Arkansas is a "rising star" for children's well-being, according to a new 50-state ranking of policy, leadership and family perceptions called The Childhood Index.

Why it matters: Lack of federal oversight has forced states to step in and fill the gap as concerns about addictive social media algorithms and technology's impact on children have mounted.

• "Right now, a kid's chance at flourishing depends on their ZIP code," The Anxious Generation Movement, which created The Childhood Index, said.

State of play: New York and Utah, the only states ranked as national leaders in Wednesday's rankings release, are "characterized by engaged governors and attorneys general who understand that reclaiming childhood requires action on multiple fronts at once," according to a press release from The Anxious Generation Movement.

• The rankings were determined by looking at state laws on phone-free schools, childhood independence, social media age limits and tech regulation.
• States were organized into four tiers — national leaders, rising stars, emerging action and limited action.
• Its four tiers are "not meant to be a final verdict," but serve as a benchmark and actionable tool for state leaders, according to the press release.

Five other states — Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Texas and Vermont — are considered "rising stars" along with Arkansas and have made meaningful progress on at least two core criteria, per the rankings.

Flashback: Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the Bell to Bell No Cell Act last year and Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a lawsuit designed to protect children against Meta and TikTok in 2023.

Zoom in: 15 states are ranked by their "emerging action," which means they "have demonstrated the political will to act and are past the starting line."

• And 16 states in the "limited action" tier have taken little or no meaningful action across The Anxious Generation's core criteria.

Context: The Anxious Generation Movement says it is "advancing four new norms to rewire childhood" — no smartphones before high school, no social media before 16, phone-free schools and more independence, free play and responsibility.

• The nonprofit followed the success of NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's best-selling book on teen mental illness.

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Northwest Arkansas' average gas prices were near a one-year low at the beginning of February, but spiked about 30 cents at the beginning of March, following the U.S. and Israel strikes on Iran.

Why it matters: The conflict is pushing up energy prices, and there will likely also be a ripple impact on industries connected to them.

The big picture: Americans use about 370 million gallons of gas per day, so price increases have an immediate effect on their pocketbook and mood about the economy.

What's likely to get more expensive for Americans:

Oil and gas prices

Zoom in: Tom Kloza, a longtime oil analyst now working for Gulf Oil, told Axios that he expects the national average gas price to reach a high of $3.25 to $3.50 a gallon in the coming weeks.

Catch up quick: Gas prices have been a deflationary tailwind for Trump, whose economy is otherwise unpopular among Americans dealing with a widespread affordability crisis.

Travel

State of play: Travel is also likely to get more expensive. European jet fuel prices surged to multi-year highs on Tuesday.

Yes, but: Some airlines have hedged against surges in fuel prices, purchasing fuel at pre-set prices months or years in advance.

Consumer goods relying on oil

Zoom out: Products that rely on oil — namely, plastics — are likely to get more expensive.

• U.S. combat operations in Iran caused a fire at a Dubai port.
• The port handles polymer and petrochemical exports. Polymers are used to make clothing, cookware, medical equipment and more. Petrochemicals are used in soap, detergents and fertilizers.

Shipping

Between the lines: One-fifth of the world's oil is transported through the Strait of Hormuz.

• It is also a key route for other commodities, such as aluminum and sugar.
• Diverted ships will likely have to reroute, causing major delays.

The bottom line: Companies were already planning to raise prices this year because of tariffs.

More from Axios

• Gas prices see biggest single-day spike in 3 years as Iran war jolts market

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A Springdale Public Schools bus driver was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after the bus she was driving struck a tree with 53 students aboard. (KNWA)

• In a statement, Springdale Schools said, "The individual is no longer operating district vehicles."

🏀 A statue of former Razorbacks head basketball coach Nolan Richardson will be placed outside Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

• Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek announced the news at Wednesday night's Razorback basketball game against the Texas Longhorns.

🏗️ Permits show a Walmart Depot store is planned for the former Walgreens at 2964 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., west of Interstate 49 in Fayetteville. (Fayetteville Flyer)

There are a lot of different things to do this weekend.

🤸‍♀️ Arkansas Gymbacks — Watch the Razorback women's gymnastics team take on No. 1 Oklahoma tonight at 7:15pm at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Tickets start at $17.

👗 Bentonville Fashion Week — Two days of runway shows, designer presentations and fashion culture at The Ledger in Bentonville. Shows run tonight and tomorrow at 6pm. Tickets start at $44.

📺 Saturday Morning Cartoons — Bring the family for classic cartoon fun with a cereal bar and drinks for all from 9am-noon at The Momentary in Bentonville. Free.

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