1 big thing: "Excessive," sizzling temps in the forecast for NWA

Illustration of a thermometer shaped like an upwards arrow, with the mercury rising.

2. The rundown: runoff winners

Illustration of several versions of the elephant from the Republican Party logo stampeding and kicking up dust.

3. Diamond Hogs advance in College World Series

Arkansas Razorbacks right fielder Chris Lanzilli greets catcher Dylan Leach and first baseman after hitting a home run against the Auburn Tigers. 

4. Not our first rodeo

Illustration of an Arkansas-shaped cowboy boot spur.

Do you see yourself with a new career? 

5. 🥵 It's so hot that... 

A photo of a lit fuse about to touch a red firecracker on a black background.

🌶 Today's weather: Sweltering. Read more about it below. 

📖 Enjoy reading us every day? Consider supporting our local journalism by becoming an Axios Northwest Arkansas member.

Today's newsletter is 904 words — a 3.5-minute read.

🗳 Alex voted in the runoff. Did you know Arkansas ranks last in voter turnout?

🚔 Worth is late but has been listening to the "Up and Vanished" podcast. No spoilers, please. 

NW Arkansas

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

Axios Northwest Arkansas

1 big thing: The end of Roe v. Wade in Arkansas

💭 Welcome to the Axios NWA Thought Bubble, our snap-analysis dispatch to break down events that shape our city and state as they happen.

Let's take a deeper what today's Supreme Court decision means for Arkansas.

Today's newsletter is 193 words — a 1-minute read.

Check back for more news and analysis next week. 

Axios Northwest Arkansas Thought Bubble

1 big thing: Hutchinson laments no exceptions for rape or incest 

Governor Asa Hutchinson (R-AK) appears on "Meet the Press" in Washington, D.C., Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. 

2. Reactions from the Roe ruling

A photo of mostly women protesting the SCOTUS decision on Roe v. Wade. 

3. Kitchen Sink: News splash

Illustration of a faucet with animated drips shaped like the letters N, W, and A falling out.

4. Films take top honors at BFF 

Poster images of movies: "Georgia" and "Every Day In Kaimuki"

On the job hunt?

5. ❤️ Love is a 4-letter word 

Photo of a reproduction of the iconic Richard Indiana sculpture in Philadelphia.

Good morning. It's Monday. Thanks for joining us.

⛅ Today will be mostly cloudy with a high in the low 80s. Whew!

There's a lot to cover, so let's get to it. 

Today's newsletter is 870 words — a 3-minute read.

🏄 Alex is on vacation this week. Worth imagines she's catching waves in Oahu, Hawaii. 

📚 Worth is listening to "The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead. 

1 big thing: We need health care workers

Illustration of a nurse's scrubs, stethoscope and mask, standing with no nurse inside them.

2. NWA builds even as housing costs skyrocket

Illustration of a plywood house that is also an upward arrow. 

3. Kitchen Sink: More news to drink

Illustration of a pattern of kitchen sinks.

4. ⚾️ OmaHogs take Ole Miss

Arkansas Razorbacks starting pitcher Hagen Smith (33) throws against the Ole Miss Rebels in the first inning at Charles Schwab Field. 

Now hiring: New job openings

5. Your BFF guide 

Walmart Chief Creative Officer Jean Batthany, Geena Davis and Wendy Guerrero attend The Hollywood Reporter's Raising Our Voices.

Welcome to Thursday. We hope it's a good one.

🌤 Today's weather: It's a (mostly) sunny day and should get as hot as 92.

Today's newsletter is 883 words — a 3.5-minute read.

👰 Alex had her first major wedding planning crisis. The date was bumped two weeks, but the crisis averted.

🎵 Worth is listening to some pre-"Dark Side" Pink Floyd. 

1 big thing: What to know about kids' vaccines

Illustration of a bandaid made out of lego blocks.

2. Geena Davis turns tables on gender roles

Ashley Atkinson, Brianne Howey and Geena Davis perform a scene from a movie. 

3. Things to do this weekend

Illustration of an animated neutral emoji changing into a smiling-with-sunglasses emoji.

4. Rebels top Razorbacks in College World Series

Arkansas Razorbacks first baseman Peyton Stovall and shortstop Jalen Battles hug after being defeated by the Ole Miss Rebels.

New jobs to check out

5. "It's hotter'n a $2 pistol"

Illustration of the sun with rays coming out of it.

🧊 Here's some Vanilla Ice to kick off your weekend.

🔥 Today's weather: It'll be hotter than a bothered monkey. (See more blazin' phrasin' below!)

🚨 Situational awareness: Walmart said in a news release Thursday that it will invest more than $225 million to upgrade nearly 50 of its Arkansas stores. 

Today's newsletter is 824 words — a 3-minute read.

👋 Alex is taking a little time off. She'll see you after the Fourth of July.

📰 Worth is reading this AP story about the SCOTUS decision on New York's gun law. 

The littlest among us can now get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Driving the news: CDC director Rochelle Walensky signed off on allowing Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 shots for children as young as 6 months last Saturday.

What they're saying: "The vaccines are safe and have done a great job of preventing severe disease like hospitalizations and long COVID symptoms," Jessica Snowden, physician and chief of pediatric infectious disease at Arkansas Children's Hospital, told Axios.

While children are not as likely to have severe illness as adults, Arkansas Children's Hospital has seen kids, including those who are otherwise healthy, hospitalized with the virus nearly every day since the start of the pandemic, Snowden said.

By the numbers: Arkansas has had 799 children age 10 and younger hospitalized with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. 

In total, people under age 18 account for about 3.5% of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state. Seven individuals under 18 have died of the virus.

Details: The dosage for children under 5 is lower than for kids ages 5-11, Snowden said. Children 12 and up and adults receive a higher dose.

For kids under 5, the Moderna vaccine requires two shots four weeks apart. The Pfzier vaccine requires three shots — the second one four weeks after the first dose and third shot eight weeks after the second dose.

The bottom line: Vaccines prevent illness in children and are necessary to keep kids in day care or school and playing with their peers without disruption, Snowden said.

What's next: Arkansas Children's Hospital expects to have the vaccines available starting today at all of its primary care clinics. You can make an appointment online or contact your child's pediatrician.

A spokesperson with the Arkansas Department of Health told Axios all local county health units should have the vaccines today, too.

Community Clinic will begin offering the vaccines next week, chief medical officer Gary Berner told Axios confirmed through a spokesperson.

What to know about kids' vaccines

Children as young as 6 months can get vaccinated.

Northwest Arkansas

The littlest among us can now get vaccinated against COVID-19.Driving the news: CDC director Rochelle Walensky <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="signed off" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/18/cdc-committee-recommends-covid-vaccine-moderna-pfizer-kids" data-vars-content-id="49377ae0-b4ef-4ebd-9cab-63fbde4f2aed" data-vars-headline="What to know about kids&#x27; vaccines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/18/cdc-committee-recommends-covid-vaccine-moderna-pfizer-kids" target="_self">signed off</a> on allowing Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 shots for children as young as 6 months last Saturday.

COVID

News

Recruiting and retaining a robust health care workforce will be essential in the coming years as the industry struggles to meet increasing demand, according to a new report.

Driving the news: Heartland Forward, a Bentonville-based nonprofit focused on the economy in "the heartland" — 20 states in the Midwest and South — released a report outlining challenges in the health care workforce and strategies to tackle them.

The report zeroed in on five metros within the heartland, including NWA; Durant, Oklahoma; Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Oxford, Mississippi.

It focuses on positions that require no more than a bachelor's degree, such as nurses, medical assistants, lab technicians and phlebotomists.

State of play: The Northwest Arkansas Council lists 488 job openings for nursing, psychiatric and home health aides, which typically require a high school diploma and have a median income of about $26,000.

The region also has 295 open positions for registered nurses, who must have a bachelor's degree and who earn a median income of $62,000 annually.

What they're saying: While an aging population and health problems increase demand for care, factors such as job dissatisfaction exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic make it difficult to keep a healthy supply of workers, according to the report.

Details: The report outlines four challenges including:

Awareness — potential employees are unaware of career opportunities.

Education — not enough instructors, and clinical learning opportunities are lacking.

Incentives — inadequate pay, benefits, transportation, child care and job satisfaction that make it difficult to attract and retain workers.

Pipeline — lack of coordination in supplying workers.

The bottom line: Heartland Forward's research outlines recommendations such as: improving pay and benefits for health care workers, providing more clinical opportunities like internships for students and trainees, increasing flexibility around training by using technology and creating comprehensive pathways for opportunity and career growth.

The report cites Washington Regional Medical Center and NorthWest Arkansas Community College's new program that allows nursing rotations on nights and weekends as an example of increased flexibility.

What to watch: Some new-ish initiatives exist to curb this problem, such as Springdale-based nonprofit Excellerate Foundation's Upskill NWA program designed to make it easier for low-income students to get medical education or training.

NWA needs health care workers

Recruiting and retaining a health care workforce will be essential as the industry struggles to meet increasing demand.

Arkansas

Recruiting and retaining a robust health care workforce will be essential in the coming years as the industry struggles to meet increasing demand, according to a new report.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Heartland Forward" data-vars-click-url="https://heartlandforward.org/" data-vars-content-id="5488554c-229e-4c73-81e9-1b909df3f9c7" data-vars-headline="NWA needs health care workers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://heartlandforward.org/" target="_blank">Heartland Forward</a>, a Bentonville-based nonprofit focused on the economy in &quot;the heartland&quot; — 20 states in the Midwest and South — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="released a report" data-vars-click-url="https://heartlandforward.org/case-study/keepers-of-a-healthy-heartland-strategies-for-building-a-robust-health-care-workforce/" data-vars-content-id="5488554c-229e-4c73-81e9-1b909df3f9c7" data-vars-headline="NWA needs health care workers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://heartlandforward.org/case-study/keepers-of-a-healthy-heartland-strategies-for-building-a-robust-health-care-workforce/" target="_blank">released a report</a> outlining challenges in the health care workforce and strategies to tackle them.

Business

I'm always looking for a good cup of coffee, and it's merely a bonus if it's accompanied by a breakfast pastry.

Enter The Hip Cafe. This spot is a little out of the way in South Fayetteville, and it's a cozy place for a casual breakfast or lunch.

The verdict: The orange and cranberry bread and the banana nut bread are nice Saturday treats with a side of caffeine in a cup. 

Less sugary menu options, such as a breakfast wrap with eggs or tofu, tots, cheese and veggies, are also available..

The intrigue: The cafe also has a full vegan sandwich menu for lunch, with items like a "turkey" sandwich with avocado, lettuce and garlic chive aioli and a "roast beef" sandwich with caramelized onions, spinach, feta and horseradish mayo.

When and where: 7:30am-3pm Monday through Friday and 8am-2pm Saturday at 2229 E. Huntsville Road in Fayetteville.

Start your day feeling hip

We tried the The Hip Cafe in South Fayetteville.

I'll have to try the scones next time. Photo: Alex Golden/Axios

I&#x27;m always looking for a good cup of coffee, and it&#x27;s merely a bonus if it&#x27;s accompanied by a breakfast pastry.Enter <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Hip Cafe" data-vars-click-url="http://thehipcoffee.com/" data-vars-content-id="9183913a-d1e2-454f-bf10-8ccbeaaa7c6b" data-vars-headline="Start your day feeling hip" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://thehipcoffee.com/" target="_blank">The Hip Cafe</a>. This spot is a little out of the way in South Fayetteville, and it&#x27;s a cozy place for a casual breakfast or lunch.

Food and Drink

Things to Do

The unofficial primary election results are in for the NWA runoff races — all for Republican nominations.

Flashback: Most nominations were decided in the May primary elections.

The intrigue: Justice of the Peace Patrick Deakins won the Republican nomination for Washington County judge by only 18 votes, with 2,623 in his favor compared to Mark Scalise's 2,605, according to unofficial results from Washington County.

Deakins will go up against Democratic nominee Josh Moody in November.

The other winners, according to unofficial election results from Benton and Washington counties, are:

Hope Hendren Duke, running for state representative for District 12, the most northwest corner of the state covering Gravette and part of Bella Vista. Duke defeated Jay Oliphant with nearly 69% of the vote.

R. Scott Richardson, running for state representative for District 13, covering west Bentonville. Richardson beat Denise Bugo with about 60% of the vote.

Tyler Dees, running for state Senate District 35, covering the northwest corner, including Gravette and stretching down to Siloam Springs. Dees defeated state Rep. Gayla Hendren McKenzie with around 61% of the vote.

Kendra Moore, running for state representative for District 23, covering Prairie Grove and West Fork. Moore beat Justice of the Peace Jim Wilson with almost 57% of the vote.

Gary Ricker, running for Washington County justice of the peace for District 14, covering West Fork, Winslow and Greenland. Ricker defeated Aaron Wood with around 54% of the vote.

John R. Buchan, running for Washington County constable for District 1, covering Tontitown. Buchan won over Constable John-David Duggar with over 51% of the vote.

What's next: The general election is Nov. 8.

NWA's runoff election winners

All races were for Republican nominations.

The unofficial primary election results are in for the NWA runoff races — all for Republican nominations.Flashback: Most nominations were decided in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="May primary elections" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/28036474.2046/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJzL2F4aW9zLW53LWFya2Fuc2FzLTRhNGY2OWRhLTYxM2QtNGI5OC04NDRmLThkNGFiOTcwMjBkOC5odG1sP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfbndfYXJrYW5zYXMmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/6086302c5fff7145e15f7ce8Ba48ff4c9" data-vars-content-id="cd483b68-ca47-478d-94ef-9e9fee24b782" data-vars-headline="NWA&#x27;s runoff election winners" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/28036474.2046/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJzL2F4aW9zLW53LWFya2Fuc2FzLTRhNGY2OWRhLTYxM2QtNGI5OC04NDRmLThkNGFiOTcwMjBkOC5odG1sP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfbndfYXJrYW5zYXMmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/6086302c5fff7145e15f7ce8Ba48ff4c9" target="_blank">May primary elections</a>.

Politics

Walmart will open a second health clinic in NWA.

Background: The corporate giant began rolling out its Walmart Health clinics in 2019, including at its Springdale location on Elm Springs Road in 2020. The clinics are intended to offer primary care with low, transparent prices for people with and without insurance.

What's happening: The latest clinic will be at the store at 2110 W. Walnut St., Talk Business & Politics reported.

Yes, and: The Fort Smith store at 2100 N. 62nd St. will also get a clinic.

The big picture: Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told reporters earlier this month during the annual Walmart shareholders events that the company is seeing high demand for this offering. He added that the business does not have a specific goal for how many clinics it plans to open, adding that health care needs vary widely by community.

Walmart recently bought a telehealth company, MeMD.

The company plans to have more than 25 clinics open nationwide by the end of this summer.

Details: The Springdale clinic, for example, offers medical, dental, optometry and behavioral health services. An annual checkup for an adult is $50 and $30 for a child. A dental exam including X-rays plus cleaning for an adult is $60 and $80 for kids.

Walmart adds Rogers health clinic

Walmart will open a second health clinic in NWA.Background: The corporate giant began rolling out its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Walmart Health" data-vars-click-url="https://one.walmart.com/content/usone/en_us/company/walmart-health.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="f1143866-8cef-4dc7-bddc-7f89bf0f414a" data-vars-headline="Walmart adds Rogers health clinic" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://one.walmart.com/content/usone/en_us/company/walmart-health.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">Walmart Health</a> clinics in 2019, including at its Springdale location on Elm Springs Road in 2020. The clinics are intended to offer primary care with low, transparent prices for people with and without insurance.

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Stories

What to know about kids' vaccines

NWA needs health care workers

NWA's runoff election winners

Walmart adds Rogers health clinic

Start your day feeling hip

Newsletter editions

Hutchinson on ban exceptions

⚖️ Roe overturned

Shots for tots

Health workers needed

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