Arkansas' data center employment shot up 242% between 2018 and 2024, according to census workforce information.

Why it matters: Companies, investors and government are pouring tons of money and resources into data centers to help power AI and other next-gen tech, but there's debate over how many jobs they'll create and whether they're worth the energy required to run them.

Yes, but: The raw numbers here are often relatively small.

• Arkansas had only about 4,300 data center jobs in Q1 2024, for example. Georgia had about 25,000. And South Dakota? Just 394.

Zoom out: There were about 452,000 data center jobs nationally as of Q1 2024.

• That's less than half a percent of all U.S. private-sector jobs at the time.

Caveat: These numbers include data centers as well as web hosting and a few other related fields.

The bottom line: Major tech companies are spending unprecedented gobs of money on data centers, as Axios' Michael Flaherty recently reported.

• But all those billions upon billions of dollars may not generate that many jobs, unlike other big spending booms.

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Barbecue is an art, not a commodity. I worry about trying new places because my personal standard is high — it's also subjective.

• But hey, even my fave joints were new once.

The setup: Bentonville's Brothers Meethouse is newish to NWA, tucked into the town's retro-chic area between The Momentary and Walmart's new Home Office campus.

• The vibe of course is restaurant/sports bar — that's pretty much the vibe anywhere these days.
• Unlike some barbecue joints, Brothers is full-service.

The food: The menu is robust and includes turkey and bison hot links. I opted for a double meat plate ($21) with baby-back ribs and "moist" (aka fatty) brisket, a side of okra and beans.

• Meat fell from the bone of the ribs, had a nice smoke ring and a hearty dry rub crust. The brisket was, well, moist.
• Brothers offers three sauces: original, which is sweet; hot, which should be considered the original; and mustard-base.

The complaint: Maybe it was the after-lunch lull, maybe it was the 20° day, but the food wasn't as hot as I'd've liked it.

The verdict: It was good barbecue, better than your average newbie. There are other items on the menu I plan to try on warmer days, and I hope that over time, as the Brothers pit continues to season, the food will only improve.

Check it out: 405 SE 5th St. in Bentonville; serving Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30am-9pm; Friday-Saturday, 10:30am-11pm.

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👩‍⚖️ Karen Baker, Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice, and her fellow justices did not settle their disagreements over the scope of her authority after a public meeting Thursday. (Arkansas Advocate)

🚘 The Arkansas Department of Transportation will host three public NWA meetings this week — January 28, 29 and 30 — to review the Highway 59 and Highway 72 Corridor Study and the Western North-South Connector Study. (Northwest Arkansas Business Journal)

👮‍♂️ The former Jonesboro police officer who was caught on video beating a handcuffed inmate in the back of his patrol car has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault. (AP)

Get out this week.

🎬 Check out a film screening — "Common Ground" is a documentary focusing on food systems and climate change. 7pm Thursday at The Medium in Springdale. Get free tickets.

❓ Go to a trivia night — Try Monday night at Bentonville Brewing Company, Tuesday night at Natural State Beer Company in Rogers or Wednesday night at Rendezvous Junction Brewing Co.

📖 Take the kids to a storytime — Ozark Natural Foods in Fayetteville is hosting one at 2pm Thursday.