Business

Two big building projects permitted in Fort Smith

In the matter of a week, the city of Fort Smith has issued building permits with higher values than it did for the entire month of September 2012. The two…

August travel traffic up in Fort Smith, down at XNA

Enplanements at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) were down in August but remain higher for the year, while the opposite was true for the Fort Smith Regional Airport. The…

Insurance Department Releases Exchange Rate Plan Costs (UPDATED)

The Arkansas Insurance Department released the costs of rate plans to be offered in the forthcoming state insurance exchange. Four companies are offering bronze, silver and gold plans for health…

Fewer Enrolled In Arkansas Colleges

Fewer students are enrolled in Arkansas colleges and universities this fall than last. Arkansas Tech University and John Brown University saw the biggest percentage gains, while Philander Smith College and…

The Surprise Box: A New Twist On An Old Marketing Ploy

Editor’s note: This story appears in the latest magazine issue of Talk Business Arkansas, which you can read online at this link. For a brief time in my childhood, my mom…

Mapping Murphy USA’s Future With CEO Andrew Clyde

Editor’s note: This story appears in the latest magazine issue of Talk Business Arkansas, which you can read online at this link. An El Dorado boy can have a lot of…

Magazine: Talk Business Arkansas September/October

Meet the new CEOs of Murphy Oil and Murphy USA, learn where the business of big-time college sports is headed, and go behind-the-scenes in the U.S. Senate race.

Forthcoming Insurance Exchange Details Explained

On Monday, the state’s health insurance marketplace takes a step forward, but Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford and State Sen. Jonathan Dismang warn that ‘a bumpy road’ remains.

Weekend Digest: The Modern Day Reporter Edition

For our weekend business and political readers: AUTOMATION HELPING BRING BACK U.S. TEXTILE MILLS BACK TO LIFE In the 90″s the U.S. textile industry took a huge downturn as it…

Whirlpool, ADEQ to meet with Fort Smith Board

On the same day the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality submitted final responses to Whirlpool's challenges to the agency's annual groundwater monitoring report, the city of Fort Smith has confirmed…

College Leaders Call For Immigration Reform

Eight Arkansas higher education leaders Friday released a letter to members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation calling on them to pass immigration reform. The letter was signed by Dr. Joel Anderson,…

Walmart, retailers announce holiday hiring

The nation's largest retailer said Monday (Sept. 23) it will hire 55,000 seasonal associates, will transition more than 35,000 associates from temporary to part-time and another 35,000 associates will move…

Big River Steel’s John Correnti: We’re ‘In The Red Zone’

Big River Steel superproject investor John Correnti is as excited as a football coach with championship expectations at the start of the season. On Thursday (Sept. 19), the Arkansas Department…

Arkansas’ labor force shrinking, jobless rate at 7.4%

Arkansas’ jobless rate during August was unchanged compared to July, but a year-over-year comparison shows that 27,000 have left the workforce and more than 26,000 fewer Arkansans are employed. The…

U.S. Jobless Rate Drops Below State For First Time Since Pre-recession

Arkansas’ August unemployment rate remain unchanged at 7.4% as the state’s job picture remained in a rut. However, the national jobless rate dipped below the state percentage for the first…

The Big Business Of College Sports

The business of collegiate athletics has risen to a whole new level in the last 20 years. Where is it heading next?

Arkansas Health Exchange Plan Rates To Be Released Monday

Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford told legislators and the media that the plan rates for insurance policies on the state’s forthcoming health exchange will be released on Monday (Sept. 23)….

Computers and no ‘glass ceilings’ benefit Beall Barclay

One of Arkansas' largest locally-owned accounting firms marked a major milestone Thursday (Sept. 19) – a half-century in operation. Beall Barclay & Company marked its 50th anniversary with a reception…

Wal-Mart Wrestles Down Inventory Ahead Of Holiday Push

Consumers wanting more choices and Wal-Mart’s “shop local” agenda have helped to push total inventories 5.5% higher over the past year. But word on the street is that the retailer…

90th Arkansas Best Anniversary ‘An Incredible Thing’

Survival attributed to the work of good people, the rewards of good risks and the whims of good fortune was the theme that emerged during the Thursday event (Sept. 19)…