NW Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas Alerts

Alert

blue

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Northwest Arkansas, written by local reporters.

Axios Northwest Arkansas Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Axios NW Arkansas Partners

Axios Northwest Arkansas

Standard

Axios NW Arkansas Deep Dive

Deep Dive

Northwest Arkansas Members

Membership

Monday Munchies: Zelli Deli

The prosciutto and fig sandwich seemed to defy physics.

Food and Drink

🍝 Alex checked out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zelli Pasta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/23/homemade-pasta-zelli-springdale-local" data-vars-content-id="39d1707b-182f-4ce2-b38a-1eb85a9783c1" data-vars-headline="Monday Munchies: Zelli Deli" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/02/23/homemade-pasta-zelli-springdale-local" target="_self">Zelli Pasta</a> as take-it-home-and-cook-it-yourself, but they&#x27;ve since started serving sandwiches, which is more my style.The setup: Downtown Springdale may soon become my fave lunchtime location — there are tons of options, it&#x27;s easy for me to get to, and the crowds aren&#x27;t yet insane (if you can find a parking spot!).

The Agenda: Construction project plans

The Bentonville and Springdale city councils meet tonight.

News

Your city councils are back from spring break and plan to meet tonight.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bentonville" data-vars-click-url="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1728/files/agenda/8676" data-vars-content-id="37d352ce-2c0e-458c-b500-3572cd9ed6e8" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Construction project plans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1728/files/agenda/8676" target="_blank">Bentonville</a> will vote on:

Heartland Forward targets maternal mortality — but Arkansas lags

The U.S. now has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world.

Health

Bentonville&#x27;s Heartland Forward launched a drive to slash U.S. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="maternal mortality" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/09/heartland-forward-maternal-health-initiative" data-vars-content-id="dd5a2be0-e141-4c31-9bf6-948319f87b7b" data-vars-headline="Heartland Forward targets maternal mortality — but Arkansas lags" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/09/heartland-forward-maternal-health-initiative" target="_self">maternal mortality</a> in half within five years.Why it matters: Maternal deaths in the U.S. have more than doubled since the 1980s, and the country now has the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="highest rate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison" data-vars-content-id="dd5a2be0-e141-4c31-9bf6-948319f87b7b" data-vars-headline="Heartland Forward targets maternal mortality — but Arkansas lags" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison" target="_blank">highest rate</a> in the developed world. About 84% of the deaths are preventable and roughly 65% happen after childbirth.

Northwest Arkansas commercial real estate remains steady

The vacancy rate dropped from 7.2% to 6.3% in the second half of 2025.

Business

Northwest Arkansas&#x27; commercial real estate vacancy rate dropped slightly from 7.2% to 6.3% in the second half of 2025, according to the biannual Arvest Skyline Report released Tuesday.Why it matters: Commercial vacancy rates are an indicator of the area&#x27;s economic vitality. Low rates often signal strong demand but can drive up rents and limit space for businesses.<ul><li>Generally, rates between 5% and 10% are considered healthy, Skyline authors note in the report.</li></ul>

Report: Northwest Arkansas' residential still resilient

Nationally, home sales hovered near a 30-year low in 2025 as high mortgage rates cooled demand, a trend Northwest Arkansas largely bucked.

Higher prices and mortgage rates didn&#x27;t stop more than 5,100 homes from selling in Northwest Arkansas during the second half of 2025, according to the Arvest Skyline Report released Tuesday.Why it matters: Real estate demand — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="commercial" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/12/northwest-arkansas-office-vacancy-may-be-tightest-in-us" data-vars-content-id="a74ce0d2-a2da-4365-b0a0-c34a8632c130" data-vars-headline="Report: Northwest Arkansas&#x27; residential still resilient" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/02/12/northwest-arkansas-office-vacancy-may-be-tightest-in-us" target="_self">commercial</a> and residential — is an indicator of an area&#x27;s economy, but expensive housing and rents <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shape who can afford" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/09/23/unity-key-as-northwest-arkansas-cities-face-growth-strain" data-vars-content-id="a74ce0d2-a2da-4365-b0a0-c34a8632c130" data-vars-headline="Report: Northwest Arkansas&#x27; residential still resilient" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/09/23/unity-key-as-northwest-arkansas-cities-face-growth-strain" target="_self">shape who can afford</a> to live in NWA.

Getting outside grows Arkansas' economy

The combined industries — everything from boating to equestrian activities — supported more than 43,000 jobs

Arkansas&#x27; outdoor recreation economy accounted for $4.9 billion in 2024, an estimated 2.6% of the state&#x27;s GDP, according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data. Why it matters: The combined industries — everything from boating to equestrian activities — supported more than 43,000 jobs, and have continued modest statewide growth over the last few years.<ul><li>The numbers were $3.5 billion (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2.4% of GDP" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bea.gov/news/2022/outdoor-recreation-satellite-account-us-and-states-2021" data-vars-content-id="04476c90-30b9-4b26-a9fd-2b4c0137ddff" data-vars-headline="Getting outside grows Arkansas&#x27; economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2022/outdoor-recreation-satellite-account-us-and-states-2021" target="_blank">2.4% of GDP</a>) in 2021 and $4 billion (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2.5% of GDP" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/12/14/natural-state-report-recommendations-outdoor-economy" data-vars-content-id="04476c90-30b9-4b26-a9fd-2b4c0137ddff" data-vars-headline="Getting outside grows Arkansas&#x27; economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/12/14/natural-state-report-recommendations-outdoor-economy" target="_self">2.5% of GDP</a>) in 2022.</li></ul>

The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software

Here's what's on deck at your local city council meetings Tuesday night.

Here&#x27;s what&#x27;s on deck at your local city council meetings Tuesday night.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fayetteville" data-vars-click-url="https://fayettevillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1439/overview" data-vars-content-id="3fb9a557-34ae-4284-b1f4-20217c7a836c" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://fayettevillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1439/overview" target="_blank">Fayetteville</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bentonville" data-vars-click-url="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1716/files" data-vars-content-id="3fb9a557-34ae-4284-b1f4-20217c7a836c" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bentonvillear.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1716/files" target="_blank">Bentonville</a> city councils will meet, but will not be voting on agenda items.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rogers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rogersar.gov/632/Agendas-Minutes" data-vars-content-id="3fb9a557-34ae-4284-b1f4-20217c7a836c" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rogersar.gov/632/Agendas-Minutes" target="_blank">Rogers</a> will vote on:<ul><li>A resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to purchase <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Avolve software" data-vars-click-url="https://www.avolvesoftware.com/help/ProjectDox/9.4.0.0_SA/ProjectDoxStart.html" data-vars-content-id="3fb9a557-34ae-4284-b1f4-20217c7a836c" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.avolvesoftware.com/help/ProjectDox/9.4.0.0_SA/ProjectDoxStart.html" target="_blank">Avolve software</a> from Lifecycle Technologies of Florida for $91,940.</li></ul><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Springdale" data-vars-click-url="https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3541/Springdale/8f0701db-441f-4519-8e67-9a4d9f25eac8/Official-City-Council-Agenda-Packet-3.10.26.pdf?disposition=inline" data-vars-content-id="3fb9a557-34ae-4284-b1f4-20217c7a836c" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3541/Springdale/8f0701db-441f-4519-8e67-9a4d9f25eac8/Official-City-Council-Agenda-Packet-3.10.26.pdf?disposition=inline" target="_blank">Springdale</a> will vote on:<ul><li>Authorizing the renewal of a contract with the Downtown Springdale Alliance to promote the downtown area for $150,000 for one year.</li><li>Authorizing the payment of $258,963 from the 2023 bond program to American Electric and Power to relocate overhead electric power to an underground system for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="East Emma Ave. Streetscape project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.springdalear.gov/page/east-emma-streetscape" data-vars-content-id="3fb9a557-34ae-4284-b1f4-20217c7a836c" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.springdalear.gov/page/east-emma-streetscape" target="_blank">East Emma Ave. Streetscape project</a>.</li><li>For the city to commit a funding match of $1.29 million and enter into a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Safe Streets and Roads for All" data-vars-click-url="https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A" data-vars-content-id="3fb9a557-34ae-4284-b1f4-20217c7a836c" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A" target="_blank">Safe Streets and Roads for All</a> grant agreement for the construction of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dean&#x27;s Trail phase IIIB" data-vars-click-url="https://emerysapp.com/project/202405-3523/" data-vars-content-id="3fb9a557-34ae-4284-b1f4-20217c7a836c" data-vars-headline="The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://emerysapp.com/project/202405-3523/" target="_blank">Dean&#x27;s Trail phase IIIB</a>. The grant was awarded for $5.18 million in 2024.</li></ul>📍 If you go: 6pm at Springdale City Hall or 6:30pm at Rogers City Hall.

Bentoville Food Theater to spotlight diverse cuisine

The theater model is a bet that rotating, ticketed chef "shows" can deliver the diversity of big-city dining without requiring hundreds of permanent restaurants.

Onyx Coffee Lab and the startup restaurant concept <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bentoville Food Theater" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/12/08/michelin-star-bentoville-restaurant-investors" data-vars-content-id="db7717d1-60bc-4055-a294-a9dfeabc6f4f" data-vars-headline="Bentoville Food Theater to spotlight diverse cuisine" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/12/08/michelin-star-bentoville-restaurant-investors" target="_self">Bentoville Food Theater</a> are joining forces to create a novel experiential dining venue in downtown Bentonville.Why it matters: Northwest Arkansas is growing fast, but it&#x27;s still not big enough to support a constant global restaurant variety that many residents crave.

Food review: Ippudo's tonkotsu ramen rave

Every part of this meal — from the spicy bean sprouts to the last slurped noodle — was exquisite.

Nothing beats a warm bowl of soup on a cold winter night. If it happens to be world-class pork bone broth with tender noodles and all the fixins, well, that gets me weak in the knees.The setup: Before there was the new Bentoville Food Theater, there was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bentoville" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/12/07/bentoville-bento-boxes-bentonville" data-vars-content-id="e5a055c0-f2f4-47c3-b632-fd970b0d2fc7" data-vars-headline="Food review: Ippudo&#x27;s tonkotsu ramen rave" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2023/12/07/bentoville-bento-boxes-bentonville" target="_self">Bentoville</a>, a sort of virtual restaurant making bento boxes and hosting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="kaiseki" data-vars-click-url="https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/what-is-kaiseki-japanese-meal" data-vars-content-id="e5a055c0-f2f4-47c3-b632-fd970b0d2fc7" data-vars-headline="Food review: Ippudo&#x27;s tonkotsu ramen rave" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/what-is-kaiseki-japanese-meal" target="_blank">kaiseki</a> events at the NorthWest Arkansas Community College&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Brightwater" data-vars-click-url="https://brightwater.nwacc.edu/" data-vars-content-id="e5a055c0-f2f4-47c3-b632-fd970b0d2fc7" data-vars-headline="Food review: Ippudo&#x27;s tonkotsu ramen rave" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://brightwater.nwacc.edu/" target="_blank">Brightwater</a> school for food.

Monday Munchies: Lunch at Gaskins on Emma

One can settle for a salad or splurge on a prime rib focaccia melt, but I'll make the case for the Gaskins smash burger.

IMO, there are three types of burgers: Fast food, burgers made at joints that focus on making good burgers, and gourmet level.<ul><li>I&#x27;ve had gourmet-level versions at steakhouses and burger joints alike, so try not to judge a burger by its bun.</li></ul>

Revealing holes in Arkansas' concealed carry law

Someone with a concealed carry license could face restrictions that someone under constitutional carry would not.

Politics

Arkansans can legally carry firearms to protests, a law professor told Axios, but contradictory state statutes create gray areas that could complicate interpretation.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shooting death" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/24/minneapolis-ice-shooting-id" data-vars-content-id="223d24f3-4c9e-4707-aa34-cbbf7252461e" data-vars-headline="Revealing holes in Arkansas&#x27; concealed carry law" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/24/minneapolis-ice-shooting-id" target="_self">shooting death</a> of Alex Pretti in Minnesota last month put some <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gun rights groups at odds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/25/gun-groups-challenge-minneapolis-shooting-pretti" data-vars-content-id="223d24f3-4c9e-4707-aa34-cbbf7252461e" data-vars-headline="Revealing holes in Arkansas&#x27; concealed carry law" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/25/gun-groups-challenge-minneapolis-shooting-pretti" target="_self">gun rights groups at odds</a> with messaging from the Trump administration, exposing tension between First and Second Amendment protections.

Mixed-use project planned for Bentonville square

The plan is to break ground on The Hart on Main this summer.

Construction of a development bringing retail, office and housing to the Bentonville square will begin soon.State of play: The plan is to break ground on The Hart on Main this summer with a &quot;multiyear build ahead,&quot; according to a news release.

Military drone plant opens in Arkansas, drawing protest

The company plans to make unmanned aerial vehicles to operate in coordinated swarms

Tech startup Swarm Aero opened a Northwest Arkansas facility Wednesday to build military drones near Fayetteville&#x27;s Drake Field, with plans to create hundreds of jobs.Why it matters: Regional leaders say the facility positions Northwest Arkansas as a growing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="defense manufacturing hub" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/19/xtremis-technology-ai-rf-electromagnetic" data-vars-content-id="f97842e1-2f60-48cd-9179-6328cccd4129" data-vars-headline="Military drone plant opens in Arkansas, drawing protest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/19/xtremis-technology-ai-rf-electromagnetic" target="_self">defense manufacturing hub</a>.

A line chart that shows biannual vacancy rates for Northwest Arkansas' commercial real estate from H1 2016 to H2 2025. Rates fell from 12.7% in H1 2016 to a low of 5.6% in H1 2023, then edged up, reaching 7.2% in H1 2025 before ending at 6.3%.

Vacancy rates for all NWA commercial real estate


Data: Arvest Skyline Report; Chart: Axios Visuals

A line chart that tracks semiannual average home selling prices in Northwest Arkansas for Benton and Washington counties from June 2014 to January 2026. Benton County rises from $188,084 to $471,427, while Washington County climbs from $184,132 to $429,616. Both trend upward, with faster gains after 2021.

Average selling price for a home in NWA


A choropleth map of the U.S showing outdoor recreation's share of state GDP in 2024. Hawai'i leads at 6.1%, while Washington, D.C. trails at 1%. The nationwide figure is 2.4%.

Business 🏦

Northwest Arkansas commercial real estate remains steady

Report: Northwest Arkansas' residential still resilient

Getting outside grows Arkansas' economy

The Agenda: Trails, promotion and software

Bentoville Food Theater to spotlight diverse cuisine