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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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Mixed-use project planned for Bentonville square

The plan is to break ground on The Hart on Main this summer.

News

Construction of a development bringing retail, office and housing to the Bentonville square will begin soon.State of play: The plan is to break ground on The Hart on Main this summer with a &quot;multiyear build ahead,&quot; according to a news release.

Revealing holes in Arkansas' concealed carry law

Someone with a concealed carry license could face restrictions that someone under constitutional carry would not.

Politics

Arkansans can legally carry firearms to protests, a law professor told Axios, but contradictory state statutes create gray areas that could complicate interpretation.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shooting death" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/24/minneapolis-ice-shooting-id" data-vars-content-id="223d24f3-4c9e-4707-aa34-cbbf7252461e" data-vars-headline="Revealing holes in Arkansas&#x27; concealed carry law" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/24/minneapolis-ice-shooting-id" target="_self">shooting death</a> of Alex Pretti in Minnesota last month put some <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gun rights groups at odds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/25/gun-groups-challenge-minneapolis-shooting-pretti" data-vars-content-id="223d24f3-4c9e-4707-aa34-cbbf7252461e" data-vars-headline="Revealing holes in Arkansas&#x27; concealed carry law" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/25/gun-groups-challenge-minneapolis-shooting-pretti" target="_self">gun rights groups at odds</a> with messaging from the Trump administration, exposing tension between First and Second Amendment protections.

Study finds family support boosts diabetes care

Researchers found family-focused classes improved glucose control and healthy habits.

Offering digital health education to family and friends of diabetes patients can improve outcomes for patients, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas researchers found" data-vars-click-url="https://news.uams.edu/2026/02/03/digital-health-diabetes-education-improves-health-of-rural-communities-across-arkansas/" data-vars-content-id="e4cffb00-e175-42bb-873e-a7dc924c6edc" data-vars-headline="Study finds family support boosts diabetes care" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.uams.edu/2026/02/03/digital-health-diabetes-education-improves-health-of-rural-communities-across-arkansas/" target="_blank">Arkansas researchers found</a>.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168822725010782?via%3Dihub" data-vars-content-id="e4cffb00-e175-42bb-873e-a7dc924c6edc" data-vars-headline="Study finds family support boosts diabetes care" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168822725010782?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">study</a>, performed by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Institute for Community Health Innovation, suggests that this model can improve disease management and provides evidence that it should be covered by insurance, professor and researcher Jennifer Andersen told Axios.

What to know about candidates for Arkansas Senate District 26

Much of the district is embroiled in conflict with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders over proposed plans to locate a 3,000-bed prison there.

Republican Brad Simon and Independent Adam Watson face off Tuesday for the state Senate District 26 seat vacated after Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch) died in September.Why it matters: About <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="83,000 residents" data-vars-click-url="https://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_State_Senate_District_26" data-vars-content-id="6b1c6215-838f-4dce-a854-eff95e81364e" data-vars-headline="What to know about candidates for Arkansas Senate District 26" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_State_Senate_District_26" target="_blank">83,000 residents</a> live in the district, which includes portions of Franklin, Johnson, Logan and Sebastian counties.

Defense Secretary Hegseth touts south Arkansas

Arkansas produces more than 115,000 solid rocket motors annually

Aerospace

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

Business

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>.