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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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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

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

COVID

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.

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.

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>

Illustration of a robotic hand dipping a chicken nugget in sauce.

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>

Illustration of wooden child’s play block with an exclamation point

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>

Illustration of the Axios logo moving sidways like a leftward arrow, and revealing the year 2022 over a field of blue and black streaks.

Washington County jail expansion, explained

Some say the expansion is needed to address overcrowding, but opponents argue it's the wrong approach.

The Washington County Quorum Court voted Thursday night to spend $18.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to expand and upgrade the county jail.The intrigue: Talk of using ARPA money for the jail has been a point of contention among county officials and constituents for months.

World gravel qualifier set for Northwest Arkansas

The 2023 Highlands Gravel Classic will again be part of the Union Cycliste International Gravel World Series.

Sports

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2023 Highlands Gravel Classic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.highlandsgravelclassic.com/Race/HighlandsGravelClassic/Page-4" data-vars-content-id="1375b9fd-0638-4194-aa0f-8bd6b720bcb6" data-vars-headline="World gravel qualifier set for Northwest Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.highlandsgravelclassic.com/Race/HighlandsGravelClassic/Page-4" target="_blank">2023 Highlands Gravel Classic</a> will again be part of the Union Cycliste International Gravel World Series.Why it matters: The Highlands race is the only <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. qualifier" data-vars-click-url="https://granfondodailynews.com/uci-gravel-world-championship-race-calendar/" data-vars-content-id="1375b9fd-0638-4194-aa0f-8bd6b720bcb6" data-vars-headline="World gravel qualifier set for Northwest Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://granfondodailynews.com/uci-gravel-world-championship-race-calendar/" target="_blank">U.S. qualifier</a> for the UCI Gravel World Championships next year, which will happen in Italy in September 2023.

Photo of a cyclist pouring water on his head

Arkansas health care and broadband get ARPA nod

The American Rescue Plan Act Steering Committee gave its OK for $91.9 million to advance various health care-related projects.

Arkansas&#x27; American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Steering Committee" data-vars-click-url="https://arpa.arkansas.gov/" data-vars-content-id="f9ab9273-308d-473f-b62f-21766ecb2b55" data-vars-headline="Arkansas health care and broadband get ARPA nod" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arpa.arkansas.gov/" target="_blank">Steering Committee</a> on Thursday gave its OK for $91.9 million in ARPA funding to advance various health care-related projects.Why it matters: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated inadequacies, stress points and financial issues in Arkansas&#x27; health care system.

Illustration of a health plus-shaped price tag with dollar signs printed on it.

Arkansas sees low turnout for latest COVID boosters

About 4% of fully vaccinated Arkansans have gotten the latest booster.

About 4% of fully vaccinated people — those with the first two shots of Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax or a single shot of Johnson &amp; Johnson — in Arkansas have received the new bivalent booster shot.Why it matters: The latest COVID booster is intended to be more effective at targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the Omicron variant, which makes up most cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.

Illustration of a turtle carrying a vial of liquid

COVID 🦠