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Arkansas to collab with Oklahoma on transportation
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an agreement Wednesday to jointly make the region a hub for advanced mobility.
Why it matters: Efforts to grow the industry are projected to create up to 55,000 new jobs in fields such as software engineering, cybersecurity analytics, drone piloting, vehicle maintenance, mechanical engineering and industrial engineering, according to a news release from 4Media Group.
Arkansas School Safety Commission OKs several recommendations
The state's School Safety Commission unanimously approved several recommendations from its five subcommittees this week, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.
Driving the news: Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a bill last week earmarking $50 million of the state's $1.6 billion revenue surplus for a school safety grant program.
It's crepes galore in Bentonville
I finally got a taste of France here in NWA.
The verdict: I can confirm those of us who are late to the Crepes Paulette party have been missing out. This diner-like restaurant with yellow umbrellas hanging from the ceiling by slinkies is charming and an upgrade from a concept that began as a food truck back in 2010.
Dressing up Fayetteville's College Avenue
The city of Fayetteville is looking to upgrade part of College Avenue, giving it more curb and appeal.
What's happening: Local officials showed the public plans for more trees and sidewalks — and maybe medians, too — for the roughly half-mile stretch between North and Sycamore streets, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.
Watchdog site Arkansas Advocate set to cover Capitol
Arkansas Advocate, a news website covering the state Capitol, launches Tuesday.
- The site is free to read. An email newsletter with links to its stories will be sent to subscribers every weekday morning.
Crisis stabilization unit reopens in Fayetteville
The Washington County Crisis Stabilization Unit, a behavioral health facility for people experiencing mental health crises, will reopen this month after a yearlong hiatus.
Why it matters: The unit is part of a state project intended in part to keep people with mental illnesses out of the criminal justice system. Police can take people to the facility instead of jail.
Where Northwest Arkansas' young adults go
The average young adult who grew up in the Northwest Arkansas metro area moved 152 miles away for their job, according to data by the U.S. Census Bureau's Center for Economic Studies (CES).
- That's 29 miles below the national average.
Why it matters: The migration patterns of young people can help us understand regional labor markets nationwide, with comings and goings reflecting where opportunity is, according to a July report by the bureau and Harvard University.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson defends FBI in Mar-a-Lago search
Gov. Asa Hutchinson defended the FBI as simply doing its job when agents seized boxes from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. He made the comments Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."
What he's saying: "We cannot say that whenever they went in and did that search that they were not doing their job as law enforcement officers," the Republican governor told Brianna Keilar.