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Fort Smith airport traffic on pace to top 2024
Barring a dismal December, enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport are on track to top the 2024 numbers that were slightly better than the 2023 numbers. The airport also…
Tourism / Heritage
by - December 16, 2025 7:14 pm
Parrot Island Waterpark control decision pushed to study session review
The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Dec. 16) voted to not consider two agenda items related to management of the Parrot Island Waterpark. The items are to be…
by - December 16, 2025 4:56 pm
XNA enplanements exceed 2024 record as of November
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Benton County has surpassed its 2024 enplanements, or passengers flying out, as of November. Between January and November, enplanements increased by 11.3% to 1.16…
by - December 15, 2025 12:31 pm
Christmas traditions celebrated at A-State heritage sites
The Arkansas State University Heritage Sites celebrate historical places across the region. Two of the heritage sites, the Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home and Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational…
by - December 15, 2025 11:56 am
Fort Smith begins to gather citizen input for ACME property use plan
Flood mitigation is the primary focus of planning for former ACME Brick Yard property in Fort Smith, but ideas and designs for “recreational amenities” may also be part of the…
by - December 14, 2025 1:16 pm
Executive Summary: Parker focused on securing ‘greatness’ for others, region
Editor’s note: The Fort Smith Metro Daily News Executive Summary series is focused on looking under the title, so to speak, of a business, government, and non-profit executive in the…
by - December 14, 2025 12:22 pm
Resolution could give Fort Smith full operational control of Parrot Island Waterpark
Fort Smith Director Kevin Settle understands the Parrot Island Waterpark controversy, but said the amenity that has more than 100,000 annual visitors will have a “long-term benefit” for the city,…
by - December 13, 2025 12:00 pm
Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: Fort Smith police detective awarded, New Year’s ball drop planned
Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro. December Building Work The city of Fort Smith issued building permits for $5.164 million in work during the first week…
by - December 11, 2025 5:14 pm
Arkansas online sports wagering tax revenue up 28.1% through October
Arkansas has collected more than $7 million in tax revenue from online sports wagering in the first 10 months of 2025, up 28.1% compared with the same period in 2024….
by - December 10, 2025 5:10 pm
Fort Smith airport, military close to pilot training center joint use agreement
Fort Smith Regional Airport Commissioner Eric Pendergrass believes the airport is close to signing an Airport Joint Use Agreement (AJUA) with the U.S. Air Force that details fiscal and physical…
by - December 9, 2025 8:18 pm
Another Fort Smith Board study session set to discuss cemetery ownership
The Fort Smith Board of Directors will continue the discussion about control of three historic and active cemetery properties in the city again next week at a special called study…
by - December 9, 2025 1:26 pm
Arkansas jobless numbers rise more than 12% in September
Arkansas’ year-over-year job numbers were up 1.65% in September, but the number of unemployed was up more than 12%. As a result, the state’s September jobless rate was 3.9%, up…
by - December 9, 2025 11:07 am
SurfTec releases bike chain lubricants that ‘revolutionizes’ the market
SurfTec LLC, a Fayetteville-based company founded through research and innovation programs at the University of Arkansas, recently launched TriboFlux bicycle chain lubricants. Samuel Beckford, co-founder and CEO of SurfTec, said…
by - December 9, 2025 11:01 am
Fuego Tortilla Grill to open in Fayetteville
The first Fuego Tortilla Grill outside of Texas will open Dec. 16 in Fayetteville, according to a news release. A grand opening event is set for Jan. 13. The 3,250-square-foot…
by - December 8, 2025 6:25 pm
Oaklawn Foundation grant to fund Northwoods Trails expansion, open 2 lakes to more activity
A $350,000 grant from The Oaklawn Foundation will lead to the expansion of Hot Springs’ Northwoods Trails System, open two of the property’s lakes to water activities, and set up…
by - December 8, 2025 5:34 pm
State, feds sign MOU for Blanchard Springs Caverns
Gov. Sarah Sanders and Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis signed Monday (Dec. 8) a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Forest Service that begins the…
by - December 7, 2025 10:23 am
Cemetery support issue back before the Fort Smith Board
A discussion about assuming control of three historic and active cemetery properties will once again be part of a Fort Smith Board of Directors study session set for Tuesday (Dec….
by - December 5, 2025 5:22 pm
Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax numbers down through August, job numbers up
Arkansas’ 2% tourism tax revenue declined almost 2% in the first eight months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. Hospitality tax revenue in surveyed cities is also…
by - December 5, 2025 1:01 pm
Connections: Yellow Rocket Concepts hosts gift card fundraiser
Arkansas-based restaurant group Yellow Rocket Concepts launched a community-focused fundraiser supporting food banks across its operating regions. Its brands include Big Orange, Local Lime, ZAZA, Taco & Tamale Co. and…
by - December 4, 2025 8:52 pm
Coon Supper, pre-event reception scheduled for Jan. 10
The 14th annual Berry Pre-Coon Supper Reception will be held on Jan. 10, 2026, at the Berry Farm Shop in Gillett. The reception is a prelude to the Gillett Coon…