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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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Military drone plant opens in Arkansas, drawing protest

The company plans to make unmanned aerial vehicles to operate in coordinated swarms

Business

Tech startup Swarm Aero opened a Northwest Arkansas facility Wednesday to build military drones near Fayetteville&#x27;s Drake Field, with plans to create hundreds of jobs.Why it matters: Regional leaders say the facility positions Northwest Arkansas as a growing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="defense manufacturing hub" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/19/xtremis-technology-ai-rf-electromagnetic" data-vars-content-id="f97842e1-2f60-48cd-9179-6328cccd4129" data-vars-headline="Military drone plant opens in Arkansas, drawing protest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/19/xtremis-technology-ai-rf-electromagnetic" target="_self">defense manufacturing hub</a>.

Mixed-use project planned for Bentonville square

The plan is to break ground on The Hart on Main this summer.

News

Construction of a development bringing retail, office and housing to the Bentonville square will begin soon.State of play: The plan is to break ground on The Hart on Main this summer with a &quot;multiyear build ahead,&quot; according to a news release.

Arkansas Gov. Sanders knocks Dems on Fox News

"If Kamala Harris is the best person that the Democrats can run again, I think '28 is looking really good for Republicans," Sanders said.

Politics

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders opined about the 2028 general election on &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fox &amp; Friends" data-vars-click-url="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6389570439112" data-vars-content-id="ac621f56-12f0-4511-9f96-5ed102302d4b" data-vars-headline="Arkansas Gov. Sanders knocks Dems on Fox News" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6389570439112" target="_blank">Fox &amp; Friends</a>&quot; on Thursday, following a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="commentary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/democrats-you-may-already-have-lost-the-2028-election-7bab8946?st=6xtgWW&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" data-vars-content-id="ac621f56-12f0-4511-9f96-5ed102302d4b" data-vars-headline="Arkansas Gov. Sanders knocks Dems on Fox News" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/democrats-you-may-already-have-lost-the-2028-election-7bab8946?st=6xtgWW&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" target="_blank">commentary</a> in the Wall Street Journal critiquing the Democratic Party.

Filmmaker second in Crystal Bridges speaker series

Ken Burns will speak in April in Bentonville.

Things to Do

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announced Wednesday that documentary filmmaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ken Burns will be the next speaker" data-vars-click-url="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/building-bridges-an-evening-with-ken-burns/" data-vars-content-id="ad8181a3-39ed-4141-9ee6-32ede953c7fe" data-vars-headline="Filmmaker second in Crystal Bridges speaker series" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/building-bridges-an-evening-with-ken-burns/" target="_blank">Ken Burns will be the next speaker</a> in its &quot;Building Bridges&quot; series.Context: The series, happening in conjunction with the United States turning 250 this year, &quot;brings together thought leaders, thinkers and artists to model civic dialogue,&quot; according to a news release.

Your weekend plans: Parties and basketball

Let&#x27;s make it a good weekend, NWA.🇨🇳 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chinese New Year gala" data-vars-click-url="https://www.canwa.org/" data-vars-content-id="62185915-4302-4407-9719-f956f065c98b" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Parties and basketball" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.canwa.org/" target="_blank">Chinese New Year gala</a> — The Chinese Association of Northwest Arkansas is hosting a celebration with performances, activities and food starting at 4:30pm Saturday at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Your weekend plans: Mardi Gras

Get out your beads and masks. In addition to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Valentine&#x27;s Day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/10/valentines-day-plans-2026" data-vars-content-id="d0a086de-5dde-41d3-adc6-bbfa3adff013" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Mardi Gras" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/10/valentines-day-plans-2026" target="_self">Valentine&#x27;s Day</a>, it&#x27;s also a big weekend for those who celebrate Mardi Gras.💃 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mardi Gras Parade of Fools" data-vars-click-url="https://www.experiencefayetteville.com/experience/fayetteville-mardi-gras-parade" data-vars-content-id="d0a086de-5dde-41d3-adc6-bbfa3adff013" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Mardi Gras" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.experiencefayetteville.com/experience/fayetteville-mardi-gras-parade" target="_blank">Mardi Gras Parade of Fools</a> — The festivities start at 2pm Saturday on the downtown Fayetteville square followed by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fat Tuesday Pub Grub Crawl" data-vars-click-url="https://www.experiencefayetteville.com/event-detail/?event_id=fat-tuesday-pub-grub-crawl&amp;theme=fayetteville" data-vars-content-id="d0a086de-5dde-41d3-adc6-bbfa3adff013" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Mardi Gras" 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=fat-tuesday-pub-grub-crawl&amp;theme=fayetteville" target="_blank">Fat Tuesday Pub Grub Crawl</a> on Tuesday.

Your Valentine's Day plans

NWA has plenty of events regardless of relationship status.

Hopefully, you&#x27;ve already made reservations at your favorite date night restaurant if that&#x27;s your vibe on Valentine&#x27;s Day weekend. But NWA has plenty of alternatives regardless of relationship status.🎬 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chick flicks trivia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/events/1562288508131606/?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="24a312b3-3378-4c22-81bf-91ca4a645fef" data-vars-headline="Your Valentine&#x27;s Day plans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1562288508131606/?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">Chick flicks trivia</a> — Sip a white chocolate raspberry sour at Rendezvous Junction Brewing in Rogers while testing your chick flick knowledge on Thursday.

Monday Munchies: Briar Rose Bakery

There's no shortage of beautiful sweet goods on offer, but I'd been told the lunch menu can hold its own.

Food and Drink

Sometimes, I eat lunch just so I can later have dessert. Anyone not in the know may want to plan for the same if they visit <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Briar Rose Bakery" data-vars-click-url="https://briarrosebakery.com/" data-vars-content-id="26b81043-c9eb-439a-ade4-024266b50477" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Briar Rose Bakery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://briarrosebakery.com/" target="_blank">Briar Rose Bakery</a> in Farmington.The setup: The sign out front touts the cinnamon rolls. It&#x27;s true — there&#x27;s no shortage of beautiful sweet goods on offer, but I&#x27;d been told the lunch menu can hold its own, so I checked it out with a friend recently.

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: Beer, Black history, basketball

It's Super Bowl and Winter Olympics time.

Here are a few ideas outside the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Super Bowl" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/super-bowl-2026-patriots-seahawks-bad-bunny-watch" data-vars-content-id="f6da0f1d-2b18-42e1-8a2e-ee5298c0e0ca" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Beer, Black history, basketball" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/super-bowl-2026-patriots-seahawks-bad-bunny-watch" target="_self">Super Bowl</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Olympics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/winter-olympics-schedule-watch-opening-ceremony" data-vars-content-id="f6da0f1d-2b18-42e1-8a2e-ee5298c0e0ca" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Beer, Black history, basketball" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/winter-olympics-schedule-watch-opening-ceremony" target="_self">Olympics</a>.🍻 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Frost Fest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fossilcovebrewing.com/frost-fest" data-vars-content-id="f6da0f1d-2b18-42e1-8a2e-ee5298c0e0ca" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Beer, Black history, basketball" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fossilcovebrewing.com/frost-fest" target="_blank">Frost Fest</a> — Sample beers from more than 60 breweries and enjoy live music, food trucks and vendors from 2-6pm Saturday at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Fayetteville. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Get tickets" data-vars-click-url="https://stubs.net/tickets/7548/frost-fest-2026-outdoor-beer-festival" data-vars-content-id="f6da0f1d-2b18-42e1-8a2e-ee5298c0e0ca" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Beer, Black history, basketball" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://stubs.net/tickets/7548/frost-fest-2026-outdoor-beer-festival" target="_blank">Get tickets</a> for $86.

Post Malone, Jelly Roll to perform at Razorback Stadium

Fayetteville is on the artists' stadium tour.

Maybe your summer is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="better now" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYwF-jdcVjY" data-vars-content-id="3f7b4a8d-3051-466b-9f62-81d190bbcd79" data-vars-headline="Post Malone, Jelly Roll to perform at Razorback Stadium" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYwF-jdcVjY" target="_blank">better now</a> that Post Malone and Jelly Roll are bringing their stadium tour to Fayetteville, the artists announced yesterday.State of play: The concert is set for July 11 at the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on the University of Arkansas campus.

Monday Munchies: The Collective

This Fayetteville restaurant has the best French dip I've ever eaten.

I usually approach date night with the idea of eating a good steak or a nice piece of fish. Rarely do I think: &quot;Man, I want a sandwich.&quot;<ul><li>And never: &quot;Gimme one that comes with a side of sloppy meat juice.&quot; I do now.</li></ul>The setup: One recent night, my wife and I tried <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Collective" data-vars-click-url="https://collectivefay.com/" data-vars-content-id="fdfd7c29-24bd-4003-a88e-9c9ed454c9e5" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: The Collective" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://collectivefay.com/" target="_blank">The Collective</a> on Dickson Street in Fayetteville.

Your weekend plans: MLK Day, Comic Con

Several events will honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and the Northwest Arkansas MLK Council has plans to honor the civil rights activist this weekend.🎵 Beloved Community Festival — This free festival includes gallery talks, kids&#x27; activities and music from 6-10pm tonight at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.

Things to Do 🗓

Your weekend plans: Parties and basketball

Filmmaker second in Crystal Bridges speaker series

Your weekend plans: Mardi Gras

Your Valentine's Day plans

Monday Munchies: Briar Rose Bakery