Author: Talk Business & Politics staff

Talk Business & Politics staff

Truck driver turnover rate falls to 71%

The truck driver turnover rate fell 10 percentage points to 71% in the fourth quarter of 2016, which is the lowest point in six years, according to the American Trucking…

Rogers-based Ecoark restructures management, seeks to raise $8 million in new capital

Ecoark Holdings of Rogers announced a corporate restructuring ahead of the company’s efforts to be uplisted on Nasdaq’s Capital Market. CEO and founder Randy May will step back as CEO…

Arkansas Energy Education Foundation elects officers, board

The Arkansas Energy Education Foundation (AEEF) recently elected the following officers: President Andy Miller, Southwestern Energy, Little Rock; and Secretary Bill Hanna, Hanna Oil & Gas, Fort Smith. AEEF board…

January-February enplanements up at Fort Smith and XNA, flat in Little Rock

Traffic out of the Fort Smith Regional Airport is off to a good start in 2017, with numbers up almost 14% year-to-date and building upon a 2016 that saw marginal…

Biggs family, Packaging Specialties give $2 million to Arkansas Children’s Northwest

Kaaren Biggs, the Biggs family and Packaging Specialties Inc. have donated $2 million to Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale, it was announced Tuesday (March 28). “Throughout the years, our family…

Braswell replaces Kirk as director on ATA council

Carl Kirk, executive director of the Technology and Maintenance Council for the American Trucking Associations is no longer working for the trade organization, according to a news release. The council…

Centennial Bank parent company acquires Florida bank in $778.4 million deal

Conway-based Home BancShares is acquiring Stonegate Bank of Florida in a deal valued at $778.4 million. The transaction will boost Home BancShares’ assets to around $13.5 billion. Officials with Home…

Arkansas Transportation Report: Arkansas River traffic tops 2 million tons in January-February 2017

Editor’s note: The Arkansas Transportation Report is managed by Talk Business & Politics and sponsored by the Arkansas Trucking Association and the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. Other transportation industry related stories can be…

NWA TechFest to feature Arkansas Air National Guard’s first female general

Brig. Gen. Tamhra Hutchins-Frye, director of joint staff at Arkansas Air National Guard, will be a keynote speaker for NWA TechFest on May 18 at the Fayetteville Town Center. Hutchins-Frye…

Rep. Gray selected to lead Arkansas Democrats

House Minority Leader and State Rep. Michael John Gray, D-Augusta, was elected as the new chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas. He succeeds Vincent Insalaco, who steered the state’s…

Value of shipments rises 6.7% between U.S. and NAFTA partners

The value of freight transported between the United States and North American Free Trade Agreement partners, Canada and Mexico, rose 6.7% to $88 billion in January, compared to the same…

Gov. Hutchinson names volunteer commission members, constables

The office of Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday (March 23) announced the following appointments to boards and commissions. Bruce Alford, Lewisville, to the Red River Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14,…

UALR business students advance in global financial competition

Business students of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will compete in one of the final stages of a global financial analyst competition after winning a segment of the…

Vice President Mike Pence to visit Little Rock, lobby for health care plan (Updated)

Vice President Mike Pence will visit Little Rock Friday, according to the Republican Party of Arkansas. The vice president will make remarks at Little Rock Tours and Travel at 2:30…

Propane inventories fall below five-year average as exports rise

Since October, U.S. propane inventories have fallen by 59 million barrels, marking the largest decline for the six-month period, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In October, the inventories…

Arkansas ad agencies take 27 spots at district ADDYs

Several Arkansas companies are among the 2017 American Advertising Awards district honorees for the American Advertising Federation’s 10th District, covering parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. The district honorees…

Dallas developers request Fayetteville rezone for multifamily project on Leverett

If Fayetteville city officials grant a requested rezoning of property on Leverett Avenue, a multimillion-dollar apartment development is likely on the way. The Fayetteville Planning Commission will consider a rezoning…

AAM supports President Trump’s pick to lead U.S. trade policy.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) has voiced its support for Robert Lighthizer, President Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. trade representative (USTR). In an open letter published on AmericanManufacturing.org, AAM…

Gordmans in Rogers among stores to close

Off-price retailer Gordmans has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in its home state of Nebraska. The retailer said it contracted with Tiger Capital Group and Great American Group for the sale…

Arkansas native Jeff Nichols launches cinema organization, film festival in Little Rock

Filmmaker and Little Rock native Jeff Nichols has launched a year-round cinema organization in Arkansas called Arkansas Cinema Society. According to an exclusive interview with IndieWire, Nichols will launch ACS…