NW Arkansas

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Northwest Arkansas with Alex Golden and Worth Sparkman.

Axios Northwest Arkansas

Standard

Axios NW Arkansas Deep Dive

Deep Dive

Northwest Arkansas Alerts

Alert

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

Axios Northwest Arkansas Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios NW Arkansas Partners

Northwest Arkansas Members

Membership

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.

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.

What's in the $457 million Rogers bond issue

The city is asking voters to extend a 1% sales tax to afford a range of projects.

News

Rogers voters will decide in November whether to extend an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="existing 1% sales tax to pay for a range of projects" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rogersar.gov/1601/2026-Bond-Issue" data-vars-content-id="14deb629-12a5-4206-8bff-6eef55ee5e5b" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s in the $457 million Rogers bond issue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rogersar.gov/1601/2026-Bond-Issue" target="_blank">existing 1% sales tax to pay for a range of projects</a>.The big picture: The city is asking for a considerable amount on the front end to afford construction projects, street maintenance and equipment.

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.

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>.

National summit targets disaster gaps

In six and a half years as governor, Beshear has led Kentucky through 15 federally declared weather disasters, the pandemic and other emergencies

National disaster leaders gathered in Bentonville this week with a blunt message: Communities cannot keep responding to bigger, more complex crises with fragmented systems and siloed aid.Why it matters: As <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="disasters stack" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/" data-vars-content-id="3b2c41e5-a887-4ac8-9e74-c35cdd5f7b96" data-vars-headline="National summit targets disaster gaps" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/" target="_blank">disasters stack</a> up and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal disaster capacity" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/fema-staff-cuts-kristi-noem-winter-storm-fern-1b3a4ea77c6f299abda3f5046a6b24e5" data-vars-content-id="3b2c41e5-a887-4ac8-9e74-c35cdd5f7b96" data-vars-headline="National summit targets disaster gaps" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/fema-staff-cuts-kristi-noem-winter-storm-fern-1b3a4ea77c6f299abda3f5046a6b24e5" target="_blank">federal disaster capacity</a> is thinner than it was before, summit speakers warn, emergency response will increasingly hinge on whether businesses, governments and nonprofits know how to work together before the next storm — or cyber attack or fire — hits.

Arkansas is a data center growth spot

Some critics wonder if the amount of electricity and water used by the new sites will justify the number of jobs created.

Business

The number of planned <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/01/data-centers-ai-power-energy-demand-future" data-vars-content-id="18a056e1-be18-407f-ace4-80ae916b0179" data-vars-headline="Arkansas is a data center growth spot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/01/data-centers-ai-power-energy-demand-future" target="_self">data centers</a> in Arkansas is set to more than double from six in operation to 13, per a new analysis shared first with Axios.Why it matters: Big tech and many local leaders are full steam ahead on building as many data centers as possible to generate revenue and power the AI boom — but they&#x27;re fueling a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="major political fight" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/15/democrats-ai-data-center-primary-midterm-elections" data-vars-content-id="18a056e1-be18-407f-ace4-80ae916b0179" data-vars-headline="Arkansas is a data center growth spot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/15/democrats-ai-data-center-primary-midterm-elections" target="_self">major political fight</a>, with locals pushing back over energy use and other concerns.

Northwest Arkansas watershed conservation funding available

The project impacts the water source for more than 500,000 Northwest Arkansas residents

Climate

Farmers and landowners in parts of Benton, Madison and Washington counties could be eligible for assistance from USDA for planned conservation efforts in 2026.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Natural Resources Conservation Service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/" data-vars-content-id="efaf65bc-2980-4588-a862-9f9ed5276e8a" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas watershed conservation funding available" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/" target="_blank">Natural Resources Conservation Service</a> (NRCS) helps farmers and others to conserve and protect soil, water and wildlife while boosting agricultural productivity.

Prairie Grove mayor's journey began with Hurricane Katrina

David Faulk's life changed after evacuating New Orleans in 2005.

David Faulk almost didn&#x27;t evacuate his family as New Orleans braced for Hurricane Katrina in 2005 because Hurricane Ivan turned and missed the year before. But his father&#x27;s cats were freaking out, so Faulk heeded the warnings.<ul><li>&quot;We had water into our attic, so there would have been no escape for us … four kids at home — two babies — it just would have never turned out well for us,&quot; Faulk told Axios.</li></ul>Why it matters: Twenty years ago, Faulk was a struggling foreman in a steelyard without prospects; today he&#x27;s the mayor of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, population about 9,500 and part of the thriving Northwest Arkansas region. For Faulk, the silver lining of this tragic event was platinum.

Northwest Arkansas' summer night temps creep higher

Higher overnight temperatures can have health consequences for vulnerable groups, as well as increased demand for air conditioning.

Power couple Olivia Newton John and John Travolta likely weren&#x27;t thinking of climate change when they sang about &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Summer Nights" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0DfsCzfq4" data-vars-content-id="26b9fd62-5658-4eda-a61f-4d48ac32868c" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas&#x27; summer night temps creep higher" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0DfsCzfq4" target="_blank">Summer Nights</a>&quot; in the &#x27;70s. But those evenings have been getting warmer across Northwest Arkansas and much of the U.S. for 50 years <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="amid climate change" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/summers-warmer-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="26b9fd62-5658-4eda-a61f-4d48ac32868c" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas&#x27; summer night temps creep higher" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/summers-warmer-climate-change" target="_self">amid climate change</a>, a new analysis shows.Why it matters: Higher overnight temperatures can have health consequences for vulnerable groups, as well as increased demand for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="air conditioning" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2018/05/14/cooling-the-earth-without-cooking-it" data-vars-content-id="26b9fd62-5658-4eda-a61f-4d48ac32868c" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansas&#x27; summer night temps creep higher" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2018/05/14/cooling-the-earth-without-cooking-it" target="_self">air conditioning</a>.

Arkansas counties with the most lightning strikes, mapped

But Texas, Florida and Oklahoma remain America's lightning capitals

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Northwest Arkansas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas" data-vars-content-id="3cbfd042-858c-4b92-85d9-843222628e04" data-vars-headline="Arkansas counties with the most lightning strikes, mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas" target="_self">Northwest Arkansas</a> is the lightning capital of the Natural State, per weather data firm Vaisala Xweather.Why it matters: Aside from the immediate danger to people, aircraft and infrastructure, lightning can spark <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/20/wildfires-fire-weather-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="3cbfd042-858c-4b92-85d9-843222628e04" data-vars-headline="Arkansas counties with the most lightning strikes, mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/20/wildfires-fire-weather-climate-change" target="_self">wildfires</a> — and the number of strikes is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="predicted to increase" data-vars-click-url="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1259100" data-vars-content-id="3cbfd042-858c-4b92-85d9-843222628e04" data-vars-headline="Arkansas counties with the most lightning strikes, mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1259100" target="_blank">predicted to increase</a> amid climate change, researchers have found.

"Fire weather" increased for much of Arkansas

What used to be several months of "fire season" is stretching in some places into a yearlong phenomenon.

Western, central and southeast Arkansas have more hot, dry and windy weather days that help <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" data-vars-content-id="8c7fc104-0fd0-4688-bd9a-4aed1765d746" data-vars-headline="&quot;Fire weather&quot; increased for much of Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/14/climate-change-extreme-wildfire-season" target="_self">wildfires</a> spread than they did 50 years ago, per an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/more-frequent-fire-weather" data-vars-content-id="8c7fc104-0fd0-4688-bd9a-4aed1765d746" data-vars-headline="&quot;Fire weather&quot; increased for much of Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/more-frequent-fire-weather" target="_blank">analysis</a> from climate research group Climate Central.Why it matters: What used to be several months of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;fire season&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/15/us-wildfire-outlook-2024-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="8c7fc104-0fd0-4688-bd9a-4aed1765d746" data-vars-headline="&quot;Fire weather&quot; increased for much of Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/15/us-wildfire-outlook-2024-climate-change" target="_self">&quot;fire season&quot;</a> is stretching in some places into a yearlong phenomenon, straining fire departments and others tasked with controlling or containing wild blazes.

J.B. Hunt taps sunshine for campus power

A 40-acre solar farm will offset 80% of its corporate headquarters' power use.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services said last week a 40-acre solar farm near Gentry will offset 80% of its Lowell corporate headquarters&#x27; power use.Why it matters: Even as corporate America&#x27;s environmental, social and governance (ESG) pendulum <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="swings back to the right" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/28/esg-pitcbook-greenhushing&#x27;" data-vars-content-id="43c7937f-9f70-47b0-9b64-163532aba776" data-vars-headline="J.B. Hunt taps sunshine for campus power" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/28/esg-pitcbook-greenhushing&#x27;" target="_self">swings back to the right</a> and President Trump&#x27;s promise to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;drill baby drill" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/15/trump-drill-baby-drill-us-oil-production" data-vars-content-id="43c7937f-9f70-47b0-9b64-163532aba776" data-vars-headline="J.B. Hunt taps sunshine for campus power" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/15/trump-drill-baby-drill-us-oil-production" target="_self">&quot;drill baby drill</a>&quot; a finite resource begins, disastrous <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="weather caused by climate change" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/28/la-fires-cause-climate-change-more-likely" data-vars-content-id="43c7937f-9f70-47b0-9b64-163532aba776" data-vars-headline="J.B. Hunt taps sunshine for campus power" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/28/la-fires-cause-climate-change-more-likely" target="_self">weather caused by climate change</a> remains in the public discourse.

Arkansas' top snow days mapped

As winter storms bring snow and ice to wide swaths of the U.S. this week, it's worth a look back to see all-time snowfall records.

As <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="winter storms" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/06/sprawling-high-impact-winter-storm-arctic-blast-hit-us" data-vars-content-id="468e4bb3-741d-4a7b-a2cf-34e5305317dd" data-vars-headline="Arkansas&#x27; top snow days mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/06/sprawling-high-impact-winter-storm-arctic-blast-hit-us" target="_self">winter storms</a> bring snow and ice to wide swaths of the U.S. this week, it&#x27;s worth a look back to see all-time snowfall records.How it works: NOAA captures snowfall maximums from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="each county" data-vars-click-url="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fWohZ/3/" data-vars-content-id="468e4bb3-741d-4a7b-a2cf-34e5305317dd" data-vars-headline="Arkansas&#x27; top snow days mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fWohZ/3/" target="_blank">each county</a>, along with the exact measurement location.By the numbers: The largest snowfall was 25 inches in Clay county on Jan. 22, 1918.<ul><li>Benton County&#x27;s one-day record was set Feb. 9, 2011 with 19 inches.</li><li>Washington County&#x27;s was 12 inches in March of 2010.</li></ul>Go deeper: See an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="interactive map" data-vars-click-url="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fWohZ/3/" data-vars-content-id="468e4bb3-741d-4a7b-a2cf-34e5305317dd" data-vars-headline="Arkansas&#x27; top snow days mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fWohZ/3/" target="_blank">interactive map</a> ... and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national map" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/09/snowfall-records-by-county" data-vars-content-id="468e4bb3-741d-4a7b-a2cf-34e5305317dd" data-vars-headline="Arkansas&#x27; top snow days mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/09/snowfall-records-by-county" target="_self">national map</a>.

Public EV chargers vs. miles of roads

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

Axios What's Next

Side by side choropleth maps of U.S. states showing current and planned data centers as of October 2025. There are 4,149 operational data centers, with 2,788 under construction or planned. Texas and Virginia lead in both current and planned data centers.

2025-12-16-data-center-maps

Data: American Edge Project and Technology Councils of North America; Map: Axios Visuals

Climate 🌿

Arkansas lags in EV readiness

National summit targets disaster gaps

Arkansas is a data center growth spot

Northwest Arkansas watershed conservation funding available

Prairie Grove mayor's journey began with Hurricane Katrina