As Northwest Arkansas' culinary profile continues to grow, access to food remains uneven for many residents. Taylor Speegle, the new CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, is leading a data-driven effort to better identify need, strengthen partnerships and shape how food is distributed to make a measurable impact.

For almost a decade, The Arkansas International has looked outward.

With warmer days settling in across Northwest Arkansas, I've been paying more attention to where I'm sitting when I go out, soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells that make eating and drinking outside this time of year so enjoyable.

Weird things land in my email inbox, and then I know things I never wanted to know. I see things I can't forget. And because I can't get it out of my head, I end up writing about it. Then we're all stuck in the same terrifying boat, so I apologize in advance for what you're about to learn.

James H. Berry was born on a farm in Jackson County, Alabama, in 1841, to parents James M. Berry and Isabella (Orr) Berry. He was one of ten children in the family. His sister Mary would later marry Col. Sam Peel. In 1848, the family moved to Carroll County, Arkansas. James attended school during the winter, learning to read and do arithmetic. At the age of 17 he attended the Be...