Business

USA Truck posts Q1 loss of $2.7 million

Generating income from revenue continues to be a struggle for Van Buren-based USA Truck, which posted a first quarter 2011 net income loss of $2.7 million compared to a net…

Bremner to cut 135 jobs in Poteau

Bremner Food Group announced Wednesday (April 20) plans to cut approximately 135 positions at its Poteau cracker plant, adding negative labor pressure in a metro area that reported a 9.1%…

Hamilton to retire as convention center director

Frankie Hamilton has been trying since 2009 to retire as the director of the Fort Smith Convention Center. Those “trying” days will end July 1. Hamilton, 68, will end more…

Harvel resigns AEDC position

Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce President Paul Harvel resigned last month as a member of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to focus more on chamber work and job recruitment….

$2 million-plus downtown Fort Smith project planned

Fort Smith-based Griffin Properties plans to invest at least $2 million to build an “upscale convenience store/market/café,” and an adjacent liquor store in downtown Fort Smith at the northwest corner…

State jobless rate remains at 7.8%

Arkansas’ unemployment rate was 7.8% in March, the third consecutive month for the rate level, with the number of employed moving up to 1.263 million. The Arkansas jobless rate in…

Area foreclosure actions drop 20% in Q1 2011

The number of Fort Smith area properties in a foreclosure action during the first three months of 2011 totaled 407, down more than 20% compared to the 2010 period, according…

Tourism tax receipts up in Fort Smith, down in Van Buren

Weather slowed regional tourism activity during February, but the tourism sector still shows signs — albeit modest — of recovery. February hospitality tax collections in Van Buren totaled $27,718, down…

Walmart.com pursues former Overstock.com affiliates

Wal-Mart announced Friday (April 15) an “open invitation” to join their Internet affiliation, a response to the April 8 move by Overstock.com to drop its Arkansas affiliates in response to…

Gas may be $1 higher for peak travel season

Just weeks into the U.S. government’s official summer driving season, Arkansans and U.S. motorists are already seeing pump prices at peak vacation levels when most Americans hit the road. Traditionally,…

Wal-Mart wants a say in Arkansas energy rulemaking

The world’s largest retailer wants a say in Arkansas’ energy efficiency rulemaking, according to this report from Talk Business. In a Thursday filing at the state Public Service Commission, Walmart…

J.B. Hunt, Bank of the Ozarks post positive earnings

First-quarter earnings of $50.1 million for J.B. Hunt Transport Services best analyst estimates, with the company’s intermodal segment again leading the positive results. Also, Bank of the Ozarks reported lower…

Wal-mart Wants A Say At Psc

The world’s largest retailer wants a say in Arkansas’ energy efficiency rulemaking.

J.b. Hunt Posts Record First Quarter

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., announced record first quarter earnings despite a struggling economy, rising fuel prices and rough winter weather.

RITA approves 5-year funding, program plan

A five-year funding and action plan for the Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority (RITA) was approved Wednesday (April 13), with much of the financial support coming from four area governments and…

ABF waits on appeals court ruling in YRC case

Officials with Fort Smith-based ABF Freight System and those in the trucking industry closely watching a $750 million action by ABF against the Teamsters and trucking giant YRC must now…

The toughest job is finding the right person

Finding good employees who span generational differences is the top challenge for any business.

Commodity, energy prices to impact corporate earnings

Bank of the Ozarks will kick off the first quarter earnings period Wednesday (April 13) as Arkansas’ publicly concerns wrangle with the multi-faceted pressures of higher commodity and energy prices….

Commodity, Energy Prices To Impact Corporate Earnings

Conway Vacation Group To Expand, Add 100 Jobs

Vacation Tour & Travel, which markets "high value leisure vacation experiences," says it will build a new headquarters in Conway and expand its workforce.