Author: Michael Tilley

Michael Tilley

Arkansas ends fiscal year with a $1.161 billion tax surplus

Arkansas ended the fiscal year with a $1.161 billion tax revenue surplus driven in part by a more than 8% growth in sales tax collections. But recent federal data suggests…

‘Harsh setbacks’ overcome to open the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith

The relief was palpable among many of the 350 who gathered Thursday (June 29) to open the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith. It was a project 16 years in…

Fort Smith seeks $20 million grant for Towson Avenue water line work

The city of Fort Smith is asking to apply for a $20 million grant through the Department of Defense (DOD) to fund water line work along about four miles of…

Teamsters set to vote on ABF labor agreement; contract details published

International Brotherhood of Teamsters members who work for ABF Freight are set to vote on a new five-year labor agreement that includes an immediate per hour raise of $3.50, and…

AG Griffin’s FOIA working group meetings will not be open to the public

An Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) review working group created by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin includes a member who pushed legislation that would have “significantly weakened” public access…

$75.5 million in legislation for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

The expensive effort to create a foreign military pilot training center in Fort Smith may have $75.5 million – if not more – in the next federal fiscal year to…

Fort Smith metro home sales down 20.5% through March

With interest rates more than double what they were two years ago, Fort Smith metro home sales are trending much lower than the records set in 2021. First quarter home…

Arkansas’ education boss to speak at Moms for Liberty convention

Arkansas Education Secretary Jacob Oliva is speaking this summer at the national convention of Moms for Liberty, a group recently identified as an “extremist” group by the Southern Poverty Law…

Tentative labor deal reached between ABF, Teamsters

The estimated 8,600 drivers, dock workers and other unionized employees of ABF Freight may soon vote on new five-year contract if Teamster leaders next week approve sending the tentative agreement…

Teamsters, ArcBest continue to work on new labor contract

Teamsters and ArcBest negotiators continue to work toward a labor contract agreement for the more than 8,000 union drivers with ArcBest subsidiary ABF Freight. The existing five-year contract expires June…

Arkansas’ tax revenue surplus estimated to be $1.03 billion

Arkansas’ fiscal year-to-date (July 2022-May 2023) tax revenue is up 0.4% compared with the same period in the previous fiscal month, and the revised budget indicates the state will end…

Arkansas medical marijuana spending spikes on April 20; sales up 5.1%

Average per day spending on medical marijuana in Arkansas is $787,000, but that tally toked higher to more than $2 million on April 20, a date – 4/20 – associated…

Lawsuit seeks to overturn Crawford County Public Library policy on book restrictions

Attorney Brian Meadors has filed a federal complaint against book censorship actions by the Crawford County Public Library. The action comes almost 20 years after Meadors won a similar censorship…

Crawford County Sheriff’s Office asked to stop engaging in religious practices, events

The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) is asking the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office to stop promotion of religious programs, events and other activities that violate the Establishment Clause of the…

Home, apartment complex top Sebastian County deals in March and April

The biggest Sebastian County property sales in March and April were an apartment complex in south Fort Smith and commercial property on U.S. 71 South between Fort Smith and Greenwood….

Arkansas’ jobless rate sets another record low in April; jobless number at a new low

An almost 10% decline in the number of unemployed and a 1% gain in jobs year-over-year helped push Arkansas’ April jobless rate to 2.8%, below the 3.1% in April 2022…

Film festival to unveil new poster, reaches out to Polish Film Commission

An effort by the Fort Smith International Film Festival is part of the community outreach to foreign nations that U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, has said will be vital now…

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Data points to healthy tourism sector in early 2023

The state’s leisure and hospitality (tourism) sector continues in early 2023 with the significant gains posted in 2022. Arkansas’ tourism tax is up 15.7%, with tourism sector jobs up almost…

Fort Smith airport officials working to educate public on efforts to add more routes

The odds are against adding new commercial air routes in the near future at the Fort Smith Regional Airport, but a consultant on Tuesday (May 9) told airport commissioners and…

Fort Smith business and community leader Jim Walcott has died

Jim Walcott, a business and community leader who played a part in the creation of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, died Sunday (May 7) after a long battle with…