Author: Roby Brock

Weekend Digest: GOP Convention Goers Get Ready For Tough Talk

For our weekend political readers: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRESIDENT OBAMA’S MEDICARE PLAN & MITT ROMNEY’S? That’s what you can find out by reading a very revealing story in the…

Weekend Digest: Is The Recession Damage Reversible?

For our weekend business readers: RECESSION DAMAGE REVERSIBLE SAYS THE FED “Most of the damage inflicted on the U.S. labor market by the recession is reversible, according to Federal Reserve…

New Teacher Survey: Hunger A Problem In Arkansas Classrooms

A new national survey shows that Arkansas teachers see a higher percentage of hungry children in the classroom than the U.S. average. The No Kid Hungry campaign, conducted by hunger…

Shaping The Health Care Debate: Beebe, McDaniel, Darr All On State Insurance Plans

As state legislators debate potential changes to health insurance reform in Arkansas, key constitutional officers will also have a role in the debate.

Medical Marijuana Proposal Approved For Voter Consideration

Arkansans will decide whether or not to allow for legalized medicinal marijuana this November in a debate likely to pit medical compassion versus morality and law and order.

Arkansas ACT Scores Rise

Bucking a national trend, Arkansas’ ACT scores among high school seniors saw an increase, according to the 2012 ACT report. Roughly 88% of Arkansas’s 2012 graduating seniors took the ACT…

Nancy Todd Casino Proposal Expected To Surpass Signature Goal

After altering her ballot title, casino supporter Nancy Todd says she expects to turn in more than 100,000 signatures in her effort to submit a casino proposal to Arkansas voters. However, the road to the November ballot remains no sure-fire bet.

Garver Engineers CEO Brock Johnson Dies At 63

William Brock Johnson, Garver Engineers CEO, passed away Tuesday after battling cancer for the past several years. The company had recently announced management changes as Johnson's illness scaled back his…

Windstream CEO: Building A ‘Business For The Long-run’

Windstream Corp. CEO Jeff Gardner appeared on CNBC’s Mad Money with Jim Kramer show Monday night to discuss the Little Rock-based telecom’s business strategy.

St. Vincent Health Adds New Infirmary CEO

Chad S. Aduddell has joined St. Vincent as CEO/Administrator for St. Vincent Infirmary effective today, Aug. 20, 2012 and will be reporting directly to Peter D. Banko, President and CEO for St. Vincent Health System.

Sheffield Nelson’s Severance Tax Effort Officially Ends, For Now

The deadline for additional signatures for a November campaign to raise the state’s severance tax will pass and the effort will come to an end for now.

Who Would Be Helped By A Medicaid Expansion?

John Lyon with the Arkansas News Bureau examines who would qualify for coverage under a Medicaid expansion — a hot topic of debate among state legislators and Gov. Mike Beebe.

Turbulence In Jobs Report Leads To Uptick In Unemployment Rate

For the second straight month, Arkansas’ labor force declined but in July the employed dropouts outpaced the unemployed dropouts.

Romney Coming To Arkansas For High-dollar Fundraisers

GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be in Little Rock on Wednesday, Aug. 22 for a high-dollar private dinner and several receptions.

America’s Car-Mart Sees Net Income Slip Slightly On Car Prices

America's Car-Mart said its net income slipped slightly as the average retail price of a vehicle sold fell 2%. For the Bentonville-based used car chain's first quarter, revenues actually rose…

‘Momentum’ Carries Wal-Mart Q2 Revenue And Profits Higher

Wal-Mart officials are “pleased with the continued momentum” as the retail giant saw revenue and profits climbed higher in the second quarter.

Two Mississippi County Firms Hiring 135 Workers, Maybe Hundreds More

Last week, economic developers in northeast Arkansas said two local firms are looking to hire more than 100 workers and the opportunity to expand manufacturing jobs could be significantly greater.

Beebe Releases $2 Million For Rancher Assistance During Drought

Gov. Mike Beebe released $2 million from a state disaster fund on Wednesday (Aug. 15) that will help Arkansas ranchers affected by recent drought conditions.

UA, NWACC Sign Collaborative Agreement To Boost Degree Completions

The University of Arkansas and NorthWest Arkansas Community College officials signed a collaborative agreement that is intended to increase the number of college graduates in Arkansas. The agreement allows eligible…