Good morning, Fayetteville.

Fayetteville will hold a free bicycle helmet giveaway on Friday, Aug.

14 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Marion Orton Recycling Center along the Razorback Greenway — residents must complete an eligibility form to receive one CPSC-certified helmet while supplies last.

Batesville-based Citizens Bank will open a new banking center at 1350 E.

Joyce Blvd. in Fayetteville in the first quarter of 2027 — the center will offer retail banking, lending and support as it replaces the existing branch.

Swarm Aero secured a $10 million government contract to develop manufacturing techniques for unmanned aircraft parts at its new Fayetteville facility (opened mid February).

The company said it will add jobs as operations scale up with plans to eventually create up to 600 high skill roles.

Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts is accepting applications for its 2026 Apprenticeship Program, which funds mentor-apprentice teams and offers up to $3,000 for projects preserving traditional arts.

Submit an Intent to Apply form by Aug. 31.

Faculty members, students, and alumni from U of A’s AECT attended two conferences in May and June, earning honors such as Estepp’s Fellow induction + multiple awards for outstanding presentations in agricultural education.

Fayetteville schools resumed class for the 2026-2027 year on Tuesday, Aug.

11, with Happy Hollow Elementary students greeted by the U of A Cheer Team. Superintendent John Mulford said that screen time guidelines were adjusted & parents experienced longer drop-off traffic as bus drivers learned new routes.

The U of A Department of Music will hold Fall 2026 Jazz Area Ensemble auditions from Aug.

16 to Aug. 18, with in-person sessions at MUSC 321 and BAND 128 (virtual options available by permission). All students with any instrument or major may audition.

Keith Urbanski, a Global Campus workforce partnerships coordinator, finished the first year of the Community Development Institute (a three-year program funded by the Walton Family Foundation that selected 25 participants from across Arkansas) and will use new training to boost local economic growth.

The National Institutes of Health awarded AIMRC $11.2 million for Phase 2 funding today as it builds on five years of research at the U of A and supports early-career faculty—aiming to boost external funding to $75-$80 million over the next five years.

A book called The State of Education in Arkansas will launch in November.

Co-edited by Harry Patrinos and Kristen Scott from the College of Education shows key updates like the LEARNS and ACCESS Acts and higher teacher pay to help every student succeed.

Officials in Benton and Washington counties announced burn bans today as dry weather continues, joining restrictions already in effect in Johnson, Le Flore, Madison, Franklin and Logan counties.

Authorities advised residents with approved control burns to report plans + follow guidelines until bans are lifted.

Researchers at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station recently published a study using machine learning to examine gene neighborhoods and tell harmful E. cecorum strains apart from harmless ones in poultry.

The method, which looks at gene organization like a neighborhood map, may help improve surveillance for poultry health.

Arkansas women’s basketball announced its 2026 to 2027 SEC schedule—conference play opens Dec.

31 in Nashville at Vanderbilt and ends Feb. 28 at home against Tennessee. The schedule includes 16 SEC games and 30 dates overall, with nonconference contests and a preseason exhibition.

Colby Hale, Bella Field and Kennedy Ball previewed the Razorbacks’ upcoming regular-season opener against Baylor during a press conference that gave local fans insight into the team’s strategy.