NW Arkansas

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Northwest Arkansas with Alex Golden and Worth Sparkman.

Axios Northwest Arkansas

Standard

Axios NW Arkansas Deep Dive

Deep Dive

Northwest Arkansas Alerts

Alert

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Northwest Arkansas, written by local reporters.

Axios Northwest Arkansas Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios NW Arkansas Partners

Northwest Arkansas Members

Membership

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.

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>.

Haunted houses, pop-up bars and Halloween events in NWA

NWA has plenty of events, haunted experiences and places to get a spooky drink.

Halloween is fast approaching, and NWA has plenty of events, haunted experiences and places to get a spooky drink.Here are some of our picks.

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>.

Monday Munchies: AQ Chicken House

A beloved restaurant that went out of business is back under new ownership.

The good news/bad news situation: A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="beloved restaurant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/07/24/springdale-aq-chicken-house-investors" data-vars-content-id="93866a36-d0df-4518-aea0-1b89dd9a2f2b" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: AQ Chicken House" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/07/24/springdale-aq-chicken-house-investors" target="_self">beloved restaurant</a> that went out of business is back under new ownership.<ul><li>But it&#x27;s only good if the new version of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AQ Chicken House" data-vars-click-url="https://www.aqchicken.com/" data-vars-content-id="93866a36-d0df-4518-aea0-1b89dd9a2f2b" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: AQ Chicken House" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.aqchicken.com/" target="_blank">AQ Chicken House</a> is like the original, which <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dates back to 1947" data-vars-click-url="https://aymag.com/aq-chicken-house-new-chapter/" data-vars-content-id="93866a36-d0df-4518-aea0-1b89dd9a2f2b" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: AQ Chicken House" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://aymag.com/aq-chicken-house-new-chapter/" target="_blank">dates back to 1947</a>; it&#x27;s bad if they don&#x27;t pull it off. </li></ul>

Your weekend plans: Golf, fair, books

Make it a good weekend.🏌️‍♀️ <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ladies Professional Golf Association Walmart NW Arkansas Championship" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lpga.com/tournaments/walmartnwarkansaschampionshippresentedbypg/overview" data-vars-content-id="2f7160fb-9dca-4ca5-a650-627fb24c7cbc" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Golf, fair, books" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lpga.com/tournaments/walmartnwarkansaschampionshippresentedbypg/overview" target="_blank">Ladies Professional Golf Association Walmart NW Arkansas Championship</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="BITE NWA" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/47574846.5105/aHR0cHM6Ly9iaXRlbndhLmNvbS8_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9ud19hcmthbnNhcyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/6086302c5fff7145e15f7ce8Bb8118bee" data-vars-content-id="2f7160fb-9dca-4ca5-a650-627fb24c7cbc" data-vars-headline="Your weekend plans: Golf, fair, books" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/47574846.5105/aHR0cHM6Ly9iaXRlbndhLmNvbS8_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9ud19hcmthbnNhcyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/6086302c5fff7145e15f7ce8Bb8118bee" target="_self">BITE NWA</a> — The golf championship and food festival are happening all weekend at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers.

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Bentonville

Meet fellow locals over dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

Axios Social Club is bringing readers together for dinner to downtown Bentonville on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Why it matters: Northwest Arkansas is full of interesting people you haven&#x27;t met yet. We&#x27;re making it easier to change that.

Your NWA fall events guide

We've got a food festival, a book market, motorcycles and more.

Mark your calendars for some of Northwest Arkansas&#x27; biggest fall events.🌮 Sept. 25-27: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="BITE NWA" data-vars-click-url="https://bitenwa.com/" data-vars-content-id="6fc293d9-ccb7-4d69-aa1c-8c63afeb110d" data-vars-headline="Your NWA fall events guide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bitenwa.com/" target="_blank">BITE NWA</a> — This food festival takes place in conjunction with the Ladies Professional Golf Association Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Get tickets" data-vars-click-url="https://bitenwa.com/tickets" data-vars-content-id="6fc293d9-ccb7-4d69-aa1c-8c63afeb110d" data-vars-headline="Your NWA fall events guide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bitenwa.com/tickets" target="_blank">Get tickets</a>.

Razorback Stadium set to rock in May

Fayetteville is on the band's stadium tour.

Metallica will play at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on May 26, 2027, as part of a 12-city North American stadium run.The big picture: The tour puts Fayetteville alongside Vancouver, British Columbia; San Diego, Calif.; Kansas City, Mo., and other major-market stops, with Limp Bizkit and Avatar joining the bill.

Monday Munchies: Top shelf tacos in Springdale

There is no official menu. Whoever hosts you at the door will recite what's on offer.

Food and Drink

I don&#x27;t think it&#x27;s an exaggeration to say these are the best tacos I&#x27;ve ever eaten.What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;So, I thought I might be overreacting the day we were there, but now I don&#x27;t think so,&quot; a buddy wrote to me in a text.<ul><li>&quot;My thought remains … there are lots of places that serve tacos. And there is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Los Cuatro Hermanos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/los_cuatro_hermanosnwa/" data-vars-content-id="317dcd30-61ae-4889-8e41-a344e3efab58" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Top shelf tacos in Springdale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/los_cuatro_hermanosnwa/" target="_blank">Los Cuatro Hermanos</a>. They serve TACOS.&quot;</li></ul>

 Your weekend plans: Art exhibit, quilts, free festival

Get out this weekend.😎 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Weekend Starts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.experiencefayetteville.com/event-detail/?event_id=weekend-starts-in-the-ramble&amp;theme=fayetteville&amp;date=2026-09-11-17-30&amp;cities=fayetteville&amp;clipToBounds=0&amp;embedded=1&amp;radius=100000&amp;tags=Fayetteville&amp;theme=fayetteville" data-vars-content-id="e07656e3-0c68-4168-af52-dbb6d493e986" data-vars-headline=" Your weekend plans: Art exhibit, quilts, free festival" 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=weekend-starts-in-the-ramble&amp;theme=fayetteville&amp;date=2026-09-11-17-30&amp;cities=fayetteville&amp;clipToBounds=0&amp;embedded=1&amp;radius=100000&amp;tags=Fayetteville&amp;theme=fayetteville" target="_blank">Weekend Starts</a> — Kick off the weekend with this free festival with live music from 5:30-7:30pm today at The Ramble in downtown Fayetteville.

Things to Do 🗓

Haunted houses, pop-up bars and Halloween events in NWA

Monday Munchies: The Purple Cow

Your weekend plans: Motorcycles and salsa

Monday Munchies: AQ Chicken House

Your weekend plans: Golf, fair, books