Author: Steve Brawner

Not Just The Home Of The Hogs

City leaders are doing much more than just keeping Fayetteville funky. Grounded by the University of Arkansas, this college town has a strong manufacturing and technology base.

Governor, Telecoms Disagree Over ARE-ON Letter

A letter from telecommunications providers expressing opposition to connecting K-12 public schools to a statewide fiber optic network drew disapproval from Gov. Mike Beebe, who called parts of the letter…

Maverick Transportation Opens Expanded Training Center

Maverick Transportation celebrated Thursday (July 24) the expansion of a training center that CEO Steve Williams said will help it raise standards at a time of a worsening driver shortage…

Brawner: What The Third Party Candidates Said

It’s still a tossup as to who will be the next governor, but we know who it won’t be: neither Frank Gilbert nor Josh Drake, the Libertarian and Green Party…

Brawner: How Not To Fund Highways

Editor’s note: Steve Brawner is a freelance journalist and Talk Business & Politics contributor. His syndicated columns appear in Arkansas newspapers and TalkBusiness.net. He can be reached by e-mail at @[email protected]. Follow him on…

AHTD’s Bennett: State Should Become More Self-Reliant

Arkansas may need to prepare to receive less highway funding from Washington and rely more on money it raises itself, Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department Director Scott Bennett said earlier…

Arkansas House Members Vote For Highway Bill

All four of Arkansas’ U.S. House members voted Tuesday for a $10.8 billion highway bill that would extend the current highway funding mechanism through May 2015 and add extra dollars…

Metroplan Study Examines Conway To Little Rock Bus Route

A Metroplan study released Monday detailed how an express bus route could be developed between Conway and Little Rock. The big question – whether enough commuters would use it to…

Brawner: Could You Spend Money Better Than Congress?

FASTER Phone Call Attracts 7,292

The group that wants public schools to connect to a statewide high-speed internet network says 7,292 Arkansans participated in a teleconference town hall July 10. The call was sponsored by…

Brawner: The Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby Decision

Cong. Griffin Likes New Highway Bill’s Chances

A bill that would extend current highway funding through May 31, 2015, will be considered – and, according to Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., will be passed – during a House…

Latture Says Goodbye To Expanded Port

Paul Latture is driving through the Little Rock Port Authority, clearly taking pleasure in describing what he sees. “You just left America,” he says as he pulls into the parking…

New Day At Little Rock Port Authority

Bryan Day is taking leadership of the Little Rock Port Authority at a time of transition and opportunity. The incoming executive director is inheriting an operation that under the retiring…

State Chamber Program Encouraging Future Manufacturers

The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce will host a Young Manufacturers Academy July 28 – August 1 at six community college campuses and at the Little Rock School District’s Metro…

Brawner: Legislators Deserve Credit For Making Hard Choices

Brawner: Paying For Wants, Not For Needs

My wife, Melissa, matter-of-factly made this statement the other day: We have been trained to expect that our needs should be cheap or free, and our wants can be expensive….

School Administrators’ Group Won’t Oppose Special Session Bills

The executive director of the group that represents school superintendents and principals said this week that his group will not oppose proposed bills dealing with school employee health insurance in…

FASTER Group Seeks Special Session, Promises Cost Estimates

Business leaders calling for the state’s public schools to connect to a university-based high-speed network hope to have cost estimates by mid-July and would like Gov. Mike Beebe to call…

Brawner: Don’t Write Private Option’s Obituary

Editor’s note: This guest commentary was written by freelance journalist Steve Brawner, who is also a regular contributor to Talk Business & Politics. His political commentary appears at IndependentArkansas.com and…