Business

Fairfield Bay launches strategic growth plan

Fairfield Bay in Cleburne and Van Buren counties has launched the Fairfield Bay 2035 Strategic Plan, a roadmap designed to position the community as a residential and resort destination during…

Fort Smith parks director seeks ‘park warriors,’ touts amenities

Fort Smith Parks and Recreation Director Sara Duester said Monday (Jan. 12) that members of the Future Fort Smith Committee can be “park warriors” to help get accurate information out…

NRF: Retail sales rose 3.54% in December from year ago

The National Retail Federation (NRF) said December holiday sales rose 3.54% from the year-ago period and 1.26% from November. The trade group said the results put holiday sales in line with…

$6 billion data center to locate near Little Rock

AVAIO Digital Partners announced Monday (Jan. 12) it will locate a new $6 billion data center hub near Little Rock. It will be known as AVAIO Digital Leo and will…

The Compass Report: Arkansas metro economic growth ranges from resilient to stable

Economic growth in Central and Northwest Arkansas continued to grow in the third quarter of 2025, with economic conditions in the Fort Smith and Jonesboro metros moderating or flat in…

Family, relationships fueled Kirkwood’s long career at AOG, Summit

Fred Kirkwood was following love – her name is Carla – when he arrived in the Fort Smith metro more than 40 years ago. Four decades later, he developed a…

Waterpark, ACME property, Miss Laura’s on Fort Smith board study session agenda

Those planning to attend Tuesday’s (Jan. 13) study session of the Fort Smith Board of Directors may want to bring a snack. And some patience. The lengthy agenda includes several…

Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: More consent decree work completed, Arvest Foundation 2025 grant tally

Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro. Consent Decree Work Completion The city of Fort Smith recently announced completion of another project mandated by a federal consent…

Former USA Truck execs buy the company, will remain based in Van Buren

Current and former execs with Van Buren-based USA Truck have acquired the trucking and logistics company less than three months after Denmark-based DSV said it would shed the division. The…

Adobe Analytics: Online holiday sales grew 6.8% to $257.8 billion

Consumers spent a record $257.8 billion online between Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025, up 6.8% from 2024, according to Adobe Analytics data that tracked more than 1 million U.S….

Emily Suski named dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law

Emily Suski, associate dean for strategic and institutional priorities at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, will be the next dean of the University of…

Arkansas awarded $25 million to strengthen literacy instruction

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) has been awarded two competitive Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grants from the U.S. Department of Education, totaling nearly $25 million over five years….

Buc-ee’s West Memphis location to be delayed

West Memphis is still getting a Buc-ee’s but it will open at least a year later than planned. The travel center, slated to be built on a 34-acre swath just…

Walmart adds technology veteran to its board of directors

Walmart has added Shishir Mehrotra, CEO of Superhuman, (formerly Grammarly), to the company’s board of directors. He will serve on the board’s compensation and management development committee and the technology…

Walton Family Foundation provides more than $525,000 to UCA program

The Walton Family Foundation has given a three-year grant of $525,361 to the University of Central Arkansas to support a program that provides training and technical assistance to Northwest Arkansas…

More music, family events requested in Main Street Fort Smith survey

Input from almost 1,200 survey responses point to a desire for more downtown Fort Smith music and events. The results also give Main Street Fort Smith goals to pursue and…

Analysts: J.B. Hunt Q4 revenue to fall, earnings to rise

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., a Lowell-based transportation services provider, is expected to post earnings growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 and for the year. Revenue is projected to…

Garver releases technology to track street light efficacy

Arkansas engineering firm Garver recently released a first-of-its-kind technology that allows city and state transportation departments to measure the effectiveness of street lighting while traveling at highway speeds. Lumitracker, a…

Walton Arts Center, Walmart AMP release 2025 impact report

The Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville and the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) in Rogers released Wednesday (Jan. 7) its 2025 community impact report that shows the two venues sold…

Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln, former House Speaker Benny Petrus among Agri Hall of Fame inductees

The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame is set to add six new members to its ranks. The newest inductees will be recognized for their contributions to the fields of soybean,…