Author: The City Wire Staff

U.S. Freight Activity Rebounds In May

What a difference a month makes. After declines in April, the American Trucking Associations’ truck tonnage index and the Cass Freight Index reported gains in May.

New $42 Million Mercy Hospital Could Add 100 Jobs

Mercy officials provided details Monday (June 17) on the $42 million Orthopedic Hospital in Fort Smith that should be completed by October 2014 and could add to up to 100…

90 New Jobs Likely With Answer Fort Smith Growth

A new $1.7 million call center expansion in Fort Smith could add 90 jobs within the next three years. Answer Fort Smith has completed the renovation of a 35,000-square-foot facility…

U.S. Senate Approves $955 Billion Farm Bill

From our content partner, The City Wire: The U.S. Senate on Monday approved a five-year farm bill by a 66-27 vote, with U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and John Boozman,…

Fort Smith Plant Owner Files For Bankruptcy

No immediate change in work schedule, pay and benefits is expected for the more than 100 who work at Exide Technologies in Fort Smith as a result of the company…

Arkansas GDP Up 1.3% In 2012

Arkansas’ economy grew an estimated 1.3% in 2012, with growth in manufacturing, utilities and trade responsible for most of the increase. The increase is better than the 0.7% gross domestic…

First Quarter Arkansas Bank Income Up 30%

A reduction in real estate holdings and the monetary value of problem loans is the top reason why Arkansas bank income was up more than 30% during the first quarter…

Arkansas’ Large Market Home Sales Up 11%

Home sales in Arkansas continue to paint a picture of an improving economy in three of the state’s four largest metro areas, with the Fort Smith region seeing a decline…

Northwest Arkansas Sees Strongest Metro Job Improvements

Seven of the eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas had jobless rate decreases in April compared to March, but had jobless rate increases compared to April 2012. Only…

Hotelier John Q. Hammons Dies At Age 94

Famed hotel developer John Q. Hammons died Sunday in Springfield, Mo., the home of his company that developed 210 properties in 40 states. He was 94. Northwest Arkansas and Fort…

Overall Freight Shipments, Values Dip In April

If you’re determined to read only about clear signs of economic growth, you’d be well advised to avoid the American Trucking Associations’ freight index and the Cass Freight Index that…

Wal-Mart Told To Disclose Documents In Bribery Probe

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is being taken to task by institutional shareholders this week in a Delaware Chancery Court in Wilmington. Round one went in the favor of the investors, according…

Layoffs Confirmed At Golden Living Admin Center

Several sources have told The City Wire that as many as 60 people have been laid off at Golden Living’s administrative center in Fort Smith, with the company acknowledging only…

WalmartLabs Acquires Two Tech Start-ups

The technology arm of Walmart Global eCommerce known as WalmartLabs has acquired two tech start-ups that should enhance the retailer’s cloud computing infrastructure and software services portfolio. The first was…

Dillard’s Employs Tech Group To Tap Customer Insights

Little Rock-based Dillard’s, often seen as a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer, continues to tap technology and push its omni-channel efforts forward. The retailer recently linked up with OpinionLab to get customer…

Pipeline Closing Could Hurt Central Arkansas Economy

A proposed plan by Houston-based Enterprise Products Partners to cease providing jet fuel by pipeline to Little Rock and Jonesboro has business and political leaders looking for supply alternatives and…

Arkansas Best, Teamsters Agree To Tentative Five-year Contract

ABF Freight System, the largest subsidiary of trucking giant Arkansas Best, and the Teamsters announced late Friday (May 3) they had reached a tentative agreement on a five-year labor contract….

‘Bias’ Bloggers To Descend On Bentonville

Dozens of active bloggers will make their way to Bentonville on May 3 to take part in the Collective Bias SoFabCon – a three–day conference designed to bring bloggers and…

Benton County Leads State In Home Sales

Benton County outpaced Pulaski County in home sales in March 2013 as the state’s first quarter housing market showed a marked improvement from one year ago. Realtors offer their insights on what’s at work.

Teamsters, ABF Again Extend ‘Frustrating’ Labor Talks

“Frustrating” contract negotiations between Fort Smith-based Arkansas Best Corp. and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have again been extended, with May 31 the new deadline. The Teamsters issued a statement…