Business

You Are About To Be Cherry Pic’d

For her 29th birthday, Blair Graves got a bottle of bubble gum-scented lotion and perfume. She was less thrilled about it than the giver probably imagined she would be. “I…

Former Insurance Regulator Forms Consulting Group

Former Insurance Commissioner and former CEO of the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, Julie Benafield, has formed a new government affairs consulting firm called The Benafield Group, PLLC. Benafield, who has…

Tyson Foods declares cash dividend

The board of directors of Tyson Foods declared a quarterly dividend of 7.5 cents per share on Class A common stock and 6.75 cents per share on restricted Class B…

H7N9 avian influenza concerns escalate in China

The World Health Organization and Chinese authorities are investigating how three members of one family contracted the H7N9 avian influenza virus. There have been 192 confirmed human cases of the…

A greener Wal-Mart is a slow work in progress

Wal-Mart has plenty of fans and critics when it comes to the retailer’s sustainability initiatives. When former CEO Lee Scott boldly announced the retailer’s sustainability platform eight years ago, there…

Fort Smith sales tax collections dip 0.69% in 2013

Sales tax collection for the city of Fort Smith were down 0.69% for the 2013 reporting year, ending two years of collection gains and coming in 1.16% below budget estimates….

Plans move forward on major renovation of Fianna Hills Country Club

Plans to drastically alter the appearance and business model of the Fianna Hills Country Club are continuing to move forward, with plans for a $20 million investment in the property….

Blustery winter reshaping family budgets, hurting retailers

Retailers often mention weather as a reason for lackluster sales. It was too warm during the holiday season of 2012 which weighed down sales of winter coats, sweaters and other…

The City Wire: What Will Doug Do?

Editor’s note: The following column appears courtesy of The City Wire’s editorial staff. When 47-year-old Doug McMillon became the new Wal-Mart Stores CEO on Feb. 1, he began a job…

Changes coming in how utility companies buy electricity

Computers and the internet are not just for buying items from Amazon or Overstock.com. Starting in March, utility companies connected to the Integrated Marketplace will be able to buy and…

J.B. Hunt Transport raises dividend

Lowell-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is raising its dividend for shareholders by 33% to 20 cents per share. The increased dividend payment will be made Feb. 27 to shareholders…

Arvest promotes Christy Queary

Arvest Bank announced Christy Queary was promoted to vice president / consumer loan manager for the Springdale market. She will report to Kent Williamson, executive vice president / loan department…

Capitol View: Can PO Funding Survive Until Policy Changes Can Be Made?

An architect of Arkansas’ private option and one of its chief critics agree that the battle for its funding fate in the upcoming fiscal session will be to help the health insurance plan survive until more policy changes can be made in the 2015 regular session.