Business

Family-owned Ryan’s to close Springdale shop

Retail is tough business even in the best of times, and for Max Ryan, who is closing his Springdale clothing store after 47 years, it’s a crossroads into retirement.  Ryan’s…

Legislators Hear From Common Core Skeptics

Members of the Senate and House Education Committees are spending two days hearing testimony regarding the Common Core State Standards, the K-12 standards in English language arts and math that…

Back-to-school Spending Expected To Dip

Retailers began their “back-to-school” push earlier this year, but the National Retail Federation expects consumers will shell out $54 less per family this year compared to 2012.

Achieving An Entrepreneurial Investment With Junior Achievement Of Arkansas

Its mission is to prepare and inspire young people for success in the global economy. So, says the president of Junior Achievement of Arkansas, “What we’re really trying to do…

Dining Dialogue: Home Builders face tough issues

A growing number of regulations, a decreasing number of skilled workers and slow regional economic growth are just some of the issues challenging area homebuilders, according to Dave Hughes, executive…

Confusion Remains On Homeschool Law

Regulations are needed to enforce a new law allowing homeschoolers to participate in extracurricular public school activities, the law’s sponsor and the head of the state’s homeschooling association told legislators…

CVS Pharmacy sets sights on NWA (updated)

One of the largest pharmacy chains in the country – CVS Corporation – recently met with city planning officials in Bella Vista about a proposed 13,225 square-foot store location along…

Business, Education Leaders Bridging A Broadband ‘Ravine Of Communication’

How large of a gap do Arkansas public schools have in broadband access? The gap in bandwidth may be as large as the gap in communication between state educators and Internet service providers, but both are likely to close quickly.

Weekend Digest: The Political Scandal (And Comeback) Edition

For our weekend business and political readers: AP’S HELEN THOMAS DIES AT 92 POLITICO reports that former White House reporter Helen Thomas has died at the age of 92. Thomas,…

Broadband issue includes ‘ravine of communication’

How large of a gap do Arkansas public schools have in broadband access? The gap in bandwidth may be as large as the gap in communication between state educators and…

Electric Cooperatives Of Arkansas Inks Wind Energy Deal

The Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC) has reached a long-term agreement to purchase 150 megawatts of wind energy from RES America Developments Inc., a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Systems Americas…

Fewer Employed, But State Jobless Rate Remains 7.3%

Arkansas’ unemployment rate remained unchanged in June, but there was a lot changing inside the numbers.

Fewer employed, but state jobless rate remains 7.3%

With a June jobless rate of 7.3%, Arkansas was one of six U.S. states to not see a jobless rate change compared to June 2012. Year-over-year jobless rate decreases were…

House flips pick up steam, but it’s not easy money

House flipping is up 256% in Arkansas, but those involved in buying and renovating a home for a profit say the process is tough and risky in smaller metro areas….

Reagan Advisor Supports Cong. Womack Internet Bill

A bill that would close tax loopholes in online shopping by giving states a mechanism to compel online retailers to charge sales taxes got a big boost Thursday (July 18)…

ABC approves 39 liquor store permits in Benton County

The Alcohol Beverage Control of Arkansas approved 39 permits for new liquor stores in Benton County during the past three full days of hearings held in Little Rock. One last…

Charles Miller To Head Arkansas Environmental Federation

The Arkansas Environmental Federation Board of Directors has selected Charles M. Miller as AEF’s new Executive Director, effective August 5, 2013. Miller has a long history in association management and…

Simmons, Home BancShares see quarterly income rise

Simmons First National Corp. posted second quarter 2013 net income of $6.58 million, a slight increase from the $6.54 million it reported one year ago. The Pine Bluff-based financial institution…

Van Buren farmers seeks to expand with crafts

A local farmers market expects new business and continued growth following action taken by the Van Buren City Council this week. On Monday (July 15), the city council approved an…

Declines continue for regional tourism tax revenue

Hospitality tax collections in Fort Smith and Van Buren are down for the first five months of 2013, but employment in the regional tourism sector was up during May. Collections…