Fort Smith

Van Buren Chamber moving to a new multiuse building

When asked what the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce has planned for 2025, President and CEO Julie Murray had a simple answer: moving. The chamber is in the process of…

Fort Smith glass recycling pilot program not expected to continue

Fort Smith’s residential glass pilot program started in 2024 is not likely to continue. The Fort Smith Board of Directors in May 2024 approved a glass recycling program for Fort…

Towson Avenue work moves ahead, but Fort Smith still short on money

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is moving forward on plans for Towson Avenue even though the City of Fort Smith does not have all the funds needed to complete…

New 142nd headquarters to be built at Fort Chaffee

The Arkansas National Guard will on Thursday (March 13) ceremonially mark the start of construction on a new headquarters at Fort Chaffee for the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, which is…

New waterslide tower set to be installed at Parrot Island

Work is set to begin on installing a new waterslide complex at Parrot Island Waterpark at Ben Geren Regional Park that is estimated to support overall park activity for 600…

ArcBest details early 2025 declines in shipping, freight rates

The manufacturing sector weakness and nationwide freight recession pricing that hampered ArcBest’s financials in 2024 are continuing into 2025, according to the Fort Smith-based shipping and logistics company. ArcBest on…

February building permits up almost 8% in the Fort Smith metro

Building activity in the Fort Smith metro continued to rise in February, though building slowed a bit from the start of the year. February building permit values were up 7.9%…

UAFS names new ASBTDC director

Ty Barrett is director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) Regional Office at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, the university has announced. Barrett, 55,…

Fort Smith Board to again discuss homeless issue

Suggested changes to an ordinance attempting to address homelessness that failed to gain approval in 2024 and other discussion on the issue are on the agenda for the Fort Smith…

School board elections set in Greenwood, Fort Smith, Van Buren

Gregory Carthon, who was appointed to the Fort Smith Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 24, filed for upcoming annual school elections for the board, but not for the…

Sen. Boozman, Rep. Womack ‘confident’ about foreign pilot training center future

Two members of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation are not concerned about the future of a foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith, even with U.S.-NATO relations in new and uncertain territory,…

Area homebuilders break ground on 2025 showcase home

More than 50 people gathered Wednesday (March 5) in cold and windy conditions to ceremonially break ground on the 2025 showcase home that is part of a promotion effort of…

Plan proposed to redirect more than $7 million to Fort Smith consent decree

Fort Smith Vice Mayor and City Director Jarred Rego is pushing plan to reduce and reprogram city spending, and he’s hoping the rest of the Fort Smith Board of Directors…

FCRA spends $2.87 million to buy back property

The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) Board of Trustees agreed during its recent meeting to repurchase two tracts of land. The property is zoned mixed use industrial/office, said Daniel Mann,…

Talk Business & Politics expands Fort Smith metro news coverage

Talk Business & Politics has expanded its coverage of the Fort Smith metro with an expanded regional landing page that includes more news about the region, obituary postings, and feature…

Estimated cost of planned state prison in Franklin County now at $825 million

The cost of the proposed 3,000-bed state prison in Franklin County is now estimated at $825 million, more than double the approximate $405 million state officials said it would cost…

Fort Smith sales tax revenue down in the January report

Fort Smith sales tax revenue was down again in January, continuing the trend that started in 2024. The city’s share of the Sebastian County sales tax was $2.271 million in…

ATU robotics team headed to world’s largest robotics competition

The Arkansas Tech University (ATU) robotics team, which has student members from the Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas areas, is set to compete in May at the world’s largest robotics…

UAFS official says restarted nursing program ‘progressing very well’

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) still has high hopes that its newly restarted associate of applied science-nursing (AAS) degree will help to meet the nursing needs of…

Levitt AMP series returns to Fort Smith, to include pop-up show

The Levitt AMP Fort Smith will return in April with a spring line up and a pop-up concert at The Bakery District to help celebrate the fifth anniversary of the…