Autonomous Freight in Arkansas: PepsiCo and Gatik announced a multi-year rollout of fully driverless Class 8 trucks across Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas, moving goods on fixed corridors inside PepsiCo’s regional distribution networks. Energy & Grid Buildout: Cypress Creek secured $3.5B in financing for the Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas, adding 1.63 GW of solar and 1.9 GWh of battery storage in early phases, with U.S.-made steel and domestically sourced solar modules. Solar + Storage Milestone: The same project is positioned to reach 2.45 GW solar and 2.9 GWh storage by 2029, aiming to boost local tax revenue and school/public safety funding. Public Health Watch: The CDC recognized Chagas disease as endemic in the U.S., estimating about 300,000 Americans may have it without knowing—raising attention as “kissing bugs” expand in summer. Internet Safety Month: Arkansas officials urged families to protect kids online, citing increases in child sexual abuse material reports and suicide-related threats, while noting privacy and algorithm-focused laws are paused during court challenges. Research Policy Pressure: Nonprofits and research groups are pushing back on proposed federal grant rules that would give political appointees more control over awarding research funding. Local STEM Growth: UAPB-linked support helped turn a Bauxite backyard garden into Rucker Farm Co, now offering workshops and youth education.