The economy's rebound from a pandemic is far from complete. Mervin Jebaraj, the director for the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Akansas, discusses what may come next as part of this week's Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Report .

The 2020 Opera in the Ozarks season was scratched. That quiet summer resulted in upgrades and the development of a new concert series. Now, the 2021 season is about to begin and the artists and staff are ready for audiences.

COVID-19 took a major toll on the Cherokee Nation . Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. recently signed an executive order providing all government employees two hours of paid mental wellness leave monthly, in addition to re-dedicating a new walking path.

In today's Sound Perimeter, U of A music professor Lia Uribe expands our musical boundaries to outer space with pieces inspired by the moon. We hear compositions by Ludwig van Beethoven, Claude Debussy and Bart Howard.

As live music returns to the region, we return with our weekly look at what you can see and hear at venues across northwest Arkansas. Thurs, Jun 3 Tyler Kinch at George's Majestic Lounge (Fayetteville) - $10.00 8:30 p.m. Jeremiah Griffin at Six-Twelve Coffeehouse (Fayetteville) - 7 p.m. Roger Thomas at Fred's Hickory Inn (Bentonville) - 6:30 p.m. Jon Dooly, Nace Brothers at Walmart AMP (Rogers) - 6 p.m. Los Roscoes at The Gravel Bar (Eureka Springs) - 5 p.m. Fri, Jun 4 The Damn Neighbors,

This month Returning Home , a Springdale-based nonprofit that works with those at-risk of recidivism, began a new Community Alternative Program. CAP gives people who violate terms of their parole or those who have committed low-level, non-violent offenses an on-site treatment option in lieu of jail time. Funded by Washington County, officials hope the project can be one solution to a persistent jail overcrowding problem .

Springdale Public Schools is partnering with Ozarks Electric Cooperative and Today’s Power Inc. on a new 2.4 megawatt solar facility near Sonora Middle School. The project is expected to offset approximately 95 percent of the total energy used at three schools and save the district $2 million over 20 years.

During the worst of the pandemic a group of volunteer nurses, as well as doctors, were on hand delivering thousands COVID-19 vaccines to northwest Arkansans at numerous public venues. The group, " Nurses Crushing Covid ," were recently celebrated for their service. "Charge nurse" Lori Mahler says although the pandemic has eased, they remain on call.

Courtney Lanning, film critic for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , says the new animated film Spirit Untamed provides laughs and beautiful art. The villain, though, is a two-dimensional character.

Arkansas Razorback success on the diamond preceeds the current succes of the softball and baseball programs. In his latest essay about the first 150 years of U of A history . Charlie Alison tells us about Mildred Earp. She was a star in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.