Stories by Alex Golden

Northwest Arkansas residents left with grief after covid deaths Marcina Langrine watched her grandmother's burial over Facebook Live from her hospital bed last fall. Her grandmother was one of many Marshallese and Pacific Islanders in the region who died of covid... April 11, 2021

1,000 shots available at Fayetteville vaccine clinic today FAYETTEVILLE -- About 1,000 appointments are available for covid-19 vaccines at a mass clinic today at the Northwest Arkansas Mall, according to a news release. The best times for walk-ins are until ... April 7, 2021

Rogers panel approves rezoning for neighborhood ROGERS -- The Planning Commission on Tuesday voted to rezone land to allow a new residential community. Commissioners approved the request by The Grove to rezone about 24 acres at South Dixieland Roa... April 7, 2021

Northwest Arkansas ranks healthiest in the state Benton and Washington counties held their spots as the healthiest in the state in an annual report released last week. The County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report by the Robert Wood Foundation ran... April 5, 2021

Northwest Arkansas organizations vaccinate people 16 and up Organizations in Northwest Arkansas are continuing to ramp up covid-19 vaccinations and are offering the vaccines to anyone 16 and older. Arkansas Children's Northwest in Springdale has begun offerin... April 3, 2021

Covid-19 vaccination events scheduled, appointments available Several mass covid-19 vaccination clinics will take place in Northwest Arkansas over the next few weeks, and hospitals and pharmacies continue to offer regular appointments. Northwest Arkansas Counci... March 30, 2021

Medical workers tell of challenges during pandemic They avoid their families but hold the hand of someone else's dying loved one. They dedicate years to studying and practicing medicine but question their ability to help patients overcome a new virus.... March 28, 2021

Benton County to vaccinate 10,000 people Benton County and Collier Drug Stores plan to fully vaccinate 10,000 people against covid-19 in a series of clinics they'll co-host over the next 13 weeks, according to Michael Waddle, director of eme... March 27, 2021

Rogers reverses rezoning decision ROGERS -- The City Council on Tuesday voted to rezone land it previously voted against rezoning after the city was sued. The council in November voted 4-3 against rezoning about 9.6 acres west of Nor... March 24, 2021

Rogers is abuzz with residential, business projects ROGERS -- The area just south of the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion has several developments either recently completed or well on their way. Tom Allen, a representative of Pinnacle Heights, said the... March 22, 2021

Rogers developments make progress ROGERS -- The area just south of the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion has several developments either recently completed or well on their way. Tom Allen, a representative of Pinnacle Heights, said the... March 22, 2021

No active virus cases at Fayetteville School District Fayetteville Public Schools has no active covid-19 cases among students, faculty or staff for the first time since it began tracking cases in August, a district spokesman confirmed. This is a result ... March 20, 2021

Grocery, general stores facilitate vaccinations for employees Some grocery and general merchandise stores in Northwest Arkansas plan to help their employees get covid-19 vaccinations. Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday that anyone in the state's Phase 1-B cat... March 14, 2021

Northwest Arkansas residents continue to get vaccinated Northwest Arkansas residents are continuing to get vaccinated against covid-19 as several groups became eligible for vaccines this week. Benton and Washington counties had 33,954 residents fully vacc... March 13, 2021

Fayetteville board discusses vaccine hesitancy, mayor says city will keep mask mandate FAYETTEVILLE -- The city's Board of Health will look at ways to address covid-19 vaccine hesitancy as the vaccine becomes available to more groups. Stephen Boss, professor of environmental dynamics a... March 11, 2021

Rogers accepts grant money; mayor updates city ROGERS -- The Rogers Executive Airport will receive about $91,000 in federal grant money. The City Council voted in January to accept the grant from the Federal Aviation Administration under the Coro... March 10, 2021

Virus deaths, hospitalizations declining in NWA Covid-19-related deaths and hospitalizations have decreased in Northwest Arkansas, and health care officials say precautions are still needed to continue the trend. At least 30 Benton and Washington ... March 7, 2021

More organizations to offer covid-19 vaccines More Northwest Arkansas residents are getting vaccinated against covid-19 as more health care organizations offer appointments and mass clinics for the community. Benton and Washington counties had 2... March 6, 2021

Walton heir planning Bentonville med school BENTONVILLE -- Walmart heir Alice Walton plans to build an independent, nonprofit medical school in Bentonville. Construction of the Whole Health School of Medicine and Health Sciences is to start ne... March 5, 2021

Alice Walton plans to build medical school in Bentonville BENTONVILLE -- Walmart heir Alice Walton plans to build an independent, nonprofit medical school in Bentonville. Construction of the Whole Health School of Medicine and Health Sciences is to start ne... March 4, 2021

Medical marijuana dispensary to move to Rogers ROGERS -- A medical marijuana dispensary has the green light to construct a building and move its operations to the city. The Planning Commission on Tuesday approved building plans for The Source, a ... March 3, 2021

Northwest Arkansas residents get vaccinated at mass event Volunteers spent a chilly, damp Friday giving the covid-19 vaccine to 3,000 Northwest Arkansas residents. The Northwest Arkansas Council organized the event with 250 volunteers on the parking lot of ... February 27, 2021

Northwest Arkansas steps up vaccinations A mass covid-19 vaccination event will strive to reach Benton County residents 70 and older. The Northwest Arkansas Council, a nonprofit organization comprised of the region's largest health care org... February 25, 2021

Rogers council approves police upgrades, rezoning ROGERS -- The Police Department will move forward with upgrades and a new ethics program. The City Council on Tuesday approved a $2,000 donation from the family of Jim Tull to the department. Tull is... February 24, 2021

Final touches going on Fayetteville library expansion FAYETTEVILLE -- The final touches are being put on the newly expanded Fayetteville Public Library. It will likely take 30 to 60 days to complete small tasks, such as paint touch-ups, Sam Palmer, dire... February 23, 2021

Medical marijana dispensaries expand; Bentonville dispensary tops state in sales The medical marijuana industry continues to grow as dispensaries expand in Northwest Arkansas. The ReLeaf Center in Bentonville has sold more medical marijuana than any other in the state and is appr... February 22, 2021

Northwest Arkansas clinic selected for federal vaccine program Community Clinic, which has several health centers throughout Northwest Arkansas, will be the first in the state to receive covid-19 vaccines as part of a new federal distribution plan, according to a... February 20, 2021

Weather disrupts vaccinations The winter weather is keeping some Northwest Arkansas residents from getting covid-19 vaccinations. Patients who are unable to make it to their appointments should immediately consult the pharmacy wh... February 17, 2021

Rogers panel approves condos ROGERS -- The Planning Commission on Tuesday approved plans for a new residential development and a bank. Commissioners approved plans for Everest Multifamily, a 43-unit condominium development on ab... February 17, 2021

Weather disrupts covid-19 vaccinations The winter weather is keeping some Northwest Arkansas residents from getting covid-19 vaccinations. Patients who are unable to make it to their appointments should immediately consult the pharmacy whe... February 16, 2021

New year sees rise in virus deaths in Northwest Arkansas January was the deadliest month for Northwest Arkansas so far in the pandemic. At least 143 Benton and Washington county residents died of the covid-19 virus in January, putting the total at 655 for ... February 14, 2021

Number of vaccinated tops 15,000 About 15,300 people in Benton and Washington counties are fully vaccinated against covid-19, while another 36,300 have received the first dose, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. The two... February 13, 2021

Rogers updates police policies, accepts grant money ROGERS -- The City Council voted Tuesday to update Police Department policies and accept federal grant money, some of which will be used for covid-19 relief. Police Chief Hayes Minor said the departm... February 10, 2021

Community college's leader plans to retire BENTONVILLE -- Evelyn Jorgenson, president of Northwest Arkansas Community College, plans to retire next year. Jorgenson, 68, began as the college's third president in 2013 and has worked in educatio... February 7, 2021

NWACC president to retire in ’22 BENTONVILLE — Evelyn Jorgenson, president of Northwest Arkansas Community College, will retire next year. Jorgenson, 68, began as the college’s third president in 2013 and has worked in education for... February 6, 2021

Almost 10,000 vaccinated in Benton, Washington counties About 9,620 people in Benton and Washington counties are fully vaccinated against covid-19, while another 32,827 have received the first dose, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. The two ... February 6, 2021

NWACC president to retire BENTONVILLE -- Evelyn Jorgenson, president of Northwest Arkansas Community College, will retire next year, according to a news release. Jorgenson has been president for 7.5 years and has worked in ed... February 5, 2021

NWACC president to retire, college hires cross country coach BENTONVILLE -- Evelyn Jorgenson, president of Northwest Arkansas Community College, will retire next year. Jorgenson, 68, began as the college's third president in 2013 and has worked in education for... February 5, 2021

Vaccinations continue; number in hospital down Covid-19 cases in Northwest Arkansas increased about 2,000 in the past week, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Pharmacies and hospitals continue to vaccinate nursing home residents and ... January 30, 2021

NWACC enrollment down, officials cite pandemic BENTONVILLE -- Enrollment at Northwest Arkansas Community College dropped for the spring semester, which the college's leadership attributed to the covid-19 pandemic. As of Tuesday, the 11th day of c... January 28, 2021

Vaccine reaches more in Northwest Arkansas Northwest Arkansas residents 70 and older and educators received covid-19 vaccines throughout the week, and more mass vaccination clinics are planned. School and day care employees and people 70 and ... January 23, 2021

Springdale school employees get vaccinated SPRINGDALE — School District employees began receiving covid-19 vaccinations Wednesday. Community Pharmacy staff, along with volunteer pharmacists, nursing students from the University of Arkansas an... January 21, 2021

Springdale school employees receive covid-19 vaccinations SPRINGDALE -- School District employees began receiving covid-19 vaccinations Wednesday. Community Pharmacy staff, along with volunteer pharmacists, nursing students from the University of Arkansas an... January 20, 2021

Rogers panel approves restaurant, school, housing plans ROGERS -- The Planning Commission on Tuesday approved plans for several projects, including a restaurant, school and housing developments. Texas Roadhouse, a chain steakhouse restaurant, plans to con... January 20, 2021

Fewer vaccines available than expected for now FAYETTEVILLE — Some school employees and residents 70 and older were vaccinated Monday at pharmacies in Northwest Arkansas, but far fewer than expected will be able to get the covid-19 vaccine this we... January 19, 2021

Fewer vaccines available than expected for this week FAYETTEVILLE -- Some school employees and residents 70 and older were vaccinated Monday at pharmacies in Northwest Arkansas, but far fewer than expected will be able to get the covid-19 vaccine this w... January 18, 2021

Bentonville schools to offer fewer covid-19 vaccines this week BENTONVILLE — Bentonville Public Schools will not be able to give the covid-19 vaccination to as many employees this week as expected, according to an email sent to faculty and staff Monday. The dist... January 18, 2021

School, health care workers to be vaccinated Northwest Arkansas schools are preparing to begin vaccinating their employees against covid-19 this week, and health care organizations are working on plans to distribute vaccines to more people as th... January 17, 2021