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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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Arkansas will receive $10 million for maternal health

Olivia Walton announced her nonprofit will give $10M to Arkansas and $10M to Kentucky.

Health

A nonprofit c0-founded by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art chairperson Olivia Walton <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="will give $10 million to improve maternal health" data-vars-click-url="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/01/3373371/0/en/healthy-moms-healthy-babies-america-hmhba-announces-20-million-in-state-grants-for-arkansas-and-kentucky.html" data-vars-content-id="20c41aab-28f5-4f69-a8d2-21ac5b67bf15" data-vars-headline="Arkansas will receive $10 million for maternal health" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/01/3373371/0/en/healthy-moms-healthy-babies-america-hmhba-announces-20-million-in-state-grants-for-arkansas-and-kentucky.html" target="_blank">will give $10 million to improve maternal health</a> in Arkansas.Why it matters: The state has some of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nation&#x27;s worst outcomes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/31/heartland-forward-targets-maternal-mortality-but-arkansas-lags" data-vars-content-id="20c41aab-28f5-4f69-a8d2-21ac5b67bf15" data-vars-headline="Arkansas will receive $10 million for maternal health" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/31/heartland-forward-targets-maternal-mortality-but-arkansas-lags" target="_self">nation&#x27;s worst outcomes</a>, including high mortality rates, for new moms and babies.

Monday Munchies: The Purple Cow

The burger was cooked well and had the flavor of a patty that was made in-house, not at some faraway food factory.

Things to Do

Purple milkshakes don&#x27;t come from cows on a steady diet of lavender.<ul><li>It&#x27;s simply food dye for a gimmick that dates back to 1989, when <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Purple Cow" data-vars-click-url="https://ilovepurplecow.com/" data-vars-content-id="9119f7ed-a190-49df-8ba4-ebaf63fcb93d" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: The Purple Cow" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ilovepurplecow.com/" target="_blank">The Purple Cow</a> first opened in Little Rock.</li></ul>The latest: The 1950s-style diner expanded in recent years — say, the last 20 or so — through central Arkansas and finally opened in Rogers this March.

Haunted houses, pop-up bars and Halloween events in NWA

NWA has plenty of events, haunted experiences and places to get a spooky drink.

Halloween is fast approaching, and NWA has plenty of events, haunted experiences and places to get a spooky drink.Here are some of our picks.

Walton-backed STEM university breaks ground

It will be called the Bentonville Institute of Technology.

Education

Bentonville&#x27;s planned private STEM university broke ground Friday on land that was formerly home to the Walmart headquarters.Why it matters: The Bentonville Institute of Technology is a major investment for the future of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and for development in the region.

Report: Variety needed as NWA's economy grows 

Experts say economic diversification will be key.

Business

Economic diversification will be critical to Northwest Arkansas retaining its success, according to a new report from economics-focused organizations.Why it matters: While growth at large employers like Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt has contributed significantly to NWA&#x27;s economy, the region shouldn&#x27;t rely too heavily on a few major employers, Ross DeVol, founder of consulting firm Encore Economics, told Axios.

Arkansas lags in EV readiness

Nationally, 56% of drivers say gas prices have raised their interest in EVs.

Transit

Arkansas is near the bottom of the pack for EV charging and readiness, even as public charging expands nationwide.Why it matters: While U.S. public charging options grew 13% since last year, that growth hasn&#x27;t been evenly distributed, according to HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" annual ranking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.here.com/ev-index-2026" data-vars-content-id="4416c792-6327-4267-9e45-1d202c3fac6a" data-vars-headline="Arkansas lags in EV readiness" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.here.com/ev-index-2026" target="_blank"> annual ranking</a>.

NWA housing-permit rates ranks among top nationally

The housing supply cooled prices, but at the same time, higher mortgage rates slowed residential construction nationally.

Northwest Arkansas permitted new housing at one of the fastest rates in the country in the past year, a small indicator the region is on track to reach <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="1 million residents by 2050" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/02/northwest-arkansas-population-million" data-vars-content-id="8e88ebba-29c2-42e2-b251-ff69150c375d" data-vars-headline="NWA housing-permit rates ranks among top nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/02/northwest-arkansas-population-million" target="_self">1 million residents by 2050</a>.Why it matters: More supply has helped <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="slow home-price" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/21/report-real-estate-inventory-stabilizes-pricing" data-vars-content-id="8e88ebba-29c2-42e2-b251-ff69150c375d" data-vars-headline="NWA housing-permit rates ranks among top nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/21/report-real-estate-inventory-stabilizes-pricing" target="_self">slow home-price</a> growth and shift leverage toward buyers.

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.

Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting

A federal judge denied a request to block news outlets from publishing more details about a data center deal.

A federal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="judge denied" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/sep/02/federal-judge-denies-entergy-arkansas-request-for/?lid=0fvn355myp4n&amp;utm_source=id&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=breaking_adg&amp;utm_content=2026-09-02" data-vars-content-id="3df91ed5-2522-4a49-90ba-72300f04ef39" data-vars-headline="Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/sep/02/federal-judge-denies-entergy-arkansas-request-for/?lid=0fvn355myp4n&amp;utm_source=id&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=breaking_adg&amp;utm_content=2026-09-02" target="_blank">judge denied</a> Entergy Arkansas&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="request to block" data-vars-click-url="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2026/09/02/judge-denies-effort-to-block-arkansas-outlets-from-publishing-details-about-data-center-agreement/" data-vars-content-id="3df91ed5-2522-4a49-90ba-72300f04ef39" data-vars-headline="Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2026/09/02/judge-denies-effort-to-block-arkansas-outlets-from-publishing-details-about-data-center-agreement/" target="_blank">request to block</a> the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Arkansas Times from publishing more details about its Google <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center deal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/09/01/google-pay-716-million-data-center-power" data-vars-content-id="3df91ed5-2522-4a49-90ba-72300f04ef39" data-vars-headline="Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/09/01/google-pay-716-million-data-center-power" target="_self">data center deal</a>.Why it matters: The ruling reinforces a high legal bar for companies seeking to stop news organizations from publishing government records they say were mistakenly released.

Free training prepares restaurant workers

Grant-funded programs through Brightwater seek to prepare students for the workforce.

Food and Drink

NorthWest Arkansas Community College&#x27;s culinary school is offering programs aimed at quickly training up people for restaurant jobs — for free.Why it matters: Northwest Arkansas has hundreds of available restaurant jobs at any given time, and these eight-week programs are designed to quickly train people for the workforce, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Brightwater" data-vars-click-url="https://brightwater.nwacc.edu/index.html" data-vars-content-id="209d3be8-f1aa-4ad3-9046-cd755d73df9e" data-vars-headline="Free training prepares restaurant workers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://brightwater.nwacc.edu/index.html" target="_blank">Brightwater</a> executive director Marshall Shafkowitz told Axios.

Google will pay $716M for data center power

Details came from documents a resident obtained through an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request.

Google will pay Entergy Arkansas $526 million to help build <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cypress Solar" data-vars-click-url="https://www.entergy.com/news/entergy-arkansas-announces-vendor-fair-for-potential-jefferson-power-station-cypress-solar-contractors" data-vars-content-id="23ab102d-dd71-499c-af3d-21a293cf72f6" data-vars-headline="Google will pay $716M for data center power" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.entergy.com/news/entergy-arkansas-announces-vendor-fair-for-potential-jefferson-power-station-cypress-solar-contractors" target="_blank">Cypress Solar</a> near Pine Bluff, plus another $190 million for transmission upgrades, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/aug/31/google-to-pay-entergy-arkansas-526-million-for/?utm_fy=content_for_you" data-vars-content-id="23ab102d-dd71-499c-af3d-21a293cf72f6" data-vars-headline="Google will pay $716M for data center power" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/aug/31/google-to-pay-entergy-arkansas-526-million-for/?utm_fy=content_for_you" target="_blank">reported</a> first.Why it matters: The disclosure puts numbers on a deal that has stayed mostly confidential and lands as Entergy faces a separate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rate case" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/small-arkansas-businesses-could-suffer-costs-entergy-commercial-rate-increase/" data-vars-content-id="23ab102d-dd71-499c-af3d-21a293cf72f6" data-vars-headline="Google will pay $716M for data center power" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/small-arkansas-businesses-could-suffer-costs-entergy-commercial-rate-increase/" target="_blank">rate case</a> before the Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC) that will impact 730,000 customers, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drawing objections" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/small-arkansas-businesses-could-suffer-costs-entergy-commercial-rate-increase/" data-vars-content-id="23ab102d-dd71-499c-af3d-21a293cf72f6" data-vars-headline="Google will pay $716M for data center power" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/small-arkansas-businesses-could-suffer-costs-entergy-commercial-rate-increase/" target="_blank">drawing objections</a> from Walmart and other business groups.

Walton College doubles down on real-world experience

The college has launched a five-year plan.

News

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is launching a five-year plan to ensure that students graduate with practical entrepreneurial experience and that faculty have expanded research opportunities.Why it matters: The college, which is 100 years old this year and has more than 10,000 students, must offer education that evolves as &quot;business changes at an unprecedented pace,&quot; such as in artificial intelligence and analytics, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="news release" data-vars-click-url="https://news.uark.edu/articles/82775/walton-college-marks-centennial-with-new-strategic-plan" data-vars-content-id="7e8bf7c3-e5bf-48d2-b77a-b4e7f37d3b27" data-vars-headline="Walton College doubles down on real-world experience" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.uark.edu/articles/82775/walton-college-marks-centennial-with-new-strategic-plan" target="_blank">news release</a>.

NWA needs $1.5 billion in wastewater investment

The council and the state of Arkansas began the regional wastewater study last year and expect to release its findings this fall.

Development

Northwest Arkansas will need $1.5 billion in additional wastewater-plant investment to support future growth, Northwest Arkansas Council president and CEO Nelson Peacock said Wednesday.Why it matters: The region has enough wastewater capacity for now, &quot;but it&#x27;s in the wrong places,&quot; Peacock said. That mismatch could shape where Northwest Arkansas can add housing and commercial development.

Developer urges small projects for growth

Small spaces can carry higher rents per square foot while keeping tenants' payments within their budgets.

Northwest Arkansas can put its regional growth strategy into action by helping local developers reuse overlooked properties and create smaller spaces for homes and businesses, Texas developer Monte Anderson said Wednesday.Why it matters: Plans and zoning codes do not produce projects on their own. The region needs local developers, entrepreneurs, lenders and investors willing to take on smaller projects, Anderson said.

Public EV chargers vs. miles of roads

Data: HERE Technologies-SBD Automotive 2026 survey; Chart: Jim Sergent/Axios

A bar chart that shows housing permits per 1,000 residents in the 12 months ending July 2026 across five metros. The Villages, Florida, leads at 23.27, followed by Sarasota at 17.43 and Wilmington, North Carolina, at 17.23. Punta Gorda, Florida, is lowest at 14.79.

Housing units authorized per 1,000 residents


Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Note: Top U.S. metros with at least 100,000 residents ; Chart: Worth Sparkman/Axios

A column chart that shows estimated monthly executive tariffs on imports from July 2024 to June 2026. Totals jump sharply in spring 2025.

Executive tariffs on imports into Arkansas by month

Data: Trade Partnership Worldwide, via National Taxpayers Union Foundation. Note: Includes only executive-action tariffs. Excludes tariffs established by legislative statute. Chart: Brad Jennings/Axios

Business 🏦

Report: Variety needed as NWA's economy grows

Arkansas lags in EV readiness

NWA housing-permit rates ranks among top nationally

How Trump's tariffs hit in Arkansas

Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting