Good morning, Bentonville.

The NWA Home and Outdoor Living Expo is coming this weekend for spring (with 126 vendors, including 25% from out of state), says organizer Jack Wills.

Experts will offer remodeling tips and help buyers save between 10% and 30% on home upgrades.

F1RSTNB, formerly First National Bank of Fort Smith, named Shannon Hicks as community president for Rogers/Lowell and Sharon Mason for Bentonville/Centerton effective Jan.2.

They will serve as ambassadors — focusing on business development and customer relationships to support local growth.

Kiva NWA is expanding bilingual support to help Latino entrepreneurs access up to $15,000 in zero-interest loans from its Startup Junkie Foundation hub in Northwest Arkansas.

Ignacio Balderrama will lead the Spanish-language consulting and loan readiness program amid growing demand.

Walmart has agreed to pay $100 million to settle allegations from the FTC and 11 states over misleading driver pay details; the company must also create an earnings verification program to prevent future misrepresentations.

Arkansas had 65,000 job openings in December, down from 68,000 in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday.

An Arkansas-based economist noted the state maintained a robust count compared to national levels despite its 4.2% unemployment rate closing out 2025.

The USDA is considering a proposal to increase processing speed from 140 to 175 chickens per minute at processing plants, with University of Arkansas economist Dr. Jada Thompson saying faster speeds may boost output — though a constrained workforce could face added strain.

The proposal remains open for public comment.

Washington Regional, a Fayetteville-based health system, opened its $3.1 million, 6,650 sqft simulation center on Thursday, Feb.

26 to train health professionals with high-fidelity tools (including programmable manikins). An open house for donors on Monday, Feb. 23 marked the celebration of expanded learning opportunities.

Arkansas' Sydney Vaught set a new record in the women's 5,000 by running 15:02.52 at the SEC Indoor Championships in College Station on Thursday — a personal best that broke meet records by nearly 9 seconds.

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said the team must improve hitting and run production ahead of Friday's game vs UT-Arlington, noting that missing players and an illness bug have heightened the need for tougher at-bats and clutch hits.

Arkansas hosted the Mavericks at the 2026 Wooo Pig Classic and took an early lead.

The contest at Bogle Park shows strong hitting + pitching efforts as the Razorbacks build their advantage in a live game.

Arkansas Gardening School

Arkansas Gardening School is a horticultural symposium for beginner home gardeners, featuring expert-led programs by horticulturists, garden designers, and landscape architects. Through interactive talks and Q&A sessions, participants will learn to create beautiful, sustainable, and successful gardens in the Ozarks. Full schedule available now!

Sound Bath Experience | The Gentle Thaw

3:30-4:30 p.m. — 507 SE E St, Bentonville, AR — $20 ($15 for members) — Experience a calming sound bath focusing on inner movement and creative spark during the gentle thaw of spring.

Candlelight Jazz: Cyrille Aimée

7:30-11:30 p.m. — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art — $41 ($33 for members) — Enjoy an enchanting evening of jazz with Cyrille Aimée in a transformed Great Hall setting.