Nearly 75% of Arkansas is in extreme or severe drought status, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The big picture: Much of the U.S. is at least "abnormally dry" after long stretches of low precipitation, the monitor shows.

• Severe, extreme or exceptionally dry conditions prevail across much of the West, South and Southeast, setting the stage for fires.

Zoom in: Five north-central Arkansas counties and parts of another 10 are in exceptional drought conditions, which the U.S. Drought Monitor notes affects daily life for outdoor workers, impacts crops and means that trees and wildlife are dying. The area is nearly 10% of the state.

• Some crop farmers told Axios last week that drier-than-normal conditions are worsening the economic squeeze they're experiencing from increased diesel and fertilizer costs.

Yes, but: At the moment, there's low risk of wildfire in the state, according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

• Most of Benton and Washington counties are classified as abnormally dry.

Driving the news: Georgia's recent wildfires could be a preview of a potentially severe fire season nationwide, with swaths of dried-out land primed to burn from coast to coast.

By the numbers: About 1.8 million acres have burned nationwide this year as of May 1, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

• That's nearly double the year-to-date 10-year average, and the highest year-to-date figure since 2017.

What they're saying: "Over the last few years, different states have set new records for acres burned and acres of high severity fire and homes burned," says John Bailey, professor of silviculture and wildland fire at Oregon State University's College of Forestry and author of "A Walk With Wildland Fire."

• Three factors are driving those broken records, Bailey says: An "inordinate amount of fuel in the landscape," new homes in fire-prone areas that become fire fuel themselves, and longer and more severe fire seasons.

Threat level: The NIFC's latest outlook warns of above-normal wildfire potential in May across much of Arizona and New Mexico, plus all of Florida and the Southeast Atlantic coast.

• In June, the high-risk areas also include most of inland Louisiana, part of East Texas, western Colorado, southern Utah, Northern California, and inland Washington and Oregon.

What we're watching: The severity of this year's wildfire season could depend on the potential formation of a "super El Niño."

Arkansas health providers can now apply for the first $55.6 million in federal rural health funding, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced on Monday.

Why it matters: The funding could help rural hospitals, clinics and other providers expand telehealth, emergency response and remote patient monitoring at a time when many are under financial strain.

Driving the news: The money is the first slice of $209 million Arkansas expects this year through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, created under last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

• Sanders expects Arkansas could receive more than $1 billion over five years, a news release says.

State of play: The first round centers on the state's THRIVE initiative, which targets telehealth, health monitoring and emergency response.

• Applications for three other program tracks are expected within 90 days.

What's next: Eligible applicants include rural hospitals, health systems, clinics, EMS providers, pharmacists, universities, nonprofits and faith-based groups.

• Yes, but: The funding arrives as hospital leaders, experts and some lawmakers question whether the broader federal rural health package will be enough to offset longer-term Medicaid cuts that could hit rural providers hard, the Arkansas Advocate reports.

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🍕 Plans are in place to reopen Cable Car Pizza — shuttered since 2015 — in the former Pestos restaurant location on College Ave., in Fayetteville. (Fayetteville Flyer)

• The pizzeria was known for its San Francisco-style sourdough crust.

🥩 Tyson Foods reported higher Q2 profit and revenue, with strong chicken and prepared foods results offsetting losses in its beef business. The company posted net income of $260 million, up from $7 million a year earlier. (Arkansas Business)

⚡ Key details about Google's planned $4 billion data center in West Memphis and its special Entergy rate contract remain secret. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

• Part of a $5.77 monthly residential rate increase will help fund new power generation tied to the project.

The Fayetteville City Council plans to vote on:

🚶A $443,000 design amendment for the South School Avenue project between MLK Jr. Boulevard and 15th Street. The work includes street, traffic signal, water utility, storm sewer, land acquisition and public engagement work tied to the city's $25 million federal Safe Streets grant.

🏠 Consideration of two contracts valued at $275,370 with 7hills Homeless Center, including $125,370 for Day Center operations and $150,000 for Walker Family Residential Community repairs.

🚧 A $166,647 contract, plus $20,000 contingency, to install security bollards at the Upper Ramble to reduce unauthorized vehicle access during large gatherings.

🏗️ An appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of a rezoning request for about 2.1 acres at 1705 N. Garland Ave., from single-family zoning to residential intermediate-urban, which would allow four units per acre.

The council will hold a hearing on proposed new water, sewer and impact fee rates.

📍If you go: 5:30pm in Fayetteville or register to view online.

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