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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;

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.

Monday Munchies: Zelli Deli

The prosciutto and fig sandwich seemed to defy physics.

Food and Drink

🍝 Alex checked out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zelli Pasta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/23/homemade-pasta-zelli-springdale-local" data-vars-content-id="39d1707b-182f-4ce2-b38a-1eb85a9783c1" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Zelli Deli" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/23/homemade-pasta-zelli-springdale-local" target="_self">Zelli Pasta</a> as take-it-home-and-cook-it-yourself, but they&#x27;ve since started serving sandwiches, which is more my style.The setup: Downtown Springdale may soon become my fave lunchtime location — there are tons of options, it&#x27;s easy for me to get to, and the crowds aren&#x27;t yet insane (if you can find a parking spot!).

How to stay safe during Memorial Day weekend (and all summer)

Arkansas had the sixth-highest drowning death rate in the country from 2018-21.

Water

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, means sunshine, pools, lakes — and all kinds of safety considerations.State of play: Arkansas had 61 boating accidents in 2023 and nine related deaths, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arkansas Game and Fish Commission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.agfc.com/news/boating-related-fatalities-in-arkansas-drop-to-single-digits-in-2023/#:~:text=Although%20the%20number%20is%20the,result%20in%20more%20severe%20injuries.%E2%80%9D" data-vars-content-id="c2da98b8-941b-4503-a576-8f2c99c64419" data-vars-headline="How to stay safe during Memorial Day weekend (and all summer)" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.agfc.com/news/boating-related-fatalities-in-arkansas-drop-to-single-digits-in-2023/#:~:text=Although%20the%20number%20is%20the,result%20in%20more%20severe%20injuries.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank">Arkansas Game and Fish Commission</a>.

Buffalo National River town hall set for Thursday in Jasper

The Runway Group won't participate in an informational town hall to provide locals clarity about the future of river's designation.

The Runway Group won&#x27;t participate in an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="informational town hall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/events/265909013101594?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your_upcoming_events_unit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D" data-vars-content-id="78fd61fe-99b3-4fcf-8ab4-ec72647d68f4" data-vars-headline="Buffalo National River town hall set for Thursday in Jasper" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/265909013101594?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your_upcoming_events_unit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D" target="_blank">informational town hall</a> to provide locals clarity about the future of Buffalo National River&#x27;s designation.<ul><li>The meeting is scheduled for 6pm Thursday at the Jasper public school.</li></ul>Driving the news: Runway — a holding company owned by Walmart heirs Steuart and Tom Walton — posted results of a poll online this month that said <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearly two-thirds of respondents" data-vars-click-url="https://runwaynwa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fact_Sheet_2.pdf" data-vars-content-id="78fd61fe-99b3-4fcf-8ab4-ec72647d68f4" data-vars-headline="Buffalo National River town hall set for Thursday in Jasper" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://runwaynwa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fact_Sheet_2.pdf" target="_blank">nearly two-thirds of respondents</a> would support changing the national river to a national park and preserve.<ul><li>Those results and the poll itself have driven fear of what the change could mean to the river and its neighbors.</li></ul>