No, we don't have a decision yet on whether Act 1002, which bans public entities from requiring masks, will be amended so that schools may require masks.

What happened: After more than three hours of discussion and hearing public input Wednesday, the Arkansas House of Representatives will revisit House Bill 1003, giving state Rep. Julie Mayberry (R-Hensley) a chance to make changes.

• Context: Mayberry filed the bill Wednesday morning. It would amend the law to allow school districts to require masks in areas (think: classrooms, school buses) where there are kids under 12 if the district has a 14-day COVID-19 infection rate of at least 50 new known infections per 10,000 residents.

Flashback: Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Act 1002 into law in April, which he has since said he regrets. He asked the legislature to hold a special session to amend the act because kids under 12 can't get vaccinated.

What they're saying: Marion school district has 43 active cases, and more than 700 people have had to quarantine since starting school July 26, superintendent Glen Fenter told legislators.

• He stressed that kids constantly being in and out of quarantine hurts the school's ability to properly educate them and pointed out the situation is more severe now than last year because of the Delta variant.

The big picture: More kids are getting COVID-19, and more of them are getting critically ill.

Reality check: Some misinformation was spread during the meeting that we will not repeat here. But a reminder that masks are effective at preventing the spread of viruses.

• Rep. Mary Bentley (R-Perryville) questioned whether it would be better for kids to naturally catch the virus to build immunity — and to have been unmasked last school year. Heather Young, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, explained that vaccination provides better protection.

What's next: It's unclear what exactly will change in Mayberry's bill — legislators discussed limiting school mask mandates to 30 days instead of 60, addressing day care facilities and kids older than 12, and the inconsistency of requiring masks but allowing some extracurricular activities where masks are not required.

• Several other bills were filed late Wednesday that would allow school districts and publicly owned child care facilities to require masks without parameters.

The Jones Center's 52-acre campus is getting a facelift.

What's happening: New gardens, open green spaces, a plaza lawn for community gatherings and art markets, public art installations, trails and an expanded bike park are all part of the plan.

• Plus: Remodeled locker rooms, chief advancement officer Kelly Kemp tells Axios.

1 cool thing: The trails will tie into the Razorback Regional Greenway, so you can ride your bike or walk from downtown Springdale, onto the campus, and keep going, Kemp says.

Flashback: The Walton Family Foundation gave the Jones Center a $636,000 design excellence grant to pay for the design of the renovation.

• The center conducted public input sessions for seven months to gauge what the community wanted. That's how plans for a dog park came about, Kemp says.

What's next: Now comes nailing down construction costs and plans, Kemp says.

Area hospitals continue to be challenged by an increase in demand for health care, largely due to the surge in coronavirus infections from the Delta variant.

By the numbers: Yesterday, there were 147 COVID-19 patients in NWA hospitals, down from an all-time high of 165 two days before.

• There were 41 on July 1, meaning we've seen a 258% increase in about five weeks.

Zoom out: In an emergency meeting yesterday, the Arkansas American Rescue Plan Act Steering Committee approved a request for $37.7 million to pay for 157 more COVID-19 beds and 400 caregivers to staff the beds.

• Arkansas' secretary of health, Jose Romero, noted there currently are no COVID-19 beds available in the state.
• Four Baptist Health hospitals in Little Rock, Van Buren and Fort Smith will be the recipients.
• Funding will support the beds and caregivers for 60 days.

Women who want to build confidence on a mountain bike, or just get pointers from someone other than a man, are finally in luck.

What's happening: Red Bull First Ride is a planned series of women-only mountain bike clinics to help grow the sport in Northwest Arkansas.

• The first clinic this weekend, Aug. 7 and 8, will focus on electric mountain bikes.
• Pro athlete Jill Kintner will coach participants in skills like cornering, hill climbing and doing switchback drills.
• Registration is $50.

Why it matters: In a sport dominated by guys, workshops like this should help attract more women to enjoy it for recreation, health and competition.

What to watch: Stay tuned for details on future workshops.

🏥 Doctors at UAMS are administering more antibody infusions to positive COVID-19 patients to minimize their symptoms and reduce the chance they'll need to be hospitalized. (KNWA-TV)

🏭 The Rogers Planning Commission approved plans for a 15,000 square-foot addition of the Glad Products Company facility to expand manufacturing. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

🏈 UA athletics director, Hunter Yurachek, is gearing up for the fall sports season and gives a rundown of all things Hog in a letter from his desk. (ArkansasRazorbacks.com)

🎥 Producers started filming "Mindcage," a thriller starring Martin Lawrence, in NWA this week. Due to the spread of COVID-19, residents are asked to not approach any of the sets. (KHBS/KHOG-TV)

🏦 Bentonville planners OK'd projects for a townhouse development, a United Bank building and the Beach BBQ restaurant. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)