Author: Roby Brock

Roby Brock

New Kids On The Business Block

Some of Arkansas’ top organizations have welcomed new executives to their ranks this year. Meet seven new kids on the block and see what’s on their agendas.

Weekend Digest: Virginia Isn’t For Lovers, It’s For Split-Ticket Voters

For our weekend political readers: VIRGINIA IS FOR SPLIT-TICKET VOTERS Arkansans are known for splitting their local, state and national political tickets, but this year the focus of the Presidential…

Weekend Digest: The Future Of Wireless & Sam Walton’s Olympic Odyssey

For our weekend business readers: THE FUTURE OF WIRELESS Trying to predict what's going to happen in the explosive wireless industry for the next five years might be like trying…

Chemical Company Expanding Helena-West Helena Operations

Enviro Tech Chemical Services Inc., a chemical company focused on food safety and water treatment, announced plans to expand its Helena-West Helena manufacturing facility.

Arkansas Jobless Rate Falls As Labor Force Shrinks

Arkansas’ jobless rate fell in June to 7.2% as more workers exited the labor force and unemployment rolls.

Severance Tax Hike Effort Gets 30-Day Extension After 70% Of Signatures Invalidated

An effort to raise the severance tax to a flat 7% has failed to meet the signature threshold to be placed on the November ballot, but supporters will be given another 30 days to meet the legal requirement.

AEDC Director: For Economic Recruiting, ‘Cash Is King’

Arkansas Economic Development Commission director Grant Tennille told state lawmakers that “cash is king” over any other economic incentive or tax policy.

Newport Television Sells Fox 16, CW 38 To Nexstar-Mission Alliance

Newport Television, LLC, the private equity group that owns two television stations in Little Rock, announced a deal on Thursday (July 19) to sell a slew of its stations to 3 different groups.

Banks Not Likely To ‘Celebrate’ Two Year Anniversary Of Dodd-Frank

July 21 marks the two-year anniversary of the signing of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, yet many Main Street banks in Arkansas are still grappling with its ramifications.

Online Teaching Versus Classroom Teaching

The New York Times profiles Coursera, an online learning resource that has partnered with major research universities to deliver higher education courses. Currently, the joint venture doesn't have a revenue…

USA Truck Takes Another Quarterly Pounding

USA Truck saw its base revenue and quarterly losses grow as the Van Buren-based trucking firm found difficulty shifting out of reverse.

Home Bancshares Reports Record Q2 Earnings

Home Bancshares reports record Q2 earnings, but a predicted acquisition has yet to materialize.

New Retirement Plan Regulations Bringing Transparency To Industry Fees

New rules from the U.S. Labor Department, effective July 1, will dramatically alter the look of your quarterly 401(K) statements. Whether or not they alter your investment income is a different story.

Q&A With Arkansas Medicaid Director Andy Allison

Arkansas Medicaid Director Andy Allison answers questions about his economic analysis, which shows Arkansas would save $372 million or more by expanding its Medicaid rolls under the federal health care law.

DHS Analysis Supports Medicaid Expansion, GOP Leaders Leery

On Tuesday (July 17), Arkansas Department of Human Services officials released a report purporting the state would come out ahead if it opts into the controversial Medicaid expansion.

PrivacyStar And Alltel Wireless Team Up

PrivacyStar announced a new partnership with Little Rock-based Alltel Wireless, which will carry PrivacyStar features for Alltel Wireless Android customers.

Will Rockefeller And The Next Generation

A new generation of the Rockefeller family in Arkansas is coming into his own. On the 100th anniversary of his grandfather’s birth, Will Rockefeller opens up on the legacy of his birthright and the example set by those who preceded him.

In Motion With Arkansas Moviemaker Jeff Nichols

One of the state’s hottest Hollywood properties never appears on screen. He’s behind the scenes making a name for himself and for Arkansas.

J.B. Hunt Earnings Climb 22% Higher

J.B. Hunt Transport Services continued its steady climb in revenue and earnings.

Arkansas Party Chairmen Size Up Stakes For November Elections

In our latest edition of Talk Business Quarterly, Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Will Bond and Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Doyle Webb make the arguments for why their political parties should win voters’ choices.