Fort Smith

Arkansas severance tax revenue on record pace

Natural gas severance tax revenue for the first four reporting months of 2013 is ahead of the same period in 2011 when the collections eventually reached a record annual tally…

Kruithof joins Arvest Bank Benton County

Arvest Bank announced that Cynthia Kruithof accepted the role of senior human resources manager in Benton County. For the past 13 years, Kruithof worked at Arvest Bank in Fort Smith…

Gerber expansion could add 90 jobs in Fort Smith

More jobs are expected to come to Fort Smith thanks to continued expansion at the Gerber plant on the city's north side. In fact, the company, which is currently expanding…

Norman Rockwell exhibit draws 121,000 visitors to Crystal Bridges

More than 121,000 people viewed the “American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell” exhibit at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, according to museum officials. According to data from…

Lavaca native new CEO at Hot Springs Chamber

Talk to Jim Fram and you’ll come away with the first impression that this guy knows what he’s doing. The new Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce President and CEO…

Workforce numbers improving in Franklin County

In an otherwise bleak economic climate during the last several years, Franklin County appears to stand out from the crowd. Not only has unemployment dropped from a peak of 8%…

Workplace mental health focus a growing issue

With depression reported as a leading cause of lost productivity in the United States, a new initiative encourages companies to invest in their workforce to gain healthier, more productive employees,…

Five insurers sign up for Arkansas health exchange (Updated)

Five insurance carriers submitted letters of intent to participate in Arkansas forthcoming health insurance exchanges, according to the Arkansas Insurance Department. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas, Celtic/Novasys, QualChoice of…

Oklahoma resilience

May was a difficult, heart wrenching month for the state of Oklahoma. The lives of at least 40 men, women and children were cut short by tornadoes that ripped through towns…

Arkansas tax revenue up, consumer spending flat

Tax collections are up almost 5% in Arkansas for the first 11 months of the fiscal year, with the numbers presenting an uncertain trend with respect to consumer spending. For…

Wal-Mart hopes to woo consumers with ‘fresh’ guarantee

Fresh is the sexiest consumable category in grocery today, according to New Market Builders CEO Carol Spieckerman, so it’s no surprise that Wal-Mart is upping the ante with a 100%…

Finances improve for Arkansas’ unemployment fund

Nearly two years after the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) trust fund found itself $360 million in the hole, Gov. Mike Beebe (D) says the jobless safety net has paid back…

14,000 Wal-Mart employees gather in Northwest Arkansas

The world’s largest retailer does things in a big way, and its annual shareholder week is certainly no exception. Roughly 14,000 are expected to fill Bud Walton Arena early Friday…

Dental office chains expanding in Arkansas

What used to be a business of locally-owned and operated dental clinics in cities small and large alike is transforming into corporate-structured operations with name brands seen not just across…

Judge Rhonda Wood to run for Arkansas Supreme Court post

Arkansas Court of Appeals Judge Rhonda Wood announced Monday (June 3) that she will be a candidate for the Arkansas Supreme Court, Position 3. The election will be held in…

UALR unveils ‘game changer’ analytics center

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and officials with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock announced Monday (June 3) the opening of a more than $5 million analytics center that is…

Tyson acquires assets of ethnic food company

Tyson Foods Inc. on Monday continued to accelerate the expansion of its value-added foods portfolio acquiring of the assets of Circle Foods. This deal is in line with Tyson’s efforts…

Diamond Hogs end season with Kansas State loss

The No. 15 Arkansas baseball team saw its season come to an end on Sunday night as the Razorbacks dropped a 4-3 decision to No. 17 Kansas State in the…

The politics of nonsense

Enough already with folks like our United States Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas saying Obamacare is not so bad because the Republican-controlled legislature in Arkansas voted for a plan to…

Whirlpool on Wall Street

If one were to look around, one might revel at the active and ever-changing events emblazoned in our world. Crisis and calamities stun us, while occasional good fortune favors us….