Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Sports editor Chip Souza gives us a sneak peak at the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Preps all-area teams for baseball, softball, soccer and track and field on today's Know the News podcast. Don't miss the latest news in Northwest Arkansas, sign up for our free newsletters at: nwaonline.com/email/

Bill Clinton's presidency ended more than 20 years ago, but he remains the first and only Arkansan to have made it to the political Mount Everest, the White House. Well before he and Hillary Clinton were residents at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., they got married inside a small brick house at 930 California Drive in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Today, the house is the Clinton House Museum, a local effort to preserve and commemorate the place where the couple joined friends and supporters to plot out the early days of Bill Clinton's political journey. A house in Hope, Arkansas, is where William Jefferson Blythe was born, but it could be said this house in Fayetteville became the birthplace of his political success, the setting for his first successful run for public office to become Arkansas' attorney general. The house is owned by the University of Arkansas, which also owns a number of other older houses in the area adjacent to the UA campus. The university leases the home to the board of directors of the Clinton House Museum, which is working to ensure the property's future as a stop on the so-called "Billgramage" is preserved. In this episode of Speaking of Arkansas, that board's president, former UA professor Stephen Smith, discusses the museum's future, the house's place in political history and the efforts to build an endowment to fund operation of the small museum. For additional information, visit clintonhousemuseum.org. The museum at 930 W. Clinton Drive is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

The eighth Bentonville Film Festival begins June 22. We chat with April Wallace, features reporter; and Ashley Edwards, the film festival's director of programming, about what to expect from this year's BFF. We'll continue coverage of the Film Festival all next week at nwaonilne.com. Don't miss the latest news in Northwest Arkansas, sign up for our free newsletters at: nwaonline.com/email/

On June 21, Washington County voters will choose the Republican Party nominee for county judge. Patrick Deakins and Mark Scalise are the candidates in this runoff election. The winner will face Democrat Josh Moody in the November general election. We invited both candidates to take part in this podcast. Mr. Scalise chose not to participate. Here are the questions we asked and Mr. Deakins' answers.

The spring preferential primary happened last month, but voters still have much to decide in the June 21 runoff election. We'll talk about that unfinished business today on the Know the News podcast. Don't miss the latest news in Northwest Arkansas, sign up for our free newsletters at: nwaonline.com/email/

Singer/songwriter Alyssa Galvan has a voice louder than she is and a talent for guitar that is the envy of those twice her age. She shares her experience at this year's International Blues Challenge, her plans for summer and one of her original songs with What's Up!

Thirty-nine high school seniors in Northwest Arkansas received an associate degree from Northwest Arkansas Community College along with their high school diploma when they graduated this month. We'll talk about that with Sydney Overton, a 2022 Rogers New Technology High School graduate, and Jorge Amaral, Early College Experience director at NWACC in this week's edition of the Know the News podcast. Don't miss the latest news in Northwest Arkansas, sign up for our free newsletters at: nwaonline.com/email/

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports editor Chip Souza along with sports reporters Rick Fires, Henry Apple and Leland Barclay give their rundown of the end of high school season's sports including the state championships. They also talking about some of their favorite games of the session as well as some stand out athletes. Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/ Sign up for our free Prep Sports newsletter at: nwaonline.com/sportsemail/

The state of Arkansas and the federal government are headed to court over how much phosphorous can be in the water coming out of local sewer treatment systems. But what does that mean to the average person and the local environment? We'll talk about that today with Dr. Rebecca Muenich, assistant professor in the school of sustainable engineering and the built environment at Arizona State University on the Know the News podcast. Read more about the story this weekend at nwaonline.com.  Don't miss the latest news in Northwest Arkansas, sign up for our free newsletters at: nwaonline.com/email/

The Bentonville Tigers were the last team from the 6A-West to earn a berth in the state baseball tournament. Now they are the last team standing from the West after punching their ticket to the state finals. The Van Buren baseball team is back in the championship game for the second straight year, and the Bentonville softball team is making its sixth consecutive state championship game appearance. Sign up for our free Prep Sports newsletter at: nwaonline.com/sportsemail/

Local singer/songwriter Ashtyn Barbaree talks about her new album, “Better Luck Next Time.” She performs a song from the album at the Northwest Arkansas ahead of her performance at the Fayetteville Public Library on May 28. Don't miss a single story on What's Up! Sign up for our newsletter at https://www.nwaonline.com/email/whatsupsignup/

High school graduation season is upon us and, for the first time in two years, they're happening without significant covid protocols and restrictions. We'll tell you what you need to know about this year's graduation celebrations in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley on the Know the News podcast. Don't miss the latest news in Northwest Arkansas, sign up for our free newsletters at: nwaonline.com/email/

Isaiah Sategna said he had unfinished business this track season, and the Fayetteville phenom handled that to lead his team to the Class 6A state championship, breaking a longstanding record in the process. Shiloh Christian's Bo Williams was all smiles after winning a state powerlifting championship last week. The NWADG sports crew recap these events and preview this week's state baseball, softball and soccer tournaments in this week's Prep Rally Podcast. Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/ Sign up for our free Prep Sports newsletter at: nwaonline.com/sportsemail/

Four lawsuits challenging the various legislative and judicial district boundaries are working their way through the federal courts. But just exactly does that mean to you? We'll talk about that on the Know the News podcast.

With one swing of a Rogers Heritage bat Tuesday night, Heritage, Fort Smith Southside and Bentonville West earned playoff berths in 6A baseball. Chip Souza, Henry Apple and Leland Barclay will also talk about Pea Ridge completing the track triple-crown by winning the Class 4A boys team title.

Downtown Bentonville has grown rapidly over the past 15 years and now includes an eclectic mix of housing, restaurants and other businesses. We reflect on how far downtown has come in that time, and what the future holds, withRod Sanders, Bentonville Planning Commission, Andrew Heath, executive director of Downtown Bentonville Inc. and Dana Schlagenhaft, communications director for Downtown Bentonville Inc. Read more about the downtown transformation this Sunday at nwaonline.com. Don't miss the latest news in Northwest Arkansas, sign up for our free newsletters at: nwaonline.com/email/

Will it take an abacus, slide rule, calculator and sun dial to figure out which 6A-West baseball teams will make it into the state tournament? Maybe.  Chip Souza, NWA Demcrat-Gazette sports editor, talks with Rick Fires and Leland Barclay, the River Valley sports guru, talk about how Rogers has the conference locked up, but the 2-3 seeds are still up for grabs. Who will grab it? Springdale Har-Ber?, Rogers Heritage, Fayetteville? Leland also talks about a stellar baseball game between Greenwood and Alma that true baseball fans can appreciate. Also what happens if teams tie?  Read more River Valley sports stories at: nwaonline.com/news/rivervalleyDG/sports/ Sign up for our free Prep Sports newsletter at: nwaonline.com/sportsemail/

The Walton Arts Center celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. We'll spend some time with Peter Lane, CEO of the Walton Arts Center to talk about the impact its had on the NWA community and what's next in store. Tell us your favorite memory from the Walton Arts Center here.

Rogers Heritage has tabbed Eric Munoz as its new head football coach. The former Springdale Red'Dog was hired Tuesday night to take over the War Eagles' program.

Benton County is examining the possibility of expanding its county jail. The question is, how will the county pay for it — and will voters be willing to help foot the bill? Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway joins us to discuss the matter. Read more about the issue this Sunday at nwaonline.com. You can sign up for our free email newsletters from the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette by visiting, https://www.nwaonline.com/email/

Van Buren welcomes a new football coach; Freshmen are dominating prep softball and a couple of coaches reach milestone wins.  Read more sports stories at: nwaonline.com/sports/prep/ Sign up for our free Prep Sports newsletter at: nwaonline.com/sportsemail/

Web Chatter: It's time to name the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette's All-Area basketball teams. We'll talk about the athletes and coaches selected this year which Sports Editor Chip Souza.

Rusty Turner, Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editor, April Wallace, NWADG features writer, talk with Jim Evans, with Lifewater, about the local non-profit's work to help impoverished people around to world get and keep access to clean water. Lifewater hopes to improve lives and health in some of the most remote places on earth.

The crew is safe after an early morning tornado swept through Northwest Arkansas. Rogers Heritage is looking for a new football coach; Brinkley Moreton is a rising star for Lincoln softball.

What did it take to get the national tour of the massive Broadway hit “Hamilton” to stop in Northwest Arkansas? We'll take you into the room where it happened on Friday's Know the News podcast as Rusty Turner; interviews Scott Galbraith with the Walton Arts Center. We will also preview the Speaking of Arkansas podcast with Greg Harton's interview with Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson.

State finals recap and who is the state's No. 1 boys team?

On this episode of the "Speaking of Arkansas" podcast, Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks about: • Sarah Huckabee Sanders, viewed as his likely replacement in 2023, and her qualities as a potential governor. • Issues he plans to work on during his remaining months in office. • Jail and prison overcrowding and whether Arkansas over-incarcerates its population. • His advice on how to approach Ukraine and Russia. • Mobile sports betting's entry into Arkansas. • His nephew Jim Hendren's Common Ground Arkansas organization. • Whether anti-intellectualism is an problem in Arkansas. • Arkansas' positioning to be heavily involved in the future of transportation. Join hosts Greg Harton and Rusty Turner of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as the governor covers a multitude of topics, including his post-gubernatorial plans (can you say "New Hampshire?).

The number of kids getting routine vaccines in Arkansas has declined since the covid-19 pandemic began. Dr. Marti Sharkey, Fayetteville's public health officer, discusses this subject with us on this week's Know the News podcast. Read more about the decline this Sunday at nwaonline.com.

Bentonville vs. North Little Rock highlights state championship week.

Filing for legistlative, county and judicial offices closed this week. On the Know the News podcast we'll talk about some of the more interesting races taking shape across the region.   Don't miss any election coverage. Sign up for our free 2022 election newsletter here.

Regional basketball recaps and a look back at the state swim/dive meet.

Northwest Arkansas National Airport continues to develop and make plans for the future. Andrew Branch, the airport's chief business development officer, will discuss those plans with us in this week's episode of Know the News.

Join the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports team, Chip Souza, Leland Barclay, Rick Fires and Henry Apple talk about how the wintry weather has altered plans for Regional Tournament Games. Postponements could push the game back to a weekend start. They'll also break down how the seeding could play out once the tournaments are played.

Candidate filing for the May 24 party primaries begins Tuesday. The recent history of elections in Arkansas shows if you want a say in who represents you in the Arkansas Legislature, you need to vote in the primary because the November general election has fewer contested races.

Fayetteville and Springdale Har-Ber maintain perfect 6A-West records with wins Tuesday; Harrison names a football coach

Overcrowding continues to be a serious problem at the Washington County Detention Center. We'll talk about the history of the issue along with potential solutions on the Know The News Podcast.

Rogers Heritage wraps up the 6A state dual wrestling title, and teams are fighting for seeding in the conference basketball schedule.

Rogers Heritage wraps up the 6A state dual wrestling title, and teams are fighting for seeding in the conference basketball schedule.

Kaitlyn Rush has a heart for helping her friends and neighbors in need, and the local chef has found plenty of ways to put food on the table and hope in the hearts of the people she meets. We'll talk with her about that today on the Know the News podcast.

Winter weather threatens prep basketball schedule, and players from the across the region sign college letters of intent on National Signing Day.

The UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships are being held in Fayetteville this weekend. Join us as we discuss the event with Molly Rawn, chief executive officer of Experience Fayetteville, and Kai Caddy, editor of Bike Arkansas Magazine. This is only the second time the event has been held in the United States in it's 72-year history.

Conference basketball is heating up; Harrison searching for a new football coach; Girls state dual wrestling this weekend. Sign up for our free Prep Sports newsletter at: nwaonline.com/sportsemail/

Rusty Turner, Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editor, Janelle Jessen, NWADG health reporter, and Larry Shackelford, CEO Washington Regional Medical Center, gather to talk about hospitalizations for covid-19 in Arkansas. Hospitalizations have hit an all-time high this week. We'll talk to Shackelford about what the ongoing outbreak in covid cases means on today's Know the News podcast. Sign up for our free newsletters at: https://www.nwaonline.com/email/

Between covid issues and a winter weather hit, prep basketball is taking one hit after another. Chip Souza and Leland Barclay discuss this and more in this week's podcast.

Arkansas Public Theatre in Rogers announced its 37th season at a Season Leaks party Jan. 14 at the Victory Theatre. Artistic director Ed McClure talks about the shows with Becca Martin-Brown, NWADG Features editor.

Rusty Turner, Becca Martin-Brown and Jamie Lamdin-Bowlin talk about Fort Smith Little Theater's upcoming celebration of it's 75th season. We'll talk about what shows the community theater group has in store.

Covid continues to wreak havoc on prep basketball; AAA set to announce regional and state tournament bids

Covid-19 numbers are once again spiking due to the omicron variant. But hospitalizations aren't increasing at the same rate. Meanwhile, mask mandates in schools may be on their way back and getting a covid test these days can be challenge. We'll talk about all that and more on today's Know the News podcast.

NWADG sports reporters recap the 6A-West Conference basketball openers, and preview the Hoop Hall South Regional classic at Bentonville West.

Two Republican candidates are in a runoff election for the party's nomination in the District 7 race against Democrat Lisa Parks. The Arkansas senate a seat includes Springdale and Elkins. The candidates, Colby Fulfer and Steve Unger take 2 minutes each on why they should be elected.

We're wrapping up 2021 with a look back at Northwest Arkansas' biggest stories of the year. Join Dave Perozek, Ron Wood, Mary Jordan and Janelle Jessen as they talk about the Bella Vista Bypass opening, a local man was indicted in the Capital Riot, the Josh Duggar trial, using Ivermectin to treat Covid-19 and more. Vote for what you think is the top story of the year at nwaonline.com/2021stories/.