Stories by NWA Democrat-Gazette

Springdale passes bond measures SPRINGDALE — Early voting totals were encouraging after Springdale residents voted Tuesday on a $360 million bond project for the city. Voters were deciding whether to extend a 1-cent sales tax ... May 9, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | Law enforcement agencies invest in new tech to prepare officers for an increasingly complex world For a lot of employees, if they get any regular on-the-job training at all, the experience feels a little like that classroom scene in the 1980s film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off": A monoto... May 9, 2023

Where and when to vote in Tuesday’s elections in Benton and Washington counties EARLY VOTINGEarly voting continues 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today for Tuesday's school board and special elections at the following locations:Benton CountyCounty Administration Building, 215 E. Central... May 8, 2023

Sister granted temporary order of protection against Bentonville School Board member BENTONVILLE -- A Benton County circuit judge granted a temporary protection order against a Bentonville School Board member after his sister accused him of hitting her.Judge Doug Schrantz granted the ... May 7, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | The region’s landfill may be in Tontitown, but whether it expands is a significant issue for everyone who produces waste Consumers these days are more knowledgeable than ever about recycling and reuse.We fill containers full of cardboard, steel and aluminum cans, a few plastics and, in some place, glass and set them at ... May 7, 2023

Thomas to direct sports coverage for newspapers Graham Thomas has been named sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.He will replace Chip Souza, who will become the general manager of Hawgs Sports Network, which includes Hawgs Illu... May 6, 2023

Springdale police investigate body found along Razorback Greenway trail SPRINGDALE -- The Police Department on Friday closed part of the Razorback Greenway as detectives investigated the scene where a body had been found.Sgt. Matt Ray, a spokesman for the Police Departmen... May 6, 2023

Man arrested in connection with internet stalking Siloam SpringsJordan Frizielle, 36, of 800 N.W. 70th Ave. in Bentonville, was arrested Thursday in connection with internet stalking of a child. Frizielle was being held Friday in the Benton County Ja... May 6, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL: Despite attention, progress on the molasses-like courts processes slow to come Someone in a position to expect, and potentially get, productive answers has asked the critical question. Here how it was reported on April 29: "County Judge Patrick Deakins on Thursday asked rep... May 6, 2023

Officials: Alma man killed after home invasion in Oklahoma An Arkansas man was killed after invading a home near Kansas, Okla., in southern Delaware County on Tuesday night, according to state officials.William King, 20, of Alma, was involved in two separate ... May 5, 2023

Four people arrested on various charges in Northwest Arkansas Arrests4th Judicial Drug Task ForceDianna Ward, 44, of 2071 Chestnut Ave. in Fayetteville was arrested Wednesday in connection with possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with purpose to deliver, po... May 5, 2023

LISTEN: Prep Rally podcast - State Track Meets Begin, Ozark's Anna Woolsey Dominates [DON'T SEE THE PODCAST ABOVE? CLICK HERE: nwaonline.com/5523preprally/]In today’s podcast, Anna Woolsey of Ozark had another big day on the track, scoring 46 points with four first place fin... May 4, 2023

Wastewater spilling into Bull Shoals Lake prompts warning from Arkansas Department of Health DIAMOND CITY -- The Arkansas Department of Health is warning people to avoid a portion of Bull Shoals reservoir after partially treated wastewater leaked into the lake from the Sugarloaf wastewater tr... May 4, 2023

Water line break hits New Hope Road in Rogers ROGERS -- A water line break impacted an area along East New Hope Road on Wednesday morning, according to Rogers Water Utilities.The break was in an 8-inch main line at 111 E. New Hope Road. Rogers Wa... May 4, 2023

Three people arrested on various charges in Northwest Arkansas ArrestsGreenlandAddison Benson, 46, of 4220 Teakwood Drive in Fort Smith, was arrested Tuesday in connection with possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with purpose to deliver and possession of dru... May 4, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | THURSDAY’S THUMBS: Fayetteville reinforces its commitment to school officers; Washington County process for funding nonprofits with covid-relief money appears weak It's Thursday and another chance to fire off a few up or down thumbs about some of news developments in our neck of the woods and elsewhere:[THUMBS DOWN] The entire process by which the Washington... May 4, 2023

Rogers City Council member Mark Kruger dies ROGERS -- Longtime City Council member Mark Kruger has died, the city announced Wednesday.Kruger was first elected to the council in 1988. He also served on the city's Community Service and Public... May 3, 2023

LISTEN: What's Up Podcast - True Crime Fest intended to solve murders, honor victims [DON'T SEE THE PODCAST ABOVE? CLICK HERE: nwaonline.com/0507truecrime/]True Crime Fest is an event connecting true crime authors, investigators, law enforcement, and the people who follow the unso... May 3, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | Will the emotional connection to Garfield Elementary lead to better educational opportunities for students or sacrifice education to sentimentality? The namesake of Garfield, the little town of around 600 residents in northern Benton County, is the nation's 20th president. James Garfield came into office in 1881, the same year the St. Louis-Sa... May 3, 2023

Five people arrested on various charges in Northwest Arkansas Arrests4th Judicial District Drug Task ForceAngel Ramirez, 27, of 3900 Hassel Ave. in Springdale, was arrested Monday in connection with drug trafficking, possession of drugs with intent to deliver an... May 3, 2023

Eight people arrested on various charges in Northwest Arkansas Arrests4th Judicial District Drug Task ForceCollins Wright, 40, of 68 Stanley Road in West Fork, was arrested Friday in connection with possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with purpose to deliver... May 2, 2023

Special elections in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley The following is a list of races and issues on the May 9 special election ballots in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's circulation area. Early voting begins Tuesday.Benton CountyPea Ridge ... May 1, 2023

Speakers at library will focus on outdoors in Bella Vista BELLA VISTA -- The Bella Vista Public Library invites patrons to attend this spring's continuing speaker series for adults entitled "Outdoors in Bella Vista."The series kicked off April ... May 1, 2023

Bella Vista Community Concert Band warming up for season BELLA VISTA -- The Bella Vista Community Concert Band's 39th concert season begins May 16 at Blowing Springs Park.The band welcomes all musicians that want to join in the fun, officials said. Musi... May 1, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | Costs on public projects grow as time slips by: Washington County’s jail expansion shrinks as a result Beyond opposition by a well-organized and dedicated group of critics, Washington County officials pushing for expansion of the county jail face another challenger: time.The sheriff -- first Tim Helder... May 1, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | Trustees clipped the UA system president’s wings on a deal with the University of Phoenix, but online education must remain a critical focus It's perhaps a shock to no one that the University of Arkansas System's proposal to link up with the for-profit, online University of Phoenix divided the system's board of trustees. System... April 30, 2023

Two people arrested on various charges in Northwest Arkansas Arrests4th Judicial District Drug Task ForceMark Brannan, 34, of 336 N. Laser Place in Fayetteville, was arrested Thursday in connection with delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine. Brannan was being ... April 29, 2023

LISTEN: Know the News - The Walton Arts Center's Artosphere kicks off next week [DON'T SEE THE PODCAST ABOVE? CLICK HERE: nwaonline.com/428knowthenews/]Artosphere, the Walton Arts Center’s annual celebration of arts and the environment, kicks off next week. Our entertai... April 28, 2023

LISTEN: Springdale $350 million bond election conversation with Mayor Doug Sprouse [DON'T SEE THE PODCAST ABOVE? CLICK HERE: nwaonline.com/428bond/]Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse will talk about a $350 million bond issuse with street improvements, a new fire station and a new sen... April 28, 2023

Four people arrested on various charges in Northwest Arkansas ArrestsBenton County Sheriff's OfficeJeremy James, 37, of 2217 Beacon Circle in Rogers, was arrested Thursday in connection with aggravated assault on family or household member. James was being h... April 28, 2023

Madison County farmer donates 75 acres to conservation group Herb Culver, a fourth-generation farmer in Madison County, has donated 75 acres along the banks of the White River in the southern part of the county to the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust, a nonprofit ... April 28, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | At what age is someone too old to be president? There’s no magic number Speaking of presidential politics, Jerry Springer died on Thursday.Yes, that Jerry Springer, the Cincinnati lawyer-turned-politician-turned-commentator-turned-TV entertainer/cultural icon.Springer was... April 28, 2023

Asa Hutchinson through the years        if (!window.Zephr) window.Zephr = {}; window.Zephr.accessDetails = {"isAuthenticated":true,"accessDecisions":{},"entitlements":{"5flZdN":{"isUsedInDecision":false... April 27, 2023

LISTEN: Prep Rally podcast - A Champion clinches the conference on a walk-off [DON'T SEE THE PODCAST ABOVE? CLICK HERE: nwaonline.com/428preprally/]Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports reporters talk on today’s podcast about the merits of a perfect game and Step... April 27, 2023

Seven people arrested on various charges in Northwest Arkansas Arrests4th Judicial Drug Task ForceDestiny Herrera, 22, of 5325 N. Oak St. B-103 in Springdale, was arrested Tuesday in connection with possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with purpose to deliver... April 27, 2023

FOLLOW: Live tweets from former governor Hutchinson presidential campaign announcement Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Tracy Neal is at the Bentonville Square as former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announces his candidacy for the United States president.Read more about ... April 26, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | Rejection of a proposal to battle homelessness doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story in Fayetteville In a community that's opened its heart to homeless people more than any other in Northwest Arkansas, it's perhaps a little shocking to witness the Fayetteville City Council rejecting a proposa... April 25, 2023

10 people arrested on various charges in Benton and Washington counties ArrestsBenton County Sheriff's OfficeDavid Ogletree, 57, of 10281 Bonnabel Road in Rogers, was arrested Saturday in connection with aggravated assault and false imprisonment. Ogletree was being he... April 25, 2023

Bentonville School District principal died over weekend BENTONVILLE -- A Bentonville school principal died unexpectedly from natural causes over the weekend, the School District announced Monday."It's with profound sadness we share the passing of ... April 25, 2023

Tontitown man’s felony arrest connected to son’s ear piercing TONTITOWN -- A video of police entering a man's home to arrest him in connection with piercing his son's ear recently went viral.Jeremy Sherland, 45, of Tontitown was arrested Thursday in conn... April 24, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL: Publishing Washington County ordinances online is a great idea, no matter who came up with it From the outside looking in -- which is where editorial writers and the public often find themselves when it comes to government affairs -- one could get the idea the Washington County Quorum Court&#3... April 23, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | Asa Hutchinson has something to say next week; his wife delivered a strong message just a few days ago It promises to be a big week in the life of former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. He's scheduled on Wednesday, in Bentonville, to make a formal announcement of his candidacy to be the next presiden... April 22, 2023

Blackwood arrested in connection with aggravated assault, domestic battering ArrestsRogersBaily Blackwood, 25, of 903 S. 20th St. in Rogers, was arrested Thursday in connection with aggravated assault on family or household member and domestic battering. Blackwood was being he... April 22, 2023

LISTEN: Speaking of Arkansas - The new $37 million Fayetteville police headquarters [DON'T SEE THE PODCAST ABOVE? CLICK HERE: https://nwaonline.com/423soapolice/]On this episode of Speaking of Arkansas:A new police headquarters in FayettevilleFayetteville Police Chief Mike Reynol... April 21, 2023

LISTEN: Artosphere 2023 - A month of celebrating artists and performers [DON'T SEE THE PODCAST ABOVE? CLICK HERE: nwaonline.com/420artosphere/]Walton Arts Center Vice President of Programming Jennifer Ross and Sarah Jones, Learning Programs & Festivals Specialist,... April 21, 2023

Bentonville to host festival honoring military community this summer BENTONVILLE -- The city will host Honor Fest, an inaugural celebration, from July 11-16.The festival will recognize members of the U.S. military community, according to a news release Thursday from Vi... April 21, 2023

Bentonville road work means lane, street closings BENTONVILLE -- The city announced road closings and work in a series of news releases Thursday.North Walton Boulevard from Northwest Third Street to 308 N. Walton Blvd. will have the north curb lane c... April 21, 2023

Three people arrested on various charges in Washington County ArrestsTontitownJasper Guy, 43, of 918 S.E. 22nd St. in Pryor, Okla., was arrested Wednesday in connection with possession of drugs with intent to deliver. Guy was being held Thursday in the Washingto... April 21, 2023

NWA EDITORIAL | Waste of tax dollars? Here’s a concrete example It had to be an extraordinary sight: A bridge construction project spanning London Creek on which Washington County spent $495,000 was demolished before it was finished.It wasn't exactly London Br... April 21, 2023