Despite the average wage needed to buy a home being at its highest rate since the crash of 2008, homes in Northwest Arkansas remain affordable to most workers in comparison to national averages.

• Perspective: The median price of a home in Benton County right now is $285,000, and the average household income in the county is $71,000, meaning the average earner is spending 21.1% of their income to secure a mortgage. That is 5.2% less than the national average. 
• Shifting percentages: In Benton and Washington counties, wages are up 8.6% and 6.1%. The percent of those wages needed to buy homes is below the ceiling of affordability in both counties as well, despite home prices rising. 

See the full Talk Business & Politics story HERE. 

It’s only a matter of time before Northwest Arkansas becomes a hotspot for filmmakers across the world because the silver screen is coming to Bentonville later this year along with some big names!

• The movie: Meg Ryan of “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “You’ve Got Mail,” and others, will star in and direct a fresh take on a classic rom-com trope. The film is about ex-lovers stuck in an airport together, left to work out their shared past. It will be called “What Happens Later.”
• Local talent: The movie is based on the play “Shooting Star” and will feature David Duchovny as Ryan’s co-star. Incorporating regional talent, Kristin Mann of Bentonville will produce the movie in partnership with Fayetteville’s Rockhill Studios and others. 

Learn more HERE. 

We wrote on Friday about the Primary Elections, and we’re writing about them again today because today is the day early voting starts!

• Electing leaders: Typically, the Primaries have lower voter turnouts, but we all can change that this year and be involved in shaping our region politically. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has put together a voter guide that includes information about each Arkansas candidate. 
• Vote and ride: According to recent numbers, just 15% of Arkansas vote in the May Primaries where around 85% of races are actually decided, according to Common Ground Arkansas. You can learn more about early voting locations, what you need to bring, and see a sample ballot based off your residence here.

Early voting opens today, May 9, and Primary Election Day is May 24.

It’s warming up and summer weekends are just around the corner. You might want to save your Saturday evenings for live outdoor concerts at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. 

• Evening festivities: The Forest Concert Series is returning this summer to merge national and local musicians in the Cristal Bridges North Forest. The performances will be outdoors surrounded by art and nature, including a food truck, cash bar, and art-making activities.
• Under the trees: There are eight concerts scheduled throughout the summer, and they are $12 to attend (18 and under are free). The first concert is scheduled for May 28. Be sure to bring your lawn chair or blanket to enjoy live music under the trees. 

Learn more HERE. 

Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange (CACHE) is bringing back Groundwaves, a hip-hop community-building program, for its second season starting May 10.

• Performance practice: Groundwaves is a six-month hip-hop open mic mentorship program that furthers the discovery, development, and celebration of Northwest Arkansas talent across the world’s most popular, most culturally significant music genres and communities.
• On stage: The program will have open mics every second Tuesday of every month and one-on-one mentorship sessions with American Rapper, Murs the following day. Sign-ups begin at 5p on the day of show, in-person only at 214 in Springdale. The open mics will begin at 6p and are free and open to the public. 

Learn more about the program HERE.