The Har-Ber High School Television Productions team, led by advisor Travis Sherman, was recently awarded a National Emmy for Live Event Sports Broadcasting, confirming their status as one of the top broadcast teams in the country.

• The National Student Production Awards recognize outstanding achievement in video production. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences promotes excellence by showcasing work created by high school students in news, craft and programming categories.
• Thousands of students across the US submitted entries and pieces were judged by industry professionals based on overall production value and delivery, including: Pre Game Show, Halftime Show, Post Game Show, Live Reporting, Cameras, Audio and Direction. -Springdale Schools
• Award recipients include: Travis Sherman (advisor), Nick Luttrell, Samanthat Lewandowski, Zach Greenwood, Zack Duplanti, Victor Cardoza, Jared Park, and Donald Tucker.
• “To be at that level of excellence to where it has the ability to be nominated for a national Emmy and then go on to win one was really really cool and I feel really blessed to have,” senior Samantha Lewandowski said. -KNWA/Fox24

Want to connect with local business owners? Would you also like to support, shop and learn more about Northwest Arkansas's Black-Owned Businesses? Are you the owner of a local black-owned business or know someone who is?

• Black-Owned NWA welcomes all supportive members of Northwest Arkansas's community to join them for a business convention that is unique to NWA:

• WHEN: Saturday, February 27, 2021, 10AM - 4PM
• WHERE: Shiloh Square, 106 W Emma Ave, Springdale, AR 72764

• During this event, you can expect a COVID-19 cautious convention-style outdoor set up at Shiloh Square in downtown Springdale, Arkansas.

• Mask-wearing and socially distanced guests will go from table to table to learn, engage with and purchase any products/services from the participating black-owned businesses. The event is FREE & OPEN to the public, but you must register. More information can be found HERE.

We hope to see you at the expo celebrating Black History Month with us!

Black-Owned NWA started from humble beginnings on Instagram. To learn more, you can visit them HERE.

With locations across NWA, Community Clinic centers will be the first in Arkansas to receive COVID-19 vaccines as part of a new federal distribution plan. Community Clinic will begin receiving 500 doses weekly after the initial shipment arrives in three to five weeks.

• This is in response to the Biden Administration's announcement that community health centers across the country would receive direct shipments of the vaccine to help reach vulnerable populations.
• Community Clinic serves more than 40,000 patients - over half of whom are Hispanic and another 3,000 are Marshallese. However, vaccine equity is becoming a growing concern as the vaccine is rolled out across the state. -NWA Democrat Gazette
• Recent data has shown that communities of color are struggling to access COVID-19 vaccines due to lack of information in their spoken language, to a lack of health care providers such as hospitals and community pharmacies nearby. "We are recognizing there are weaknesses in the processes and procedures that have been implemented and are working on improving them," said Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, the state's epidemiologist. -NWA Democrat-Gazette
• Minority groups in the state including Blacks, Hispanics and Marshallese, have seen a disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases, and public health experts say vaccine accessibility is crucial for herd immunity and social justice. Michelle Smith, ADH Office of Health Equity director, said that such issues have always existed, but the COVID-19 crisis is highlighting the disparities in these communities.