Business

Fort Smith metro home sales up 16.2% in 2020

After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of the state and national economy in early 2020 and the Fort Smith metro lost 10.5% of its jobs in one month, it…

COVID-19 hospitalizations see big daily decline; more school districts in high infection areas

Hospitalizations, ventilator use and active cases declined in Thursday’s (Jan. 14) report from the Arkansas Department of Health, but the number of school districts with high infection rates among district…

Christopher & Banks files bankruptcy, store closures likely

Specialty apparel retailer Christopher & Banks that caters to women ages 40 to 60 has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of New Jersey. The company said it expects…

Inaugural Fort Smith film festival planned for August 2021

A new film festival in Fort Smith will not only highlight talented film makers in the Arkansas River valley but, hopefully, from across the world. The River Valley Film Society…

Arkansas grain farmers have a dismal 2020; higher prices in 2021 could portend crop growth

Arkansas corn farmers planted nearly 20% less corn than was projected at the start of the 2020 planting season, according to figures released by the United States Department of Agriculture….

BRTC receives $1.2 million grant for flood mitigation efforts

Major flooding along the Black River has been a significant problem in Lawrence and Randolph counties in recent years. The eastern half of Pocahontas, where the Ozark Mountains transform into…

Cobb completes first broiler delivery to Jordan in the Middle East

Siloam Springs-based broiler breeder Cobb-Vantress Inc. announced Wednesday (Jan. 13) the completion of its first shipment to Jordan last month after building a relationship with Saudi Arabia distributor Al-Watania Poultry….

SBA reopening Paycheck Protection Program to lenders Friday

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) plans to reopen the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to small lenders on Friday (Jan. 15) and to all lenders next Tuesday. The SBA and…

Not in the 2020 dumpster fire: home sales

While New Year’s Eve celebrations were smaller and looked different, Americans’ excitement to close out the chapter of one year and turn the page of a new one has never…

Arvest Bank tops Arkansas small business lending list

Fayetteville-chartered Arvest Bank was the top U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in Arkansas in fiscal year 2020. The ranking is based on 7(a) loan production for the SBA fiscal…

COVID-19 providing momentum to telemedicine, expanding scope of practice

The COVID-19 pandemic has created momentum for permanently expanding telemedicine and some medical professions’ scopes of practice, Arkansas state legislators say. Meanwhile, the Arkansas Works program again will be an…

Fort Smith Public Schools to pivot briefly to online learning

Fort Smith Public Schools will go to online learning Friday (Jan. 15) and Tuesday (Jan. 19) though schools will be open to students. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on…

Former Hartford Public School property to be sold at auction

When the Hartford Public Schools consolidated with Hackett Public Schools in 2014, it would have been hard to foresee that the Hartford High School would be sold to the highest…

Another 65 COVID-19 deaths reported; percentage vaccinated rises

While active COVID-19 cases declined, Wednesday’s (Jan. 13) Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) report shows another 65 Arkansans died from the virus in the previous 24 hours. The ADH report…

Tyson Foods partners with Matrix Medical on vaccine access, education

Springdale-based Tyson Foods is partnering with Matrix Medical to ensure its more than 100,000 U.S. employees are educated about and have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. “Providing vaccine education and…

Former Overstock.com CFO David Chidester joins Rogers solar company as CFO Advisor

Rogers-based solar energy company Shine Solar announced Wednesday (Jan. 13) it’s hired David Chidester as its first chief financial officer adviser. “After a lengthy and thorough vetting process, I’m thrilled…

Chambless officially takes CEO role at Farmers and Merchants, appoints Holzhauer as chief commercial lending officer

Brad Chambless is the new CEO and President of Farmers and Merchants Bank and the Bank of Fayetteville. He succeeds Gary Hudson, who retired on Dec. 31, 2020. Chambless joined…

Walmart, much of corporate America, suspends political funding to certain members of Congress

Walmart and dozens of U.S. companies such as JPMorgan, Disney and AT&T have said they will suspend political contributions to members of Congress who voted against the certification of state…

J.B. Hunt revenue to rise 5%, earnings to fall 4% in fourth quarter

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is expected to post an earnings decline in the fourth quarter and for 2020 as shares rise to a 52-week high following an…

2021 should be better year for trucking industry

The trucking industry will have no shortage of challenges in 2021 as it delivers the COVID-19 vaccines that are expected to lead to some sense of American normalcy. Shannon Newton,…