Author: Michael Tilley

Michael Tilley

Rep. Johnson: Hospital notice idea will need input from ‘all parties involved’

Fort Smith Director Christina Catsavis’ idea that would have the Arkansas Legislature consider legislation requiring hospitals to provide notice before ending a critical care service is not unreasonable, but will…

Barling warehouse sells for $151 million, top 2025 Sebastian County property deal

A more than $150 million sale of a large warehouse in Barling was the top Sebastian County property deal in the fourth quarter of 2025 and was the top deal…

Income tax revenue gains push Arkansas tax revenue up 2.5% through March

The state revenue report issued a few days ahead of Arkansas legislators convening for a fiscal session shows total revenue up 2.5% in the first nine months (July 2025- March…

Mercy Fort Smith ‘evaluating’ L&D services response; touts community investments

Mercy Fort Smith is “actively evaluating” how it will respond to what could be an influx of patients needing labor and delivery services when Baptist Health-Fort Smith, the only other…

Fort Smith Board holds off on legislative request targeting hospital care cuts

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (March 31) decided to further study a letter proposed by Director Christina Catsavis that would ask the Arkansas Legislature to require hospitals…

Baptist Health to shutter labor and delivery, obstetric services in Fort Smith

Little Rock-based Baptist Health is closing the labor and delivery operation and ending obstetric services at its Fort Smith hospital. The closure will result in the loss of around 40…

Fort Smith metro home sales decline in 2025, average home price sets record

The number of Fort Smith metro homes sold in 2025 fell more than 8% compared with 2024, with the combined value of the sold homes dipping almost 3%. On the…

Fort Smith receives waiver on $3 million matching requirement

Chris Hoover has more than paid for his keep. The grants and government relations manager for the city of Fort Smith found a possible exemption to a matching requirement for…

Fort Smith Board asked to approve $32 million in federal funding requests

Two federal funding requests totaling $32 million are set to be reviewed Tuesday (March 31) by the Fort Smith Board of Directors, with $12 million of that for ongoing work…

Fort Smith mayor, city director seek more info from Baptist Health about future plans

Fort Smith elected officials are hoping Little Rock-based Baptist Health officials will soon provide details on partially announced plans to alter operations at its Fort Smith hospital campus and end…

Baptist Health-Fort Smith may cease full hospital operations

Little Rock-based Baptist Health is planning to end hospital operations at Baptist Health-Fort Smith with the campus providing emergency room and possibly limited surgery services. Some or all existing physician…

Fort Smith regional wage growth trails that of Arkansas

Sebastian County had the highest third quarter 2025 average weekly wage among Arkansas and Oklahoma counties in the Fort Smith region, with Sequoyah and Franklin counties posting the largest percentage…

County sales tax revenue up almost 4% in the Fort Smith region

Sales tax revenue for counties in the Fort Smith area was up in 2025 compared with 2024, and among cities with more than $1 million in annual sales tax revenue,…

Fort Smith Regional Airport traffic up more than 2% through February

A rising number of Fort Smith Regional Airport enplanements has resulted in American Airlines using larger planes at the airport and planning to add an extra flight during the summer,…

‘Amazing’ progress made on proposed Butterfield Trail monument in downtown Fort Smith

In less than a month, or about the time it once took to deliver mail from Fort Smith to California and back, an idea to build a large Butterfield Trail…

Euper Lane, Midland Bridge lines part of effort to address water system ‘weak points’

Editor’s note: This is the third story in a series addressing identified Fort Smith water system replacement and repair needs with cost estimates that approach $600 million. Link here for…

Fort Smith Board study session to focus on change of government process

A Fort Smith Board of Directors study session to review the process to change the city’s form of government is tentatively set for April 28. A petition to change the…

Fort Smith Board approves water slide work, waterpark management

It was yet another 4-3 vote Tuesday (March 17) by the Fort Smith Board of Directors to yet again continue with installation of five waterslides at Parrot Island Waterpark. Directors…

Big Brothers Big Sisters NWA expanding into Fort Smith area

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas (BBBSNWA) is working to expand its mentoring program reach into the Fort Smith area, and has hired a program director who is based…

Waterslide funding vote again on the Fort Smith Board agenda

There will be yet another vote on whether to move forward with an almost 2-year process to approve funding to install new Parrot Island Waterpark waterslides. While the funding is…