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🌧️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 96 and a low of 73.

Today's newsletter is 1,095 words — a 4-minute read.

Activists and citizens across the political spectrum are pushing back against license plate readers made by Flock and similar companies, fueled by privacy concerns and suspected police misuse.

Why it matters: Flock cameras are suddenly emerging as the next big target of populist anti-tech, pro-privacy sentiment, alongside the data centers fueling the AI boom.

The big picture: Flock has a presence in every U.S. state, with over 120,000 cameras across the country, the company tells Axios.

• Advocates say the cameras help quickly track down criminals, making cities safer.
• Opponents say they're a form of constant surveillance that infringes on residents' civil liberties. Some have even turned to sabotaging the cameras.

Zoom in: Some police officers have been investigated over allegations they misused license plate reader data for personal reasons.

• Three Arizona cities recently said that they're looking into officers' use of the cameras, including one instance in which an officer is suspected of using them to track down his wife.

How it works: Flock and other automated license plate reader cameras are placed on streets and highways and use AI to capture and store information like car license plates, car make and other features.

State of play: Mistrust and upheaval are leading communities nationwide to abandon Flock.

Six Arkansas cities — Cabot, Centerton, Greers Ferry, Mayflower, Pea Ridge and Searcy — have moved to suspend or end their use of Flock cameras since late July.

• Pea Ridge cited the system's return on investment, community concerns and the time the debate consumed, per Little Rock Public Radio.
• Yes, but: Jonesboro expanded to 54 cameras, and police say the system helped locate a missing girl and investigate serious crimes, NEA Report found.

The latest: Flock said last week that it's improving its privacy, security and accountability features.

• It's making misuse detection mandatory for all customers, and cutting default data retention settings to one week from 30 days in some places.
• The company tells Axios via email that the changes "come following a year of listening to customers, communities, and civil liberties groups and build on Flock's impact" in aiding about 1 million police investigations last year and helping find about 10,000 missing people.

The other side: In response to the announcement, DeFlock, a national organization that tracks and advocates against Flock cameras, posted on X: "No guardrails. No regulations. No 'only if they really need to' pinky promises. It's a 4th amendment violation. Full Stop. They are coming down."

What we're watching: How Flock keeps responding to the growing pushback.

Congrats to Songbirds Sandwiches, which opened this spring and is already one of the best sandwich restaurants in Northwest Arkansas.

🥪 State of play: This food truck at 8th Street Market in Bentonville is serving up hefty portions smushed between two slices of house-made focaccia.

• 🥩 I tried the Spicy Beef ($16) with fire-roasted beef, roasted tomato, jalapeño, spicy mayo, sharp cheddar and fire-roasted cabbage slaw. It had a nice crunch and a spicy kick without overpowering heat, and the beef was tender and not fatty.
• 🥬 The Collard Greens Melt ($15) with braised collard greens, mozzarella, roasted tomato and tangy dressing was about as unsad as a meatless sandwich gets. The thick layers of cheese and flavorful greens did the trick.

🍻 The vibe: You can grab a table outside at 8th Street Market or have a beer at Bike Rack Brewing.

• 🚨 These sandwiches are not light grab-and-go options. They are a full-on satisfying lunch or dinner. Do not attempt to eat them in the car.

😋 Zoom out: The menu includes three other sandwiches, including one with turkey, one with roasted pork and one called the Pizza Grilled Cheese with mozzarella, parmesan and tomato sauce.

• This is going to be a collect-them-all situation for me.

📍 Stop by: 11:30am-8pm Wednesday through Saturday and 11:30am-3pm Sunday at 801 SE 8th St. in Bentonville.

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🩺 Springdale-based Circle of Life, a nonprofit offering hospice and palliative care, will acquire Washington Regional Hospice and its Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville. (Northwest Arkansas Business Journal)

👩‍💼 A special convention of Benton County's Republican Party has nominated Kara Armas to fill in the remainder of former state Rep. Austin McCollum's term that expires in January. Armas' husband, Republican Brian Armas, is running unopposed on the November ballot for the seat. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

• McCollum is accused of domestic violence against his wife, and resigned days after his Aug. 1 arrest. He remains the only nominee for Benton County judge.

🥁 The University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band has been invited to perform in the 101st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2027. (KNWA)

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CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Northwest Arkansas is launching a campaign to add 26 volunteer advocates by the end of the year after 27 children in foster care went without one last year.

Why it matters: CASA volunteers help children navigate the foster care system and advocate for their safety and well-being in court.

By the numbers: The nonprofit's 272 volunteers served 525 children, teens and young adults from July 2025 through June 2026, the organization said.

• CASA serves Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties.
• The organization says its "26 in 2026" campaign would close its service gap.

How it works: Volunteers do not need legal or social work experience. CASA provides the training, and the court appoints volunteers to advocate for children until they reach a safe, permanent home.

What they're saying: "Each one of those 27 children is a child who needs someone in their corner and doesn't have one," CASA of NWA executive director Crystal Vickmark said in a news release.

What's next: Prospective volunteers can register for a virtual information session Aug. 20 at 10am and 6pm, and Aug. 26 at noon. 

• Online training for volunteers begins Sept. 10 and Oct. 21.

Thanks to Larry Graham for editing this newsletter.

🍿 Alex is looking forward to watching "Happy Hour" on Netflix.

🎥 Worth is reading about the camera angle that changed horror movies.