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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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Arkansas will receive $10 million for maternal health

Olivia Walton announced her nonprofit will give $10M to Arkansas and $10M to Kentucky.

Health

A nonprofit c0-founded by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art chairperson Olivia Walton <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="will give $10 million to improve maternal health" data-vars-click-url="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/01/3373371/0/en/healthy-moms-healthy-babies-america-hmhba-announces-20-million-in-state-grants-for-arkansas-and-kentucky.html" data-vars-content-id="20c41aab-28f5-4f69-a8d2-21ac5b67bf15" data-vars-headline="Arkansas will receive $10 million for maternal health" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/01/3373371/0/en/healthy-moms-healthy-babies-america-hmhba-announces-20-million-in-state-grants-for-arkansas-and-kentucky.html" target="_blank">will give $10 million to improve maternal health</a> in Arkansas.Why it matters: The state has some of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nation&#x27;s worst outcomes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/31/heartland-forward-targets-maternal-mortality-but-arkansas-lags" data-vars-content-id="20c41aab-28f5-4f69-a8d2-21ac5b67bf15" data-vars-headline="Arkansas will receive $10 million for maternal health" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/31/heartland-forward-targets-maternal-mortality-but-arkansas-lags" target="_self">nation&#x27;s worst outcomes</a>, including high mortality rates, for new moms and babies.

Monday Munchies: The Purple Cow

The burger was cooked well and had the flavor of a patty that was made in-house, not at some faraway food factory.

Things to Do

Purple milkshakes don&#x27;t come from cows on a steady diet of lavender.<ul><li>It&#x27;s simply food dye for a gimmick that dates back to 1989, when <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Purple Cow" data-vars-click-url="https://ilovepurplecow.com/" data-vars-content-id="9119f7ed-a190-49df-8ba4-ebaf63fcb93d" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: The Purple Cow" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ilovepurplecow.com/" target="_blank">The Purple Cow</a> first opened in Little Rock.</li></ul>The latest: The 1950s-style diner expanded in recent years — say, the last 20 or so — through central Arkansas and finally opened in Rogers this March.

Walton-backed STEM university breaks ground

It will be called the Bentonville Institute of Technology.

Education

Bentonville&#x27;s planned private STEM university broke ground Friday on land that was formerly home to the Walmart headquarters.Why it matters: The Bentonville Institute of Technology is a major investment for the future of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and for development in the region.

Your weekend plans: Motorcycles and salsa

Enjoy the first weekend of October.🏍️ <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bikes, Blues &amp; BBQ" data-vars-click-url="https://bikesbluesandbbq.org/" data-vars-content-id="12f18a45-4b8b-46c5-82b5-f9f83b3bf838" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Motorcycles and salsa" 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> — They&#x27;re baaaaack. This year&#x27;s motorcycle rally continues through Saturday night with live music, food and vendors with events in downtown Rogers, Pig Trail Harley Davidson in Rogers and spots in Eureka Springs. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="See the full schedule" data-vars-click-url="https://bikesbluesandbbq.org/event-schedule/" data-vars-content-id="12f18a45-4b8b-46c5-82b5-f9f83b3bf838" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Motorcycles and salsa" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bikesbluesandbbq.org/event-schedule/" target="_blank">See the full schedule</a>.

McCollum still in jail with increased bond

McCollum has been arrested twice in the past two months.

Politics

Former state representative and presumed incoming Benton County Judge Austin McCollum remained in the county jail Monday with an increased bond and stricter rules if he is released.Why it matters: He&#x27;s set to take the chief executive office of the county in January as the only candidate, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="despite calls for him to step aside" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/09/09/benton-county-judge-mccollum-moehring?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="a122c8fb-562b-4981-9e89-d7176e8ea9de" data-vars-headline="McCollum still in jail with increased bond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/09/09/benton-county-judge-mccollum-moehring?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_nw_arkansas&amp;stream=top" target="_self">despite calls for him to step aside</a>.

Democratic candidate Dana Deree runs for Washington County judge

Voters will choose between Deree and Republican candidate Tim Shepard.

Washington County Judge Democratic candidate Dana Deree emphasized practical solutions and told Axios he&#x27;s running in part because he feels for vulnerable and working people.Case in point: Deree wants to reinstate the Justice Coordination Committee, which has been defunct since 2023, on Day 1 to bring together criminal justice entities and stakeholders to come up with recommendations.

Republican candidate Tim Shepard runs for Washington County judge

Voters will choose between Shepard and Democratic candidate Dana Deree.

Election

Washington County Judge Republican candidate Tim Shepard emphasized partnerships with community organizations in light of the county&#x27;s limited budget, saying he won&#x27;t raise taxes.Case in point: The county needs to work better with local organizations like the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission to help get state and federal grants for infrastructure like roads, Shepard told Axios.

What's in the $457 million Rogers bond issue

The city is asking voters to extend a 1% sales tax to afford a range of projects.

News

Rogers voters will decide in November whether to extend an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="existing 1% sales tax to pay for a range of projects" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rogersar.gov/1601/2026-Bond-Issue" data-vars-content-id="14deb629-12a5-4206-8bff-6eef55ee5e5b" data-vars-headline="What&#x27;s in the $457 million Rogers bond issue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rogersar.gov/1601/2026-Bond-Issue" target="_blank">existing 1% sales tax to pay for a range of projects</a>.The big picture: The city is asking for a considerable amount on the front end to afford construction projects, street maintenance and equipment.

Democratic candidate Hallie Shoffner challenges Sen. Tom Cotton

Shoffner wants to write farm policy that incentivizes a diverse crop industry.

U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Hallie Shoffner is focusing on the cost of living and agriculture, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="stating the decision to close her family farm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hallieshoffner.com/" data-vars-content-id="909764de-0f46-4c6a-bf3c-a5d777648269" data-vars-headline="Democratic candidate Hallie Shoffner challenges Sen. Tom Cotton" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hallieshoffner.com/" target="_blank">stating the decision to close her family farm</a> last year came after a &quot;devastating year of rising costs, bad markets, new tariffs and no meaningful Farm Bill relief.&quot;State of play: We sat down with Shoffner ahead of the election and asked her stances on several issues.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton runs for reelection

Cotton wants Congress to allocate another $350 billion for defense-industry infrastructure and weapons production.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton is making national security the centerpiece of his case for a third term, tying military investment to the state&#x27;s economy.State of play: We sat down with Cotton ahead of the election and asked why Arkansans should vote for him.

Libertarian candidate Jeff Wadlin runs for U.S. Senate

He supports balanced budgets and gun rights alongside universal health coverage and progressive taxation

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Libertarian Jeff Wadlin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kait8.com/2026/05/19/libertarian-candidate-announces-bid-arkansas-us-senate-seat/" data-vars-content-id="7d32fef0-9aa0-4c9a-8b8a-df83dc10bce8" data-vars-headline="Libertarian candidate Jeff Wadlin runs for U.S. Senate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kait8.com/2026/05/19/libertarian-candidate-announces-bid-arkansas-us-senate-seat/" target="_blank">Libertarian Jeff Wadlin</a>&#x27;s pitch to voters is an &quot;us&quot; campaign for U.S. Senate, arguing affordability and stronger communities matter more than party loyalty or Washington&#x27;s culture wars. State of play: We sat down with Wadlin ahead of the election and asked why members of either party should send him to Congress.

The Agenda: AI policy, grants, construction

The Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale city councils meet tonight.

Your city councils have full agendas for tonight.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bentonville" data-vars-click-url="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2101/files/agenda/9191" data-vars-content-id="793412ca-0502-4181-ab38-d56a33b10922" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: AI policy, grants, construction" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2101/files/agenda/9191" target="_blank">Bentonville</a> will vote on:

State plans home health coverage for waitlisted Arkansans with disabilities

More than 2,400 Arkansans are on a waitlist.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday announced that Arkansas plans to offer supportive living services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are on a waitlist.Why it matters: Supportive living services help people with disabilities live at home by paying for in-home care, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="news release" data-vars-click-url="https://governor.arkansas.gov/news_post/sanders-announces-framework-to-assist-families-on-ces-waitlist/" data-vars-content-id="fae0fd87-aa9c-4355-8158-f96d72d54e4d" data-vars-headline="State plans home health coverage for waitlisted Arkansans with disabilities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://governor.arkansas.gov/news_post/sanders-announces-framework-to-assist-families-on-ces-waitlist/" target="_blank">news release</a> from Sanders&#x27; office.

Politics 🇺🇸

McCollum still in jail with increased bond

Arkansas will receive $10 million for maternal health

Democratic candidate Dana Deree runs for Washington County judge

Republican candidate Tim Shepard runs for Washington County judge

What's in the $457 million Rogers bond issue