A Friday news digest includes a tragedy on Table Rock Lake.

Fort Smith city directors have asked city officials to look throughout Arkansas for economic development methods that could boost growth in targeted areas and business sectors. While the City of Fort Smith already offers some economic incentives to attract new businesses or to encourage existing businesses to expand, City Administrator Carl Geffken says city leaders want to explore all available avenues to make those things happen.

Michael Tilley, from Talk Business and Politics , discusses the sale of Sparks to Baptist Health, a possible leveling off of northwest Arkansas home sales and the lengthy process to bring medical marijuana to Arkansas.

This week's Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Report examines a hotel-building boom in Bentonville and a banking boom spreading from Oklahoma into Arkansas.

This week's KUAF Vinyl Hour (5 p.m. Sunday on KUAF 3) digs deep into obscure Texas psychedelic rock.

A Thursday roundup includes medical developments, lost jobs at Walmart Optical Lab and the return of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to Arvest Ballpark.

While food has always been an important part of the Fayetteville Roots Festival , culinary events this year will receive even more recognition. This year's festival features an expanded lineup that includes a five course dining experience, themed tastings, workshops and chef competitions.

Public complaints about a growing number of algal blooms on the Buffalo National River have spurred the National Park Service to investigate. Park Service spokesperson Caven Clark says visitors are welcome to safely float and swim in the river, but visitors should avoid primary contact with affected stream sections. The Park Service posts seasonal critical alerts online, as well as water quality monitoring data by stream section.

On today’s show, officials at the Buffalo National River are investigating algal blooms on the river. Plus, the culinary aspect of the Fayetteville Roots Festival has always been important, but this year, it’s expanding significantly. And banking continues to grow in northwest Arkansas.

Lake Street Dive will be at George's Majestic Lounge Thursday evening as they tour in support of their lastest album, Free Yourself Up. Mike "McDuck" Olson discusses why the band decided to depart from the approach they took when recording 2016's Side Pony and how the current political and social climate has led them to write songs that go beyond love lost and love gained.