Business

Leading in omnichannel retail

Many years ago, when I was a buyer for a prominent national catalog retailer, I was fascinated by an emerging new retailing format of selling online by way of a…

Southern Bancorp CEO watching inflation, supportive of diversity efforts

Southern Bancorp CEO Darrin Williams wears a lot of different hats. He’s the CEO of the Arkadelphia-based financial institution, serves on the Federal Reserve Bank’s Little Rock branch, is a…

Senate President Hester: Legislature will ‘work to find the money’ for education, prisons

Senate President Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, said if the omnibus education reforms championed by Gov. Sarah Sanders exceed her estimated $300 million price tag, lawmakers will find the money to…

The Supply Side: More retailers focusing on healthcare in 2023

Retailers seem to agree that one sector that’s ripe for disruption is healthcare. Multiple companies are making moves to fill the gaps they see by investing in providing health and…

Drug traffickers would be charged with murder in new bill; Gov. Sanders names drug czar

Arkansas would charge drug dealers with murder if they deliver drugs that cause an overdose death, while those who traffic fentanyl to children would be charged with life in prison…

Fort Smith Board faces many options on water fee increases, timelines

The Fort Smith Board of Directors were given lots to consider – including a hoped for change to state law – during two study sessions this week about what residents…

Arkansas files suit after EPA rejects ozone plan

The state of Arkansas has filed suit against the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency after the EPA rejected Arkansas’ submission for complying with a rule pertaining to ozone emissions affecting…

Winery and coffee roasting operation, pre-school planned for Chaffee Crossing

The Fort Chaffee Development Authority (FCRA) Board of Trustees approved the sale of two buildings in the Historic District at Chaffee Crossing for use as winery, cidery and coffee roasting…

Arkansas startups selected for business development program

Washington, D.C.-based business consultant Cureate recently announced that 15 Arkansas companies will comprise the initial 2023 cohorts of Cureate Courses in partnership with Forge Inc., a Huntsville-based revolving loan fund….

UA’s MBA director publishes first book

Adam Stoverink, director of Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, is a published author for the first time. Stoverink said the new business…

Unity Health debuts Jacksonville hospital

Searcy-based healthcare provider Unity Health held a grand opening celebration Wednesday (Feb. 15) for its new state-of-the-art hospital in Jacksonville. Phase one of Unity Health-Jacksonville, which is slated to open…

Fort Smith homebuilders begin work on 2023 Showcase Home

The Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders (GFSHA) broke ground Wednesday (Feb. 15) on the 2023 Showcase Home, signifying the start of work on the association’s main fundraiser for…

Power moves: Electric utilities, solar industry fight over cost-shifting

Rep. Lanny Fite, R-Benton, has filed a bill to address the costs claimed to be shifted from net-metering customers to other electricity consumers. Solar energy advocates are rallying to oppose…

Democrats’ attempt to raise school support staff hourly pay tabled

Sen. Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville, presented legislation in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday (Feb. 15) to increase school funding and to raise salaries for non-teacher staff at public schools. According to…

Governor Sanders’ missed opportunity on education

One of the things that makes Gov. Sarah Sanders’ education proposal so frustrating is that it is such a missed opportunity. To understand the missed opportunity you have to review…

21 women entrepreneurs selected for Venture Center, Woman Run mentorship program

Twenty-one female entrepreneurs from across Arkansas are participating in the 2023 VCWoman Achieve program, a statewide mentorship opportunity hosted by The Venture Center in Little Rock. With support from Woman…

Arkansas Children’s Research Institute receives $2.5 million for cancer survivor research

The National Institutes of Health awarded $2.5 million to the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute for a study to reduce long-term side effects for survivors of the most common form of…

ASU receives $136,000 Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas grant

Arkansas State University has received a $136,000 grant for its Diversifying our Curing Community (DOCC) program from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas. It’s the second year…

Arkansas to seek ARHOME work requirement waiver

The state of Arkansas will ask the Biden administration for a waiver allowing it to require Medicaid expansion beneficiaries to work. Unlike the state’s previous attempt at a work requirement,…

Baptist Health CEO Troy Wells named to Federal Reserve Bank council

Troy Wells, president and CEO of Baptist Health in Little Rock, has been named to the Health Care Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Wells’ appointment…