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

Axios Northwest Arkansas

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Northwest Arkansas Alerts

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Axios Northwest Arkansas Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

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Deep Dive

Northwest Arkansas Members

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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

Northwest Arkansas' literary scene is gaining traction

In just the past three years, at least five new independent bookstores have opened brick-and-mortar shops in NWA.

Culture

Northwest Arkansas is into books.What&#x27;s happening: Independent bookstore owners told Axios they&#x27;re responding to a hunger for locally owned brick-and-mortar bookstores, book clubs and events focused on books.

Photography exhibit is a window into contemporary history

Photography is often overlooked as an art form. Since we all have a camera in our pocket, it's seen as almost disposable.

Things to Do

Photography is often overlooked as an art form. Since we all have a camera in our pocket, it&#x27;s seen as almost disposable.<ul><li>But it takes a trained, talented eye — and obsessive hard work — to make a single image suitable for a magazine cover.</li><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Annie Leibovitz" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/09/15/annie-leibovitz-at-work-crystal-bridges-museum" data-vars-content-id="1bac34d3-113f-4345-b0d5-f3fa48863326" data-vars-headline="Photography exhibit is a window into contemporary history" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/09/15/annie-leibovitz-at-work-crystal-bridges-museum" target="_self">Annie Leibovitz</a> has made hundreds, if not thousands.</li></ul>

Some Arkansans think they live in the Midwest

A new report asked residents in 22 states if they considered themselves Midwest residents.

Nearly 27% of polled Arkansans need help — they think this is the Midwest.Driving the news: Emerson College and the Middle West Review <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="published a report" data-vars-click-url="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/middle-west-review-and-emerson-college-polling/" data-vars-content-id="d2d25150-a0d5-4dab-956b-995cc89e3688" data-vars-headline="Some Arkansans think they live in the Midwest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/middle-west-review-and-emerson-college-polling/" target="_blank">published a report</a> this month asking 11,000 people in 22 states if they considered themselves Midwest residents.Reality check: The U.S. Census calls <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas the South" data-vars-click-url="https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/maps-data/maps/reference/us_regdiv.pdf" data-vars-content-id="d2d25150-a0d5-4dab-956b-995cc89e3688" data-vars-headline="Some Arkansans think they live in the Midwest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/maps-data/maps/reference/us_regdiv.pdf" target="_blank">Arkansas the South</a> and distinguishes our Missouri neighbors to the north as the Midwest. About 95% of their residents agree.

How the NWA arts scene is boosting the local economy

People tend to spend money on things like restaurants when they go to an event, boosting the local economy.

Northwest Arkansas&#x27; arts and culture scene generated $232.7 million in economic activity last year, a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://cachecreate.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AR_NorthwestArkansasArea_AEP6_CustomizedFinalReport.pdf" data-vars-content-id="9e1f06ec-4c5a-4842-b870-f16d9c2b4edd" data-vars-headline="How the NWA arts scene is boosting the local economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cachecreate.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AR_NorthwestArkansasArea_AEP6_CustomizedFinalReport.pdf" target="_blank">study</a> by national nonprofit Americans for the Arts indicates.The big picture: That impact didn&#x27;t just come from people buying tickets to concerts or plays. People also tend to spend money on things like restaurants and parking when they go to an event, boosting the local economy, according to the study.

Illustration of a paint tube with money coming out. 

Festivals and events are taking over NWA this week

Get ready for quite the mashup of major multiday events in NWA — a bike rally, a music and arts festival, and a professional golf tournament.What&#x27;s happening: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bikes Blues &amp; BBQ" data-vars-click-url="https://bikesbluesandbbq.org/" data-vars-content-id="babea6da-ef74-4653-b6d9-092345fe9cef" data-vars-headline="Festivals and events are taking over NWA this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bikesbluesandbbq.org/" target="_blank">Bikes Blues &amp; BBQ</a> kicks off today in downtown Rogers and Eureka Springs; it runs through Saturday.

Illustration of a fall leaf crowd-surfing. 

"Annie Leibovitz at Work" a must-see at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

A simple picture taken through a car windshield while crossing the Golden Gate Bridge was a turning point in the college career of Annie Leibovitz.

A simple picture taken through a car windshield while crossing the Golden Gate Bridge was a turning point in the college career of Annie Leibovitz. Eventually, she shifted from painting and pursued photography.<ul><li>Lucky for us.</li></ul>Driving the news: Leibovitz walked media members through the temporary gallery of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Thursday, ahead of a sold-out lecture tonight and Saturday&#x27;s opening of the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Annie Leibovitz At Work" data-vars-click-url="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/annie-leibovitz/?gad=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw3oqoBhAjEiwA_UaLtr6POstKyZdEwawBO_08PlHP_4iF49mGcwViR9epolMoRXKAOPTrQRoC13cQAvD_BwE" data-vars-content-id="c716dad7-d201-4733-a591-6d6ca5e40d89" data-vars-headline="&quot;Annie Leibovitz at Work&quot; a must-see at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/annie-leibovitz/?gad=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw3oqoBhAjEiwA_UaLtr6POstKyZdEwawBO_08PlHP_4iF49mGcwViR9epolMoRXKAOPTrQRoC13cQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Annie Leibovitz At Work</a>&quot; exhibit.

Taco Talk: Meaux Beignet serves up heaping helpings of 'happy'

We took a food truck owner out for tacos.

Dwight Winfield took a break from one of Louisiana&#x27;s favorite desserts and agreed to meet for tacos and burritos at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Taqueria Real Jacona" data-vars-click-url="https://www.taqueriarealjaconaar.com/" data-vars-content-id="5ad3b37a-4861-445e-b273-1e09f6e4b157" data-vars-headline="Taco Talk: Meaux Beignet serves up heaping helpings of &#x27;happy&#x27;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.taqueriarealjaconaar.com/" target="_blank">Taqueria Real Jacona</a> in Bentonville.State of play: Winfield owns and operates <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Meaux Beignet" data-vars-click-url="https://www.meauxbeignet.com/" data-vars-content-id="5ad3b37a-4861-445e-b273-1e09f6e4b157" data-vars-headline="Taco Talk: Meaux Beignet serves up heaping helpings of &#x27;happy&#x27;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.meauxbeignet.com/" target="_blank">Meaux Beignet</a>, a food truck business with a permanent setup at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bentonville Brewing" data-vars-click-url="https://bentonvillebrewing.com/" data-vars-content-id="5ad3b37a-4861-445e-b273-1e09f6e4b157" data-vars-headline="Taco Talk: Meaux Beignet serves up heaping helpings of &#x27;happy&#x27;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bentonvillebrewing.com/" target="_blank">Bentonville Brewing</a> and a truck that he takes to events like the upcoming <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="BITE Festival " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/08/29/food-festival-celebrate-diversity-bite-lpga" data-vars-content-id="5ad3b37a-4861-445e-b273-1e09f6e4b157" data-vars-headline="Taco Talk: Meaux Beignet serves up heaping helpings of &#x27;happy&#x27;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/08/29/food-festival-celebrate-diversity-bite-lpga" target="_self">BITE Festival </a>in Rogers.

NWA food festival will celebrate diversity

Get ready for BITE NWA. The festival takes place in conjunction with the LPGA tournament.

Golf fans and others will have plenty of NWA food and drink to sample during the three-day BITE NWA festival.What&#x27;s happening: The annual food festival that takes place alongside the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Walmart NWA Championship" data-vars-click-url="https://nwachampionship.com/" data-vars-content-id="c48a59a3-e823-46ab-8e8a-56145c8ba524" data-vars-headline="NWA food festival will celebrate diversity" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nwachampionship.com/" target="_blank">Walmart NWA Championship</a> on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour will feature a new theme this year: Each of the three days will focus on restaurants and cuisines from underrepresented communities.

Crystal Bridges Museum to offer teen photo mentorship with Annie Leibovitz

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art launched "Beyond the Lens: Teen Photography Mentorship" on Monday.

A group of teens will have a chance to learn from famed photographer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Annie Leibovitz" data-vars-click-url="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/annie-leibovitz/" data-vars-content-id="97c47bce-74ab-4332-a991-68843b6c539c" data-vars-headline="Crystal Bridges Museum to offer teen photo mentorship with Annie Leibovitz" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/annie-leibovitz/" target="_blank">Annie Leibovitz</a>. What&#x27;s happening: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art launched &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Beyond the Lens: Teen Photography Mentorship" data-vars-click-url="https://crystalbridges.org/teen-photography-mentor-program/" data-vars-content-id="97c47bce-74ab-4332-a991-68843b6c539c" data-vars-headline="Crystal Bridges Museum to offer teen photo mentorship with Annie Leibovitz" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crystalbridges.org/teen-photography-mentor-program/" target="_blank">Beyond the Lens: Teen Photography Mentorship</a>&quot; on Monday.

Taco Talk: Pedal it Forward's Kenny Williams

We had tacos with executive director of a nonprofit that fixes bikes and donates them to people in need.

Note: Taco Talk is a new regular feature. We&#x27;ll sample a taqueria with the movers, shakers, artists and bakers of NWA, and rap about news in their world. 🚲👋 Worth here. I recently met Kenny Williams at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Boss Man Tacos Burritos &amp; More" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/TacosBurritosandMore" data-vars-content-id="629ed8eb-749d-4052-be59-43c08efc8310" data-vars-headline="Taco Talk: Pedal it Forward&#x27;s Kenny Williams" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/TacosBurritosandMore" target="_blank">Boss Man Tacos Burritos &amp; More</a> in Springdale to talk shop and break bread.The setup: Williams is executive director of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pedal It Forward" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pedalitforward.org/" data-vars-content-id="629ed8eb-749d-4052-be59-43c08efc8310" data-vars-headline="Taco Talk: Pedal it Forward&#x27;s Kenny Williams" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pedalitforward.org/" target="_blank">Pedal It Forward</a>, the nonprofit that fixes bikes and donates them to people in need for recreation and transportation.