NW Arkansas

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

Axios Northwest Arkansas

Bryan and Mandy Hunt, son and daughter-in-law of JB and Johnelle Hunt, have established a new organization called the Athlete Advocate Consortium.

Why it matters: The Athlete Advocate Consortium will connect college athletes to local organizations such as charities and nonprofits, allowing the athletes to use their name, image and likeness (NIL) to raise awareness and money for the organizations they’re matched with, Bryan and Mandy Hunt told Axios.

Context: Back in summer 2021, the NCAA adopted a policy allowing college athletes to profit from their NIL. The new rules make an organization like the Athlete Advocate Consortium possible.

State of play: University of Arkansas basketball player JD Notae is the first athlete to participate in Athlete Advocate Consortium. He will use his fanbase and social media to raise money for Samaritan Community Center, a Rogers-based organization that provides resources like food to families in need, the Hunts said.

The center is looking to raise $14 million to build a new facility.

The Athlete Advocate Consortium will pay Notae and future participating athletes for their time.

How it happened: The Hunts saw a need to help community service organizations and saw an opportunity for college athletes to use their NIL, they tell Axios.

What's next: The Hunts are still working on the foundation of the new organization. They do not have a set limit for how many athletes can take part.

New NWA organization connects local athletes with nonprofits

The Hunts have created a new organization

Northwest Arkansas

Bryan and Mandy Hunt, son and daughter-in-law of JB and Johnelle Hunt, have established a new organization called the <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Athlete Advocate Consortium" data-vars-click-url="https://aac.net/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://aac.net/" target="_blank">Athlete Advocate Consortium</a>.Why it matters: The Athlete Advocate Consortium will connect college athletes to local organizations such as charities and nonprofits, allowing the athletes to use their name, image and likeness (NIL) to raise awareness and money for the organizations they’re matched with, Bryan and Mandy Hunt told Axios.

News

Arkansas is fine with drivers expressing themselves, but hundreds of foul-mouthed Arkansans were denied personalized license plates in 2021.

By the numbers: The state received 4,988 applications for personalized license plates in 2021. Of those, 4,371 were approved and 617 were denied, Scott Hardin, spokesperson for the Department of Finance and Administration, told Axios.

We don't know exactly which ones people applied for, but we don't recommend applying for OMFG or NUDIST, for example. We'll leave most of the list to your imagination.

How it works: The Department of Finance and Administration's division of motor vehicles has a lengthy list of banned personalized license plates. If you apply for a plate on the banned list, it will automatically get denied.

Yes, but: A few creative drivers request plates that aren't explicitly banned but still get denied by the division's leadership. In rare cases, plates are recalled because of complaints, Hardin said.

Arkansas rejected over 600 vanity license plates in 2021

Illustration: Allie Carl, Maura Losch/Axios

Arkansas is fine with drivers expressing themselves, but hundreds of foul-mouthed Arkansans were denied personalized license plates in 2021.By the numbers: The state received 4,988 applications for personalized license plates in 2021. Of those, 4,371 were approved and 617 were denied, Scott Hardin, spokesperson for the Department of Finance and Administration, told Axios.

Who says we can't have Halloween in January?

The intrigue: The Witching Hour in Bentonville is a horror-themed food truck that opened last year. It’s a funky addition to the food scene that's spooky year round.

On the menu: The theme is in the decor but also throughout the menu.

I tried the ghostface pepper burger with crispy onions, jalapeños, black garlic ghost pepper BBQ sauce, extra hot honey, spicy candied bacon, "zombie snot hot sauce" and pepperjack cheese.

This burger was cooked perfectly and was so full of flavor, but definitely not for those who have a low spice tolerance.

Also there's the mac and cheese or "cheddar goblin," the onion rings a.k.a. "crop circles," and then there's the Texas coleslaw massacre, a burger on Texas toast topped with coleslaw.

Just look at how that melts. Photo: Alex Golden/Axios

Of note: All burgers are available in quarter-pound or half-pound. I found the quarter-pound to be plenty, especially with all the toppings and a side of fries.

Details: The Witching Hour is at 704 SW A St. in Bentonville. Hours are 11am-2pm and 5-9pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Hungry for more burgers? Here are our top picks in Benton and Washington counties.

Where to find a scary good burger in NW Arkansas

We tried the Witching Hour in Bentonville.

Don't fear the burgers. Photo: Alex Golden/Axios

Who says we can&#x27;t have Halloween in January?The intrigue: <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="The Witching Hour" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/witchinghourfoods" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/witchinghourfoods" target="_blank">The Witching Hour</a> in Bentonville is a horror-themed food truck that opened last year. It’s a funky addition to the food scene that&#x27;s spooky year round.

Food and Drink

Here's where you can drink outdoors in Rogers. Map courtesy of City of Rogers

Rogers' Railyard Entertainment District just got bigger and boozier.

What's happening: The Rogers City Council voted Tuesday to extend the boundaries of the district downtown to include Nola's Pantry, The Tipsy Donut and The Listening Room, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.

This means a total of 19 businesses now participate in the district.

Others include Havana Tropical Grill, Ozark Beer Company, Yeyo's, The Foreman, Onyx, Moonbroch Brewing Company, Hapa's Hawaiian Bar & Grill, Victory Theater, Parkside Public, The Five6, The Rail, Levi's Gastrolounge, Iron Horse, Club Frisco, Las Palmas and Butterfield Stage.

Context: Entertainment districts are allowed thanks to Act 812, a state law passed in 2019 that gives cities the authority to create areas where people can legally drink as long as they stay within set boundaries.

Zoom out: Bentonville, Fayetteville and Springdale also have entertainment districts. Bentonville's is at Eighth Street Market, and Fayetteville and Springdale's districts are in their downtowns.

Rogers expands drinking and entertainment district

The Railyard Entertainment District has three additional businesses.

<figure><img alt="map of railyard entertainment district" height="1222" id="ef12d493-a2aa-484b-bb23-3ef6e5e46475" src="https://images.axios.com/TcVHzWzVPotc-bmYCJlrnc5iUEU=/2022/01/26/1643237541295.png" width="1006"/><figcaption>Here&#x27;s where you can drink outdoors in Rogers. Map courtesy of City of Rogers</figcaption></figure>Rogers&#x27; Railyard Entertainment District just got bigger and boozier.What&#x27;s happening: The Rogers City Council voted Tuesday to extend the boundaries of the district downtown to include Nola&#x27;s Pantry, The Tipsy Donut and The Listening Room, the <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports." data-vars-click-url="https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2022/jan/26/rogers-railyard-entertainment-district-expands-to/" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2022/jan/26/rogers-railyard-entertainment-district-expands-to/" target="_blank">Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.</a>

While COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are starting to decrease again after the Omicron surge, we are not out of the woods, Arkansas officials warn.

State of play: The state saw a record of 1,817 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday. The number had declined to 1,785 Tuesday, according to data from the Arkansas Department of Health.

Active cases also decreased from 93,314 to 89,572.

Yes, but: “The hospitalizations follow our cases so even though the hospitalizations have declined a little bit today, I would not be surprised if they edge up some more because it is a lagging indicator,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday during his news conference.

Zoom in: NWA had a new high of hospitalizations Tuesday with 185, according to the Northwest Arkansas Council.

What's next: The state has asked the legislative council to approve $4.7 million to pay for 28 medical surgical and seven intensive care unit beds at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Hutchinson said.

COVID trends improve in Arkansas, but worsen in NWA

While COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are starting to decrease again after the Omicron surge, we are not out of the woods, Arkansas officials warn.State of play: The state saw a record of 1,817 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday. The number had declined to 1,785 Tuesday, according to data from the Arkansas Department of Health.<ul><li>Active cases also decreased from 93,314 to 89,572.</li></ul>

Alex Golden

Featured stories

New NWA organization connects local athletes with nonprofits

Where to find a scary good burger in NW Arkansas

Rogers expands drinking and entertainment district

COVID trends improve in Arkansas, but worsen in NWA

Arkansas rejected over 600 vanity license plates in 2021