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Arkansas drone deal sparks ethical and safety concerns

Axios reviewed dozens of internal city documents and resident complaints obtained through public records requests

News

A military <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drone maker&#x27;s arrival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/18/military-drone-plant-opens-in-arkansas-draws-protest" data-vars-content-id="2de98790-7406-4867-a7ea-315064cd7392" data-vars-headline="Arkansas drone deal sparks ethical and safety concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/18/military-drone-plant-opens-in-arkansas-draws-protest" target="_self">drone maker&#x27;s arrival</a> in Fayetteville earlier this year is stirring fears about secrecy, safety and whether residents want a deep tie to the defense industry.Why it matters: Residents and some city leaders say they had little visibility into a defense-related project that could reshape Fayetteville&#x27;s economy — and identity.

Repaired downtown Rogers theater to reopen

The Victory Theater was damaged in the 2024 Memorial Day weekend storms.

Nearly two years after sustaining tornado damage, the historic <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Victory Theater" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thevictorytheater.com/" data-vars-content-id="ebfab555-5a05-44c1-8e50-11e702d1d6f4" data-vars-headline="Repaired downtown Rogers theater to reopen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thevictorytheater.com/" target="_blank">Victory Theater</a> in downtown Rogers is set to reopen this month ahead of its 100th birthday next year.State of play: The city is resuming operations with a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="free six-part movie series" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thevictorytheater.com/tickets-events" data-vars-content-id="ebfab555-5a05-44c1-8e50-11e702d1d6f4" data-vars-headline="Repaired downtown Rogers theater to reopen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thevictorytheater.com/tickets-events" target="_blank">free six-part movie series</a> tied to the United States&#x27; 250th anniversary, said Kinya Christian, the arts, culture and film manager for Rogers. It kicks off April 25 with &quot;Selma.&quot;

Monday Munchies: Zelli Deli

The prosciutto and fig sandwich seemed to defy physics.

Food and Drink

🍝 Alex checked out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zelli Pasta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/23/homemade-pasta-zelli-springdale-local" data-vars-content-id="39d1707b-182f-4ce2-b38a-1eb85a9783c1" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Zelli Deli" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/23/homemade-pasta-zelli-springdale-local" target="_self">Zelli Pasta</a> as take-it-home-and-cook-it-yourself, but they&#x27;ve since started serving sandwiches, which is more my style.The setup: Downtown Springdale may soon become my fave lunchtime location — there are tons of options, it&#x27;s easy for me to get to, and the crowds aren&#x27;t yet insane (if you can find a parking spot!).

Heartland Forward targets maternal mortality — but Arkansas lags

The U.S. now has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world.

Health

Bentonville&#x27;s Heartland Forward launched a drive to slash U.S. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="maternal mortality" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/09/heartland-forward-maternal-health-initiative" data-vars-content-id="dd5a2be0-e141-4c31-9bf6-948319f87b7b" data-vars-headline="Heartland Forward targets maternal mortality — but Arkansas lags" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/09/heartland-forward-maternal-health-initiative" target="_self">maternal mortality</a> in half within five years.Why it matters: Maternal deaths in the U.S. have more than doubled since the 1980s, and the country now has the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="highest rate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison" data-vars-content-id="dd5a2be0-e141-4c31-9bf6-948319f87b7b" data-vars-headline="Heartland Forward targets maternal mortality — but Arkansas lags" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison" target="_blank">highest rate</a> in the developed world. About 84% of the deaths are preventable and roughly 65% happen after childbirth.

Northwest Arkansans of note who died in 2024

Please take a moment to remember a few people with NWA connections who passed away this year.

History

Please join us in remembering a few people with NWA connections who passed away this year.<ul><li>Harrison native, family man and musician, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ed Nicholson" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/07/26/ed-nicholson-dies-northwest-arkansas" data-vars-content-id="bba4a653-d605-49f0-9dc2-2e8122ea4083" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansans of note who died in 2024" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/07/26/ed-nicholson-dies-northwest-arkansas" target="_self">Ed Nicholson</a>, died in June at the age of 71.</li><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tommy Van Zandt" data-vars-click-url="https://talkbusiness.net/2024/09/sage-partners-co-founder-tommy-van-zandt-dies/" data-vars-content-id="bba4a653-d605-49f0-9dc2-2e8122ea4083" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansans of note who died in 2024" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://talkbusiness.net/2024/09/sage-partners-co-founder-tommy-van-zandt-dies/" target="_blank">Tommy Van Zandt</a> was co-founder of commercial real estate firm Sage Partners. He was 65 in September when he died.</li><li>Sportswriter <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bob Holt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/12/06/bob-holt-arkansas-death-sports" data-vars-content-id="bba4a653-d605-49f0-9dc2-2e8122ea4083" data-vars-headline="Northwest Arkansans of note who died in 2024" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/12/06/bob-holt-arkansas-death-sports" target="_self">Bob Holt</a> was at an Arkansas Razorbacks football game when he collapsed. He died later in the hospital. He was 65.</li></ul>The bottom line: These guys were giants in their own right and are gone too soon. Their contributions to the state will last for years to come.

"Silent Fallout" exposes Oppenheimer's unintended U.S. legacy

Documentary film explores the human toll of nuclear explosions on unsuspecting Americans.

Japanese director Hideaki Ito&#x27;s latest film probes the human toll of nuclear explosions — not on his countrymen, but on unsuspecting Americans. Why it matters: The Cold War, it seems, claimed friendly-fire casualties decades after fallout from Nevada nuclear tests in the 1950s swept eastward across the U.S., affecting families in most of the country, according to Ito.

Mapped: Arkansas' ghost towns

There are thousands of abandoned "ghost" towns across the U.S.

There are thousands of abandoned <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;ghost&quot; towns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/abandonedplaces/ghost-towns.htm" data-vars-content-id="c6460b8b-ea2b-4e68-941e-a13f8734f265" data-vars-headline="Mapped: Arkansas&#x27; ghost towns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/abandonedplaces/ghost-towns.htm" target="_blank">&quot;ghost&quot; towns</a> across the U.S., and while many are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="no more than memories" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/28/3d-digital-models-are-resurrecting-lost-neighborhoods" data-vars-content-id="c6460b8b-ea2b-4e68-941e-a13f8734f265" data-vars-headline="Mapped: Arkansas&#x27; ghost towns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/28/3d-digital-models-are-resurrecting-lost-neighborhoods" target="_self">no more than memories</a>, a few hundred still have free-standing structures or museums to visit.Why it matters: Many of these places are disappearing with time and being absorbed into newer towns or by nature.

Data: Axios research, including Geotab and Forgotten Places; Map: Tory Lysik/Axios Visuals. Note: This is not a conclusive list, as others may be available. These are all confirmed and recognized abandoned ghost towns with at least some sort of buildings standing.