NWA's Arkansas 112 widening gets federal go-ahead

1 big thing: Arkansas 112 gets federal nod


2. Asa Hutchinson doesn't qualify for debate

3. What we're sipping: A golden smoothie

4. Kitchen Sink: No hogwash

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5. Pic to go: It's about to look like fall, y'all

☀️ Today will be sunny with a high in the upper 80s.

💸  Situational awareness: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders allowed media to photograph the $19,029 lectern reportedly paid for by the state.

The Republican Party of Arkansas reimbursed the state with a check dated Sept. 14.

Today's newsletter is 781 words — a 3-minute read.

Thanks to Fadel Allassan for editing and James Gilzow for copy editing this newsletter.

👀 Alex is reading about the Federal Trade Commission's lawsuit against Amazon.

✍️ Worth is listening to "Blonde on Blonde" by Bob Dylan. 

NW Arkansas

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

Axios Northwest Arkansas

Standard

1 big thing: More new moms are working

2. Kitchen Sink: Basin of information

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Loan demand continues for Arkansas banks

3. Arkansas banks continue to see loan demand


4. Your weekend plans

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5. Where in NWA? 

Congratulations — you made it to Friday!

🏍️ It's Bikes, Blues & BBQ weekend. Were you born to be wild or mild? 🎶

No matter, just please be careful out there.

☔️ Showers are likely today; high near 80.

Today's newsletter is 911 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Editor's note: Yesterday's item on Northwest Arkansas National Airport splitting with Highfill was corrected to show airport officials have not offered an estimate of how much Highfill collects a year from a 2% sales tax at the airport. It was also corrected to show that, after ties are cut, Highfill will continue to collect the tax until its bonds are paid off.

😎 Alex will be at the FORMAT Festival this weekend.

🕶️ Worth is listening to John Lee Hooker. 

Climate change is making Northwest Arkansas summers even hotter

1 big thing: Humans are making our summer days hotter

2. The Agenda: On deck for city councils

Fayetteville tourism chief to run for mayor in 2024

3. Fayetteville mayor faces 2024 challenge

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4. Kitchen Sink: News feathers

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A new career is waiting for you

University of Arkansas offers new business master's degree

5. University of Arkansas offers new business master's degree

☀️ Enjoy a sunny day with highs in the upper 80s.

🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios NW Arkansas member Laura Graham!

Rely on us to keep you up to date on what's happening around town? Support our local journalism by becoming a member.

Situational awareness: You can order free COVID-19 tests from the government again.

Today's newsletter is 728 words — a 3-minute read.

💉 Alex is getting her flu and COVID-19 shots this week.

👨‍💻 Worth is working on a couple of projects.

NW Arkansas schools ace safety and security exam

1 big thing: Districts get straight A's for safety

Annual event convenes EV makers for the e-curious

2. Event convenes EV makers for e-curious

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3. The Benton County Fair is back

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4. Kitchen Sink: Drops of news

On the job hunt?

5. Chart to go: We're getting older

☀️ It'll be sunny again today with a high near 90.

Today's newsletter is 705 words — a 3-minute read.

🍸 Alex is trying something from Pink House Alchemy. More later.

⚾️ Worth is reading the obituary of Arkansas native and Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson. 

Arkansas to get $10.3 million grant for electric grid

1 big thing: Arkansas to get $10.3 million for electric grid

Illustration of a hundred dollar bill stylized as an electric symbol.

Monday Munchies: Red beans and rice at Arsaga's Mill District

2. Monday Munchies: Red beans and rice 

3. FORMAT Festival comes to The Momentary

4. Kitchen Sink: Hogging the news

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5. Where in NWA it is 

🌧 Highs will reach the 80s; chance of rain and storms.

Today's newsletter is 846 words — a 3-minute read.

🎸 Alex had a great time seeing Modest Mouse and Alanis Morissette at FORMAT.

🇺🇦 Worth is reading about U.S. missiles headed for Ukraine. 

Data: individual school districts; Chart: Axios Visuals

The largest school districts in Northwest Arkansas have posted straight A's when it comes to keeping kids safe, according to data compiled by Axios.

It's a vast improvement over last year's analysis, which included two B's, two C's and an incomplete.

Why it matters: Incidents involving firearms on U.S. school campuses are up dramatically in the past two years, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.

On average, about 21 incidents occurred monthly on school grounds nationwide in 2021. That rose to more than 25 per month in 2022, and it's at about 28.5 per month so far this year.

166 people have been wounded or killed at U.S. schools since Jan. 1, 2023.

The big picture: Many people believe that "hardening" schools by increasing security is the best way to keep kids safe.

Others argue that red flag, storage and age restriction gun laws need to be passed, along with hardening, to truly reduce risks.

Between the lines: At least seven laws passed in Arkansas this year allow more guns to be carried by more people in more places.

What we did: Axios polled 10 NWA school districts. Questions were based on five focus areas noted in the 2022 Arkansas School Safety Commission's final report: mental health and prevention; law enforcement and security; physical security; intelligence and communication; and audits, emergency operations and drills.

The survey included two questions for each category.

A single point was given for each tactic in place at a district. A half-point was awarded if a tactic was in progress, but not yet active.

The bottom line: The 10 schools surveyed are taking a layered approach to many of the top security and preventive recommendations from the Arkansas School Safety Commission.

Of note: The scores demonstrate how NWA's school districts have implemented best practices, but they don't mean one school is safer than another.

In the interest of keeping kids safe, Axios has opted to not disclose the specific questions or the answers.

The region's 10 largest school districts have straight As when it comes to keeping kids safe.

Northwest Arkansas

The largest school districts in Northwest Arkansas have posted straight A&#x27;s when it comes to keeping kids safe, according to data compiled by Axios.<ul><li>It&#x27;s a vast improvement over <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="last year&#x27;s analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2022/10/11/northwest-arkansas-districts-schools-safety-report" data-vars-content-id="7c3b6ef1-cf32-46d5-9b0a-5b968e7dd2f9" data-vars-headline="NW Arkansas schools ace safety and security exam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2022/10/11/northwest-arkansas-districts-schools-safety-report" target="_self">last year&#x27;s analysis</a>, which included two B&#x27;s, two C&#x27;s and an incomplete.</li></ul>Why it matters: Incidents involving firearms on U.S. school campuses are up dramatically in the past two years, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="K-12 School Shooting Database" data-vars-click-url="https://k12ssdb.org/all-shootings" data-vars-content-id="7c3b6ef1-cf32-46d5-9b0a-5b968e7dd2f9" data-vars-headline="NW Arkansas schools ace safety and security exam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://k12ssdb.org/all-shootings" target="_blank">K-12 School Shooting Database</a>.<ul><li>On average, about 21 incidents occurred monthly on school grounds nationwide in 2021. That rose to more than 25 per month in 2022, and it&#x27;s at about 28.5 per month so far this year.</li><li>166 people have been wounded or killed at U.S. schools since Jan. 1, 2023.</li></ul>The big picture: Many people believe that &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hardening" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/school-hardening-not-making-students-safer-say-experts" data-vars-content-id="7c3b6ef1-cf32-46d5-9b0a-5b968e7dd2f9" data-vars-headline="NW Arkansas schools ace safety and security exam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/school-hardening-not-making-students-safer-say-experts" target="_blank">hardening</a>&quot; schools by increasing security is the best way to keep kids safe.<ul><li>Others argue that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="red flag" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/26/gun-control-legislation-red-flag-laws-explained" data-vars-content-id="7c3b6ef1-cf32-46d5-9b0a-5b968e7dd2f9" data-vars-headline="NW Arkansas schools ace safety and security exam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/26/gun-control-legislation-red-flag-laws-explained" target="_self">red flag</a>, storage and age restriction gun laws <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="need to be passed, along" data-vars-click-url="https://everytownresearch.org/report/how-can-we-prevent-gun-violence-in-schools/" data-vars-content-id="7c3b6ef1-cf32-46d5-9b0a-5b968e7dd2f9" data-vars-headline="NW Arkansas schools ace safety and security exam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://everytownresearch.org/report/how-can-we-prevent-gun-violence-in-schools/" target="_blank">need to be passed, along</a> with hardening, to truly reduce risks.</li></ul>Between the lines: At least <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="seven laws passed in Arkansas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/05/24/arkansas-pro-gun-legislation-uvalde-shooting" data-vars-content-id="7c3b6ef1-cf32-46d5-9b0a-5b968e7dd2f9" data-vars-headline="NW Arkansas schools ace safety and security exam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/05/24/arkansas-pro-gun-legislation-uvalde-shooting" target="_self">seven laws passed in Arkansas</a> this year allow more guns to be carried by more people in more places.What we did: Axios polled 10 NWA school districts. Questions were based on five focus areas noted in the 2022 Arkansas School Safety Commission&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="final report" data-vars-click-url="https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/2022_Arkansas_School_Safety_Commission_Final_Report_10-6_2022[92]_COMM.pdf" data-vars-content-id="7c3b6ef1-cf32-46d5-9b0a-5b968e7dd2f9" data-vars-headline="NW Arkansas schools ace safety and security exam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/2022_Arkansas_School_Safety_Commission_Final_Report_10-6_2022[92]_COMM.pdf" target="_blank">final report</a>: mental health and prevention; law enforcement and security; physical security; intelligence and communication; and audits, emergency operations and drills.<ul><li>The survey included two questions for each category.</li><li>A single point was given for each tactic in place at a district. A half-point was awarded if a tactic was in progress, but not yet active.</li></ul>The bottom line: The 10 schools surveyed are taking a layered approach to many of the top security and preventive recommendations from the Arkansas School Safety Commission.Of note: The scores demonstrate how NWA&#x27;s school districts have implemented best practices, but they don&#x27;t mean one school is safer than another.<ul><li>In the interest of keeping kids safe, Axios has opted to not disclose the specific questions or the answers.</li></ul>

News

Education

Cool weather is in the not-too-distant future, so many are already craving stews, gumbos and steamy bowls of chili.

The setup: Though it was 70 degrees, the mental leap to this fare was a short one on a recent rainy day when I met a source for lunch at Arsaga's Mill District.

I opted for a bowl of red beans & rice, topped with andouille sausage ($14 without sausage; $19 with).

This comes with a side of cheesy cornbread and a dollop of sweetened butter.

The verdict: Alone, the beans and rice hit on all the right textures — a little mushy, a little chewy and just a tad bit of crunch from the jasmine rice.

It lacked depth of flavor, but that's where the sausage comes in.

The andouille added spice and some layers, but was a little awkward to eat.

🌶️ Pro tip: Ask for the Crystal hot sauce and apply liberally for a boost.

The cornbread was simple, crumbly (but not dry) and simply delicious.

With sweet butter, it helps offset the Crystal sauce if you apply too much.

Try it: Arsaga's Mill District, 481 S. School Ave., Fayetteville. Monday-Saturday, 7am-3pm; Sunday, 9am-3pm.

Red beans and rice with cornbread. Photo: Worth Sparkman/Axios

Cool weather is in the not-too-distant future, so many are already craving stews, gumbos and steamy bowls of chili.The setup: Though it was 70 degrees, the mental leap to this fare was a short one on a recent rainy day when I met a source for lunch at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arsaga&#x27;s Mill District" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arsagas.com/mill-district" data-vars-content-id="8e2b1ce5-e74c-42e9-b1fd-8a2168bcd5c2" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Red beans and rice at Arsaga&#x27;s Mill District" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arsagas.com/mill-district" target="_blank">Arsaga&#x27;s Mill District</a>.

Food and Drink

Things to Do

If you're on the fence about buying an electric car or e-bike, you're not alone.

What's happening: The second annual Drive Electric NWA this weekend will provide opportunities to learn about the tech without any pressure to buy.

State of play: Electric vehicles accounted for 2.8% of monthly new-vehicle registrations in Northwest Arkansas in January — up from 1% the same month last year. The Northwest Arkansas Council, which is hosting this weekend's event, says there are more than 2,000 all-electric cars and trucks in Benton and Washington counties.

The state is on its way to having more charging stations — possibly about every 50 miles along our interstates.

Details: Models from Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, Tesla, Canoo and Rivian will be on hand to view.

Representatives from area electric companies can answer questions about home and roadside charging stations.

People For Bikes, Phat Tire Bike Shop and Pedego Fayetteville will be available to talk about e-bikes and alternative transportation.

Check it out: Drop in from 11am to 4pm Saturday in the parking lot at the Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers.

The second annual Drive Electric NWA this weekend gives everyone the opportunity to learn about the tech without any pressure to buy.

If you&#x27;re on the fence about buying an electric car or e-bike, you&#x27;re not alone.What&#x27;s happening: The second annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Drive Electric NWA" data-vars-click-url="https://nwacouncil.org/drive-electric/" data-vars-content-id="9d8f9d42-5da5-4766-8cdc-496ed0c9d550" data-vars-headline="Annual event convenes EV makers for the e-curious" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nwacouncil.org/drive-electric/" target="_blank">Drive Electric NWA</a> this weekend will provide opportunities to learn about the tech without any pressure to buy.State of play: Electric vehicles accounted for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2.8% of monthly new-vehicle" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-nw-arkansas-e6ebaf3e-fd0f-45e6-bf70-55a4fa3f1c97.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="9d8f9d42-5da5-4766-8cdc-496ed0c9d550" data-vars-headline="Annual event convenes EV makers for the e-curious" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-nw-arkansas-e6ebaf3e-fd0f-45e6-bf70-55a4fa3f1c97.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" target="_self">2.8% of monthly new-vehicle</a> registrations in Northwest Arkansas in January — up from 1% the same month last year. The Northwest Arkansas Council, which is hosting this weekend&#x27;s event, says there are more than 2,000 all-electric cars and trucks in Benton and Washington counties.<ul><li>The state is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="on its way" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/29131049.34/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL253LWFya2Fuc2FzLzIwMjIvMDYvMjgvYXJrYW5zYXMtZWxlY3RyaWMtdmVoaWNsZS1jaGFyZ2luZy1uZXR3b3JrLXBsYW5uaW5nP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/60745e98f259136e9e4c81f2Ba0fb241d" data-vars-content-id="9d8f9d42-5da5-4766-8cdc-496ed0c9d550" data-vars-headline="Annual event convenes EV makers for the e-curious" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/29131049.34/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL253LWFya2Fuc2FzLzIwMjIvMDYvMjgvYXJrYW5zYXMtZWxlY3RyaWMtdmVoaWNsZS1jaGFyZ2luZy1uZXR3b3JrLXBsYW5uaW5nP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/60745e98f259136e9e4c81f2Ba0fb241d" target="_blank">on its way</a> to having more charging stations — possibly about every 50 miles along our interstates.</li></ul>Details: Models from Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, Tesla, Canoo and Rivian will be on hand to view.<ul><li>Representatives from area electric companies can answer questions about home and roadside charging stations.</li><li>People For Bikes, Phat Tire Bike Shop and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pedego Fayetteville" data-vars-click-url="https://pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/fayetteville/" data-vars-content-id="9d8f9d42-5da5-4766-8cdc-496ed0c9d550" data-vars-headline="Annual event convenes EV makers for the e-curious" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/fayetteville/" target="_blank">Pedego Fayetteville</a> will be available to talk about e-bikes and alternative transportation.</li></ul>Check it out: Drop in from 11am to 4pm Saturday in the parking lot at the Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers.

Transit

Data: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.; Chart: Axios

Demand for residential and commercial loans in Arkansas remains strong despite the highest interest rates in more than 20 years, bank industry insiders told Axios.

It's a sign consumers and developers are adjusting to the new cost of things, bankers said.

Driving the news: The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged Wednesday, and issued new projections indicating most officials expect one more rate hike this year, Axios' Neil Irwin reports.

The Fed's decision raises the prospect that rates will stay higher for  longer than investors expected earlier this year. It suggests borrowers won't get much relief from lower costs in the near future.

The big picture: Banks have been tightening credit as a result of the Fed's aggressive rate hiking campaign — an intended side effect of its efforts to lower inflation.

Overall loan growth in U.S. banks is about 3.6% so far in the third quarter, about half the long-term average of 7%, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The value of those loans continues to grow, however.

By the numbers: Nationally, commercial banks carried about $12.1 trillion in loans at the end of June. The number was $10.3 trillion for the same period in 2021.

Zoom in: Loans from banks doing business in the Natural State were valued at nearly $1.1 billion at the end of the second quarter, up 31% from $834 million just two years earlier.

What they're saying: "We've seen continued growth … and good demand with good borrowers," Brad Crain, president and CEO of Arvest Benton County, told Axios.

There are about $300 million in commercial loans in Arvest's fourth-quarter pipeline for Benton County alone, he said.

The bank's total commercial portfolio is up 16% in the past 12 months, or about 7% so far this year.

Residential mortgages across Arvest's four-state footprint were valued at $1.4 billion through August, Crain said, which is on pace to beat the $1.6 billion it financed last year.

Meanwhile, Gary Head, chairman of Signature Bank of Arkansas, agrees demand is good but pointed out that fewer people qualify than two years ago because rising interest rates have pushed payment amounts out of their range.

"Normal was cheap for a long time," he said.

Head is hopeful prime rates will settle in the 6-7% range long term.

The bottom line: Loan demand is statewide and not focused geographically, bank commissioner Susannah Marshall told Axios.

She called the environment "robust" and said the industry in Arkansas is healthy.

Arkansas

Demand for residential and commercial loans in Arkansas remains strong despite the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="highest interest rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/26/fed-interest-rates-up-today-2023" data-vars-content-id="c4c113fd-1127-432a-86c0-0bbc824d8cbe" data-vars-headline="Loan demand continues for Arkansas banks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/26/fed-interest-rates-up-today-2023" target="_self">highest interest rates</a> in more than 20 years, bank industry insiders told Axios.<ul><li>It&#x27;s a sign consumers and developers are adjusting to the new cost of things, bankers said.</li></ul>Driving the news: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Federal Reserve" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/18/inflation-federal-reserve-whats-next" data-vars-content-id="c4c113fd-1127-432a-86c0-0bbc824d8cbe" data-vars-headline="Loan demand continues for Arkansas banks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/18/inflation-federal-reserve-whats-next" target="_self">Federal Reserve</a> left interest rates unchanged Wednesday, and issued new projections indicating most officials expect one more rate hike this year, Axios&#x27; Neil Irwin <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/20/fed-rates-unchanged" data-vars-content-id="c4c113fd-1127-432a-86c0-0bbc824d8cbe" data-vars-headline="Loan demand continues for Arkansas banks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/20/fed-rates-unchanged" target="_self">reports</a>.

Business

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) is closer to kicking off its plan to widen Arkansas 112 from Tontitown to Bentonville.

What's happening: The Federal Highway Administration ruled Monday that the proposed widening "would have no significant impact on the human or natural environment," allowing the state to start acquiring land for the right-of-way.

Why it matters: The once semisecret shortcut to avoid Interstate 49 just to its west has grown increasingly crowded, as more homes are built west of Bentonville and travelers look for quicker routes to Northwest Arkansas National Airport.

As people continue moving into NWA, mobility remains a key concern for regional leaders.

Details: The project calls for widening 12 miles of Arkansas 112 in four phases from U.S. 412 on the south side to Arkansas 12 to the north.

Another 5.5 miles of the road south of Tontitown (U.S. 412) is being improved in a separate project.

Plans for all 17.5 miles call for four lanes separated by a raised median, a 12-foot paved bike path and a 5-foot pedestrian sidewalk, said Tim Conklin, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.

Twenty-six roundabouts will be installed to reduce fatalities, he tells Axios.

Threat level: The 12-mile project will require right-of-way acquisition of more than 200 acres, according to the Federal Highway Administration. As planned, it will cause 26 residential relocations and 17 business relocations.

The bottom line: The 12-mile widening project will cost an estimated $160 million, according to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, which will be funded through an existing half-cent sales tax.

Yes, but: Federal grants and separate funding will be required to pay for the bike path, Conklin tells us.

What we're watching: Construction is planned to begin in 2025.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation is closer to kicking off its plan to widen Highway 112 from Tontitown to Bentonville.

Map courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Transportation 

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) is closer to kicking off its plan to widen Arkansas 112 from Tontitown to Bentonville.What&#x27;s happening: The Federal Highway Administration ruled Monday that the proposed widening &quot;would have no significant impact on the human or natural environment,&quot; allowing the state to start acquiring land for the right-of-way.

Worth Sparkman

Stories

NW Arkansas schools ace safety and security exam

Annual event convenes EV makers for the e-curious

NWA's Arkansas 112 widening gets federal go-ahead

Monday Munchies: Red beans and rice at Arsaga's Mill District

Loan demand continues for Arkansas banks

Newsletter editions

🚸 School safety grades

🚧 Hwy. 112 revisited

🗳 Fayetteville mayoral race

⚡️ Grid goals

👩‍💼 Working moms