This week's collection of archives from the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History offers a glimpse into May of 1969. There were protests, political unrest and more.

Michael Tilley, with Talk Business and Politics , discusses why building permits and Fort Smith sales tax revenue are strong during the pandemic. He also examines some confusion regarding an upcoming teachers' event in Fort Smith.

Arkansas United , a statewide immigrant advocacy group, has served 800 agriculture and poultry workers impacted by the pandemic through its Essential Workers Fund. Another 300 workers are on a waiting list, so the organization is using Giving Tuesday and its annual Gala and State Convention as a launching point for an effort to raise more money for the intiative.

The Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance formed back in March in response to a directive from the governor that required all restaurants to stop dine-in service to limit the spread of COVID-19. Since then, the organization has provided 80 checks totaling nearly $37,500 to hospitality workers who needed financial aid to pay their bills as they lost jobs and hours. The FIRA continues to take applications, but one of its board members says they also need continued donations, especially

Originally released in 2017, Femi-Socialite was the first release by local band Jamie Lou and the Hullabaloo . After a lineup change and more experience playing together, the band rerecorded and remixed the album. We talk with the band's Jamie Lou and Garrett Brolund to learn more about the effort.

Becca Martin-Brown, the features editor at the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , explains the menu for Christmas in 1890 was different than what we prepare for the holiday now. It is all part of her preview of a special Yuletide exhibit at the Hawkins House at the Rogers Historical Museum.

On today's show, we have an inside look at what the governor's executive order expediting nursing licenses and waiving application fees means for the state's medical systems. Plus, we speak with the chief of the Cherokee Nation to find out how the tribe has been able to control the spread of COVID-19 on its reservation. And, we have a new edition of Sound Perimeter that focuses on music composed for string instruments.

To help Arkansas medical systems better manage escalating COVID-19 hospitalizations, Governor Asa Hutchinson issued an executive order in November that speeds up licensure for all graduating nurses and waives application fees. Chief nursing officers with Washington Regional Medical Center and UAMS Health , along with a seasoned COVID-19 ICU nurse and graduating nursing student, say the order is critical especially in the coming months.

While other Native American tribes have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cherokee Nation has been able to control the spread of the virus among its citizens. Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin says a robust healthcare system, listening to experts, and quick action to implement measures such as a mask mandate have been key to the tribe's success.

On this week's Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Report, Paul Gatling speaks with University of Arkansas economist Mervin Jebaraj about what president-elect Joe Biden's cabinet picks might mean for the county's economy. Plus, a bit of speculation about Amazon's potential plans in Northwest Arkansas.