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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 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;

Judge: Remove Ten Commandments from Arkansas Capitol grounds

The decision comes weeks after another federal judge blocked a law about displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools.

A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that Arkansas&#x27; Ten Commandments monument on state Capitol grounds violates the U.S. Constitution.The big picture: The decision comes just weeks after another federal judge <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="permanently blocked" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/18/judge-blocks-arkansas-law-requiring-ten-commandments-schools" data-vars-content-id="04083445-6baf-4021-a2e8-7ed1d35f67e2" data-vars-headline="Judge: Remove Ten Commandments from Arkansas Capitol grounds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/03/18/judge-blocks-arkansas-law-requiring-ten-commandments-schools" target="_self">permanently blocked</a> the enforcement of an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas law" data-vars-click-url="https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FACT573.pdf" data-vars-content-id="04083445-6baf-4021-a2e8-7ed1d35f67e2" data-vars-headline="Judge: Remove Ten Commandments from Arkansas Capitol grounds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FACT573.pdf" target="_blank">Arkansas law</a> at six public schools that required them to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms if posters were donated.

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.

Prairie Grove mayor's journey began with Hurricane Katrina

David Faulk's life changed after evacuating New Orleans in 2005.

David Faulk almost didn&#x27;t evacuate his family as New Orleans braced for Hurricane Katrina in 2005 because Hurricane Ivan turned and missed the year before. But his father&#x27;s cats were freaking out, so Faulk heeded the warnings.<ul><li>&quot;We had water into our attic, so there would have been no escape for us … four kids at home — two babies — it just would have never turned out well for us,&quot; Faulk told Axios.</li></ul>Why it matters: Twenty years ago, Faulk was a struggling foreman in a steelyard without prospects; today he&#x27;s the mayor of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, population about 9,500 and part of the thriving Northwest Arkansas region. For Faulk, the silver lining of this tragic event was platinum.

The Agenda: A new fire station, trail art and artificial turf

Votes include turf, murals, police tech and a new fire station.

Politics

Here are a few highlights from tonight&#x27;s city council meetings. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bentonville" data-vars-click-url="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1652/files/agenda/4929" data-vars-content-id="b4cbf5fb-1d16-4b94-8f31-16a0e2ea44b8" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: A new fire station, trail art and artificial turf" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1652/files/agenda/4929" target="_blank">Bentonville</a> will discuss:<ul><li>A resolution authorizing the city to enter an agreement with Byrne &amp; Jones Sports Construction for $1.12 million to replace the artificial turf at the Memorial Park Baseball and Softball Complex.</li></ul>

Proposed Franklin County prison price set at $825M

Before the letter to the state Department of Corrections, estimates for the proposed project ranged from $470 million to $1.5 billion.

The estimated total cost for the proposed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="3,000-bed prison" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/02/10/arkansas-prison-project-franklin-bills" data-vars-content-id="8e2350d8-52bc-437d-875d-12e352bfdc5d" data-vars-headline="Proposed Franklin County prison price set at $825M" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/02/10/arkansas-prison-project-franklin-bills" target="_self">3,000-bed prison</a> in Franklin County is now $825 million, according to a Monday memo from a construction management company. Why it matters: Before the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="memo" data-vars-click-url="https://doc.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/25-03-03-Cost-Budget-Estimate-Summary.pdf" data-vars-content-id="8e2350d8-52bc-437d-875d-12e352bfdc5d" data-vars-headline="Proposed Franklin County prison price set at $825M" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://doc.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/25-03-03-Cost-Budget-Estimate-Summary.pdf" target="_blank">memo</a>, cost estimates for the project varied widely — from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$470 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/mar/27/sanders-470m-criminal-justice-package-includes-3000-new-beds-stiffer-sentencing-requirements/" data-vars-content-id="8e2350d8-52bc-437d-875d-12e352bfdc5d" data-vars-headline="Proposed Franklin County prison price set at $825M" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/mar/27/sanders-470m-criminal-justice-package-includes-3000-new-beds-stiffer-sentencing-requirements/" target="_blank">$470 million</a> figure cited by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders two years ago to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$1.5 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/12/06/concerned-residents-take-qualms-with-franklin-county-prison-to-arkansas-lawmakers/" data-vars-content-id="8e2350d8-52bc-437d-875d-12e352bfdc5d" data-vars-headline="Proposed Franklin County prison price set at $825M" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/12/06/concerned-residents-take-qualms-with-franklin-county-prison-to-arkansas-lawmakers/" target="_blank">$1.5 billion</a> estimate from opponents like state Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest).

Proposed legislation seeks to thwart Arkansas prison project

State Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest) filed six bills recently in an effort to curb what he calls Arkansas' high incarceration rates, high crime rates and prison overcrowding.

State Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest) <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="filed six bills" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/01/10/franklin-county-prison-charleston-bryan-king-bill" data-vars-content-id="7e6a5fdc-6ffd-4cfd-85e7-c1624ba232b5" data-vars-headline="Proposed legislation seeks to thwart Arkansas prison project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/01/10/franklin-county-prison-charleston-bryan-king-bill" target="_self">filed six bills</a> recently in an effort to curb what he calls Arkansas&#x27; &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="three-headed monster" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IAGlFN2irM" data-vars-content-id="7e6a5fdc-6ffd-4cfd-85e7-c1624ba232b5" data-vars-headline="Proposed legislation seeks to thwart Arkansas prison project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IAGlFN2irM" target="_blank">three-headed monster</a>&quot; — high incarceration rates, high crime rates and prison overcrowding.Why it matters: Taken together, the bills could help eliminate the need for a controversial <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="proposed 3,000-bed prison" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/12/17/staff-turnover-arkansas-prison-guards-officers" data-vars-content-id="7e6a5fdc-6ffd-4cfd-85e7-c1624ba232b5" data-vars-headline="Proposed legislation seeks to thwart Arkansas prison project" 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/staff-turnover-arkansas-prison-guards-officers" target="_self">proposed 3,000-bed prison</a> near Charleston. <ul><li>Part of Franklin County where the prison is slated for construction is in King&#x27;s district. </li></ul>

Staff turnover is staggering in Arkansas' prison system

Nearly 46% of entry-level prison officers and corporal jobs were unfilled in fiscal 2022.

Nearly 46% of the entry-level corrections officers and corporal jobs overseeing Arkansas&#x27; inmates were unfilled on average in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fiscal 2022" data-vars-click-url="https://doc.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/ADC-FY22-Annual-Report_12-20-2022_FINAL_spread.pdf" data-vars-content-id="0709e284-1887-4abf-b574-ca6c62f57613" data-vars-headline="Staff turnover is staggering in Arkansas&#x27; prison system" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://doc.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/ADC-FY22-Annual-Report_12-20-2022_FINAL_spread.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal 2022</a>, the most recent data available.Why it matters: The health and well-being of inmates and the safety of prison employees and the public depend largely on adequate staffing.

Six northwestern Arkansas water projects slated for $65M

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' administration announced an additional $204 million in water and wastewater project funding across the state on Wednesday.

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders&#x27; administration on Wednesday announced an additional $204 million in water and wastewater project funding across the state.Why it matters: Access to safe drinking water and functioning wastewater treatment are table stakes for any community.

Map of Arkansas showing state prisons and the ratio of inmates to staff members. The Texarkana Regional Correctional Center in Springdale had the lowest ratio, at 3.5 inmates per staffer. The East Arkansas Regional Unit in Marianna had the highest, at 7.9.

Public Safety

Prairie Grove mayor's journey began with Hurricane Katrina

The Agenda: A new fire station, trail art and artificial turf

Proposed Franklin County prison price set at $825M

Proposed legislation seeks to thwart Arkansas prison project

Staff turnover is staggering in Arkansas' prison system