Crafting America is the first exhibition at the Bentonville museum dedicated to the subject of modern and contemporary craft. The exhibit, which features more than 120 objects made from a variety of materials by 98 American artists, is on view through May 31.

From holding office to running the state's Democrat Party, f or years Joe Purcell was in the middle of Arkansas politics. We remember him in this week's archives provided by the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History with our guide, Randy Dixon.

A bill that requires the Arkansas Department of Health to set up a hotline program for women seeking an abortion by 2023 passed both the Arkansas House and Senate last week. The Every Mom Matters Act , or EMMA, will require women to call a hotline that will be staffed with care agents contracted out by ADH, who will provide information about resources, both public and private, that the bill's sponsors say may lead to fewer abortions.

Forge Community Loan Fund , based in Huntsville, has partnered with refugee resettlement agency, Canopy Northwest Arkansas , to enable refugees to capitalize small business startups. We meet Canopy’s first Forge client, Eca Mukandama, a refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo, who is opening an auto sales and repair shop in south Fayetteville.

Michael Tilley, with our partner Talk Business and Politics , helps us understand economic numbers from a pandemic year. He says the figures are a mixed bag.

While opponents of Arkansas Senate Bill 24 , also known as the Stand Your Ground Bill, took some time to celebrate Tuesday after the bill failed in committee, they quickly reminded themselves that the legislation can still be brough back for a vote. SB24 would end the duty to retreat if the person using deadly force is lawfully present, has reasonable belief they were being threatened, they were not engaged in criminal or gang activity, and they are not a felon or the inital aggressor.

This fall, LaunchCode , a St.Louis-based nonprofit, began a free training course for Northwest Arkansas residents interested in computer programming. The 20-week intensive course gives students web-development and coding skills to help them find in-demand technology jobs.

Becca Martin-Brown, the features editor with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , says this weekend's theater offerings, whether live or virtual, are as plentiful as before the pandemic began.

On today's show, we find out how Benton and Washington counties will be distributing a combined $15 million in federal rental assistance funding. Plus, we head to Gentry where voters are casting ballot in a special election that will decide Sunday alcohol sales in the small western Benton County town. And, we learn about how federal stimulus checks are helping lift the state's revenue during the pandemic.

In late January, Benton and Washington Counties received about $8.3 and $7.1, respectively, from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 to provide rental assistance to residents impacted by COVID-19. Both counties are working with local nonprofits to take applications and distribute the money. Benton County is working with Hark at Excellerate Foundation and Washington County is working with the Fayetteville Housing Authority and the Springdale Housing