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Axios Northwest Arkansas

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Walmart tops Fortune 500 list

Business

10 Arkansas laws taking effect in August

Nearly 900 acts passed by the Arkansas Legislature earlier this year are set to become law on Tuesday.

News

Mapped: Arkansas' Alzheimer's rates

Caring for those with the disease cost an estimated $321 billion nationwide last year.

Health

Northwest Arkansas Council jumpstarts attainable housing project

At its annual meeting Tuesday, the NWA Council revealed its collaboration on a 77-unit apartment project that will permanently earmark 30 units for families earning below the area median income

Arkansas seeks feedback on environment and energy for future plan

If you've got opinions about the environment or energy infrastructure, the state wants them.

If you have got opinions about the environment or energy infrastructure, the state wants your input. What&#x27;s happening: The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, the state Department of Environmental Quality, central Arkansas&#x27; Metroplan and Fort Smith are collaborating on an Energy and Environment Innovation plan.<ul><li>The final draft will include statewide and regional recommendations.</li></ul>

Illustration of a man working on a solar panel with a money overlay

Arkansas to get $10.3 million grant for electric grid

The money will help prevent electric outages.

The state will receive $10.3 million in federal funding over two years to upgrade its electric grid, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration announced.Details: The money — from the U.S. Department of Energy through the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bipartisan infrastructure bill" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/15/biden-signs-infrastructure-bill-law" data-vars-content-id="0b2eebd1-773d-4131-a65e-951e29b64227" data-vars-headline="Arkansas to get $10.3 million grant for electric grid" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/15/biden-signs-infrastructure-bill-law" target="_self">bipartisan infrastructure bill</a> Congress passed in 2021 — will help prevent electric outages, according to state finance officials.

Illustration of a hundred dollar bill stylized as an electric symbol.

Lower Arkansas may be key to U.S. lithium supply

Standard Lithium (SLI) says it will cost $1.27 billion to build a production plant that siphons the metal from water trapped in the Smackover Formation.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Standard Lithium" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/06/15/electric-vehicle-lithium-land-grab-arkansas" data-vars-content-id="bdde7373-bb8d-4d20-8ce6-337a679ecf69" data-vars-headline="Lower Arkansas may be key to U.S. lithium supply" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/06/15/electric-vehicle-lithium-land-grab-arkansas" target="_self">Standard Lithium</a> (SLI) says it will cost $1.27 billion to build a production plant that siphons metal from water trapped in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Smackover Formation" data-vars-click-url="https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/UnitRefs/SmackoverRefs_3855.html" data-vars-content-id="bdde7373-bb8d-4d20-8ce6-337a679ecf69" data-vars-headline="Lower Arkansas may be key to U.S. lithium supply" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/UnitRefs/SmackoverRefs_3855.html" target="_blank">Smackover Formation</a>.What&#x27;s happening: The Canadian company this week released results of a preliminary feasibility <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.standardlithium.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/149/standard-lithium-announces-positive-preliminary-feasibility" data-vars-content-id="bdde7373-bb8d-4d20-8ce6-337a679ecf69" data-vars-headline="Lower Arkansas may be key to U.S. lithium supply" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.standardlithium.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/149/standard-lithium-announces-positive-preliminary-feasibility" target="_blank">study</a> to evaluate the economics of building wells, pipelines, a plant and ancillary operations near Magnolia in southwest Arkansas.

Three batteries as the bars of a bar chart, each one increasing in height.

Walmart teams up with PepsiCo on sustainable ag goal

Walmart and PepsiCo will collaborate on a project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million metric tons by 2030.

Walmart and PepsiCo will collaborate on a project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million metric tons by 2030.<ul><li>Context: The companies say that&#x27;s equal to keeping what would be <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="used" data-vars-click-url="https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator#results" data-vars-content-id="c7566e4a-4758-49c0-9480-1329055354b2" data-vars-headline="Walmart teams up with PepsiCo on sustainable ag goal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator#results" target="_blank">used</a> to generate electricity for 778,000 homes for a year out of the atmosphere.</li></ul>

Illustration of combine harvesters making a dollar sign in a field.

Northwest Arkansas has more "mosquito days"

"Mosquito days" — are defined as those with the hot and humid weather the flying insects crave.

The number of &quot;mosquito days&quot; — those with the hot and humid weather the flying insects crave — has trended upward in Northwest Arkansas over the past several decades, per a new analysis, Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report.Between the lines: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/mosquito-days-2023" data-vars-content-id="0ffbd710-2067-4755-8459-421c1374a7cf" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas has more &quot;mosquito days&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/mosquito-days-2023" target="_blank">study</a>, from nonprofit climate science research organization Climate Central, defines a &quot;mosquito day&quot; as one with average relative humidity of 42% or higher, plus daily temperatures of 50°–95° F.

Standard Lithium's first plant unlikely to change U.S. dependence

As consumer adoption of EVs accelerates, global demand is expected to grow at a compounded rate of 25% annually through 2030.

As consumer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="adoption" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/05/tesla-ev-electric-vehicle-adoption" data-vars-content-id="8b9348d4-6f41-4d6d-a106-598bb62956af" data-vars-headline="Standard Lithium&#x27;s first plant unlikely to change U.S. dependence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/05/tesla-ev-electric-vehicle-adoption" target="_self">adoption</a> of electric cars accelerates, global demand is expected to grow at a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="compounded rate of 25%" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/lithium-mining-how-new-production-technologies-could-fuel-the-global-ev-revolution" data-vars-content-id="8b9348d4-6f41-4d6d-a106-598bb62956af" data-vars-headline="Standard Lithium&#x27;s first plant unlikely to change U.S. dependence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/lithium-mining-how-new-production-technologies-could-fuel-the-global-ev-revolution" target="_blank">compounded rate of 25%</a> annually through 2030.Zoom in: Demand for lithium batteries in the U.S. alone is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expected to grow sixfold" data-vars-click-url="https://energystorage.lbl.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2023/02/Li-Bridge-Industry-Report.pdf" data-vars-content-id="8b9348d4-6f41-4d6d-a106-598bb62956af" data-vars-headline="Standard Lithium&#x27;s first plant unlikely to change U.S. dependence" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://energystorage.lbl.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2023/02/Li-Bridge-Industry-Report.pdf" target="_blank">expected to grow sixfold</a> in those seven years, becoming a $55 billion annual industry.

North Arkansas' spring rainfall slumps

NWA spring precipitation between 1991 and 2020 was lower than southern parts of the state.

Climate

Northwest Arkansas&#x27; spring precipitation between 1991 and 2020 was lower than southern parts of the state, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data" data-vars-click-url="https://sercc.oasis.unc.edu/Map.php?date=2023-02-28&amp;var=precip&amp;thresh=climper&amp;period=STD&amp;map_display=rank&amp;showthrdx=true&amp;region=conus" data-vars-content-id="d7a063f9-9fa0-4bca-95d1-359bd2511f6a" data-vars-headline="North Arkansas&#x27; spring rainfall slumps" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sercc.oasis.unc.edu/Map.php?date=2023-02-28&amp;var=precip&amp;thresh=climper&amp;period=STD&amp;map_display=rank&amp;showthrdx=true&amp;region=conus" target="_blank">data</a> from the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Driving the news: Despite recent rains, nearly all of the northern half of the state is currently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="considered abnormally dry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.drought.gov/states/arkansas" data-vars-content-id="d7a063f9-9fa0-4bca-95d1-359bd2511f6a" data-vars-headline="North Arkansas&#x27; spring rainfall slumps" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.drought.gov/states/arkansas" target="_blank">considered abnormally dry</a> but is not in a drought.

Northwest Arkansas is getting hotter

Average temperatures were 79.8°F in 2022, compared to 76.6°F in 1970.

Average summer temperatures increased in Northwest Arkansas by 3.2°F between 1970 and 2022, per a new<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2023-summer-package" data-vars-content-id="3ae67a89-bb65-4698-ba23-06d530ff19c1" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas is getting hotter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/2023-summer-package" target="_blank"> analysis</a> by the climate research group<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Climate Central" data-vars-click-url="https://www.climatecentral.org/what-we-do" data-vars-content-id="3ae67a89-bb65-4698-ba23-06d530ff19c1" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas is getting hotter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.climatecentral.org/what-we-do" target="_blank"> Climate Central</a>, Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick and Tory Lysik report.<ul><li>Average temperatures were 79.8° in 2022, compared to 76.6° in 1970.</li></ul>

Walmart to cut plastic and reduce waste in e-commerce

Walmart kicked off its annual shareholders' and associate celebration, where more than 10,000 employees convened to tour stores and see headquarters.

Walmart kicked off its annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shareholders&#x27; and associate celebration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.walmartworld.com/content/walmart-world/en_us/articles/2023/05/what-is-associates-week.html?fbclid=IwAR0qOG4Xpa7ESlesH5R_EHgjoK0SYLmAvKd0gEiY1TaWL5vwC6dn6f17Xqg&amp;mibextid=Zxz2cZ" data-vars-content-id="147a1777-425e-496c-8b8e-2244c736cc23" data-vars-headline="Walmart to cut plastic and reduce waste in e-commerce" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.walmartworld.com/content/walmart-world/en_us/articles/2023/05/what-is-associates-week.html?fbclid=IwAR0qOG4Xpa7ESlesH5R_EHgjoK0SYLmAvKd0gEiY1TaWL5vwC6dn6f17Xqg&amp;mibextid=Zxz2cZ" target="_blank">shareholders&#x27; and associate celebration</a> on Wednesday, where more than 10,000 employees from around the world convened to tour stores and see headquarters.Catch up quick: The weeklong event is also when shareholders get business updates and vote on proposals to shape the company&#x27;s future.

Allergy season drags on in Northwest Arkansas

Allergy season in Northwest Arkansas increased 17 days on average between 1970 and 2021.

Allergy season in Northwest Arkansas increased by 17 days on average between 1970 and 2021, per an analysis from Climate Central, a nonprofit climate news organization, Alex Fitzpatrick and Alice Feng report.<ul><li>That&#x27;s based on the number of days between the last freeze each spring and the first freeze each fall — the annual window during which seasonal allergy sufferers are most likely to rely on an antihistamine.</li></ul>

George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress

The House is slated to vote to expel Santos on Friday.

Politics & Policy

Ahead of a vote that could make him the first House lawmaker to be expelled in more than 20 years, Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) is introducing an expulsion resolution on Thursday targeting a House lawmaker from his own state. Why it matters: Santos — who faces an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="uphill battle in a vote" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" target="_self">uphill battle in a vote</a> to remove him from office following a scathing House Ethics report — is seeking an expulsion vote on Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jamaal Bowman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" target="_self">Jamaal Bowman</a> (D-N.Y.), who pulled a fire alarm in one of the House office buildings.

George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers

Rep. Robert Garcia encouraged fellow Democrats to support Republicans' expulsion measure.

House Democrats and Republicans finally have something they agree on: booting Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" data-vars-content-id="4eec0a24-5338-46c4-8b6e-5526cda73c0f" data-vars-headline="George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) from Congress.Driving the news: In an email sent to Democratic congressional offices on Thursday, Rep. Robert Garcia&#x27;s (D-Calif.) office advocated for Republicans&#x27; resolution to expel the embattled Long Islander.

GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early

Multiple GOP lawmakers expect former House Speaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kevin McCarthy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" data-vars-content-id="dbdacc28-b2ed-40c2-a4cb-3bf4792a4d9b" data-vars-headline="GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" target="_self">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-Calif.) to step down from his seat before the end of the year, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The potential exit of McCarthy — who privately told donors he is looking to &quot;get the hell out,&quot; according to a source familiar with the conversation — could leave the House GOP with an even narrower majority.

Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social

Trump warned that his indictments have opened up a "very big and dangerous Pandora's Box."

Former President Trump has spent the last 24 hours on Truth Social unleashing a torrent of grievances, vengeful promises and links to online conspiracy theories about his political rivals.Why it matters: Trump&#x27;s online rhetoric has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="frequently dipped into violent extremism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" data-vars-content-id="4ce9173c-4439-425e-8986-ec54c92037e6" data-vars-headline="Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" target="_self">frequently dipped into violent extremism</a> since he left office, escalating as his legal troubles have mounted. Public fatigue and the pro-Trump echo chamber created by Truth Social have at times softened the shock value of the GOP front-runner&#x27;s daily musings.

Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote

Santos is the first Republican to be expelled from the House.

The House on Friday voted to expel Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) over his many fabrications on the 2022 campaign trail and his two federal indictments.Why it matters: The vote makes Santos just the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sixth lawmaker" data-vars-click-url="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" target="_blank">sixth lawmaker</a> – and first Republican – to be expelled from the House in U.S. history.

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