Good morning, Springdale.

Ozark United FC launched a three-week equipment drive on October 13—organized with Arkansas Children’s Hospital, America’s Car-Mart, and Unilever—to collect soccer gear from drop-off sites in Rogers, Springdale and other local areas; donations will benefit both the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation and the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County, and will be accepted until November 1.

The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank announced that Taylor Speegle, its current vice president and chief strategy officer, will be the new president and CEO starting Jan.

1, 2026. He replaces Kent Eikenberry, who will retire later in 2026 and continue as a consultant — supporting the bank’s work to fight hunger.

Jenee Fleenor, an award-winning country music artist from Springdale, will be honored next week for her contributions to local education—she is also set to pursue her sixth CMA Musician of the Year title next month with her seventh nomination in hand.

A minority-owned production studio from Fayetteville called BLK ELK was chosen for the Banff Mountain Film Festival in Canada + its short film 'Jaunt' was selected from over 570 submissions and will be shown on center stage at the festival, which runs Nov.

1-9.

Tyson Foods CFO Ash Bhumbia was named to the St. Louis Fed’s Agribusiness Industry Council while Bentonville nonprofit Heartland Forward named Krista Cupp and J.T.

Geren as new leaders to drive a $500 million economic impact plan by 2030 — underscoring a boost in regional business strength. The Arkansas Index closed Monday at 918.33, up 22.49 points after strong market activity.

The University of Arkansas began hanging nearly 500 Ten Commandments posters donated by Counteract USA, a conservative group founded by former U of A student Abigail Dejarnatt, in classrooms as required by Arkansas Act 573.

The donation comes amid ongoing legal debates over the separation of church and state.

More than 166,000 Arkansans in the ACA will see higher health insurance costs from planned rate hikes and a loss of federal subsidies.

Private insurance prices will rise about 22% in 2026 — and open enrollment is set from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15, so dropping coverage means waiting for the next period.

The University of Arkansas football team began a new Bobby Petrino plan on Sunday as they prepare for a game against No.4 Texas A&M at Reynolds Razorback Stadium Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Petrino said his approach—focusing on film review, special teams and conditioning—aims to fix errors after a close loss to Tennessee.

UA safety commit Keivay Foster from Muscle Shoals is known for his raw talent and high potential as he chose Arkansas for its strong football program.

Coach Stephen Lawler said his unique frame may add up to fifty-five pounds—boosting his versatility on the field while he is drawn by career opportunities in Northwest Arkansas.

Fall Fun at Farmland Adventures

3-9 p.m. — Farmland Adventures — Ticket required — Enjoy a giant corn maze, pumpkin picking, pony rides, and family-friendly activities this fall.

35th Annual Ozark Regional Arts & Crafts Festival

9 AM – 8 PM — Northwest Arkansas Convention Center — $18.6M predicted spend — Celebrate local artistry with a wide array of handcrafted goods at this beloved festival.

Halloween Boxing Show

6-10:30 p.m. — Springdale Civic Center — Costumes encouraged — Experience a night of boxing, community fun, and trick-or-treat festivities.

Gobbler Race Series 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon

8 a.m. — Shaw Family Park, Springdale, AR — Registration required — Lace up your running shoes for a festive community challenge with 5K, 10K, and half marathon options.