Ron Wood | Stories

Connector road input session in Gravette added by Highway Department GRAVETTE -- The Arkansas Department of Transportation has added a third public input session this week on a proposed western north-south western connector road.The session will be 4-7 p.m. today at th... June 5, 2023

Report addresses challenges to bicycling and use of trails for marginalized, underserved populations in Northwest Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE -- More Northwest Arkansas residents are using the region's trail systems, but a new report by active transportation groups found minorities and low-income people face barriers to tra... June 5, 2023

Report looks at trail access, use in Northwest Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE -- More Northwest Arkansas residents are using the region's trail systems, but a new report by active transportation groups found members of minority groups and low-income people face... June 5, 2023

Prairie Grove man convicted of rape FAYETTEVILLE -- A Prairie Grove man was convicted of three counts of rape by a Washington County Circuit Court jury Thursday, according to prosecutors.The jury recommended 25 years on each count.Dougl... June 2, 2023

Appling pleads guilty to killing Washington County man to avoid death sentence FAYETTEVILLE -- Samuel Sean Appling pleaded guilty Thursday to killing a rural Washington County man in an agreement allowing Appling to avoid a possible death sentence.Instead, he received a 120-year... June 2, 2023

XNA connector road input sought by Highway Department The Arkansas Department of Transportation is holding two meetings to collect comments on its preliminary findings from a study for a possible road to connect the Bella Vista Bypass and the Springdale ... May 30, 2023

Northwest Arkansas breaks into nation’s top 100 metro areas, council says FAYETTEVILLE -- Northwest Arkansas has become the nation's 100th largest metropolitan area, according to a news release from the Northwest Arkansas Council.The metropolitan statistical area, which... May 29, 2023

State Transportation Department has money for local bridge projects; Johnson jumping on board FAYETTEVILLE -- The state and region have a lot of deficient bridges, and the Arkansas Department of Transportation has a program and money available to help fix some of those local bridges in rural a... May 29, 2023

Northwest Arkansas breaks into nation’s top 100 metro areas, council says FAYETTEVILLE -- Northwest Arkansas has become the nation's 100th largest metropolitan area, according to a news release from the Northwest Arkansas Council.The metropolitan statistical area, which... May 28, 2023

Memorial Day on the go: Officials expect record-breaking traveler numbers Northwest Arkansas National Airport officials are expecting a busy, possibly record travel weekend that comes in the midst of a major terminal renovation."We are expecting what will possibly be t... May 26, 2023

Colcord man convicted of rape, sex assault; gets 60-year sentence FAYETTEVILLE -- An elderly Oklahoma man was sentenced to 60 years in prison after being convicted of rape and sexual assault by a Washington County Circuit Court jury.Jerry Dale Cherry, 73, of Colcord... May 25, 2023

Complaints by flyers up, XNA reports HIGHFILL — Northwest Arkansas National Airport officials said Tuesday they’re getting more passenger complaints about a process they have no control over — long wait times on the gro... May 24, 2023

Fayetteville man pleads not guilty to murder charges in wife’s stabbing FAYETTEVILLE -- A man accused of stabbing his wife to death last month pleaded not guilty to capital murder in Washington County Circuit Court on Monday.Marcus McBurney Joiner, 40, of 1611 E. Thornhil... May 23, 2023

Fayetteville man pleads not guilty to murder charges in wife’s stabbing FAYETTEVILLE -- A man accused of stabbing his wife to death last month pleaded not guilty to capital murder in Washington County Circuit Court on Monday.Marcus McBurney Joiner, 40, of 1611 E. Thornhil... May 22, 2023

Input sought on fiture interstate designation for U.S. 412 SILOAM SPRINGS -- The Arkansas Department of Transportation is working jointly with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to conduct a study of U.S. 412 between Interstate 35 in Oklahoma and Inter... May 21, 2023

Airport poised to top record HIGHFILL -- Northwest Arkansas National Airport is on track to top its prepandemic high for passengers and maybe even surpass 1 million boardings for the first time, according to airport officials.&qu... May 21, 2023

Northwest Arkansas National Airport on record pace for first quarter passengers, could surpass a million this year HIGHFILL -- Northwest Arkansas National Airport is on track to top its prepandemic high for passengers and maybe even surpass 1 million boardings for the first time, according to airport officials.&qu... May 21, 2023

Insurance company wants Springdale School District counterclaims dismissed FAYETTEVILLE -- The insurance carrier for Springdale Public Schools is asking a judge to throw out counterclaims filed in a federal lawsuit by the district.Berkley Assurance Co. contends counterclaims... May 17, 2023

Northwest Arkansas metro falls to No. 10 on list of best places to live FAYETTEVILLE -- The Northwest Arkansas metro area fell three spots in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of best places to live in the United States, coming in at No. 10."For the eig... May 16, 2023

Exit numbers changing on Interstate 49 in Bella Vista BELLA VISTA -- Lane closings on Interstate 49 in Benton County began this week so Arkansas Department of Transportation crews could update the exit numbers along the Bella Vista Bypass.The last four n... May 16, 2023

Exit numbers changing on Interstate 49 in Bella Vista BELLA VISTA -- Lane closings are planned on Interstate 49 in Benton County beginning today so Arkansas Department of Transportation crews can update the exit numbers along the Bella Vista Bypass.The l... May 15, 2023

Don’t call it an accident: Vision Zero plan says wrecks, fatalities preventable SPRINGDALE — Regional planners are joining others in rejecting the century-old notion that traffic crashes are accidents, events no one can fully predict or prevent.Vision Zero is, at heart, a t... May 8, 2023

Butterfield National Historic Trail Association chapters subject of gathering in Springdale SPRINGDALE -- The Butterfield National Historic Trail Association is holding a meeting regarding the organization of national and state chapters.The meeting will be at 2 p.m. May 20 in the Shiloh Meet... May 4, 2023

Arkansas Court of Appeals reverses Fayetteville child support ruling, sets amount itself FAYETTEVILLE -- A divided Arkansas Court of Appeals on Wednesday reversed a local judge's award of child support and set the amount itself.The majority of justices ruled Washington County Circuit ... May 4, 2023

Wastewater spill into Bull Shoals prompts warning 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 3, 2023

Filings pit both sides in sexual assault lawsuit against Springdale School District’s insurance carrier FAYETTEVILLE -- A woman who says she was sexually abused by a Springdale School District employee and said the district was indifferent has joined the district in a lawsuit against its insurer.Berkley... May 2, 2023

Ozark Regional Transit, nonprofit group to give away bicycles, helmets and locks Ozark Regional Transit is joining the nonprofit Pedal It Forward next week to give away bicycles and gear for those who need them.Ozark Regional Transit will have bikes on buses to give away Monday. A... May 2, 2023

Regional transit, nonprofit to give away bicycles, helmets and locks SPRINGDALE -- Ozark Regional Transit is joining the nonprofit Pedal it Forward next week to give away bicycles and gear for those who need them.Regional Transit will have bikes on buses to give away M... May 1, 2023

Time to push for sales tax vote to support Ozark Regional Transit, officials say SPRINGDALE -- Ozark Regional Transit officials said Thursday they need to go to voters in the four major cities sooner rather than later with a proposal for a dedicated sales tax to pay for expanding ... April 28, 2023

Pointing stun gun at woman was reasonable, appeals court rules in Springdale case FAYETTEVILLE -- A Springdale police officer who pointed a stun gun at a woman while he was detaining her two sons at gunpoint acted reasonably, a split three-judge federal appeals court panel ruled Th... April 28, 2023

Roundabout and turn-around added to Arkansas 112 plans, highway department staff say during Fayetteville meeting FAYETTEVILLE -- Minor changes are proposed by the Arkansas Department of Transportation to plans for the widening of Arkansas 112 between Truckers Drive and Howard Nickell Road in Fayetteville.The cha... April 28, 2023

Springdale School District lawyers contend insurer can’t bail on coverage, defense of sexual assault lawsuit FAYETTEVILLE -- Lawyers for the Springdale School District contend their insurer has a duty to defend the district in a federal lawsuit filed by a former student who says she was sexually abused by a ... April 27, 2023

Northwest Arkansas planners seek help to pay for Arkansas 112 improvements SPRINGDALE -- Regional planners are looking at options to pay for a 12-foot side path along Arkansas 112 that would be built by the Arkansas Department of Transportation as part of overall widening an... April 27, 2023

Thrice-convicted bank robber pleads guilty to a fourth in Fayetteville bank heist FAYETTEVILLE -- A Tennessee man accused of robbing a Fayetteville bank in January pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court.Danny Ray Madison, 57, of Nashville, Tenn., was arrested in connection with ... April 27, 2023

Thrice-convicted bank robber pleads guilty to a fourth in Fayetteville bank heist FAYETTEVILLE -- A Tennessee man accused of robbing a Fayetteville bank in January pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court.Danny Ray Madison, 57, of Nashville, Tenn., was arrested in connection with ... April 26, 2023

Downtown Rogers road closing set for rail crossing work ROGERS -- A temporary closing of Arkansas 12 is planned in downtown Rogers to allow repairs at a railroad crossing.The closing is planned from 6 a.m. Sunday until midnight Tuesday to allow Arkansas &a... April 26, 2023

Public comment sought on latest plans for Arkansas 112 in Fayetteville, traffic signal in Tontitown The Arkansas Department of Transportation wants public input on its proposed revised design plans for Arkansas 112 from Truckers Drive to Howard Nickell Road in Fayetteville and a new traffic signal o... April 24, 2023

NWA Veterans who had been exposed to toxins during their service could receive expanded benefits from the VA FAYETTEVILLE -- A federal law passed last year makes medical care and possibly additional benefits available to military veterans exposed to toxins from burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substan... April 23, 2023

Thrice-convicted bank robber expected to change plea next week in Fayetteville bank robbery FAYETTEVILLE -- A Tennessee man accused of robbing a Fayetteville bank in January has a change-of-plea hearing set next week in federal court.Danny Ray Madison, 57, of Nashville, Tenn., was arrested i... April 22, 2023

Northwest Arkansas planners advance new regional traffic management plans, strategies SPRINGDALE -- A Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission committee recommended approval Thursday of two traffic management programs aimed at managing congestion and making roads safer for drive... April 21, 2023

Conditions of suspended sentences must be in writing to revoke, appeals court rules in Washington County case FAYETTEVILLE -- Courts must impose conditions on a person who receives a suspended sentence and those conditions must be in writing, the Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.The ruling came in an... April 20, 2023

Conditions of suspended sentences must be in writing to revoke, appeals court rules in Washington County case FAYETTEVILLE -- Courts must impose conditions on a person who receives a suspended sentence and those conditions must be in writing, the Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.The ruling came in an... April 19, 2023

Cities big and small partnering with state of Arkansas to finish road projects sooner West Fork wanted a new bridge to replace the aging structure that carries Main Street over the West Fork of the White River next to Centennial Park, a popular swimming hole.So it struck a partnership ... April 16, 2023

Planned burns bring smoky skies to Northwest Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE -- Smoke from several planned burns Tuesday covered much of Northwest Arkansas and more burns are planned.National Forest fire managers are doing burns in areas across the Ouachita and Oz... April 13, 2023

Grant to go toward program for helping protect Beaver Lake drinking water FAYETTEVILLE -- The Beaver Watershed Alliance, along with local partners, is developing a new source water protection program with a grant from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Natural Res... April 13, 2023

Prescribed burns smoke Northwest Arkansas FAYETTEVILLE -- Smoke from several prescribed burns Tuesday covered much of Northwest Arkansas and more burns are planned.National Forest fire managers are conducting prescribed burns in areas across ... April 12, 2023

Legislature clears the way for Northwest Arkansas National Airport to detach from Highfill LITTLE ROCK -- Northwest Arkansas National Airport officials won the Legislature's approval Thursday to deannex from Highfill, should they so choose. Now they have to figure out what happens next.... April 7, 2023

Highfill officials, residents decry bill that would allow Northwest Arkansas National Airport to deannex from the city LITTLE ROCK -- Highfill city officials and residents went on the offensive Wednesday morning telling a House committee a proposed bill allowing Northwest Arkansas National Airport to deannex could cri... April 6, 2023

Federal grand jury indicts thrice-convicted bank robber accused in Fayetteville incident FAYETTEVILLE -- A Tennessee man accused of robbing a Fayetteville bank in January is now facing federal charges.Danny Ray Madison, 57, of Nashville, Tenn., was arrested in connection with the Jan. 10 ... April 5, 2023

Senate sends bill to allow Northwest Arkansas National Airport to deannex from Highfill to the House LITTLE ROCK -- An amended version of a bill that would allow Northwest Arkansas National Airport to deannex from Highfill cleared the Arkansas Senate on Tuesday and is headed to the House of Represent... April 5, 2023

Stories by Ron Wood