Good morning, Springdale.

Outdoor events in NWA offer something for everyone this fall.

In Springdale, the Hunt Family Nature Center is hosting a free tree stand safety class Saturday (limited to 30 participants) and a community outdoor gear sale begins Oct. 3, while nearby events include picnics, plant pulls and wild game feasts.

Pearlsnap Picnic, a 2,500 sqft coffee and smoothie bar co-owned by Leo Orpin and Corinna Rose, has opened at the Jones Center near the Tyson Foods Fitness Center; it offers healthy quick-service options and is open Monday to Friday 7 a.m.+2 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m.+3:30 p.m.

Google will pay Entergy Arkansas $526 million to build Cypress Solar plus a 350-megawatt battery facility in Jefferson County that will supply power for its West Memphis data center; the project will begin power delivery in Feb.

2027 and reach full capacity by Oct. 2029.

In memory of Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library asks local nonprofits to help keep its Northwest Arkansas reading program running by contributing monthly funds of $3,000 for Benton County and $2,500 for Washington County — protecting books for 600 to 700 new children each month.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College reported Monday, Aug.

31 that its academic enrollment grew 1.8% to 9,177 and total student count passed 12,000 in Bentonville, with new freshmen rising 6.6% and online registration up 10.7% from fall 2025.

Mercy Hospital in Rogers launched the Maternal Life360 program today to match mothers with high-risk pregnancies with a home visitor (funded partly by Medicaid) who supports food, housing and childcare.

Fall hunting seasons are set to begin soon as dove season opens Sept.

5 and runs through Oct. 25 while deer, rabbit and waterfowl seasons follow—hunters are advised to review official schedules for details.

Arkansas women’s basketball announced its 2026-27 schedule Monday, detailing a 30-game slate that includes 13 nonconference contests.

Two dates were shifted: Arkansas-Pine Bluff is set for Nov. 12 + Little Rock for Nov. 16, and the team will appear in the San Diego Classic.

Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield said upgrades including LED lights, enhanced sound, a trophy room, reimagined entrance for Tusk VII and a value menu will improve the home game experience at Razorback Stadium.

The changes will debut on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. when the Razorbacks host North Alabama.

Boom Ball arrives in Springdale on Friday, Sept.

25 at Arvest Ballpark for a two-hour baseball and softball game with trick plays and fan interaction, and Springdale also hosts tryouts for the 2027 tour (players must apply online and be at least 21 by February).

Matt Jones and Tom Murphy of the WholeHogSports Daily Podcast discuss Razorbacks football as the team prepares for Ryan Silverfield’s first game — sharing insights into the upcoming game week.