Author: Michael Tilley

Michael Tilley

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.

Ross Rails Against ‘Raw Politics’ During Stops In Western Arkansas

A long pause ensued after Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Arkansas Congressman Mike Ross was asked his thoughts about President Obama’s State of the Union address. Ross rolled a cough…

Metro Area Jobless Rates Decline In November

All eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate declines in November compared to October, and seven areas had jobless rate increases compared to November 2012. During…

Future Remains Uncertain For Mitsubishi’s Fort Smith Plant

The city of Fort Smith and the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce bet almost $1.8 million in 2010 that Mitsubishi would open and operate a wind-turbine assembly plant at…

Water whirled

In case you were wondering, we checked and are confident that the concepts and planning and budgeting for this on-again, off-again water park at Ben Geren Regional Park were not…

Trucking Industry Pushes Back Against New Driver Rules

A legislative delay of new hours-of-service rules is being sought by the U.S. trucking industry, but the head of Arkansas’ trucking lobby says the legislative effort will not work and rising shipping costs resulting from the new rules may be the only path to regulatory relief.