Arkansas K-12 school systems spent $12,738 per student in fiscal 2023, up 4.8% compared to 2022, per new Census Bureau data.

Why it matters: Spending per student can be a measure of educational resources afforded to kids, but also reflects the costs of administration, building maintenance, transportation, etc.

By the numbers: The national average was 5.7% more per pupil in 2023 compared to 2022.

• New Mexico (+18.4%); Washington, D.C. (+15.3%) and Hawai'i (+15.1%) had the greatest spending increases per pupil from 2022 to 2023.
• Only Louisiana (-1.9%) had a notable decrease; Nevada was nearly flat.

The big picture: In raw dollar terms, Washington, D.C. ($31,629); New York ($30,012) and Vermont ($26,345) had the most spending per pupil in 2023.

Caveat: These figures aren't adjusted for cost of living differences or inflation.

• And they're based on "current spending" rather than long-term capital outlays. Some states and districts categorize spending differently between those buckets.

What's next: Many public schools rely at least partially on federal funding, the future of which is uncertain amid the Trump administration's budget cuts and political pressure.

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One experience when visiting Northwest Arkansas National Airport struck me (no, not Slim Chickens — though I did try it and Zaxby's still wins). It was trying out the robot coffee shop, Bionics by Onyx.

Why it matters: I've heard most locals walk past it. But for travelers — especially newbies — that robot kiosk near Gate A1 was a charming surprise.

What they're saying: "That's at the airport to impress people like you when they get off the plane," Axios Northwest Arkansas' Worth Sparkman told me.

• It worked; I was intrigued and decided to find out more about the robot serving coffee.

The big picture: The robot is one of two kiosks in the area, and they are part of a bigger experiment by Onyx Coffee Lab, the Northwest Arkansas brand already known for high-end coffee, sleek cafés, and its shiny new three-story Springdale flagship.

• "We always try to innovate," Onyx co-founder Jon Allen told Axios. "This started during COVID, when we were asking: how can we deliver high-quality coffee in a no-contact way?"

Zoom in: The robotic barista results from a partnership with a San Francisco-based company (a third machine is at their airport). It crafts a limited menu—espresso drinks, lattes, even matcha—on demand. The robot's performance wasn't perfect out of the gate:

• "During beta, it was up about 60% of the time," Allen said. "Now it's closer to 95%."
• One major hiccup was airport security. Refilling the machine with beans required hours of screening and clearance. "Half the downtime was just trying to get coffee past TSA," Allen said.

State of play: Onyx sees Bionics as a complement to its in-person service, not a replacement. Allen says the robot has already paid off in marketing alone.

• "We're not trying to replace baristas," he said. "But for places like airports, universities, even museums—it makes sense."
• Onyx already operates a Bionics unit outside its Bentonville café, keeping the location running 24/7. The company also plans to expand to the University of Arkansas and a local museum.

Yes, but: The robot still has limits; one customer didn't have Google or Apple Pay. She gave me $6, and I bought her a latte.

• Allen knows that limitation and says Onyx is working on an app to let customers pre-order from the tarmac or classroom.

And yes, they're gathering customer data—regional preferences starting to emerge by flight origin. New Yorkers, apparently, like different beans than Dallas folks.

• "We're seeing rushes at certain times from certain cities that then prefer certain drinks," Allen said. "Flights are coming in from New York, and we're seeing this coffee continue to move — that's interesting to us."

The bottom line: The Bionics robot isn't perfect, but it works—and it's serving legit coffee near Gate A1.

• If nothing else, it's a damn cool welcome mat for Northwest Arkansas.

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🏗️ Steuart and Tom Walton-owned Blue Crane Development plans to build a 124-room hotel in downtown Springdale. (KNWA)

🚧 Beginning today, Maple Street between Leverett and Gregg avenues in Fayetteville will be closed for much of the summer as the city works to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and others. (Fayetteville Flyer)

🗳️ Hallie Shoffner of Newport plans to seek the Democratic nomination to run against U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton in the 2026 election. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

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Off of I Street, right by the Bentonville Community Center, is a lunch and dinner spot you may have missed.

🥗 State of play: The Big Lieutenant is serving hefty sandwiches like spiced brisket, salads and bowls plus a full cocktail menu.

😌 The vibe: It's a calming space with bright blues and white — almost nautical despite being named in honor of an air force lieutenant — and you can watch sports at the bar.

🍔 What to try: The burger ($19). It's a satisfying, juicy double smash cheeseburger with a dijonnaise sauce. And it comes with BBQ-seasoned fries.

• For a healthier option, go for the Mediterranean mezze bowl ($17) with rice, hummus, pickles, feta, tomatoes, olives, falafel and yogurt sauce. I added chicken for $5. I wasn't bothered by a slightly overpowering pickle flavor, but if you're not big on pickles, I'd ask to leave those out.
• Start with a snack like Cleeta's meatballs ($14).

📍 Stop by: 5-9pm Wednesday through Friday and noon to 9pm Saturday and Sunday at 600 SW 41st St. Suite 8 in Bentonville

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