Author: Michael Tilley

The upcoming other side of history

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The odds are that Arkansas legislators supporting an effort to reinforce…

A fortunate son

A lot has changed in Mom’s world. The world in 1949, the year of her birth, was a crazy place. Europe was rebuilding its continental economy, the Soviets were rattling…

Spartan Logistics To Acquire Whirlpool Distribution Building

Spartan Logistics plans to expand its operations in Fort Smith by acquiring the almost 620,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility that is part of the Whirlpool manufacturing site that ceased operations…

Arkansas Best To Change Name To ArcBest

Christmas may come early to select signage and print companies with Fort Smith-based Arkansas Best Corp. announcing Wednesday (April 30) that as of May 1 the transportation holding company will…

A message for Sen. Boozman

A heartfelt message to you, U.S. Sen. John Boozman, is to go away. Just for a few months. And not because we don’t want you around; it’s because we’d like…

A recycled essay on Earth Day

The urge to save humanity is almost always a false-face for the urge to rule it.  – H.L. Mencken Recently toured several of the fine museums in Chicago. The city…

Growth In 2013 Arkansas Personal Income Falls Below U.S. Average

Combined personal incomes in Arkansas during 2013 grew 2.2%, below the 2.6% U.S. average, with the state’s per capita average of $36,086 pushing the state’s national ranking from 45 in…

Pheasant Press Trunk Show

HAMMONS + BECK will be proudly hosting a Pheasant Press trunk show! Pheasant Press will be bringing their spring line of wall prints, cards, coasters and more. Pheasant Press products…

Hammons + Beck Opening Week

Hammons + Beck, a startup antique store in downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas, is launching its opening week between March 18 and 22. Kat Hardin, owner of Hammons + Beck, will utilize…

Financial Outlook Improves For Arkansas Best, USA Truck

The outlook for two trucking operations that employ more than 1,000 in the Fort Smith region – and many of those being good-paying jobs – is improving.

Comprehensive coverage conundrum

There was a recent meeting of the steering committee that is part of this $340,000 comprehensive planning study by the city of Fort Smith to figure out something about something…

Arkansas’ Tourism Tax Collections Set New Record In 2013

Revenue from Arkansas’ 2% tourism tax set a record in 2013 by reaching $12.716 million, and the state’s tourism chief is predicting that 2014 could be even better for Arkansas’ tourism and travel sector.

$58 Million Medical School Planned For Chaffee Crossing

Fort Smith could soon be home to Arkansas’ first osteopathic medical school and one of just 31 in the U.S., thanks to a more than $58 million investment from the…

Voter Views Of Private Option Change When Tied To Obamacare

Two recent polls of likely Arkansas voters suggest that the political labeling of Arkansas’ private option plan has much to do with the plan’s support among voters. Which is to…

Arkansas Natural Gas Severance Tax Collections Hit New High In 2013

Tax receipts from natural gas jumped 53% over year-ago collections, setting a new high in the process.

Talk Politics With Gov. Mike Beebe

Gov. Mike Beebe said Tuesday there are a “multiplicity” of reasons Arkansas Legislators should vote to fund Arkansas’ private option plan, and he also took a shot at Republican gubernatorial candidates who “don’t understand the budget” with respect to the private option.