It's Tuesday. We hope it's a great hair day.

☁️ 40% chance of rain before noon, then cloudy with highs near 40.

☎️ Situational awareness: Republican Congressman Steve Womack of Rogers will hold a virtual town hall tonight at 7pm.

• Dial 833-380-0719 or join the conversation online.

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Today's newsletter is 937 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Northwest Arkansas schools are reminding parents and employees of their policies in light of recent concerns that immigration officers could show up.

State of play: Immigration officials can raid churches and schools to arrest undocumented immigrants after the Trump administration scrapped a policy that protected sensitive spaces, Axios' April Rubin writes.

Context: Officials have not provided clear details on what may prompt them to arrest someone at a school, but a White House spokesperson told NBC News that enforcement on school or church grounds will be "extremely rare" and the revised policy isn't a directive for ICE to target such locations, Axios' Avery Lotz writes.

• Yes, but: Heightened anxiety amid the administration's immigration crackdown has triggered dips in school attendance nationwide.

What they're saying: "Children may only be checked out of school during the school day by approved individuals or those with legal authority to access the student," Fayetteville Public Schools said in a letter to parents.

• "This may include state or federal officials, but only with authority granted pursuant to a specific statute or through an appropriate court order … Our schools do not provide confidential student information to anyone without parental permission or an order of a court of jurisdiction."

Rogers Public Schools in a letter to parents reiterated that the district does not inquire or maintain records related to immigration status per Plyler v. Doe, the 1982 Supreme Court case that ruled that states cannot deny children education because of their immigration status.

• Plus, immigration officials can only access student records or school grounds with a judicial order.

A Springdale Public Schools spokesperson wrote in an email to Axios that visitors must present identification and children may only be checked out by approved people or those with legal authority to access the student.

• Bentonville Public Schools declined to comment.

Go deeper: How districts around the country are responding

ICYMI: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and first gentleman Bryan Sanders were at the Super Bowl on Sunday, too.

• They got to spend at least some time with President Trump.

The bottom line: Sanders' spokesperson said the couple personally paid for the trip and tickets to the game.

📺 A controversial bill that passed the State House last week was pulled by its sponsor for amendments after discussion in the Senate Education Committee on Monday. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

• "The Baby Olivia Bill" would require public and open-enrollment public charter schools to include a 3-minute computer-animated video produced by an anti-abortion organization in health classes beginning in fifth grade.

🗳️ The candidate filing period for 25 school board seats in Benton and Washington counties begins on Feb. 24. Elections are May 13. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

🏨 The 78-room, $40 million Stonebreaker Hotel on Markam Hill in Fayetteville is now open. (Northwest Arkansas Business Journal)

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Some of your local city councils meet tonight. Here's a rundown of what they plan to discuss.

Bentonville will vote on:

📚 Increasing the library card for non-residents from $15 to $25 and setting fees ranging from free to $500 for meeting room rentals at the new library.

🏗 An amended agreement with Crossland Construction for about $6.4 million for the construction of the new parks and recreation maintenance facility at Memorial Park.

Rogers will vote on:

🏚 Ordering the removal of two buildings that were damaged during the Memorial Day 2024 storms — the former site of All Things Kindred plant shop at 425 W. Walnut St. and Castle Rental and Pawn at 1231 W. Walnut St.

🚧 Allotting about $14 million for street projects, including about $10.25 million for construction on Poplar Street and on 13th Street from Cherry to Poplar streets and about $2.6 million for construction on 13th Street from New Hope Road to Walnut Street.

Springdale will vote on:

🌳 Buying artificial turf for about $65,900 for Walter Turnbow Park in downtown to be installed in time for spring events.

If you go: 6pm at Bentonville and Springdale city halls and 6:30pm at Rogers City Hall

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Kelsey Howard's favorite taqueria is on Main Street in Siloam Springs. She and her family eat there most Tuesdays, she told me.

• She wanted to show off Antojitos Arcoiris to Taco Talk, so that's where we met.

Driving the news: Howard was recently appointed as the executive director of CACHE (Creative Arkansas Community Hub and Exchange) after serving as the managing director since May 2024.

State of play: Founded in 2019, CACHE works to help build NWA's creative scene and make it more inclusive. The group convenes creatives of all stripes, does research and offers resources aimed at helping artists finance their passions whether it be through writing grants or finding exhibit space.

• The organization looks to help creatives spend more time on their craft and less on administrative tasks, Howard said.

What's next: When asked about plans for the near future, Howard peppered the conversation with corporate catchphrases like organizational assessment, strategic planning and budget efficiency.

• They're things she called "unsexy" but necessary for CACHE to plan a sustainable path for the next few years.
• She hinted at professional development-type programs coming later this year that may help some artists by looking at their craft as entrepreneurs.

Howard also likes working with cities on plans to make art more accessible in the communities.

The bottom line: The tacos were great, but pupusas at Antojitos were worth the trip west from the Interstate 49 corridor. And the sauce, with its heat and vinegar snap, was some of the best I've had. 👨‍🎨Taco Talk is a regular feature. We sample a taqueria with the movers, shakers, artists and bakers of NWA, and rap about news in their world.

Read the full story

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Thanks to Fadel Allassan for editing this newsletter.

🎤 Alex is super excited that Alabama Shakes is coming to The Momentary.

🕰️ Worth is ready to spring forward.