During Pride month, Amanda Arafat and Grayce Holcomb wanted to give shoppers an alternative to big box stores, which, they say try to capitalize on Pride as a marketing opportunity. The two organized the ' Big Gay Market ,' open this saturday from 3 to 8 P.M. at 418 S. Government Ave. in Fayetteville.

The Rodeo of the Ozarks in Springdale returns after a pandemic pause and Becca Martin Brown, the features editor with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , says the 2021 edition includes the usual...plus more.

Local country songwriter Dylan Earl wrote a song with Dutch Americana queen Judy Blank in fall 2019 as part of a songwriters retreat by The House of Songs . Though recorded before the pandemic, "Never Said a Word" wasn't released until Jun. 18. We catch up with the two as they prepare to play a series of dates in the U.K. and The Netherlands.

The Arkansas Department of Health is urging caution for those venturing into woodlands and fields this summer about being bitten by infectious ticks. Invasive feral swine in Arkansas, which attract and transport ticks, are being surveyed for tick pathogens at both the University of Arkansas - Monticello , as well as at the U of A in Fayetteville . The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a tick portal including a regional tick bite tracker, which you can check out here .

Forge Institute is leading the way for increased cybersecurity education in the state. Lee Watson, the CEO of Forge Institute, talks with Roby Brock as part of this week's Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Report .

Kelly and Donna Mulhollan, the duo Still on the Hill , are performing at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art this weekend. Their public performances were halted during the pandemic. and they filled the schedule with new projects.

The first full weekend of Summer has a plethora of live music opportunities to offer. Thur. Jun 24 American Aquarium at George's Majestic Lounge (Fayetteville) - $25.00, 8 p.m. Statehouse Electric at Mojo's East (Fayetteville) - 7 p.m. Fri. Jun 25 Ashtyn Barbaree at Ella's Table (Fayetteville) - 5 p.m. Full House at George's Majestic Lounge (Fayetteville) - $10.00, 6 p.m. Fight the Fade, The Red Lens, Graves & Theody at George's Majestic Lounge (Fayetteville) - $5.00, 9:30 p.m. Rochelle

Over half a million Arkansans don't have access to broadband internet. Senator Jim Hendren is the founder of Common Ground , whose mission is to promote good ideas that make Arkansas a better state, regardless of party affiliation.

The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted unanimously to allocate $5 million to extend the runway at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. The 1,300-foot extension is in preparation for United States military training program at the base for foreign military sales partners, expected to begin in 2023.

After the pandemic forced all NWA Pride events to be virtual in 2020, the Pride Parade returns to Fayetteville this Saturday. This year there will also be the first-ever Trans March on Thursday night.