Fort Smith

Minority retirement planning

New survey shows that Blacks and Hispanics “significantly” less prepared for retirement.

Multi-family construction boosts Greenwood building activity

Greenwood, a suburb of Fort Smith known for relative strength in new home construction, is seeing a new segment of residential construction boost building permit values. The city issued 48…

Moody’s report confirms better cash position for Sparks Health System

A June 11 opinion from Moody’s Investors Service supports the statement from Sparks Health System CEO Ted Woodrell that the troubled hospital’s finances are improving. Woodrell said in a July…

Federal stimulus funds are available for qualified small businesses

The capital loan program can provide no-interest six-month loans for business owners who need the help to keep the doors open.

When good roads go bad

Research group suggests more than half of highway deaths caused by bad roads.

May brings more than 10% dip in Van Buren hospitality taxes

Several years of consecutive growth in the Van Buren hospitality sector are in danger of ending in 2009. The Van Buren Advertising and Promotion Commission reported Monday (July 6) that…

You read it here first

The City Wire was able to obtain an advance copy of the more than 1-inch thick document outlining Fort Smith City Administrator Dennis Kelly’s proposed changes to city government policies,…

Considering signal events

Like Haggard, Moseley wonders if the good times are really over for good.

Museum delivers family-friendly Fourth of July in downtown Fort Smith

Fort Smith Museum of History event combines patriotic crafts, lessons about the flag and a free trolley ride.

Job growth to be tepid

Editor with The Kiplinger Letter says the economy won’t improve as fast as everyone hoped.

Sparks Health System officials no longer desperate for financial savior

The days of Sparks Health System desperately searching for a financial savior are over, according to hospital CEO Ted Woodrell. Deliberation, he says, has replaced the desperation. Less than a…

Transformers proves a movie can make money without a plot

Computer-generated special effects and explosion-packed action scenes not enough to overcome bad jokes and leg-humping robot dogs.

Closed portion of U.S. 71 to reopen today (July 2)

The portion of U.S. 71 north of Mountainburg closed June 23 is scheduled to open by 5 p.m. today (July 2), about a week sooner than expected. The closed portion…

FY 2009 Arkansas tax collections see 2.1% dip

As expected, the national recession resulted in a rare decline in net revenue from tax collections for Arkansas’ fiscal year 2009 (July 2008-June 2009). The Arkansas Department of Finance and…

Men: What recession?

New survey suggests recession has had little impact on male spending patterns.

Wal-Mart retains spot as top U.S. retailer

Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. retains its spot as the nation’s largest retailer according to STORES magazine, a publication of the National Retail Federation. STORES’ Top 100 Retailers list is based…

Peter advises to use your Red Rooster to get bread

Some of the best buns in the River Valley are in Alma, but Peter isn’t so sure about a Boom-A-Rang return.

Golden Living completes sale of all Arkansas nursing homes

Fort Smith-based Golden Living is officially out of the nursing home business in Arkansas. The company announced Wednesday (July 1) the completion of a previously announced deal to sell 13…

Van Buren up, Fort Smith down on June building permit values

The city of Fort Smith issued 334 building permits in June for work totaling $11.89 million, down more than 49% from the busy May 2008 activity resulting from hail and…