Author: Roby Brock

Roby Brock

Arkansas’ Jobless Rate Dips Below 7% For First Time In 5 Years

Arkansas’ monthly unemployment rate fell below 7% for the first time in five years and dropped for the sixth consecutive month.

Report: Economic Gap Widening Between Black And White Arkansans

A new report released by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families highlights a widening gap between black and white workers and calls on more education, targeted tax relief, and a…

1 Million Cups Features Treatsie, SumoText In First Session

A new education endeavor brought 40 interested entrepreneurs to the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce for the first “1 Million Cups” program.

Simmons First Shareholders Recap Year Of Transition

A new CEO, two bank acquisitions, and the establishment of a community foundation highlighted a year of transition for shareholders of Pine Bluff-based Simmons First National Corp. The holding company…

Cotton Challenges Pryor To Series Of 5 Regional Debates (UPDATED)

U.S. Senate candidate Republican Tom Cotton challenged incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor to a series of five “Lincoln-Douglas style” debates to be held in different regions across Arkansas. Cotton said voters…

Democrats Make Another Run At Cotton On Ethics

A bipartisan House panel unanimously rejected an ethics complaint filed months ago by the Democratic Party of Arkansas against GOP Senate hopeful Cong. Tom Cotton, but a new complaint has…

QualChoice CEO Sees Admin Center, More Jobs For Arkansas With Buyout

QualChoice CEO Mike Stock said his company’s buyout by Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) should result in expansion opportunities in Arkansas. Last week, CHI announced it would acquire the Little Rock-based…

Blue Hog Report’s Matt Campbell Analyzes Judicial Eligibility Legalities

Matt Campbell with BlueHogReport.com says while the law seems clear, there may be wiggle room for interpretation in the fast-rising controversy over the eligibility of judicial candidates. In recent weeks…

Arkansas Tech Business School Launches Economic Index

The College of Business at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville is launching a new resource for tracking economic trends that promises to examine a wide range of activity statewide and…

New Job Web Site Hopes To Match Food Workers And Employers

What’s cooking in Arkansas’ hospitality and culinary industry? A new web site that hopes to match those looking for food-related jobs to employers wanting to hire talent.

Exxon Mobil Exec Says Additional Factor At Work In Pipeline Rupture

Karen Tyrone, a vice-president for ExxonMobil’s pipeline operations, says additional unprecedented factors may have compromised the Pegasus pipeline and her company is proposing a year-long plan to test its future integrity.

Simmons Bank CEO Discusses Delta Trust Buyout, M&A Activity

Simmons First National Corp. CEO George Makris says recent moves have put his bank in a stronger position to serve customers and he sees significant growth for the Pine Bluff-based…

ExxonMobil Exec Says Future Pegasus Pipeline Testing Could Take A Year

A year after the Mayflower oil spill, ExxonMobil executives are submitting a pipeline remediation plan to federal regulators that will include extraordinary integrity testing measures that may take more than…

Acxiom CEO Says He’s In Favor Of ‘Much Stronger Privacy Regulation’

Despite a tough inquisition from Congress and the national media, Acxiom CEO Scott Howe says his company supports stronger privacy laws to protect consumer data.

Curtis Coleman Rolls Out Eight-Year Tax Cut Plan (UPDATED)

GOP gubernatorial candidate Curtis Coleman rolled out a tax cut and regulatory reduction plan that he said would benefit “mom and pop” businesses, encourage more military retirees to the state,…

Simmons First To Acquire Delta Trust For $66 Million

Pine Bluff-based Simmons First National Corp. will acquire Little Rock-based Delta Trust & Banking Corp. for roughly $66 million.

Ross Pounds Hutchinson On Private Option; Defends Tax Plans, LG Candidate

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross said he’ll fight to keep the private option and took exception to his potential Republican rival’s characterization that the Medicaid expansion plan was a “pilot program.”

Rep. Gillam, Sen. Dismang Outline Governing Style, Issues For 2015 Leadership

The future leaders of the Arkansas House and State Senate – Rep. Jeremy Gillam (R-Judsonia) and Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy) – say they will be pragmatic in their approach to…

Arkansas Jobless Rate Above 7% For 60th Consecutive Month

Arkansas’ jobless rate fell to 7.3% in January, a tenth of a percent lower than December and two-tenths of a percent lower than one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate…

Verizon Wireless’ Kristi Crum Returns To Arkansas

Editor’s note: This article appears in the latest magazine edition of Talk Business Arkansas, which you can read here. Verizon Wireless South Central Regional President Kristi Crum returns to Arkansas…