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XNA plans expansion to add new gates

The concourse's gates will accommodate larger planes that XNA is increasingly seeing.

News

Northwest Arkansas National Airport plans to start construction this fall on a new concourse that will add a net total of five gates.Why it matters: The major expansion of the formerly regional airport is perhaps the clearest indicator of how busy XNA is.<ul><li>It <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surpassed Little Rock&#x27;s enplanements" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/01/30/xna-flies-past-little-rock-first-time" data-vars-content-id="0009b9d1-c80a-4645-95bf-3a461be3863c" data-vars-headline="XNA plans expansion to add new gates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/01/30/xna-flies-past-little-rock-first-time" target="_self">surpassed Little Rock&#x27;s enplanements</a> in 2025 and had its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="highest-ever number of enplanements" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/20/xna-busiest-month-ever" data-vars-content-id="0009b9d1-c80a-4645-95bf-3a461be3863c" data-vars-headline="XNA plans expansion to add new gates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/20/xna-busiest-month-ever" target="_self">highest-ever number of enplanements</a> in a single month in July. Enplanements are the number of times passengers fly out of the airport.</li></ul>

Condoleezza Rice, Norah O'Donnell join speaker series

Both events will be livestreamed by Arkansas TV.

Culture

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and journalist Norah O&#x27;Donnell will headline the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Building Bridges" data-vars-click-url="https://crystalbridges.org/es/building-bridges" data-vars-content-id="7e32e57c-0a8a-4cf3-9f36-65e5569e2c22" data-vars-headline="Condoleezza Rice, Norah O&#x27;Donnell join speaker series" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crystalbridges.org/es/building-bridges" target="_blank">Building Bridges</a> series this fall, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art said Wednesday.Why it matters: The events continue a civic dialogue series that has brought former President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Barack Obama" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/12/02/barack-obama-bentonville-crystal-bridges-american-spirit-lecture" data-vars-content-id="7e32e57c-0a8a-4cf3-9f36-65e5569e2c22" data-vars-headline="Condoleezza Rice, Norah O&#x27;Donnell join speaker series" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/12/02/barack-obama-bentonville-crystal-bridges-american-spirit-lecture" target="_self">Barack Obama</a>, filmmaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ken Burns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/19/crystal-bridges-speaker-series-ken-burns" data-vars-content-id="7e32e57c-0a8a-4cf3-9f36-65e5569e2c22" data-vars-headline="Condoleezza Rice, Norah O&#x27;Donnell join speaker series" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/19/crystal-bridges-speaker-series-ken-burns" target="_self">Ken Burns</a> and Supreme Court Justice <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Amy Coney Barrett" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/05/10/amy-coney-barrett-talks-constitution-bentonville" data-vars-content-id="7e32e57c-0a8a-4cf3-9f36-65e5569e2c22" data-vars-headline="Condoleezza Rice, Norah O&#x27;Donnell join speaker series" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/05/10/amy-coney-barrett-talks-constitution-bentonville" target="_self">Amy Coney Barrett</a> to Bentonville.

How Trump's tariffs hit in Arkansas

Arkansas importers paid an estimated $1 billion in Trump tariffs through June.

Politics

States bear wildly different estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tariff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" data-vars-content-id="cfe14e67-af89-4812-80f7-150ebda2d4d8" data-vars-headline="How Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" target="_self">tariff</a> burdens from President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="cfe14e67-af89-4812-80f7-150ebda2d4d8" data-vars-headline="How Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump&#x27;s</a> trade actions since the start of 2025, from California&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" $62.8 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://tariffs.org/" data-vars-content-id="cfe14e67-af89-4812-80f7-150ebda2d4d8" data-vars-headline="How Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tariffs.org/" target="_blank"> $62.8 billion</a> share to Wyoming&#x27;s $107 million.Why it matters: Local industries dictate how and how hard communities have been hit, from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Michigan&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/07/11/michigan-trump-tariff-costs" data-vars-content-id="cfe14e67-af89-4812-80f7-150ebda2d4d8" data-vars-headline="How Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/07/11/michigan-trump-tariff-costs" target="_self">Michigan&#x27;s</a> auto industry to Virginia&#x27;s aerospace sector.

McCollum pleads not guilty

McCollum is accused of domestic violence against his wife.

Former state Rep. Austin McCollum, the only candidate for Benton County judge, pleaded not guilty to three felony charges during his arraignment Tuesday in Benton County Circuit Court.Why it matters: Benton County voters are on track to have a county judge who has unresolved criminal charges after McCollum, 35, was accused of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="domestic violence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/06/austin-mccollum-domestic-violence-history" data-vars-content-id="33640d62-7832-4d98-8960-173cf09daa2a" data-vars-headline="McCollum pleads not guilty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/06/austin-mccollum-domestic-violence-history" target="_self">domestic violence</a> against his wife.

Swarm Aero dispute exposed gaps in NDA policies

The Fayetteville dispute raised broader questions about transparency.

Business

Most Northwest Arkansas cities lack written policies governing nondisclosure agreements, according to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responses reviewed by Axios.Why it matters: NDAs can protect trade secrets before a company goes public. They can also limit what residents know before a project enters the city approval process.

Fayetteville sued over Swarm Aero NDA

Swarm announced its 80,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing center adjacent to Drake Field and said its Arkansas operations could produce thousands of UAVs.

A Fayetteville resident is asking a judge to force the city to look harder for a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="missing nondisclosure agreement" 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="b990ad52-a820-4c53-b308-dd7d05194d62" data-vars-headline="Fayetteville sued over Swarm Aero NDA" 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">missing nondisclosure agreement</a> tied to drone maker Swarm Aero.Why it matters: The lawsuit raises questions about whether the city has fully disclosed records tied to a major economic development project with a defense contractor dating back to November 2023.

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>

Arkansas drone deal sparks ethical and safety concerns

Axios reviewed dozens of internal city documents and resident complaints obtained through public records requests

A military <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drone maker&#x27;s arrival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/18/military-drone-plant-opens-in-arkansas-draws-protest" data-vars-content-id="2de98790-7406-4867-a7ea-315064cd7392" data-vars-headline="Arkansas drone deal sparks ethical and safety concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/18/military-drone-plant-opens-in-arkansas-draws-protest" target="_self">drone maker&#x27;s arrival</a> in Fayetteville earlier this year is stirring fears about secrecy, safety and whether residents want a deep tie to the defense industry.Why it matters: Residents and some city leaders say they had little visibility into a defense-related project that could reshape Fayetteville&#x27;s economy — and identity.

Defense Secretary Hegseth touts south Arkansas

Arkansas produces more than 115,000 solid rocket motors annually

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrapped his nationwide &quot;Arsenal of Freedom&quot; tour Friday at L3Harris&#x27; rocket motor campus in south Arkansas.Why it matters: Arkansas produces more than 115,000 solid rocket motors annually, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas Advocate" data-vars-click-url="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/27/hegseth-touts-arkansas-missile-industry-in-speech-at-arms-factory-expansion-site/" data-vars-content-id="40127b71-7844-46ed-957e-2673bc07db06" data-vars-headline="Defense Secretary Hegseth touts south Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2026/02/27/hegseth-touts-arkansas-missile-industry-in-speech-at-arms-factory-expansion-site/" target="_blank">Arkansas Advocate</a>. Aerospace and defense were the state&#x27;s top export sectors in 2024, worth more than $950 million, according to an Arkansas Economic Development Commission <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://info.arkansasedc.com/Aerospace-and-Defense-Industry-Report" data-vars-content-id="40127b71-7844-46ed-957e-2673bc07db06" data-vars-headline="Defense Secretary Hegseth touts south Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://info.arkansasedc.com/Aerospace-and-Defense-Industry-Report" target="_blank">report</a>.

Military drone plant opens in Arkansas, drawing protest

The company plans to make unmanned aerial vehicles to operate in coordinated swarms

Tech startup Swarm Aero opened a Northwest Arkansas facility Wednesday to build military drones near Fayetteville&#x27;s Drake Field, with plans to create hundreds of jobs.Why it matters: Regional leaders say the facility positions Northwest Arkansas as a growing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="defense manufacturing hub" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/19/xtremis-technology-ai-rf-electromagnetic" data-vars-content-id="f97842e1-2f60-48cd-9179-6328cccd4129" data-vars-headline="Military drone plant opens in Arkansas, drawing protest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/19/xtremis-technology-ai-rf-electromagnetic" target="_self">defense manufacturing hub</a>.