Business

Post-recession GDP gains miss Fort Smith metro

Of the eight metro areas within or connected to Arkansas, only the Fort Smith area saw a GDP decrease in 2011 compared to the beginning of the recession in 2008….

Networking, events key to recruiting vendor execs

The almost 6,000 people in Northwest Arkansas working for the about 1,300 companies in the area vying for space on Wal-Mart shelves have become a valued resource pool from which…

Liberty Bank taps Williams for new branch leadership role

Belinda Williams has been named coordinator of Liberty Bank’s new Joyce Street Banking Center in Fayetteville, according to Howard Hamilton, Regional President and Chief Operating Officer. Williams has more than…

JBU president elected to national collegiate board

John Brown University President Dr. Charles "Chip" Pollard was elected chair of the board of directors of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) at a board meeting held…

Bentonville welcomes a new Neighborhood Market

Walmart Stores Inc. and Bentonville officials have announced plans for a new Neighborhood Market expected to open this fall. A formal announcement will be made at a press conference Monday,…

Home Show helps ‘fill orders’ in a tough market

Dave Hughes is convinced that the Home Show and home parades conducted by the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders are business generators for the region’s residential home market….

Benefit Bank gifts $300,000 to UAFS nursing program

Benefit Bank of Fort Smith has provided two gifts totaling $300,000 to the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, with university officials saying the gifts will have a positive impact…

Wal-Mart Full Year Income Up 8.3%, Revenue Rises 5%

Wall Street eyes were staring at Wal-Mart Thursday morning (Feb. 21) looking for any morsel of insight into the health of the overall economy as the retailer recently leaked a…

Wal-Mart earnings top estimates but forecast weakens

Wall Street eyes were staring at Wal-Mart Thursday morning (Feb. 21) looking for any morsel of insight into the health of the overall economy as the retailer recently leaked a…

Court dismisses sex-bias class action against Wal-Mart

Female workers at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in Tennessee and four other southern states will not be allowed to pursue sex- discrimination claims against the retailer through a class action, or…

Tyson Foods Looks To Value-added For More Profits

The notion of adding value to a raw commodity product is not new. But it’s core to Tyson Foods’ efforts to push profits higher in the next three years,…

Mercy Hospital Opens $10 Million Heart Center

Patients in need of cardiovascular treatment at Fort Smith’s Mercy Hospital are now able to receive advanced treatment in one place with the opening of Mercy’s $10 million Heart…

Tyson Foods looks to value-added for more profits

The notion of adding value to a raw commodity product is not new. But it’s core to Tyson Foods’ efforts to push profits higher in the next three years, according…

Springdale Chamber VP wins ‘Dow Now’ contest

Lance Eads, vice president of economic development for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, has good instincts. He predicted the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) would close Dec. 28 at 12,901.17….

Hendricks & Partners acquired by Berkshire Hathaway joint venture

Hendricks & Partners, one of the nation’s largest multi-family investment banking and research companies, has been acquired by Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, LLC, a joint venture of investment giant Berkshire Hathaway…

Arkansas, Oklahoma Agree To New Study On Controversial Water Quality Issue

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Wednesday (Feb. 20) that Arkansas and Oklahoma officials have agreed to conduct a comprehensive study of phosphorus concentrations in the Illinois River watershed as both…

Lottery Scholarship Change Clears Senate Panel

The Senate Education Committee passed companion bills Wednesday creating a tiered scholarship approach for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship lottery program. The bills, Senate Bill 294 by Sen. Johnny Key…

Education Committee Hears Perspectives On Teacher Evaluation System

Arkansas’ Teacher Excellence and Support System, set to be implemented starting in 2014-15, is off to a good start because it was created deliberately and has support from different parts…

Mercy opens $10 million heart center

Patients in need of cardiovascular treatment at Mercy Hospital are now able to receive advanced treatment in one place with the opening of Mercy's $10 million Heart and Vascular Center….

Alice Stewart To Launch Central Arkansas Radio Show

Political strategist Alice Stewart will start a new political radio talk show beginning Monday, Feb. 25. “The Alice Stewart Show” will be featured on newly-branded talk show radio station KHTE…