Local Washington County Judge, Joseph Wood, announced on Monday he would be a Republican candidate for Arkansas Lt. Governor. Justice Wood is currently serving his second term as Washington County judge.

• His resume: Prior to becoming county judge, Wood served Arkansas as the Deputy Secretary of State. He was responsible for the Business Commercial Services and Education Divisions and worked with the Elections Division. He also spent time as the Head of International Recruiting for Walmart and as District Human Resources Director for Home Depot
• Quote: "Arkansas needs a proven leader for the future of Arkansas."

You can see his official campaign video HERE.

Thanks to the Tyson Family Foundation, a new art installation is on display in a unique style through the windows of the Famous Hardware building in downtown Springdale.

• Hard facts: Downtown Springdale Alliance curated its second downtown installation. Viewers will see musical instruments crafted entirely from wood, a twelve-foot tall sculpture, and a device constructed out of hardware store components. 
• The artists: Mike Rea, from Chicago, explores pop culture through large sculptures, installations, and performances constructed from wood. Hailing from Jersey City, Albert Pedulla's work ranges from sculptures and installations to experimental photographic practices.

The installation is located at 113 West Emma Avenue and will be around town from May 8-July 23. The event is FREE to the public. Read more about the exhibit HERE.

The men’s and women’s track and field teams continued Arkansas' legacy of dominance in the sport as they swept the conference titles at the SEC Championships last Saturday in Texas.

• Both programs have also taken the Triple Crown this season, which consists of SEC championships in outdoor track and field, indoor track and field, and cross country. For the men, it marks their 16th Triple Crown in program history and the seventh for the women’s program.
• Best in class: A pair of victories underscored the SEC Championships for the Razorbacks - Nastassja Campbell won the pole vault and Krissy Gear claimed the 3,000m steeplechase with an Arkansas school record.

Read more about the recent achievement and what's next for the M & W track team HERE.

Today is election day for local school boards in Northwest Arkansas. There are a number of elections and most likely one in your area. Several seats are up for grabs, but few will be contested races.

• Washington County: Your only contested race will be in Fayetteville this year where four candidates are wrestling over two seats. You can learn more about what to expect by viewing a sample ballot here.
• Benton County: Gravette and Rogers School Districts have contested races this year in Benton County. You can find out who's vying for those seats and where to vote here.

Where to vote: Several polling locations are open today from 7:30a-7:30p, but check the Washington County list and Benton County list to confirm times and locations.

Last week we threw out some numbers about how many local restaurants and bars are struggling to find and hire employees. The Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance (FIRA) is trying to do something about this issue.

• Say more: FIRA aims to eliminate challenges that have plagued the hospitality industry by offering a broad array of resources and services to food-service workers in the region. 
• After being laid off last year, many of the existing industry workers have experienced big, hard life changes, didn't feel comfortable, or have made the decision to change industries altogether, leaving a shortage in the area. FIRA's efforts will hopefully fill some of the existing gaps.

Want to know more? You can listen to the full news story HERE.