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🎤 Music festivals — A reggae festival tonight and a funk festival Saturday night are set for downtown Rogers as part of the Railyard Live lineup at Butterfield Stage. General admission is free.

🍿 Movie night — Take the kids to a free screening of "Holes" as part of Fayetteville's "Movies in the Park" series at 7:30pm tonight Walker Park.

💃 Latin dance night — Try salsa, bachata, cumbia and merengue at 7pm Saturday at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville. Get tickets for $20.

Your weekend plans: Listen, watch and dance

Illustration of a cassette tape with the tape unspooling to spell weekend. 

Make the first weekend of August count.🎤 Music festivals — A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reggae festival" data-vars-click-url="https://stubs.net/event/7792/reggae-fest" data-vars-content-id="0f4bd06a-e84a-4b00-817c-56078b1fddc5" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Listen, watch and dance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://stubs.net/event/7792/reggae-fest" target="_blank">reggae festival</a> tonight and a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="funk festival" data-vars-click-url="https://stubs.net/event/7793/funk-fest" data-vars-content-id="0f4bd06a-e84a-4b00-817c-56078b1fddc5" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Listen, watch and dance" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://stubs.net/event/7793/funk-fest" target="_blank">funk festival</a> Saturday night are set for downtown Rogers as part of the Railyard Live lineup at Butterfield Stage. General admission is free.

Things to Do

I'd meant to give Charminar Kabob & Curry Food Truck a try the many times I've driven by it, so when I got around to it, I ordered a self-assembled sampler platter and brought it all home.

🚙 The vibe: The food truck shares a parking lot with Finnegan's Wine Beer and Spirits, has limited picnic table seating, and is off a busy roadway, North Walton Boulevard in Bentonville. It's very much a takeout spot.

What I ate: I started off with the potato samosas ($5) and tried the mutton biryani ($19) and zafrani chicken kebabs ($17).

😕  The chicken kebab meal was just OK.  The meat could have used more flavor and was oddly bouncy. It didn't come on a stick and was served with rice or naan. I made do by making a wrap in naan with sauce and onions.

🙂 The rice in the biryani, however, had a nice fragrant flavor, especially with Charminar's sauces. And I'd get the samosas, which were stuffed, again.

📍 Stop by: 1303 N. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville.

Monday Munchies: Indian takeout in Bentonville

We went to Charminar Kabob & Curry Food Truck.

The takeout spread including zafrani chicken kebab, mutton biryani and samosas. Photo: Alex Golden/Axios

I&#x27;d meant to give <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Charminar Kabob &amp; Curry Food Truck" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/charminarfoodtruck/" data-vars-content-id="1ab2bffd-07ad-4eeb-93b5-562bb3ff9e4b" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Indian takeout in Bentonville" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/charminarfoodtruck/" target="_blank">Charminar Kabob &amp; Curry Food Truck</a> a try the many times I&#x27;ve driven by it, so when I got around to it, I ordered a self-assembled sampler platter and brought it all home.🚙 The vibe: The food truck shares a parking lot with Finnegan&#x27;s Wine Beer and Spirits, has limited picnic table seating, and is off a busy roadway, North Walton Boulevard in Bentonville. It&#x27;s very much a takeout spot.

Food and Drink

State Rep. and Benton County judge candidate Austin McCollum (R-Bentonville) faced mounting calls Monday to resign from office and withdraw from the judicial race after his weekend arrest.

The big picture: The arrest has thrown one of Northwest Arkansas' most high-profile local races into uncertainty because McCollum is the only candidate on the November ballot. County judges in Arkansas are the chief executives over county governments.

Catch up quick: McCollum, 35, was arrested early Saturday on suspicion of aggravated assault of a family or household member, first-degree false imprisonment and misdemeanor domestic battery, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

Prosecutors had not yet filed formal charges as of Monday afternoon, Benton County spokesperson Melody Kwok told Axios.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Benton County circuit court, McCollum is accused of preventing his wife, Ragen McCollum, from leaving a bedroom, restricting her ability to breathe, punching her in the face and repeatedly slamming her head against the ground.

Investigators also wrote in the affidavit that McCollum showed injuries to his knuckles and had blood on his arms and legs consistent with a physical altercation.

He was released on Sunday after posting a $10,000 bond, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

McCollum did not respond to Axios' request for comment and has not said whether he plans to resign or drop out of the race.

Reality check: He cannot withdraw from the race so easily.

A nomination is only considered vacant in cases of death, serious illness, filing for another office or the candidate moving out of the area from which they were elected as the party's nominee, Secretary of State spokesperson Samantha Boyd confirmed to Axios. Only in those cases can a political party fill a vacancy in nomination.

Yes, but: People convicted of a felony generally cannot hold public office under Arkansas law.

Flashback: In March, McCollum defeated Benton County Justice of the Peace Carrie Perrien Smith in the Republican primary with 64% of the vote. No Democrats or independent candidates filed.

Zoom out: House Speaker Rep. Brian Evans (R-Cabot) said on social media he was removing McCollum from all House leadership positions and called on him to resign.

McCollum's term in the House expires in January.

What they're saying: The allegations prompted widespread calls from Republican leaders for McCollum to resign from the Legislature and end his county judge campaign.

"The allegations against Representative McCollum are appalling, and I'm praying for his wife and children. I absolutely condemn violence of any form, and if these credible, sickening allegations are accurate, I call on him to immediately resign his office and drop out of the race for county judge," Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. Sanders had previously endorsed McCollum in the Republican primary for judge.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, Attorney General Tim Griffin, state Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs), Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge and Benton County Judge Barry Moehring expressed similar sentiments.

What's next: McCollum's arraignment is set for Sept. 8, Kwok told Axios.

Domestic violence allegations roil judge race

The only candidate for Benton County judge was arrested over the weekend.

Illustration of a handcuff in the shape of a question mark

State Rep. and Benton County judge candidate Austin McCollum (R-Bentonville) faced mounting calls Monday to resign from office and withdraw from the judicial race after his weekend arrest.The big picture: The arrest has thrown one of Northwest Arkansas&#x27; most high-profile local races into uncertainty because McCollum is the only candidate on the November ballot. County judges in Arkansas are the chief executives over county governments.

News

Politics

Benton County saw a 50% increase in cyclosporiasis cases in a six-day period, according to data from the Arkansas Department of Health.

By the numbers: Reported cases of the diarrhea-inducing illness in Benton County jumped from 50 on July 24 to 75 on Thursday. The state's total number of cases increased from 79 to 123 during the same timeframe.

All Arkansas counties with reported cases had fewer than 10 cases, except for Benton and Washington counties. Washington County had 13.

The big picture: More than 11,000 confirmed or suspected cases of infection have been linked to the parasite across more than 40 states this summer, with investigators tying some — but not all — cases to contaminated iceberg lettuce.

The nation's largest known cyclospora outbreak is straining Americans' trust in the food safety system, Axios' Tina Reed writes.

data from the Arkansas Department of Health

diarrhea-inducing illness in Benton County

NWA cyclosporiasis cases rise

Benton County has the most cases of the illness in the state.

Illustration of a pattern of nauseous emojis.

Benton County saw a 50% increase in cyclosporiasis cases in a six-day period, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data from the Arkansas Department of Health" data-vars-click-url="https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/diseases-conditions/communicable-diseases/cyclosporiasis/" data-vars-content-id="9c841b8a-2db0-4427-a012-acc1120df3fd" data-vars-headline="NWA cyclosporiasis cases rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/diseases-conditions/communicable-diseases/cyclosporiasis/" target="_blank">data from the Arkansas Department of Health</a>.By the numbers: Reported cases of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="diarrhea-inducing illness in Benton County" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/07/28/majority-states-cyclosporiasis-nwa?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="9c841b8a-2db0-4427-a012-acc1120df3fd" data-vars-headline="NWA cyclosporiasis cases rise" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/07/28/majority-states-cyclosporiasis-nwa?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" target="_self">diarrhea-inducing illness in Benton County</a> jumped from 50 on July 24 to 75 on Thursday. The state&#x27;s total number of cases increased from 79 to 123 during the same timeframe.

Health

Benton County has had the most cases of cyclosporiasis in Arkansas as the diarrhea-inducing illness continues to spread nationally.

By the numbers: The latest data show that 50 of the 79 Arkansas cases were in Benton County as of Friday, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Fewer than 10 cases were in Washington County.

Zoom out: The CDC last week reported 4,173 confirmed cases in the U.S. between May 1 and July 20. That's already more than the total number of U.S. cases reported for all of 2025.

Investigations continue to center on contaminated iceberg lettuce as a source for the outbreak.

The big picture: Although some cases of the illness are reported each year, the outbreak will make 2026 the worst year on U.S. record for this foodborne parasitic infection.

Zoom in: Michigan has by far the highest number of lab-confirmed domestic cases: between 900 and 2,100.

Between the lines: The CDC also notes that it's aware of at least 7,400 cases — many from Michigan and Ohio — that have not yet been lab-confirmed.

And some people who get sick never get tested for cyclosporiasis.

What we're watching: Whether case numbers keep rising in the coming weeks, even as mitigation around potential contaminants continues, because there's a lag between illness onset and reported cases.

The bottom line: Case totals will likely get worse before they get better.

Majority of state's cyclosporiasis in NWA

Benton County has the most reported cases in Arkansas.

Illustration of a head of lettuce with a sick expression on it

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Benton County has had the most cases of cyclosporiasis in Arkansas as the diarrhea-inducing illness continues to spread nationally.By the numbers: The latest data show that 50 of the 79 Arkansas cases were in Benton County as of Friday, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas Department of Health" data-vars-click-url="https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/diseases-conditions/communicable-diseases/cyclosporiasis/" data-vars-content-id="a26f5afd-4725-4b6d-b01e-a06d284f7065" data-vars-headline="Majority of state&#x27;s cyclosporiasis in NWA" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/diseases-conditions/communicable-diseases/cyclosporiasis/" target="_blank">Arkansas Department of Health</a>. Fewer than 10 cases were in Washington County.

Alex Golden

Featured stories

Domestic violence allegations roil judge race

Monday Munchies: Indian takeout in Bentonville

NWA cyclosporiasis cases rise

Your weekend plans: Listen, watch and dance

Majority of state's cyclosporiasis in NWA