Becca Martin Brown, the features editor for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, says Avenue Q has puppets...but the puppets engage in very adult speach and behavior. Arkansas Public Theatre in Rogers has the musical beginning tonight.

On today's show, some University of Arkansas students and teachers are concerned about being exposed to the delta variant in a classroom setting. Plus, a forecast on the homebuilding market in Northwest Arkansas, our weekly live music roundup, and much more.

At the top of our show today: ICU beds in short supply across the state and in northwest Arkansas, plus Arkansas International is recognized as a top literary publication in the country.

The University of Arkansas released a statement on March 24, 2021 telling faculty and staff to plan for a 100 percent return to campus, and that "[f]aculty and students should expect a full return to face-to-face classes this fall." This was before the delta variant of COVID-19 arrived in Arkansas. Some students and faculty with disabilities are requesting accommodations to learn and teach remotely in light of the ongoing pandemic, but the university is denying that specific accommodation.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences AR-Connect program is offering counseling to those displaced by Hurricane Ida. The virtal service, which began in 2020, provides telehealth options for people in Arkansas dealing with depression, anxiety, substance abuse or medication management. Services are free of charge and can be accessed 24-hours a day through the AR-Connect call center at (501) 526-3563 or (800) 482-9921.

Homebuilding is still a boom industry in the region. This week's Northwest Arkansas Business Journal includes a forecast for the near future.

Although many minds may be on football this weekend, opportunities for live music are ample throughout the area.

Last week nonprofit Pedal It Forward and the University of Arkasnas Office of Sustainabilty gifted bicycles to 20 international students as part of Cycle September. This Audio postcard captures soounds from the event on the campus in Fayetteville.

In this week's Sound Perimeter, University of Arkansas music professor Lia Uribe explores music featuring the fanciful sounds of piccolo and flute. We hear selections from composers Adina Izarra, Valerie Coleman and Claude Bolling.

On today's show, the U of A is offering a course in Cherokee. Plus, communities in two states are going to work together to attract medical manufacturing companies to the region, the evolution of the University of Arkansas fight song, and much more.