Author: Roby Brock

Roby Brock

State Says Nordex Will Repay $2.5 Million In Grants

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission said Nordex USA will repay the state and city of Jonesboro more than $2.5 million in grants it received when it opened its North American…

Darr Canceling Congressional Bid, Goes On Record About Exit (UPDATED)

Lt. Gov. Mark Darr (R) says he will no longer be a candidate for the U.S. Congress, District 4 seat. In a statement released to Talk Business Arkansas this morning,…

Two More Names Added To Senate District 21 Field

Add another candidate to each political party primary in the race to fill Sen. Paul Bookout’s Senate District 21 vacated seat. On Wednesday, former State Sen. Gene Roebuck (D) said…

Bill Clinton To Give Little Rock Speech On Health Care Law

The Clinton Foundation announced Wednesday (Aug. 28) that former President Bill Clinton will give an address on the Affordable Care Act one week from today on Sept. 4. “Clinton will…

Legislators Aim For Action On Ethics Reform

After a roiling week of ethics headlines centered around the resignation of Sen. Paul Bookout (D-Jonesboro) and the self-reporting of potential campaign reporting mistakes by Lt. Gov. Mark Darr (R),…

Bookout Senate Seat Lands 3 Early Candidates

The resignation of State Sen. Paul Bookout (D-Jonesboro) over ethical transgressions related to his campaign finances has spurred plenty of early interest by replacements. Gov. Mike Beebe (D) is expected…

Northeast Arkansas Political Animals Club Launching

Joining central and northwest Arkansas, representatives from northeast Arkansas announced the launch of a new regional Political Animals Club. The Jonesboro Regional Chamber Government Relations Committee is helping start the…

Tilley: Consumer Spending & Manufacturing Showing Weakness

The City Wire’s Michael Tilley joined me on this week’s edition of Talk Business Arkansas. We discussed Wal-Mart’s latest earnings report, which showed consumers pulling back in the present and…

KARK’s Jessica Dean Taking Job In Philadelphia

KARK Ch. 4 news anchor Jessica Dean is leaving her Little Rock post and moving to Philadelphia. Dean will become weekday evening co-anchor at CBS 3 in Philadelphia beginning in…

FCC Commissioner Wants 100 Mps Goal By 2015

With Arkansas pursuing expanded broadband in its public schools, an FCC commissioner says she wants her agency to be a catalyst for meeting the state’s goals and pushing for greater…

Arkansas, National Unemployment Rates Intersect At 7.4% (UPDATED)

Arkansas’ jobless rate has stayed below the national rate throughout the recession and recovery, but for the first time since April 2008, the two rates intersected.

Capitol View: Sen. Boozman, Mike Ross Argue Health Care Positions

Sen. John Boozman (R) insisted that repealing, not reforming, Obamacare was the only tenable position for improving health insurance in the U.S., while Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Mike Ross said Republicans have misrepresented his positions on the controversial law.

Sabin Leaving Oxford American Post To Head Argenta Innovation Center

State Rep. Warwick Sabin (D-Little Rock) will leave his post as publisher of the Oxford American magazine and take the helm of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, an entrepreneurship non-profit…

Wal-Mart Warns Of Challenges, Reduces Forecast Despite Profit Boost

Sales grew and so did profits, but Bentonville-based Wal-Mart had a rocky quarter as same-store sales struggled and the retail giant warned of a challenging environment.

Rep. Collins Joins Lt. Governor’s Race

State Rep. Charlie Collins (R-Fayetteville) waded into the Arkansas Lt. Governor’s race on Wednesday (Aug. 14). Collins, who chairs the House Revenue and Tax Committee, has been a proponent of…

Pryor, Cotton Zig-Zag State And Continents

Last week’s travels with Sen. Mark Pryor (D) and his new GOP challenger, Cong. Tom Cotton (R), took us on a whirlwind series of trips across the state. This week, both men ramped up their travels with Pryor touring northwest Arkansas and Cotton taking a Congressional trip to Israel.