A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that Arkansas' Ten Commandments monument on state Capitol grounds violates the U.S. Constitution.

The big picture: The decision comes just weeks after another federal judge permanently blocked the enforcement of an Arkansas law at six public schools that required them to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms if posters were donated.

State of play: U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker ordered the monument removed from the Capitol grounds, but paused the order while Arkansas appeals.

• Various individuals and groups filed a complaint in 2018 arguing that the display violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which bars laws "respecting an establishment of religion."
• Baker wrote the monument "conveys a message that the Christian religion is favored" and is coercive.

Flashback: Arkansas lawmakers approved the monument in 2015. The act required it to be privately funded.

• It was first installed in 2017, but that version was destroyed within a day and a replacement went up in 2018.
• Legal challenges followed and were later consolidated into a single case.

Zoom out: The decision distinguishes Arkansas' monument from a Texas display upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005, noting that the monument stood for 40 years before being challenged.

• The court also ruled that Ten Commandments displays in two Kentucky courthouses were unconstitutional violations of the Establishment Clause that same year.

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Sam's Club is raising membership fees again, its second price hike in four years — and a test of how much shoppers will pay.

Why it matters: Consumers remain price-sensitive, putting pressure on companies to thread the needle on price increases without driving shoppers away.

Driving the news: The Walmart-owned warehouse chain confirmed to Axios on Tuesday that it will increase Sam's Club annual fees effective May 1, 2026.

• Club memberships will rise to $60 from $50.
• The higher-tier Plus membership will increase to $120 from $110.
• Plus members will be able to earn up to $750 a year in Sam's Cash rewards, up from $500, and current members will renew at the updated rate during their next billing cycle.

What they're saying: Sam's Club said in a statement shared with Axios that adjusting its membership pricing will help "support the things our members love."

• The company said it is also investing in flexibility, including expanded hours, curbside pickup and enhanced delivery options.

Flashback: Sam's Club last increase was in 2022, which was its first in nine years.

• Competitor Costco raised its membership rates in 2024, which was its first increase in seven years.

Yes, but: Even after the increase, Sam's Club remains cheaper: Costco's Gold Star membership costs $65, while its Executive tier runs $130.

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👀 Lowell city leaders disagree on whether the city can afford to purchase property to expand city departments, including fire and police. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

🏗️ Fayetteville retirement community Butterfield Trail Village will break ground next week on a 40,000-square-foot expansion that will include a 38-unit assisted living facility, common space with a restaurant, seven independent living apartments and office space. (Northwest Arkansas Business Journal)

✍️ A federal appeals court upheld this week that Arkansas is prohibited from requiring all voter registrations to be signed in ink. (Arkansas Advocate)

Average national gas prices in the U.S. hit $4 on Tuesday, representing a 35% jump at the pump since the Iran war began in February.

Zoom in: The average per-gallon cost in Northwest Arkansas was $3.25 as of yesterday, up from $3.04 on March 1 and up from $2.45 on Feb. 1.

How to understand crude oil prices

How it works: Prices at the pump begin with crude oil barrels, which come from around the world.

• A barrel is roughly 42 gallons of crude oil. Barrels generate roughly 19 to 20 gallons of gasoline, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
• Each barrel is priced based on how the market views it, which can sway because of supply, demand, global affairs and even social-media posts from world leaders.

Reality check: The crude oil barrel prices — which you can track minute-by-minute — are only one factor that impacts prices at your local gas station.

Keep reading: How to understand crude oil costs and what they mean for gas prices