This week in the 479 saw the Fayetteville City Council endure a marathon session with two appeals in the spotlight, the Springdale City Council Finance Committee moving forward with a federal grant acceptance for elimination of an at-grade railroad crossing, the Rogers Board of Education setting in motion a study on block scheduling, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission getting ready to approve transportation projects and the University of Arkansas increasing tuition and backing its president in dealing with a tenured professor's troubling social media activity.

We hear more highlights from area high school graduations and our Comment from the Capitol recaps the week in Washington.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a Siloam Springs runner was among those aspiring to become a Speedy Spud.

On a packed episode, the City of Greenland was closer to becoming a first-class city, the City of Centerton was closer to having a library, the Bentonville City Council was back to full strength, the Springdale City Council created a new deputy animal services director position and the University of Arkansas tennis programs received a stay of execution after supporters raised funds to support it.

We highlight some of the high school graduations that took place during the week.

Our Comment from the Capitol visits with the producer of the National Memorial Day Concert.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Michigan, where an attempt to touch grass led to a five-alarm fire.

The first week of May in the 479 saw the Springdale City Council adopt changes to its downtown form-based code, the Fayetteville City Council adopt increased water and sewer rates, the Washington County Quorum Court County Services Committee deal with a Fayetteville business that had been operating without permits for years, and commencement exercises at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville.

The Arkansas General Assembly met in special session to consider a fourth income tax cut in as many years.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Maryland, where a college football team features probably the only defensive lineman who could qualify for the senior discount at a local restaurant.

The end of April was busy as Highfill officials proposed the idea of an Industrial Development Authority, while the city councils in Bella Vista, Bentonville and Rogers met. The Washington County Planning Board closed out the month with a conditional use permit for a residential treatment center near Prairie Grove to house sixteen girls, and the Arkansas General Assembly wrapped up its fiscal session in time to be called back into a special session.

Our Benton County Extension Report focuses on the presence of hemlock and the dangers it poses for livestock, while our Comment from the Capitol focused on another wild week in Washington.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Grapevine, Texas, where officials presented a surprise retirement party for a former Chik-Fil-A employee whose most recent career choice involved ringing up 800 fraudulent orders of mac-and-cheese and refunding the proceeds toward his future legal expenses.

School boards took the spotlight during the week with Bentonville and Fayetteville boards hearing about facilities improvements, Fayetteville and Rogers approving salary schedules for the coming year and Gravette considering a real estate offer.

On the government side, Fayetteville approved the expansion of its Farmer's Market, Prairie Grove moved forward with its downtown street work, Springdale officials discussed updates to its downtown form-based codes, Bentonville and Lowell would have vacancies in their councils, Benton County put the idea of an industrial development authority to rest and regional agencies discussed road construction and a possible merger of solid waste districts.

Our Benton County Extension report speaks about a new nutrition trend, while our Comment from the Capitol talks about efforts to renew the FISA Act.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to Houston, Texas, where a citizen learned it was a good idea to check his pockets before going to the court house.

We have another busy week in the region as the Bentonville City Council updated its Plan Bentonville comprehensive plan update, the Springdale School District started work on Westwood Elementary School and the Washington County Quorum Court adopted an ordinance subjecting most resolutions to committee hearings before being introduced in the full body.

Our Comment from the Capitol describes the week in Washington following Easter recess for Congress.

And our trip off the beaten path takes us to New Jersey, where the promoter of the Santa Con bar crawl put himself on Santa's naughty list, which coincided with the Manhattan District Court's docket.

The first full week of April featured the Fayetteville City Council discussing the expansion of the Farmers Market, while the Arkansas General Assembly convened its fiscal session and the Arkansas Department of Transportation presented its plans for the Western North-South Connector Road.

Northwest Arkansas Congressman Steve Womack spoke with the operator of the Oz Bike Trail and Chair Life in Bella Vista about their opening in May.

Our trip off the beaten path takes us to northwestern Georgia, where a youth softball tournament made the news for the wrong reasons.

The week featured a recap of the March 31 runoff elections in Arkansas along with the introduction of a new north-south connector road west of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport and the dedication of the Bella Vista Bypass segment of Interstate 49 in honor of former Governor Asa Hutchinson.

Our Benton County Extension report prepares homeowners for the canning season.

And our trip off the beaten path focuses on the theft of Kit Kat bars in Europe.