athletics plan

Judge blocks Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments in schools

NWA leaders push AI training in health care

UAMS lands $40M to tackle maternal and infant mortality