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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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Board overturns Swarm Aero classification in Arkansas

Swarm Aero must now decide whether to appeal the board's decision, seek to rezone the property on S. School Avenue or move.

Aerospace

Fayetteville&#x27;s Board of Adjustments on Monday ruled city planning staff misclassified drone maker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Swarm Aero" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/04/02/arkansas-drone-deal-sparks-ethical-and-safety-concerns" data-vars-content-id="220cf887-a0c4-4cce-880f-912c51b0a2e0" data-vars-headline="Board overturns Swarm Aero classification in Arkansas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/04/02/arkansas-drone-deal-sparks-ethical-and-safety-concerns" target="_self">Swarm Aero</a> as a &quot;heavy commercial and light industrial&quot; business.Why it matters: The classification allowed the startup to lease a facility near Drake Field and begin operating without a public rezoning process.<ul><li>Swarm Aero must now decide whether to appeal the board&#x27;s decision, seek to rezone the property on S. School Avenue or move.</li></ul>

Monday Munchies: Hearty meals at a Belgian-inspired tavern

We tried a few dishes at 1834 Tavern Lafayette in Fayetteville.

Food and Drink

Fayetteville has a new Belgian-inspired restaurant, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="1834 Tavern Lafayette" data-vars-click-url="https://1834tavernlafayette.com/" data-vars-content-id="27f3cbd2-bd53-44cc-84eb-d46cbc787db8" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Hearty meals at a Belgian-inspired tavern" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://1834tavernlafayette.com/" target="_blank">1834 Tavern Lafayette</a>.🇧🇪 The vibe: If there&#x27;s another spot in NWA with a similar aesthetic, I haven&#x27;t found it. The business calls itself an &quot;intimate old-world tavern,&quot; and you&#x27;ll find deep green and purple hues, small tables smushed close together and decor with a flair for the ornate.

More families turn to surrogacy, navigating uneven state laws

See which laws are on the books in Arkansas.

News

Without a federal law, surrogacy in the U.S. is governed by a patchwork of state regulations that can determine everything from whether agreements are legally binding to who is recognized as a parent at birth.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="More Americans are turning to surrogacy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/29/surrogacy-popular-numbers" data-vars-content-id="d2f04254-b3f0-41d7-a8bf-553741d93ccf" data-vars-headline="More families turn to surrogacy, navigating uneven state laws" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/29/surrogacy-popular-numbers" target="_self">More Americans are turning to surrogacy</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="build their families" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/02/future-of-fertility-demographics" data-vars-content-id="d2f04254-b3f0-41d7-a8bf-553741d93ccf" data-vars-headline="More families turn to surrogacy, navigating uneven state laws" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/02/future-of-fertility-demographics" target="_self">build their families</a>, making ethical, legal and cultural tensions harder to ignore.

Judge rejects Oklahoma, poultry company settlements

The judges said the proposed settlements wouldn't actually fix the pollution

Business

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a deal that would have eased penalties on several Northwest Arkansas poultry companies, leaving in place an extensive cleanup plan, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/apr/08/judge-rejects-settlements-in-the-illinois-river/" data-vars-content-id="aa8ea599-d9e8-4118-b0e9-a58d68bcbbd4" data-vars-headline="Judge rejects Oklahoma, poultry company settlements" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2026/apr/08/judge-rejects-settlements-in-the-illinois-river/" target="_blank">reported</a>.Why it matters: That order mandates a 30-year cleanup, limits on poultry litter use in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Illinois River Watershed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.irwp.org/" data-vars-content-id="aa8ea599-d9e8-4118-b0e9-a58d68bcbbd4" data-vars-headline="Judge rejects Oklahoma, poultry company settlements" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.irwp.org/" target="_blank">Illinois River Watershed</a> and court oversight funded by the companies, a move that could reshape the poultry industry in NWA.

University of Arkansas students push back on athletics plan

82% of students who voted in a referendum opposed supporting athletics with tuition hikes, fees or reallocations.

Education

A majority of University of Arkansas students who voted in an Associated Student Government referendum oppose using university dollars to boost Razorbacks athletics, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/22/student-referendum-opposition-university-arkansas-funds-athletics/" data-vars-content-id="5fb8392e-1959-4f86-81c5-da64d2be4dbd" data-vars-headline="University of Arkansas students push back on athletics plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/mar/22/student-referendum-opposition-university-arkansas-funds-athletics/" target="_blank">Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette</a> reported.Why it matters: The debate highlights a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="growing tension" data-vars-click-url="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/11/college-sports-spending-football/684983/" data-vars-content-id="5fb8392e-1959-4f86-81c5-da64d2be4dbd" data-vars-headline="University of Arkansas students push back on athletics plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/11/college-sports-spending-football/684983/" target="_blank">growing tension</a> in college sports over how to fund competitive athletics without shifting costs onto students.

Arkansas wins NCAA opener

Arkansas advances to face No. 12 High Point in the second round on Saturday.

Sports

Arkansas&#x27; 97-78 defeat of Hawai&#x27;i in the NCAA Tournament opening round Thursday continues a recent run of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="postseason successes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48216252/arkansas-tops-vanderbilt-win-first-sec-tournament-2000" data-vars-content-id="292f4900-cacd-4c5d-b4d8-dac7f68def7c" data-vars-headline="Arkansas wins NCAA opener" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48216252/arkansas-tops-vanderbilt-win-first-sec-tournament-2000" target="_blank">postseason successes</a> for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas' bettors favor Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX

More than $587 million in collective wagers were placed on sporting events in Arkansas for the first 11 months of 2025.

The average Super Bowl bet through Pine Bluff&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Saracen Casino Resort" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/09/arkansas-super-bowl-bets-wagers" data-vars-content-id="e7a02518-8db1-47aa-97ca-797bf360c99c" data-vars-headline="Arkansas&#x27; bettors favor Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/09/arkansas-super-bowl-bets-wagers" target="_self">Saracen Casino Resort</a> is expected to hit $48 this Sunday, up from $37 last year, casino officials told Axios.Why it matters: More than $587 million in collective wagers were placed on sporting events in Arkansas for the first 11 months of 2025, up from $404.7 million in 2023, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Legal Sports Report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.legalsportsreport.com/" data-vars-content-id="e7a02518-8db1-47aa-97ca-797bf360c99c" data-vars-headline="Arkansas&#x27; bettors favor Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.legalsportsreport.com/" target="_blank">Legal Sports Report</a> data. Casinos paid more than $8 million in state taxes on that revenue.

Your weekend plans: Art, basketball and soup

Things to Do

Make this weekend a fun one.💡 Check out a new art installation — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;FIREBIRD&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://themomentary.org/calendar/firebird/" data-vars-content-id="7f52d199-9cb0-4558-8c60-3c2c23df9c2e" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Art, basketball and soup" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://themomentary.org/calendar/firebird/" target="_blank">&quot;FIREBIRD&quot;</a> by Touki Delphine, an art installation with light and sound, opens at The Momentary in Bentonville today. It&#x27;s free and on display until Feb. 15.

New head coach and funding stoke Arkansas' football championship fire

More money will elevate Arkansas into the top half of the SEC in areas like assistant coaches' pay, strength and conditioning, support staff and player acquisition

Arkansas is making a significant new financial commitment to its football program as new head coach Ryan Silverfield steps onto the field, University of Arkansas director of athletics Hunter Yurachek said Thursday. Why it matters: More money will elevate Arkansas into the top half of the SEC in areas like assistant coaches&#x27; pay, strength and conditioning, support staff and player acquisition, Yurachek said at a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="news conference" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-EtMfojQk" data-vars-content-id="1b70e8f9-ba70-42ab-a1b8-d5e01467e6d9" data-vars-headline="New head coach and funding stoke Arkansas&#x27; football championship fire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-EtMfojQk" target="_blank">news conference</a>.

Arkansas football hires new coach

Ryan Silverfield, who has been head coach for the University of Memphis Tigers since 2019, will lead the Arkansas Razorbacks, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="University of Arkansas&#x27; athletics department announced Sunday" data-vars-click-url="https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/silverfield-named-hogs-new-head-coach/" data-vars-content-id="28613ce6-a46b-4691-ad0d-2a773d60be9f" data-vars-headline="Arkansas football hires new coach" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/silverfield-named-hogs-new-head-coach/" target="_blank">University of Arkansas&#x27; athletics department announced Sunday</a>.Why it matters: The program&#x27;s leaders want to make the team competitive for a national championship and are confident the new hire will help make that happen, vice chancellor and director of athletics Hunter Yurachek said in a statement.

Your weekend plans: Holiday lights, Arkansas basketball and markets

It&#x27;s not time for turkey just yet. In the meantime, enjoy your weekend.🎄 Holiday lights — The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lighting of the Fayetteville downtown square" data-vars-click-url="https://www.experiencefayetteville.com/event-detail/?event_id=lights-of-the-ozarks&amp;theme=fayetteville" data-vars-content-id="2c2daa99-c8e9-4505-aae3-3e63aef59ab6" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Holiday lights, Arkansas basketball and markets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.experiencefayetteville.com/event-detail/?event_id=lights-of-the-ozarks&amp;theme=fayetteville" target="_blank">lighting of the Fayetteville downtown square</a> is at 6pm tonight, followed by free performances from local theater, dance and music organizations.

Your weekend plans: Blues, candlelight and hoops

Don&#x27;t miss out this weekend.🪕 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas Blues and Country Stringband Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.arbluesandstringbandfest.com/" data-vars-content-id="b1359c2f-1c04-4613-9170-e25ebd402410" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Blues, candlelight and hoops" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arbluesandstringbandfest.com/" target="_blank">Arkansas Blues and Country Stringband Festival</a> — This free festival takes place at multiple spots in downtown Springdale today through Sunday. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="See the lineup." data-vars-click-url="https://www.arbluesandstringbandfest.com/schedule" data-vars-content-id="b1359c2f-1c04-4613-9170-e25ebd402410" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Blues, candlelight and hoops" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.arbluesandstringbandfest.com/schedule" target="_blank">See the lineup.</a>

Your weekend plans: Football, crafts and theater

Plus, NWA has plenty of Halloween festivities.

Besides the plenty of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Halloween festivities" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/10/09/halloween-2025-events-october" data-vars-content-id="ddc4dbc1-9468-4bbb-a2fb-6ff30364bf29" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Football, crafts and theater" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/10/09/halloween-2025-events-october" target="_self">Halloween festivities</a> happening this weekend, here&#x27;s how to have fun on this first chilly weekend of November.🛍️ Shop local — The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NWA Makers&#x27; Market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/events/2093206981100232/2093212414433022/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22discovery_local_tab%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D" data-vars-content-id="ddc4dbc1-9468-4bbb-a2fb-6ff30364bf29" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Football, crafts and theater" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2093206981100232/2093212414433022/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22discovery_local_tab%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D" target="_blank">NWA Makers&#x27; Market</a> featuring more than 350 artists and craftspeople will be at the Washington County Fairgrounds from 9am-5pm Sunday. The event includes kids&#x27; activities, a beer garden and food trucks.

Your weekend plans: Satire, scares and sports

The first of two Halloween weekends is here.

We sort of get two Halloween weekends this year, but regardless of whether you&#x27;re in the mood for creepy, NWA has you covered.🗞️ <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NWA Gridiron Show" data-vars-click-url="https://nwagridiron.com/" data-vars-content-id="42118f7b-2a8c-4f87-9445-7a19c406f1e6" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Satire, scares and sports" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nwagridiron.com/" target="_blank">NWA Gridiron Show</a> — This satirical variety show written by local journalists (including Alex) pokes fun at local, state and national news from the past year. And it&#x27;s a fundraiser for journalism student scholarships.

A column chart that shows Arkansas sports betting handle from December 2024 to November 2025. Monthly handles range from a low of about $29.4 million in July 2025 to a high of $79.3 million in November 2025. The handle generally rises after July, peaking in November.

Sports 🏅

University of Arkansas students push back on athletics plan

Arkansas wins NCAA opener

Arkansas' bettors favor Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX

Your weekend plans: Art, basketball and soup

New head coach and funding stoke Arkansas' football championship fire