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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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Mixed-use project planned for Bentonville square

The plan is to break ground on The Hart on Main this summer.

News

Construction of a development bringing retail, office and housing to the Bentonville square will begin soon.State of play: The plan is to break ground on The Hart on Main this summer with a &quot;multiyear build ahead,&quot; according to a news release.

Revealing holes in Arkansas' concealed carry law

Someone with a concealed carry license could face restrictions that someone under constitutional carry would not.

Politics

Arkansans can legally carry firearms to protests, a law professor told Axios, but contradictory state statutes create gray areas that could complicate interpretation.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shooting death" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/24/minneapolis-ice-shooting-id" data-vars-content-id="223d24f3-4c9e-4707-aa34-cbbf7252461e" data-vars-headline="Revealing holes in Arkansas&#x27; concealed carry law" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/24/minneapolis-ice-shooting-id" target="_self">shooting death</a> of Alex Pretti in Minnesota last month put some <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gun rights groups at odds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/25/gun-groups-challenge-minneapolis-shooting-pretti" data-vars-content-id="223d24f3-4c9e-4707-aa34-cbbf7252461e" data-vars-headline="Revealing holes in Arkansas&#x27; concealed carry law" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/25/gun-groups-challenge-minneapolis-shooting-pretti" target="_self">gun rights groups at odds</a> with messaging from the Trump administration, exposing tension between First and Second Amendment protections.

Study finds family support boosts diabetes care

Researchers found family-focused classes improved glucose control and healthy habits.

Offering digital health education to family and friends of diabetes patients can improve outcomes for patients, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas researchers found" data-vars-click-url="https://news.uams.edu/2026/02/03/digital-health-diabetes-education-improves-health-of-rural-communities-across-arkansas/" data-vars-content-id="e4cffb00-e175-42bb-873e-a7dc924c6edc" data-vars-headline="Study finds family support boosts diabetes care" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.uams.edu/2026/02/03/digital-health-diabetes-education-improves-health-of-rural-communities-across-arkansas/" target="_blank">Arkansas researchers found</a>.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168822725010782?via%3Dihub" data-vars-content-id="e4cffb00-e175-42bb-873e-a7dc924c6edc" data-vars-headline="Study finds family support boosts diabetes care" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168822725010782?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">study</a>, performed by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Institute for Community Health Innovation, suggests that this model can improve disease management and provides evidence that it should be covered by insurance, professor and researcher Jennifer Andersen told Axios.

Monday Munchies: Handshake in the Fayetteville library

There's an honest-to-goodness restaurant inside the library.

Food and Drink

In case you needed another reason to hang out at the Fayetteville Public Library, you have one.📚 State of play: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Handshake" data-vars-click-url="https://www.handshakefayetteville.com/" data-vars-content-id="5287c451-60fb-49d3-a72b-3967a58e83af" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Handshake in the Fayetteville library" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.handshakefayetteville.com/" target="_blank">Handshake</a> offers breakfast, lunch and lounge bites right inside the library. This is ultra-convenient for those who find themselves spending lengthy days working or studying there, or are just making the most of a leisurely day at the library.

Arkansas high school graduation rates persist

The impact of COVID-19 on education is still playing out.

Arkansas&#x27; high school graduation rates have kept up despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.The big picture: A record share of American <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high schoolers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/03/education-enrollment-cliff-schools" data-vars-content-id="561cc031-9bb8-4af9-b7b6-fa82983183c7" data-vars-headline="Arkansas high school graduation rates persist" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/03/education-enrollment-cliff-schools" target="_self">high schoolers</a> graduated on time in 2022, yet some states lag, per a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gradpartnership.org/educatingamerica/" data-vars-content-id="561cc031-9bb8-4af9-b7b6-fa82983183c7" data-vars-headline="Arkansas high school graduation rates persist" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gradpartnership.org/educatingamerica/" target="_blank">report</a> from the GRAD Partnership, a group of nine education organizations.

Mapped: COVID heating up in Arkansas

COVID-19 cases are growing or likely growing in 45 states and territories, and more than half of the states — including Arkansas have — virus levels that are "very high" or "high."

COVID

COVID-19 viral activity is very high in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas&#x27; wastewater" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-statetrend.html" data-vars-content-id="81a44602-e0fe-4a58-9fb0-44327bbcca28" data-vars-headline="Mapped: COVID heating up in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-statetrend.html" target="_blank">Arkansas&#x27; wastewater</a> as a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="summertime wave" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/27/covid-summer-surge?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="81a44602-e0fe-4a58-9fb0-44327bbcca28" data-vars-headline="Mapped: COVID heating up in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/27/covid-summer-surge?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&amp;stream=top" target="_self">summertime wave</a> expands.Why it matters: The prevalence of COVID is up in 45 states and territories — especially in the West, where <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="test positivity" data-vars-click-url="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_positivity-week" data-vars-content-id="81a44602-e0fe-4a58-9fb0-44327bbcca28" data-vars-headline="Mapped: COVID heating up in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_positivity-week" target="_blank">test positivity</a> in the region stood at 15.6% and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="viral activity in wastewater" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-nationaltrend.html" data-vars-content-id="81a44602-e0fe-4a58-9fb0-44327bbcca28" data-vars-headline="Mapped: COVID heating up in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-nationaltrend.html" target="_blank">viral activity in wastewater</a> has been rising for weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Arkansas' COVID-19 concentrations are high

Arkansas has high levels of COVID-19 according to findings at its one wastewater analysis site.

Arkansas has high levels of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/21/covid-omicron-variant-coronavirus-cases" data-vars-content-id="be56a925-6ef4-44f8-9786-1f4193fc0d63" data-vars-headline="Arkansas&#x27; COVID-19 concentrations are high" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/21/covid-omicron-variant-coronavirus-cases" target="_self">COVID-19</a> as we <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="head into the holiday travel season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/12/19/covid-levels-cases-holiday-state-map" data-vars-content-id="be56a925-6ef4-44f8-9786-1f4193fc0d63" data-vars-headline="Arkansas&#x27; COVID-19 concentrations are high" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/12/19/covid-levels-cases-holiday-state-map" target="_self">head into the holiday travel season</a>, Alex Fitzpatrick and Alice Feng report from the latest CDC data.Why it matters: While many Americans by this point have some combination of natural and vaccine-induced immunity, COVID can still make people plenty sick and force them to miss school, work — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="if they can" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/06/sick-days-benefits-workers-income-statistics-chart" data-vars-content-id="be56a925-6ef4-44f8-9786-1f4193fc0d63" data-vars-headline="Arkansas&#x27; COVID-19 concentrations are high" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/06/sick-days-benefits-workers-income-statistics-chart" target="_self">if they can</a> — and holiday activities.

More than 500 Arkansans have died of COVID this year

About 3,400 people in Arkansas died of the virus in 2022.

COVID-19 related deaths for this year reached 530 in Arkansas as of Nov. 4, according to the state Department of Health&#x27;s latest respiratory virus report.Context: That&#x27;s down steeply from past years. About 3,400 people in Arkansas died of the virus in 2022, and nearly 5,300 died in 2021, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to the health department" data-vars-click-url="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/4f55fdd341df4e2f854c14b974d6b350/page/Covid-19/?views=Covid-19-Death-Demographics%2C-2021-" data-vars-content-id="e935ae2d-34d0-4582-874c-ffda9cfe7916" data-vars-headline="More than 500 Arkansans have died of COVID this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/4f55fdd341df4e2f854c14b974d6b350/page/Covid-19/?views=Covid-19-Death-Demographics%2C-2021-" target="_blank">according to the health department</a>.

New COVID boosters expected to arrive in Arkansas within days

The shots are targeted against the dominant strain circulating in the U.S. earlier this summer

Updated COVID-19 booster shots will be available in the state within the next few days, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Health told Axios.Why it matters: The shots target<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" the XBB.1.5 variant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="3b3d0d8e-5883-4e9e-a6ee-58919eb3be77" data-vars-headline="New COVID boosters expected to arrive in Arkansas within days" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" target="_self"> the XBB.1.5 variant</a>, which was the dominant strain circulating in the U.S. earlier this summer.

Arkansas below nation in COVID-19 hospitalization rates

Hospitalization rates are now one of the best proxies for estimating broader viral spread.

Health

COVID-19 hospitalization rates across Arkansas fell 16% from June to July amid signs of a late-summer wave <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sweeping the country" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/covid-19-cases-2023-uptick-where-why" data-vars-content-id="50e638a2-e2d0-49d3-a6d6-f797783e11c5" data-vars-headline="Arkansas below nation in COVID-19 hospitalization rates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/covid-19-cases-2023-uptick-where-why" target="_self">sweeping the country</a>. By the numbers: The average COVID-19 hospitalization rate nationwide rose about 17% between June and July, per the latest available CDC data.

Pandemic migration boosted Northwest Arkansas income

Benton and Washington counties saw higher incomes.

Migration into Northwest Arkansas from 2020 to 2021 caused a $197.4 million rise in adjusted gross income across Benton County, and a $50.4 million increase in Washington County.<ul><li>The findings come by way of a<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" new analysis of tax data" data-vars-click-url="https://eig.org/high-earners-migration/" data-vars-content-id="e8b4003a-3fbb-4651-9aea-4fafd91f1b33" data-vars-headline="Pandemic migration boosted Northwest Arkansas income" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://eig.org/high-earners-migration/" target="_blank"> new analysis of tax data</a> from the Economic Innovation Group, a nonpartisan think tank.</li></ul>

Robotics and AI offer something to chew on at Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods researchers are experimenting with how robots can improve interactions with a variety of biological tissues.

Business

Tyson Foods researchers are experimenting with how robots can improve interactions with a variety of biological tissues.<ul><li>Unlike the automotive industry, meat and poultry come in infinite sizes, shapes and weights.</li></ul>

Tylenol shortage adds to sickly season

​​Parents are contending with strained supplies of children's pain relievers amid early and severe respiratory illnesses.

​​Parents are contending with strained supplies of children&#x27;s pain relievers such as Tylenol and Motrin amid a trifecta of early and severe respiratory illnesses.<ul><li>Children&#x27;s ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help treat fevers, coughs, headaches and other symptoms associated with COVID-19, RSV and the seasonal flu.</li></ul>

A look back at Northwest Arkansas' 2022

We reviewed the most-read stories of the year and considered their collective impact on our community.

We reviewed the most-read stories from this year and considered their collective impact on our community. <ul><li>While it all seemed to happen in a mere blink, 2022 brought its fair share of change and forced public discourse on social issues, setting the political stage for next year.</li></ul>

COVID 🦠

Arkansas high school graduation rates persist

Mapped: COVID heating up in Arkansas

Arkansas' COVID-19 concentrations are high

More than 500 Arkansans have died of COVID this year

New COVID boosters expected to arrive in Arkansas within days