Business

Broiler market slow to rebound in wake of COVID-19

Arkansas is one of the top broiler producers in the country, and the sector has been badly battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The poultry industry as a whole is making…

Winrock International hands out USDA grants to develop tourism in rural Arkansas Delta

U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand said the USDA has signed cooperative agreements with five organizations to support placemaking technical assistance throughout the United…

Tyson Foods’ top execs talk about future tech for the global company

Tyson Foods CEO Dean Banks said his journey to Tyson Foods took some interesting turns – including military service and medical technology work – but he feels at home leading…

COVID-19 cases top 100,000, Gov. Hutchinson calls for a day of prayer

Gov. Asa Hutchinson is on a testing regimen after possible exposure to a person with COVID-19, and the potential exposure resulted in his weekly briefing on Tuesday (Oct. 20) being…

Arkansas jobless rate dips to 7.3% in September, but number of unemployed rises more than 100%

The number of employed Arkansans fell 0.43% between August and September, but a decline in the size of the available workforce helped push the state’s jobless rate to 7.3% in…

Distillate inventories projected to fall this winter

Increased demand for distillate fuel oil this winter is expected to contribute to declines in high distillate inventories in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)….

Poll: Trump, Cotton on cruise control for re-election in Arkansas

Arkansas’ six electoral votes are heavily favored to go to President Donald Trump, and one of his main allies, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, should return to Washington, D.C. regardless of…

Seventh annual NWA Tech Summit begins; Walmart exec receives innovator award

The virtual Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit began Monday (Oct. 19). Graham Cobb, CEO of the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, said this year’s event features around 100 speakers focused…

Tool manufacturer to invest $35 million plant in Ash Flat

Emerson announced Monday (Oct. 19) it will open a new facility in Ash Flat. It plans to invest $35 million and create approximately 245 new jobs within four years. Emerson…

COVID-19 hospitalizations set new daily record; active cases decline in schools and universities

With total cumulative COVID-19 cases approaching 100,000 in Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Monday (Oct. 19) he is hoping for a reversal of the trend in recent weeks in which…

Fort Smith teacher named 2021 Arkansas Teacher of the Year

Susanna Post, the math and business technology teacher at Belle Point Alternative Center in Fort Smith, is the Arkansas Teacher of the Year. The award was announced at an assembly…

Governor champions Issue 1 as early voting opens statewide

Gov. Asa Hutchinson kicked off the first day of early voting in Jonesboro on Monday (Oct. 19) pushing support for Issue 1. The governor was joined by a host of…

Gerald Harp, retired grocery store chain CEO, dies at 80

Gerald Harp, one of four children of Harps Food Stores Inc. founders Harvard and Floy Harp and a retired chief executive of the Springdale-based company, died Friday (Oct. 16). He…

Black Friday excitement and spending hindered by COVID-19 concerns

Black Friday has been a mega shopping ritual for consumers and retailers for decades, but as COVID-19 concerns persist only about half of the households are excited about shopping on…

Natural Capital fund closes investment round with $41.25 million in commitments

Natural Capital, an Arkansas-based private investment firm, announced the closure of the Natural Capital Fund I, LP with combined commitments of $41.25 million. The fund’s investor base is comprised completely of…

Simmons First sees quarterly income decline, but earnings beat market expectations

Pine Bluff-based Simmons First National Corp. posted third quarter net income of $65.9 million, down from the $81.8 million in the same period of 2019. Revenue during the quarter was…

Tyson Manufacturing Automation Center finding solutions to labor issues

Tyson Foods has invested $500 million in technology innovations over the past three years, including the Tyson Manufacturing Automation Center (TMAC) in downtown Springdale which has been part of the…

Sen. Tom Cotton discusses judicial selection process, COVID-19 relief options

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., expects the next time Democrats hold the White House and the U.S. Senate they will waste little time confirming judicial appointments that may exist. “If…

Poll: Highway funding proposal Issue 1 poised to pass

Issue 1 – the ballot proposal that makes permanent a current half-cent sales tax for roads and highways – is poised to pass in November. A new poll from Talk…

Windstream names Drew Smith as treasurer

Little Rock-based Windstream Holdings named Drew Smith as treasurer on Friday (Oct. 16). The appointment is effective immediately. Smith previously served as assistant treasurer for the company. As senior vice…