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XNA plans expansion to add new gates

The concourse's gates will accommodate larger planes that XNA is increasingly seeing.

News

Northwest Arkansas National Airport plans to start construction this fall on a new concourse that will add a net total of five gates.Why it matters: The major expansion of the formerly regional airport is perhaps the clearest indicator of how busy XNA is.<ul><li>It <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surpassed Little Rock&#x27;s enplanements" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/01/30/xna-flies-past-little-rock-first-time" data-vars-content-id="0009b9d1-c80a-4645-95bf-3a461be3863c" data-vars-headline="XNA plans expansion to add new gates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/01/30/xna-flies-past-little-rock-first-time" target="_self">surpassed Little Rock&#x27;s enplanements</a> in 2025 and had its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="highest-ever number of enplanements" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/20/xna-busiest-month-ever" data-vars-content-id="0009b9d1-c80a-4645-95bf-3a461be3863c" data-vars-headline="XNA plans expansion to add new gates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/20/xna-busiest-month-ever" target="_self">highest-ever number of enplanements</a> in a single month in July. Enplanements are the number of times passengers fly out of the airport.</li></ul>

How Trump's tariffs hit in Arkansas

Arkansas importers paid an estimated $1 billion in Trump tariffs through June.

Politics

States bear wildly different estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tariff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" data-vars-content-id="cfe14e67-af89-4812-80f7-150ebda2d4d8" data-vars-headline="How Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" target="_self">tariff</a> burdens from President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="cfe14e67-af89-4812-80f7-150ebda2d4d8" data-vars-headline="How Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump&#x27;s</a> trade actions since the start of 2025, from California&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" $62.8 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://tariffs.org/" data-vars-content-id="cfe14e67-af89-4812-80f7-150ebda2d4d8" data-vars-headline="How Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tariffs.org/" target="_blank"> $62.8 billion</a> share to Wyoming&#x27;s $107 million.Why it matters: Local industries dictate how and how hard communities have been hit, from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Michigan&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/07/11/michigan-trump-tariff-costs" data-vars-content-id="cfe14e67-af89-4812-80f7-150ebda2d4d8" data-vars-headline="How Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/07/11/michigan-trump-tariff-costs" target="_self">Michigan&#x27;s</a> auto industry to Virginia&#x27;s aerospace sector.

McCollum pleads not guilty

McCollum is accused of domestic violence against his wife.

Former state Rep. Austin McCollum, the only candidate for Benton County judge, pleaded not guilty to three felony charges during his arraignment Tuesday in Benton County Circuit Court.Why it matters: Benton County voters are on track to have a county judge who has unresolved criminal charges after McCollum, 35, was accused of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="domestic violence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/06/austin-mccollum-domestic-violence-history" data-vars-content-id="33640d62-7832-4d98-8960-173cf09daa2a" data-vars-headline="McCollum pleads not guilty" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/06/austin-mccollum-domestic-violence-history" target="_self">domestic violence</a> against his wife.

Dolly Parton's literacy program to continue and needs NWA support

The program sends books in the mail each month to children under 5 years old.

Parenting

The Arkansas branch of Dolly Parton&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="children&#x27;s literacy program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/27/dolly-parton-philanthropy-donations" data-vars-content-id="e33fe340-acaa-4a68-8c42-1592e7dfd280" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton&#x27;s literacy program to continue and needs NWA support" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/27/dolly-parton-philanthropy-donations" target="_self">children&#x27;s literacy program</a> is continuing after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="star&#x27;s death" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/31/dolly-parton-dollyfest-nashville-london-memorial" data-vars-content-id="e33fe340-acaa-4a68-8c42-1592e7dfd280" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton&#x27;s literacy program to continue and needs NWA support" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/08/31/dolly-parton-dollyfest-nashville-london-memorial" target="_self">star&#x27;s death</a>, but Northwest Arkansas needs a local organization to help raise money.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas Imagination Library" data-vars-click-url="https://arkansasimaginationlibrary.org/" data-vars-content-id="e33fe340-acaa-4a68-8c42-1592e7dfd280" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton&#x27;s literacy program to continue and needs NWA support" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arkansasimaginationlibrary.org/" target="_blank">Arkansas Imagination Library</a> utilizes local partners — typically by county — to help cover the costs of books for children under 5.

Benton County judge urges McCollum to not take office

Former state Rep. Austin McCollum is facing felony charges.

Benton County Judge Barry Moehring urged presumed judge-elect and former state Rep. Austin McCollum during a press conference Wednesday to not take office in January amid McCollum&#x27;s ongoing legal battles.Why it matters: Moehring stressed that while McCollum has not been convicted of a crime, he does not have the trust and confidence of the public, county employees or elected officials given the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="domestic violence allegations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/06/austin-mccollum-domestic-violence-history" data-vars-content-id="d5232263-a5d1-4f04-8e55-8891db888e39" data-vars-headline="Benton County judge urges McCollum to not take office" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/06/austin-mccollum-domestic-violence-history" target="_self">domestic violence allegations</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="criminal charges" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/09/01/mccollum-faces-three-felony-charges" data-vars-content-id="d5232263-a5d1-4f04-8e55-8891db888e39" data-vars-headline="Benton County judge urges McCollum to not take office" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/09/01/mccollum-faces-three-felony-charges" target="_self">criminal charges</a> against him.

Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting

A federal judge denied a request to block news outlets from publishing more details about a data center deal.

Business

A federal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="judge denied" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/sep/02/federal-judge-denies-entergy-arkansas-request-for/?lid=0fvn355myp4n&amp;utm_source=id&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=breaking_adg&amp;utm_content=2026-09-02" data-vars-content-id="3df91ed5-2522-4a49-90ba-72300f04ef39" data-vars-headline="Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/sep/02/federal-judge-denies-entergy-arkansas-request-for/?lid=0fvn355myp4n&amp;utm_source=id&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=breaking_adg&amp;utm_content=2026-09-02" target="_blank">judge denied</a> Entergy Arkansas&#x27; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="request to block" data-vars-click-url="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2026/09/02/judge-denies-effort-to-block-arkansas-outlets-from-publishing-details-about-data-center-agreement/" data-vars-content-id="3df91ed5-2522-4a49-90ba-72300f04ef39" data-vars-headline="Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2026/09/02/judge-denies-effort-to-block-arkansas-outlets-from-publishing-details-about-data-center-agreement/" target="_blank">request to block</a> the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Arkansas Times from publishing more details about its Google <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center deal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/09/01/google-pay-716-million-data-center-power" data-vars-content-id="3df91ed5-2522-4a49-90ba-72300f04ef39" data-vars-headline="Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/09/01/google-pay-716-million-data-center-power" target="_self">data center deal</a>.Why it matters: The ruling reinforces a high legal bar for companies seeking to stop news organizations from publishing government records they say were mistakenly released.

 McCollum faces three felony charges

Austin McCollum is accused of domestic violence against his wife.

Prosecutors have formally charged <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="former state Rep." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/05/austin-mccollum-resigns-arkansas-house-arrest" data-vars-content-id="df100f17-76e6-42e3-a8ea-7c4bc131df15" data-vars-headline=" McCollum faces three felony charges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/05/austin-mccollum-resigns-arkansas-house-arrest" target="_self">former state Rep.</a> and current Benton County Judge candidate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin McCollum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/06/austin-mccollum-domestic-violence-history" data-vars-content-id="df100f17-76e6-42e3-a8ea-7c4bc131df15" data-vars-headline=" McCollum faces three felony charges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/06/austin-mccollum-domestic-violence-history" target="_self">Austin McCollum</a> with three felonies a month after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="he was accused of domestic violence against his wife and arrested" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/03/mccollum-resignation-calls-arrest" data-vars-content-id="df100f17-76e6-42e3-a8ea-7c4bc131df15" data-vars-headline=" McCollum faces three felony charges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/03/mccollum-resignation-calls-arrest" target="_self">he was accused of domestic violence against his wife and arrested</a>, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="court documents" data-vars-click-url="https://caseinfonew.arcourts.gov/opad/case/04CR-26-1362" data-vars-content-id="df100f17-76e6-42e3-a8ea-7c4bc131df15" data-vars-headline=" McCollum faces three felony charges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://caseinfonew.arcourts.gov/opad/case/04CR-26-1362" target="_blank">court documents</a>.Why it matters: McCollum, who won the Republican nomination for county judge in March, remains the only candidate on the ballot. If he takes office in January and is later convicted of a felony, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="he will be removed from office per state law" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/13/what-could-happen-in-benton-county-judge-race-after-nominee-s-arrest" data-vars-content-id="df100f17-76e6-42e3-a8ea-7c4bc131df15" data-vars-headline=" McCollum faces three felony charges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/08/13/what-could-happen-in-benton-county-judge-race-after-nominee-s-arrest" target="_self">he will be removed from office per state law</a>.

Arkansas plays a role in national grocery squeeze

Arkansas is the No. 1 grower of rice and the third-largest producer of poultry in the country.

America&#x27;s grocery squeeze has been most painfully felt in a few expensive categories, like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="beef" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/28/meat-processing-trump-beef-cattle-farmer" data-vars-content-id="82a49bfd-3c5c-4251-9447-bf409e4c689a" data-vars-headline="Arkansas plays a role in national grocery squeeze" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/28/meat-processing-trump-beef-cattle-farmer" target="_self">beef</a>, coffee and chocolate.<ul><li>Now, the forces pushing up food prices are starting to pile up: expensive grain, soaring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fertilizer and fuel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/16/farmers-agriculture-crops-iran-energy-prices" data-vars-content-id="82a49bfd-3c5c-4251-9447-bf409e4c689a" data-vars-headline="Arkansas plays a role in national grocery squeeze" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/16/farmers-agriculture-crops-iran-energy-prices" target="_self">fertilizer and fuel</a>, plus unpredictable weather and raging wars.</li></ul>

The Agenda: Federal grants for Drake Field

The Fayetteville City Council meets tonight.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fayetteville City Council" data-vars-click-url="https://fayettevillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4681/files/agenda/5411" data-vars-content-id="9a4c2b6b-e6ef-4fb3-ac47-adec19a29a2d" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Federal grants for Drake Field" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://fayettevillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4681/files/agenda/5411" target="_blank">Fayetteville City Council</a> has a few items to vote on Tuesday related to Drake Field.For the Taxiway E extension project: A contract worth about $2.9 million with APAC-Central, about $428,000 to purchase wetland and stream mitigation from the Watershed Conservation Resource Center, and a $339,100 contract with Garver for construction services.

Walton College doubles down on real-world experience

The college has launched a five-year plan.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is launching a five-year plan to ensure that students graduate with practical entrepreneurial experience and that faculty have expanded research opportunities.Why it matters: The college, which is 100 years old this year and has more than 10,000 students, must offer education that evolves as &quot;business changes at an unprecedented pace,&quot; such as in artificial intelligence and analytics, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="news release" data-vars-click-url="https://news.uark.edu/articles/82775/walton-college-marks-centennial-with-new-strategic-plan" data-vars-content-id="7e8bf7c3-e5bf-48d2-b77a-b4e7f37d3b27" data-vars-headline="Walton College doubles down on real-world experience" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.uark.edu/articles/82775/walton-college-marks-centennial-with-new-strategic-plan" target="_blank">news release</a>.

Arkansas set to receive portion of $17 billion Meta settlement

Arkansas expects to receive about $172.5 million.

Arkansas expects to receive about $172.5 million from Meta in a $17 billion multi-state settlement after states accused the parent company of Facebook and Instagram of harming children, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced.Why it matters: This is social media&#x27;s version of the landmark 1990s tobacco settlement, one that effectively reshapes the industry and how young Americans experience some of their favorite platforms, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Nathan Bomey writes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/26/meta-lawsuit-settlement-states-facebook" data-vars-content-id="211725a1-1930-42b4-b4d3-8c7d2236d0fc" data-vars-headline="Arkansas set to receive portion of $17 billion Meta settlement" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/26/meta-lawsuit-settlement-states-facebook" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Nathan Bomey writes</a>.

News 🗞

Benton County judge urges McCollum to not take office

XNA plans expansion to add new gates

McCollum pleads not guilty

Dolly Parton's literacy program to continue and needs NWA support

Entergy loses bid to block Google deal reporting