Author: Talk Business

Talk Business

Brawner: Ledge Votes Right On Health Reform

Stephens Media columnist Steve Brawner uses his weekly forum to weigh in on the Arkansas legislature’s attempt to undo the federal health care insurance mandate.

Gas Shale Study Predicts 2012 Pullback, But Improvements Beyond

A new industry 10-year forecast released today says low natural gas prices will constrain production in the Fayetteville Shale in the short-term, but production and wellhead prices are expected to gradually increase after 2012 and beyond.

Clean & Green: Three-dimensional Environmental Work

Chris Wright works in a three-dimensional digital world. His company, H.T. Watts drawing service, helps businesses in manufacturing and construction use Auto-Desk software to design and look at a project virtually before it’s actually built.

Alltel Parent Company Hires Transition Executive

Paul Bowersock, who has headed the divested wireless assets from the $28 billion Verizon-Alltel deal of 2008, has a new globe-trotting mission.

Whirlpool Net Income Jumps

Whirlpool may have missed the fourth-quarter earnings estimate, but the company ended a two-year earnings decline with 2010 net income of $650 million.

Revenue Report Shows Positives, But Warnings Still Abound

Boosted by growth in personal income taxes, Arkansas January revenue report continued to show marginal improvements for collections despite setbacks in consumer spending and corporate taxes.

Gop Calls For Election, Not Convention In District 54 Vacancy

The Arkansas GOP informed Gov. Mike Beebe that it requests a primary election be held in the House District 54 vacancy caused by Rep. Fred Smith’s resignation over a felony theft conviction.

A Little Love For Downtown Arkansas

In last year’s legislative session, several efforts were made to advance the agendas of downtown redevelopers. Not all the measures passed.

Co-sponsor Says Ethics Reform A ‘big Stride’

Rep. Ann Clemmer, R-Benton, one of the House co-sponsors of the legislature’s ethics reform bill, offered a few comments to Talk Business the day after companion bills were introduced.

One To Watch: Nanomech

At the beginning of each year, Talk Business spotlights a company with major Arkansas operations that is poised to have a huge impact on the future economic landscape.

Arkadelphia Poultry Plant To Close, Lose 385 Jobs

Petit Jean Poultry in Arkadelphia will close on April 1st, impacting 385 workers currently employed at the plant.

Holland Tentative Trial Date Established

A tentative trial date of May 12 has been set for State Sen. Bruce Holland, R-Greenwood, who faces a misdemeanor charge of fleeing and charges of careless driving and improper passing related to a high-speed chase through Perry and Yell counties.

Brummett Weighs In On Ethics Proposal

Arkansas News Bureau columnist John Brummett weighs in on the ethics reform legislation proposed by a bipartisan group of state lawmakers.

Holland’s High-speed Chase Provides Plenty Of Column Fodder

The controversy surrounding State Sen. Bruce Holland’s backroad high-speed chase through western Arkansas drew a lot of attention last week.

Townsends Receives $12 Million Financing, Headed To Auction

It was a far cry from what they wanted.

Blanche Lincoln Elected To Entergy Board (updated)

Arkansas’ recently ousted senior senator still has an election in her – a corporate board election.

Clean Air Supporters Lighting Up The Debate

We told you last week that supporters of an expansion of the Clean Indoor Air Act are readying for another fight.

Tolbert: In Defense Of Partisanship

Blogger and columnist Jason Tolbert uses his Sunday column for Stephens Media to discuss the challenges that lay before newly elected legislators in this session.

No Surprises In Bipartisan Ethics Bill (updated)

In a straightforward two-page bill, Speaker of the House Robert Moore, Senate President Paul Bookout, and a bipartisan group of 17 co-sponsors filed a bill aiming to improve ethics in the Arkansas General Assembly.

The Tax Cuts On The Table

State Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, was our guest on Talk Business last night. He and John Brummett with our content partner, the Arkansas News Bureau, had a spirited exchange on ideas regarding tax cuts and the state budget.