Tensions have grown between Donald Trump and his former press secretary, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, over her neutrality in the 2024 presidential race, people familiar with the relationship tell Axios' Alex Thompson.

• Trump's frustration has risen recently because Sanders' team had told his campaign she wouldn't make an endorsement until after her first legislative session, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
• The session ended in May, and still, no endorsement.

Why it matters: Sanders is among several Republicans with national ambitions who are staying neutral in the presidential primary despite the former president's large lead in early polls. But Sanders' political calculation is complicated by her tenure as the voice of Trump's White House.

• Potential future presidential candidates have declined to endorse in the primary, waiting to see whether GOP voters want to move on from Trump and his legal battles.

The intrigue: Trump sees Sanders in a different category than other GOP leaders because he hired her to be his press secretary and endorsed her the day she launched her campaign for governor in January 2021.

• One Trump ally described the feeling as: "You should always dance with the person who brought you."
• Earlier this year, Trump asked Sanders for her endorsement in a phone call and she declined, the New York Times first reported in March.
• Trump denied the report, writing on Truth Social: "I never asked Sarah Huckabee Sanders for an endorsement. I give endorsements; I don’t generally ask for them. With that being said, nobody has done more for her than I have, with the possible exception of her great father, Mike!”
• Three weeks after that story published, former Gov. Mike Huckabee endorsed Trump.

What they're saying: "Gov. Sanders loves President Trump and believes our country would be much better off under his leadership than President Biden, and that President Trump is the dominant frontrunner and our likely Republican nominee in 2024," Sanders' communications director Alexa Henning told Axios in a statement.

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Urbanist Richard Florida last year warned members of the Northwest Arkansas Council that the area could be a victim of its own economic success, noting skyrocketing housing prices.

• This year, the group took a step toward solving the problem.

Driving the news: At its annual meeting yesterday, the council revealed its collaboration on a 77-unit apartment project that will permanently earmark 30 units for families earning below the area median income, which is $92,400, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

• The project is supported by a $6.75 million grant from Walton Family Foundation.

Why it matters: Housing and rent prices continue to soar in NWA, making it harder for lower- and middle-range wage earners — nurses, teachers, police, firefighters, restaurant workers and more — to afford to live in the area.

• And the area continues to add about 36 people per day, the council estimates, continually squeezing the supply of homes.

Details: The apartment project, called Big Emma, will be at Emma Avenue and Park Street in downtown Springdale.

• Community Development NWA will manage the property.

Keep reading for more from the council.

💰 The Arkansas Teacher Retirement fund can increase its equity investment of Conway-based Westrock Coffee Company up to $25 million. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

🥎 Renovations of the softball complex at Lake Fayetteville are underway at an estimated cost of $2.7 million. (Fayetteville Flyer)

👨‍🏫 Sam's Club is offering $20 memberships for teachers in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley through Aug. 15. (KFSM-TV)

👋 Alex here. I had such a delightful drink on a hot day.

What's happening: Xuma Kitchens, a Mexican restaurant in downtown Fayetteville, is on it with the flavored margaritas. I tried pineapple. They also offer blackberry, passion fruit and more.

The verdict: Flavored margaritas sometimes taste like just some tequila with syrup thrown in. This definitely tasted like it had fresh pineapple juice, and it won't leave you feeling icky. (Well, I only had one, so I can't speak for how you might feel if you down several.)

When and where: 5-9pm Tuesday-Thursday; 11am-3pm and 5-10pm Friday-Saturday; 11am-3pm and 5-9pm Sunday at 25 E. Center St. in Fayetteville.

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A group of Benton County residents and civil servants gathered yesterday for the unveiling of Respect Rural Roads signage for county roads.

• Context: The signage is part of a safety and awareness campaign launched by the county road department, the Farm Bureau, ag extension offices and — wait for it — the Rural Recreational Roads organization.

Why it matters: The campaign will draw attention to county roads available to adventure-seeking cyclists and to the farming communities to be mindful of safety while sharing the space.

The big picture: Rural Recreational Roads is a pilot program boosting gravel cycling activity and the economic benefits that follow.

• The organization, founded by Tom Walton through Runway Group, hopes to eventually be a central location for curated routes throughout Arkansas.
• A toolkit of suggestions for capitalizing on existing roadways is available to anyone.

What's next: Rural Recreational Roads is collaborating with the fitness app Strava to help measure success of the program, Walton told Axios.