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Exclusive: Nasdaq program matches interns with startups

The program will offer Northwest Arkansas startups free coaching and pair them with paid student interns.

Business

A new accelerator-style program from the nonprofit <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center" data-vars-click-url="https://nasdaqcenter.org/" data-vars-content-id="b04997c1-300c-4831-b4a3-124df9675111" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: Nasdaq program matches interns with startups" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nasdaqcenter.org/" target="_blank">Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center</a> will offer NWA startups free coaching and then pair them with paid student interns.Why it matters: The two-year pilot backed by the Walton Family Foundation is designed to help young companies grow while giving college students a clearer path into the region&#x27;s startup economy.

Trump takes credit for Walmart price cuts

The company framed the move as a summer savings push.

Politics

Walmart said Monday it is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cutting prices" data-vars-click-url="https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/07/06/walmart-and-sams-club-lower-prices-to-help-customers-make-the-most-out-of-summer" data-vars-content-id="ed2a07d9-bc7f-42f5-af23-39a0b7d24e71" data-vars-headline="Trump takes credit for Walmart price cuts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2026/07/06/walmart-and-sams-club-lower-prices-to-help-customers-make-the-most-out-of-summer" target="_blank">cutting prices</a> on thousands of grocery, household and seasonal items at its stores, online and Sam&#x27;s Clubs, news that President Trump sought credit for in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Truth Social post" data-vars-click-url="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116874984393383550" data-vars-content-id="ed2a07d9-bc7f-42f5-af23-39a0b7d24e71" data-vars-headline="Trump takes credit for Walmart price cuts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116874984393383550" target="_blank">Truth Social post</a>.Why it matters: The nation&#x27;s largest retailer is again at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="center of the affordability fight" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/17/trump-walmart-tariffs" data-vars-content-id="ed2a07d9-bc7f-42f5-af23-39a0b7d24e71" data-vars-headline="Trump takes credit for Walmart price cuts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/17/trump-walmart-tariffs" target="_self">center of the affordability fight</a>, with Trump under pressure to show progress on prices heading into the midterms.

Administration saved $118M, Gov. Sanders says

The Arkansas Forward plan is aiming for $300 million in savings or avoided spending by 2030.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Wednesday her administration verified $118 million in savings and efficiencies through <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas Forward" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/12/17/sarah-sanders-arkansas-forward-300m" data-vars-content-id="0d1f5258-11dc-41e2-a36f-4deba3096ae9" data-vars-headline="Administration saved $118M, Gov. Sanders says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/12/17/sarah-sanders-arkansas-forward-300m" target="_self">Arkansas Forward</a> and announced a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="public dashboard" data-vars-click-url="https://governor.arkansas.gov/arforward/" data-vars-content-id="0d1f5258-11dc-41e2-a36f-4deba3096ae9" data-vars-headline="Administration saved $118M, Gov. Sanders says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://governor.arkansas.gov/arforward/" target="_blank">public dashboard</a> to track the initiative.Why it matters: The website is the administration&#x27;s attempt to show the public its progress toward the $300 million in savings or avoided spending by 2030 that was projected when the effort was detailed in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="December 2024 report" data-vars-click-url="https://governor.arkansas.gov/announcements/arkansas-forward-progress-report/" data-vars-content-id="0d1f5258-11dc-41e2-a36f-4deba3096ae9" data-vars-headline="Administration saved $118M, Gov. Sanders says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://governor.arkansas.gov/announcements/arkansas-forward-progress-report/" target="_blank">December 2024 report</a>.

Gov. Sanders leans on first term in reelection pitch

Sanders is running for a second term against Democratic state Sen. Fred Love and Libertarian Colt Shelby.

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that if she&#x27;s reelected, her next term would largely build on the policies she&#x27;s put in motion, with education, another tax cut and public safety still at the center.Why it matters: Sanders is framing a potential second term less around new promises than proving her first-term agenda works.

The Agenda: Bonds, NDAs and zoning

Here's what the Fayetteville City Council plans to vote on.

On Tuesday the Fayetteville City Council <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plans to vote" data-vars-click-url="https://fayettevillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1639/files/agenda/4966" data-vars-content-id="d2bca1ee-c1ec-4132-8137-896d7eb206f3" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Bonds, NDAs and zoning" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://fayettevillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1639/files/agenda/4966" target="_blank">plans to vote</a> on:💰 Issuing up to $191.2 million in sales-tax-backed bonds for voter-approved projects, including water and wastewater work, parks, animal services, transportation, fire projects and other city improvements.

Gov. Sanders dubs Siloam Springs "Capital for a Day"

In a local visit, Sanders leaned heavily on Arkansas LEARNS, her signature 2023 education law.

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders designated Siloam Springs &quot;Capital for a Day&quot; on Tuesday, touting education gains, tax cuts and job growth while giving residents direct access to cabinet officials.Why it matters: Sanders uses these road trips to sell her governing record outside Little Rock while testing how state policy is landing in local communities.

The Agenda: Sewers, roads and elections

City governments will decide how to spend taxpayer money

Your local city governments have purchases to consider at tonight&#x27;s city council meetings.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bentonville" data-vars-click-url="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2098/files/agenda/8944" data-vars-content-id="e4a0c744-6f85-4459-a716-476404ce9c8d" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Sewers, roads and elections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2098/files/agenda/8944" target="_blank">Bentonville</a> will vote on:🚽 An amendment to a contract with Olsson increasing the payment by $977,277 for design services related to a 2026 sewer model expansion.🔌 Waiving the bidding process and spending $450,000 to reserve production slots for three future substation transformers. The city notes: &quot;the need to make this purchase is immediate,&quot; and an emergency is hereby declared.🚧 A supplemental agreement with Burns &amp; McDonnell for $267,774 to expand design work on Greenhouse Road improvements. Funding will be provided through a block grant program through the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Springdale " data-vars-click-url="https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3541/Springdale/3151c307-ee34-4c57-a908-45f8bbc03f6a/Official-City-Council-Agenda-Packet-6.23.26.pdf?disposition=inline" data-vars-content-id="e4a0c744-6f85-4459-a716-476404ce9c8d" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Sewers, roads and elections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3541/Springdale/3151c307-ee34-4c57-a908-45f8bbc03f6a/Official-City-Council-Agenda-Packet-6.23.26.pdf?disposition=inline" target="_blank">Springdale </a>will vote on:<ul><li>🗳️ Calling a Nov. 3, 2026, special election to fill the vacant Ward 2, Position 2 council seat. Candidate filing would run from noon July 29 to noon Aug. 5.</li><li>🚂 An agreement with A&amp;M Railroad for crossing gate and signal improvements tied to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sunset Avenue Extension" data-vars-click-url="https://www.springdalear.gov/page/sunset-ext" data-vars-content-id="e4a0c744-6f85-4459-a716-476404ce9c8d" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Sewers, roads and elections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.springdalear.gov/page/sunset-ext" target="_blank">Sunset Avenue Extension</a> project for up to $393,520, plus change orders of up to 10% of the original contract price.</li><li>🛠️ An agreement with Clements &amp; Associates/Architecture for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rabbit Foot Lodge Phase III" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/you-ask-we-answer/you-ask-we-investigate-the-future-of-the-rabbit-foot-lodge/" data-vars-content-id="e4a0c744-6f85-4459-a716-476404ce9c8d" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Sewers, roads and elections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/you-ask-we-answer/you-ask-we-investigate-the-future-of-the-rabbit-foot-lodge/" target="_blank">Rabbit Foot Lodge Phase III</a> restoration project. The design fee is $53,188, based on an estimated $664,854 construction budget</li></ul>If you go: 6pm at Bentonville and Springdale city halls

Arkansas sues Roblox and Discord over child safety

The complaint says Roblox and Discord violated Arkansas public nuisance law.

News

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a lawsuit against <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Roblox" data-vars-click-url="https://www.roblox.com/home" data-vars-content-id="87920e1e-5ddd-4365-a4ce-8c56f47fff80" data-vars-headline="Arkansas sues Roblox and Discord over child safety" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.roblox.com/home" target="_blank">Roblox</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Discord" data-vars-click-url="https://discord.com/" data-vars-content-id="87920e1e-5ddd-4365-a4ce-8c56f47fff80" data-vars-headline="Arkansas sues Roblox and Discord over child safety" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://discord.com/" target="_blank">Discord</a> earlier this month, saying the companies designed products that helped predators target children.Why it matters: The suit takes aim at two popular online platforms used by kids and teens, arguing their design choices created a pipeline for grooming, sextortion and sexual abuse while misleading parents about safety.

Arkansas' main May tax drivers

Individual income tax collections were nearly 13 times corporate collections in May.

Arkansas collected about $316 million in sales and use taxes in May, outpacing $254.1 million in individual income taxes and $19.9 million in corporate income taxes.Why it matters: May shows a more typical post-tax-deadline pattern after April&#x27;s income tax surge, when individual collections spiked to nearly $597 million.

Fayetteville to weigh data center regulations

Council is expected to consider tougher rules requiring Planning Commission approval on future data centers.

Fayetteville City Council is expected to consider next week tougher rules that would require Planning Commission approval on future data centers, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fayetteville Flyer reports" data-vars-click-url="https://fayettevilleflyer.com/2026/06/09/fayetteville-council-eyes-further-regulations-in-light-of-data-center-surge/" data-vars-content-id="548e198d-b3a7-4bf6-a5a6-ac401333f7f6" data-vars-headline="Fayetteville to weigh data center regulations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://fayettevilleflyer.com/2026/06/09/fayetteville-council-eyes-further-regulations-in-light-of-data-center-surge/" target="_blank">Fayetteville Flyer reports</a>.Why it matters: Arkansas has made itself <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="attractive" data-vars-click-url="https://senate.arkansas.gov/senate-news/posts/2025/05/legislature-approves-package-of-economic-development-bills/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="548e198d-b3a7-4bf6-a5a6-ac401333f7f6" data-vars-headline="Fayetteville to weigh data center regulations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://senate.arkansas.gov/senate-news/posts/2025/05/legislature-approves-package-of-economic-development-bills/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">attractive</a> to data centers through tax incentives and utility law changes, seeing them as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="economic development" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasedc.com/news-events/newsroom/detail/2026/01/12/avaio-digital-announces-new-large-scale-ai-ready-data-center-and-power-campus-in-little-rock--arkansas?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="548e198d-b3a7-4bf6-a5a6-ac401333f7f6" data-vars-headline="Fayetteville to weigh data center regulations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasedc.com/news-events/newsroom/detail/2026/01/12/avaio-digital-announces-new-large-scale-ai-ready-data-center-and-power-campus-in-little-rock--arkansas?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">economic development</a> prizes.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cities and counties" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/little-rock-approves-data-center-ordinance/91-cebdc637-89c4-421f-a57a-67205038c61a" data-vars-content-id="548e198d-b3a7-4bf6-a5a6-ac401333f7f6" data-vars-headline="Fayetteville to weigh data center regulations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/little-rock-approves-data-center-ordinance/91-cebdc637-89c4-421f-a57a-67205038c61a" target="_blank">Cities and counties</a> are meanwhile trying to protect utility customers, water supplies and local control.</li></ul>

Charted: Arkansas' tax on 'sin'

Fiscal year totals for alcohol were about $60.5 million, but tobacco was more than double: about $148.2 million

Taxes collected on tobacco and alcohol sales account for less than 3% of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$7.13 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-nw-arkansas-01cccf80-4e3c-11f1-9cd2-6356b11cc255.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="a990492e-3842-4867-902e-374bf189bcf1" data-vars-headline="Charted: Arkansas&#x27; tax on &#x27;sin&#x27;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-nw-arkansas-01cccf80-4e3c-11f1-9cd2-6356b11cc255.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" target="_self">$7.13 billion</a> in gross general revenue collected in Arkansas during the first 10 months of fiscal 2026, almost $209 million.The big picture: The state&#x27;s &quot;sin taxes&quot; could be — what we&#x27;ve heard some CFOs describe it — a rounding error.

Politics 🇺🇸

Trump takes credit for Walmart price cuts

Gov. Sanders leans on first term in reelection pitch

The Agenda: Bonds, NDAs and zoning

Administration saved $118M, Gov. Sanders says

Gov. Sanders dubs Siloam Springs "Capital for a Day"