The 479 Show

479 Show - May 25, 2026

This week in the 479 saw the Fayetteville City Council endure a marathon session with two appeals in the spotlight, the Springdale City Council Finance Committee moving forward with a federal grant acceptance for elimination of an at-grade railroad crossing, the Rogers Board of Education setting in motion a study on block scheduling, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission getting ready to approve transportation projects and the University of Arkansas increasing tuition and backing its president in dealing with a tenured professor's troubling social media activity. We hear more highlights from area high school graduations and our Comment from the Capitol recaps the week in Washington. And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a Siloam Springs runner was among those aspiring to become a Speedy Spud.

479 Show - May 18, 2026

On a packed episode, the City of Greenland was closer to becoming a first-class city, the City of Centerton was closer to having a library, the Bentonville City Council was back to full strength, the Springdale City Council created a new deputy animal services director position and the University of Arkansas tennis programs received a stay of execution after supporters raised funds to support it. We highlight some of the high school graduations that took place during the week. Our Comment from the Capitol visits with the producer of the National Memorial Day Concert. And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Michigan, where an attempt to touch grass led to a five-alarm fire.

479 Show - May 11, 2026

The first week of May in the 479 saw the Springdale City Council adopt changes to its downtown form-based code, the Fayetteville City Council adopt increased water and sewer rates, the Washington County Quorum Court County Services Committee deal with a Fayetteville business that had been operating without permits for years, and commencement exercises at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville. The Arkansas General Assembly met in special session to consider a fourth income tax cut in as many years. And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Maryland, where a college football team features probably the only defensive lineman who could qualify for the senior discount at a local restaurant.

479 Show - May 4, 2026

The end of April was busy as Highfill officials proposed the idea of an Industrial Development Authority, while the city councils in Bella Vista, Bentonville and Rogers met. The Washington County Planning Board closed out the month with a conditional use permit for a residential treatment center near Prairie Grove to house sixteen girls, and the Arkansas General Assembly wrapped up its fiscal session in time to be called back into a special session. Our Benton County Extension Report focuses on the presence of hemlock and the dangers it poses for livestock, while our Comment from the Capitol focused on another wild week in Washington. And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Grapevine, Texas, where officials presented a surprise retirement party for a former Chik-Fil-A employee whose most recent career choice involved ringing up 800 fraudulent orders of mac-and-cheese and refunding the proceeds toward his future legal expenses.

479 Show - April 27, 2026

School boards took the spotlight during the week with Bentonville and Fayetteville boards hearing about facilities improvements, Fayetteville and Rogers approving salary schedules for the coming year and Gravette considering a real estate offer. On the government side, Fayetteville approved the expansion of its Farmer's Market, Prairie Grove moved forward with its downtown street work, Springdale officials discussed updates to its downtown form-based codes, Bentonville and Lowell would have vacancies in their councils, Benton County put the idea of an industrial development authority to rest and regional agencies discussed road construction and a possible merger of solid waste districts. Our Benton County Extension report speaks about a new nutrition trend, while our Comment from the Capitol talks about efforts to renew the FISA Act. And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Houston, Texas, where a citizen learned it was a good idea to check his pockets before going to the court house.