Business

Gov. Hutchinson extends health emergency to Dec. 31, again calls on Arkansans to wear masks, follow health guidelines

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Thursday (Dec. 10) used his first primetime television address while in the state’s top office to essentially repeat pleas for Arkansans to wear masks, follow other…

J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center to open Friday

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will open the 32,000-square-foot J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center on Friday (Dec. 11) after raising more than $14 million in private…

Winthrop Rockefeller Institute adds UA’s Matt Waller to board of directors

Arkansas nonprofit Winthrop Rockefeller Institute announced the appointment Thursday (Dec. 10) of Dr. Matt Waller to its board of directors. The three-year term begins Jan. 1, 2021. Waller has served…

Nettleton students become 1st in state to talk with astronauts inside International Space Station

Nettleton School District STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) students did something Thursday (Dec. 10) that no one in Arkansas has ever done – talked directly to astronauts inside…

Fort Smith hospitals prepped to receive COVID-19 vaccines

With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expected to approve the first of the COVID-19 vaccines perhaps as early as this weekend, Arkansas could receive its first shipment of…

Tyson Foods hires Dr. Claudia Coplein as its first chief medical officer

Tyson Foods has selected Dr. Claudia Coplein to fill the newly created role of chief medical officer for the meat giant amid its efforts to focus on safeguarding employee health…

Arkansas’ PBM law unanimously upheld by U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of an Arkansas law on a controversial pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) statute on Thursday (Dec. 10). The 19-page decision from the nation’s high…

Pine Bluff pellet manufacturer lands $135 million capital investment

Highland Pellets LLC announced Wednesday (Dec. 9) a strategic capital partnership with Orion Energy Partners, L.P. to fund the expansion and upgrade of its existing wood pellet facility in Pine…

UA announces Arkansas Business Forecast speakers, plans for virtual event in January

One of the state’s largest annual business gatherings will, as anticipated, be a virtual event in 2021. The 27th annual Arkansas Business Forecast event is scheduled Jan. 29. The event…

Winrock International introduces early-stage fund to close financing access gap in Arkansas

Winrock International announced Thursday (Dec. 10) the Validation Fund, Arkansas’ first evergreen, not-for-profit fund dedicated to deploying early-stage awards to validation-stage Arkansas startup companies. The fund was launched with an…

Fayetteville landmark ready for redevelopment

The owner of a Fayetteville property listed on the National Register of Historic Places is planning to redevelop the site with multiple uses. The $4.2 million redevelopment includes the Peter…

Solar power is just warming up

The future is bright for the solar industry in Arkansas. The state’s advanced energy economy contributes $2.8 billion in economic output, according to the UALR Arkansas Economic Development Institute. Advanced…

One-on-one with Today’s Power Inc. CEO Michael Henderson

Solar energy is on the rise in Arkansas and around the nation. Commercial and residential solar capacity is hitting new highs and solar panel production eclipsed a new record in…

COVID-19 daily numbers again top 2,000; NWA hospitals note concern about staff shortages

New confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths reported Wednesday (Dec. 9) by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) rose by 34 to 2,786. While hospitalizations and ventilator use declined, new confirmed…

Western Arkansas Business Award honorees named, virtual event to be held in January

Banking, liquor and property development are the areas of business to be recognized in the second annual Talk Business & Politics Western Arkansas Business Awards program. Talk Business & Politics…

Lyon College political science professor analyzes Presidential election trends

Recounts in swing states have ended, virtually all lawsuits have been dismissed, and most people have come to the conclusion that former Vice President Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump…

Online grocery sales top $8 billion in November

As more consumers turned to online grocery shopping ahead of Thanksgiving, cumulative sales topped $8.1 billion, according to a shopping survey conducted by Mercatus and Bricks Meet Click. The survey…

UAFS will not seek a second vote to extend sales tax

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will not seek an extension of the current ¼-cent county-wide sales tax through a special election in the spring. Sebastian County voters said…

Consumer spending up in October, personal income declines

Consumer spending crept upward again in October but personal income fell due to the decline of government payments, according to the monthly update issued by the Bureau of Economic Analysis….

Industry-led workforce development paving the way for state growth

One of the major reasons America is the world’s economic superpower is our ability to move goods and services cheaper and faster than any other nation in the world. Arkansas,…