Good morning, Fayetteville.

Taylor Speegle, the vice president and chief strategy officer, will become president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank starting Jan.

1—he will replace Kent Eikenberry, who plans to retire in 2026 after helping with the leadership transition.

The Jones Center in Springdale reopened its renovated ice arena and introduced a new brand to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

The $625,000 project was led by the center’s marketing team in collaboration with local partners — the upgrades include new locker rooms, flooring and public areas for nonprofit users.

Heartland Forward, a Bentonville think-and-do tank, announced Monday that it promoted Krista Cupp to executive vice president for partnerships and events to lead the Heartland Summit and named J.T.

Geren as vice president of communications—moves designed to boost the nonprofit’s impact on regional economic growth.

Northwest Arkansas Business Journal is accepting nominations for its Outstanding Business Awards—sponsored by Arvest Bank—to honor companies that have grown and helped their communities.

Businesses in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith metro area must submit nominations by Dec. 19; 25 finalists will be chosen on March 9 with winners announced on March 10 at the Holiday Inn in Springdale.

A Beautiful Noise: A Neil Diamond Musical begins today at 7 p.m. at Walton Arts Center and will run through Oct 19.

Actor Robert Westenberg leads the production—showing Neil Diamond's life through songs, flashbacks, and a conversation with a therapist.

On Oct. 3, the Arkansas Department of Education released its Year 2 report on the voucher program for 2024–25 and found that 88% of the students had not attended public school while only 12% switched from public schools—casting doubt on whether the vouchers help families leave failing schools. Researchers updated a label for students who remained in the program to show they were retained from Year 1.

Arkansas is partnering with Google to offer free AI courses and career certificates for adults 18 and older to boost digital skills.

People can sign up on the Arkansas Department of Commerce website, and the program will prepare them for modern jobs — a key step in growing the state's workforce.

Officials announced that UAMS received an $11.7M grant to create a maternal health research center that will support at least three maternal and reproductive health researchers each year.

The institute will also host a conference for local professionals next spring (aimed at improving care in rural and underserved communities).

Matt Jones and Christina Long discussed Arkansas' 34 to 31 loss to Tennessee+ coaching changes that may affect the Razorbacks' search.

David Seifert of D1Baseball visited Fayetteville to watch Arkansas beat Dallas Baptist in an exhibition game at Baum Walker Stadium.

Heart of the Ozarks Craft Fair & Fall Festival

9 AM – 6 PM — Washington County Fairgrounds — Free entry — Explore over 300 booths, enjoy live music, delicious food, and family fun.

Lily Rose: I Know What I Want Tour

7-9:30 p.m. — Ozark Music Hall — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening with Lily Rose as she performs her latest tour hits.

Heart of the Ozarks Craft Fair & Fall Festival

9 AM – 6 PM — Washington County Fairgrounds — Free entry — Celebrate local crafts and enjoy food, music, and family fun.

Irie Lions & My Nextdoor Neighbor Sunday Show

5:30-9 p.m. — Prairie Street Live! — General Admission + Fees — Experience an evening of original reggae vibes and dynamic prog rock performances.

Fayetteville Haunts Ghost Tour

5-7 p.m. — Fayetteville Public Library — Registration required — Explore the haunted history and ghostly legends of Downtown Fayetteville on a spooky walking tour.

Whitney Cummings Live

7:00–8:30 p.m. — Walton Arts Center — Tickets from $69 — Enjoy an evening with the talented comedian Whitney Cummings in Fayetteville.

First Encounters NWA: Speed Dating for 40+

7-9 p.m. — Six Twelve Coffeehouse & Bar — Ticketed event includes one drink — Sip, flirt, and spark connections at this guided speed dating night for the 40s and beyond.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #20 Partypooper Tour

5:30-7 p.m. — Fayetteville High School — $22 — Celebrate the 20th book release with a fun-filled birthday bash featuring author Jeff Kinney.

NWA TechFest Monthly Meetup

6-9 p.m. — GOAT Lab Brewery — Free drinks available — Connect with STEM professionals over great conversations and community Q&A sessions.

The Official Halloween Bar Crawl in Fayetteville

4 p.m. — Calle Latin Cuisine — No entry fee — Haunt the bars in Fayetteville during this fun-filled Halloween bar crawl!