Walmart shareholders will vote Wednesday on eight proposals — from normal corporate housekeeping to social issues and transparency.

The big picture: Now more than ever, businesses like Walmart are under pressure from consumers, employees and shareholders to address social and political issues.

These expectations have risen over the past several years but were accelerated by the pandemic as trust in government declined.

Why it matters: Employees look to their company leaders for cues on how to behave at work and in their daily lives.

• Walmart, which employs 2.3 million people globally and close to 1.6 million in the U.S., has the power of influence.

The backdrop: The following proposals are up for a vote during next week's annual meeting:

• No. 4 — Report on refrigerants released from operations
• No. 5 — Report on lobbying disclosures
• No. 6 — Report on alignment of racial justice goals and starting wages
• No. 7 — Create a pandemic workforce advisory council
• No. 8 — Report on company's involvement with Business Roundtable

The bottom line: These proposals will likely be voted down.

• Walmart's board of directors recommended shareholders vote against all five, giving detailed reasoning in its Proxy Statement.

Yes, but: Walmart's cadre of corporate social responsibility programs has become more central to its company narrative in recent years. Think: sustainability, community relations, diversity and inclusion.

• Through its Walmart Foundation, the company donated $1.4 billion to many of those causes in fiscal 2020.
• The company and foundation committed $100 million to create a new center on racial equity last year.
• Walmart also told Axios it works with a variety of third-party advisory councils for outside opinions on issues, such as their human rights statement.

Springdale-based NOWDiagnostics this week received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for its COVID-19 antibody test.

• With just a finger prick, the test can measure the presence of COVID-19 antibodies in 15 minutes. The presence of antibodies signals that a person was likely exposed to the virus at some point.

The company told KNWA-TV that it's already started distributing the test, which can be used at pharmacies, clinics and hospitals.

This Monday, Memorial Day, also marks the 100th year since the massacre of about 300 people in a thriving Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

If you're honoring the women and men who died in service to our country, consider remembering the people of the Greenwood district too.

Go deeper:

• Biden to visit Tulsa for centennial of Tulsa Race Massacre (Axios)
• Uncovering the Tulsa Race Massacre after 100 years (Axios)
• Uncovering the Greenwood Massacre (60 Minutes)

If you're like us and miss the smell of chlorine, the sound of lifeguard whistles and the feel of scorched bare feet, the wait is over.

Most area pools are opening this weekend:

• Fayetteville's Wilson Park Pool — opens Saturday. Hours: Monday-Friday, 1pm-4:30pm; weekends, 1-6pm.
• Springdale Aquatic Center — opens Saturday. Hours: 12-8pm daily.
• Prairie Grove Aquatic Park — opens Saturday. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 12:30-6pm; F-Sa, 12:30-7pm; Sunday 1-7pm.
• The Rogers Aquatics Center — opens Monday. Hours: 12-6pm daily.

Why it matters: Many public swimming facilities were closed last summer due to COVID-19.

• These openings not only signal summer fun but a lifting of pandemic restrictions.

Of note: COVID-19 restrictions are still in place at some locations, so call or check the website before you go.

🐤 Worth has been watching a pair of cardinals build a nest in a decorative hanging basket on his front porch. Grrr!

• Then, there were eggs. Then, there were tiny cardinals. Then, they were gone!

It reminded us it's a great time of year for bird watching.

• If you're looking for a weekend trip to stretch those pandemic legs, the National Audubon Society is a great resource for plotting sites around the state.

Here's a list of our favorite areas in or near NWA:

• Roaring River State Park
• Charlie Craig State Fish Hatchery
• Hobbs State Park
• Lake Fayetteville/Woolsey Wet Prairie Sanctuary
• Frog Bayou Wildlife Management Area

ICYMI: Arkansas Times has a fun story about some of the Natural State's top birders. Check it out.

🎥 Better Cities Film Festival: Presented by Urban Land Institute NWA, focused on cities, towns and neighborhoods. 4-9pm Saturday at downtown Rogers' new Butterfield Stage at Railyard Park. Free.

🎤 Neighborhood Concert Series: 6-8pm Friday at Cornerstone Community Pool in Bentonville.

🧑‍🎨 Art Market: Art for sale from local artists. 9am-1pm Saturday across from Bentonville Square.

🎨 Assembly: A monthlong series of art exhibits and events in downtown Springdale kicks off Saturday. Details.

🌏 Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Kid-friendly event at Crystal Bridges, 6-8pm Friday. Free.

🎭 TheatreSquared

• "At The Wedding" — a comedy by Bryna Turner with live performances. Friday at 7:30pm; Saturday at 2pm and 7:30pm; Sunday at 2pm.
• "My Father's War" — written by TheatreSquared co-founder Robert Ford, live performances Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm.

Memorial Day tribute weekend: Arkansas Air and Military Museum, 21 Mile Salute and Camp Alliance, Inc. will host a three-day event. Details.

🌽 Farmers markets: Go ahead and buy that jar of jam.

• Bentonville, downtown square on Saturday, 7:30am-1pm
• Farmington, 354 W. Main Street on Saturday, 7am-1pm
• Fayetteville, downtown square on Saturday, 7am-1pm
• Rogers, 100 N. Dixieland Road on Saturday, 7am-1pm
• Springdale, at the Jones Center on Saturday, 7am
• Bella Vista, 606 W. Lancashire Blvd. on Sunday, 9am-2pm