Author: Roby Brock

Roby Brock

Hot Springs’ Mountain Valley Water Eyes an IPO

Mountain Valley Spring Co., the Hot Springs-based bottled water company, filed notice with federal regulators that it intends to become a publicly-traded firm.

Hammonds To Retire From Bankers’ Group

Ken Hammonds, CEO of the Arkansas Bankers’ Association, will retire from the statewide bankers’ representative group at the end of this year. Hammonds, a 45-year banking veteran, has led the…

Veach, Hillman Re-elected To Lead Arkansas Farm Bureau

Randy Veach and Rich Hillman will continue as president and vice president, respectively, of the Arkansas Farm Bureau following their re-election Friday. Delegates also re-elected seven board members during the…

November Revenue Report Sees Slip In Personal Income Taxes

State finance officials are probably hoping it’s not a November to remember. They’ve certainly seen better ones in terms of revenue growth.

State Health Insurance Exchange ‘Quashed’

In a press release sent this morning, State Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford said that planning efforts for “an Arkansas-run Health Benefits Exchange have ended.”

Ryerson To Add 20 Jobs At Little Rock Factory

Ryerson Inc., a leading processor and distributor of metals in North America and Asia, is planning a major renovation and expansion of its Little Rock service center.

Whirlpool Severance Benefit Plan Outlined

Whirlpool employees in Fort Smith received Thursday (Dec. 1) an “Effects Update” that outlines the “separation benefits” the company will offer hourly and salaried employees.

UAMS Endows Chair In Honor Of Stanley Reed

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and friends and family of the late Stanley Reed announced the creation of an endowed chair that will support emergency medicine at…

Law School Dean To Step Down, Return To Classroom

Dean John DiPippa of the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law announced plans to step down and return to the classroom effective June 30, 2012. DiPippa will resume full-time…

GOP Lawmakers Quiz Insurance Commissioner On Federal Grant

An overlooked component of federal health care reform — closer monitoring of insurance rate changes — received a lot of scrutiny in a routine legislative committee hearing on Thursday.

Truckers’ Group Hires Fox News Commentator As Consultant

The Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) has retained Noelle Nikpour, a nationally known Republican strategist and political news commentator, to serve as an ATA consultant. “As we enter the 2012 political…

Finance Officials Not Painting A “Rosier Picture” Of Economy

With the economy facing “a lot of headwinds,” state finance officials said that the current year’s budget may come in lower than last year’s, and they downwardly revised the following year’s expectations.

Lennox Stuttgart Factory Garners Manufacturing Honor

The Lennox facility in Stuttgart, Ark., has received the top honor for Operational Excellence in the American Manufacturing Strategy Awards. The plant builds a variety of commercial air conditioning and…

Yarnell’s Assets Sold For $1.3 Million (Updated)

A Searcy manufacturer, Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co., has acquired the assets of bankrupt Yarnell’s Ice Cream Inc. for $1.3 million and a local economic developer says there are plans…

October Home Sales Sending Mixed Signals

Arkansas home sales may show a mixed bag in October as central Arkansas saw steady growth in the real estate market, while northwest Arkansas sales stumbled.

Dillard’s To Gain $28.5 Million From Software Settlement

Dillard’s reached an agreement with i2 Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of JDA Software Group, Inc., to settle a lawsuit that will net the Little Rock mall retailer $28.5 million.

Beebe Suggests Desegregation Money May Be Key To More Food Tax Cuts

A slow economic recovery, flatline revenue growth, and potential federal funding cuts have Gov. Mike Beebe (D) convinced that he won’t try to reduce the state’s grocery tax in his next budget.

Warren Stephens’ Alotian Club To Host Prestigious Amateur Tournament

The Alotian Club — Warren Stephens’ golf oasis in western Pulaski County — will host the prestigious Western Amateur golf tournament in July 2013.

Micro-lender ACCION Sets Up Arkansas Shop

We reported back in mid-October on a new initiative to ramp up capital lending in the Arkansas Delta when we noted micro-lender ACCION’s foray into the state. Today, company leaders made it official with the opening of two locations in North Little Rock and Helena-West Helena.

Hearing Set On Moving Fayetteville Mail Center To Little Rock

The formal process to move mail processing operations from Fayetteville to Little Rock has begun, with a public hearing on the matter set for 6 p.m., Dec. 14, at the UARK Ballroom on Dickson Street in Fayetteville.