Column

by The City Wire staff -

It is almost thievery

Past due accounts receivable has to be one of the most aggravating problems a business owner must confront. As a business owner, you perform the work, incur significant costs, and…

by Michael Tilley -

Francis and football

We have a new Pope. Or maybe it is that the Catholics have a new Pope and the rest of us have a new celebrity. Which is good, because the…

by The City Wire staff -

Decisions dilemma

• The Senate Report: Week 7 review When I ran for office the first time, I didn’t know what a State Representative or Senator did. I had never been to the…

by The City Wire staff -

Political bets with public dollars

While there has been much noted of Arkansas’ recently approved “pain capable” abortion bill, there has been little meaningful public debate among legislators about the political, social and legal complexities…

by The City Wire staff -

Sequester your own budget

What a non-event this sequestration was! We listen to the news where journalists and politicians, in a near frenzy, predict dire consequences for our country and everybody within its borders…

by The City Wire staff -

A school security primer

After much of the shock, anger, and outrage has passed following the tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook School, it is time to take an apolitical look at making real…

by The City Wire staff -

What is going on?

• The Senate Report: Week 6 review Red carpet. Celebrities. Lots of hoopla. That may be fine for the Oscars, but it is not a typical day in the life of a…

by Michael Tilley -

Billy says make it pretty

Billy, the old friend from the college days at Arkansas Tech University, called this week to get an update on a previous conversation. He’d traveled into Fort Smith a few…

by The City Wire staff -

Veterans, abortions and steel

By the end of our 6th week in session, the Governor signed over 140 bills into law. 76 of those bills originated in the House. Over 450 bills have been filed in…

by The City Wire staff -

Return on investment

• The Senate Report : Week 5 review Let’s start with a simple premise. Money is finite. It can go anywhere. It is like water in that it will go where there is…

by The City Wire staff -

Whirlpool’s spin cycle

The Fort Smith Board of Directors should put the brakes on this request by Whirlpool Corp. to ban the installation of groundwater wells in an area near the company's former…

by The City Wire staff -

State government and basic math

I’ve been fighting and arguing with a certain business assessor in the Sebastian County Tax Assessor Office for at least two years, probably more. I am right and she is…

by The City Wire staff -

Let’s talk about jobs

• Senate Report: Week 4 review The 89th General Assembly has passed a few bills thus far and has made headway on a few topics. We have had genuine conversation in…

by The City Wire staff -

TCW editorial: Bait and switch

Jobs, jobs, jobs. That was the pre-election mantra of these heady Republicans who knew they were within striking distance of capturing the keys to the Arkansas lawmaking engine. It was…

by The City Wire staff -

Busting GOP myths

“Government Doesn’t Create Jobs” “Arkansas is not a good jobs magnet.” The above phrases are among the top GOP mythologies parroted often by Republicans, with the first phrase even recited…

by The City Wire staff -

The Oklahoma report

In recent years, Oklahoma’s state government has played a vital supporting role to the private sector, helping to promote a business friendly environment that has lead to a net gain…

by The City Wire staff -

Bill filing and bill killing

• Senate Report: Week 3 review This past week saw some extremely positive news from the Governor with the announcement of our state’s first “Super Project” which happened to be…

by The City Wire staff -

Open season

Tax Season 2013 is open! Kind of. Jan. 30 marked the first day that individual taxpayers were able to file their federal income tax returns. This day was later than…