by - July 27, 2014 4:51 pm
Seeking international investment
This past week, I returned from what is likely to be my last international trade mission as Governor of Arkansas. The journey to three European countries showcased the full range…
Guest Commentary
by The City Wire staff - July 20, 2014 7:50 pm
Why are we waiting on people to die?
Saturday I was in a clothing store talking with the gentleman who, like me, was born and raised in Fort Smith. The conversation was casual, so naturally it wandered over…
by The City Wire staff - July 14, 2014 8:24 pm
New EPA rules will hurt Arkansas
On June 2, the Environmental Protection Agency announced its most sweeping rulemaking yet, one that will affect every American but disproportionately affect every Arkansan. By restricting the use of coal,…
by The City Wire staff - July 13, 2014 1:17 pm
Faith and politics
A new twist occurred July 1 in the U.S. Senate race between Congressman Tom Cotton (R- Dardanelle) and Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark). In giving his reactions to the U.S. Supreme…
by The City Wire staff - July 7, 2014 3:47 pm
Education beyond high school
Today’s economy is more competitive and more complicated than it was fifty years ago. Oklahomans entering the workforce today are not just competing against Texans; they are competing against Americans…
by The City Wire staff - July 6, 2014 6:32 pm
Be careful with caring
On May 20 a Fort Smith convenience store, Mr. Jiff, was robbed. The lady working in the store at the time, Ms. Henry, was thrown to the floor by the…
by The City Wire staff - June 29, 2014 6:28 pm
Beebe’s Special Session call
I have called the Arkansas General Assembly to Little Rock for an extraordinary session, often referred to as a special session. There are legislative issues to be addressed before the…
by The City Wire staff - June 29, 2014 6:19 pm
The President’s war
The recent advances of the ISIS insurgency in Iraq, which threatens to undo what this country poured so much blood and treasure into is disturbing to many Americans, particularly veterans…
by The City Wire staff - June 26, 2014 6:05 pm
A ‘Bold’ push for jobs
There’s something in the water. How else do you explain the success that Arkansas entrepreneurs have enjoyed over the past 50 years? There is no precedent for a state with…
by The City Wire staff - June 22, 2014 8:32 pm
Trust and city government
Trusting people has its risk as well as its reward. Business works best when you can trust your employees to show up to work and work hard and when you…
by The City Wire staff - June 15, 2014 6:21 pm
What did we gain in Iraq?
In May, my wife Cara and I had the pleasure of seeing her son graduate from the Army Academy at West Point. To watch so many young men and women…
by The City Wire staff - June 8, 2014 9:55 pm
Would you invest in your business?
Many new business owners open for business with limited capital but unlimited dreams. If the market is cruel to their business concept, their limited capital becomes a capital shortage that…
by The City Wire staff - June 4, 2014 9:31 pm
College student perspective
Now that May has ended thousands of newly minted college graduates in Arkansas will join the workforce – or at least they will try to join the workforce. Two recent…
by The City Wire staff - May 29, 2014 5:41 pm
Arkansas’ income-parity struggle
A long-standing economic goal of Arkansas officials is to achieve 100% income parity with the United States. The goal is ambitious – overly so in the short-term but possible long-term…
by The City Wire staff - May 28, 2014 7:15 pm
A hardware industry look-ahead
Sales of hardware related products look to be a sweet spot for retailers and suppliers in the months and years ahead. The recent announcement that U.S. regulators are backing off…
by The City Wire staff - May 26, 2014 5:05 pm
Battling with documentation
Growing up my mother often would warn me as an inducement to behave or face the consequences, “Be sure your sins will find you out.” I have found throughout my…
by The City Wire staff - May 26, 2014 4:49 pm
Arkansas voter polling insights
When conceiving this column a few months ago, we planned to make the space allotted us on this website a place where we explain the strategic motivations behind the actions…
by The City Wire staff - May 14, 2014 1:33 pm
The politics of judicial precedence
Time and again we read in the news or hear from media reports that a single federal judge or a judicial panel of three or at most five, have taken…
by The City Wire staff - May 12, 2014 12:09 pm
Sex, drugs, and the demise of our tax code
CPAs regularly field questions on why the United States income tax laws are so screwed up and unfair. Everybody has their own opinion, but I tend to accept the opinion…
by The City Wire staff - May 5, 2014 2:02 pm
Gov. Fallin: Remember the victims
Last week, the state of Oklahoma conducted the lawful execution of Clayton Lockett, a man who was convicted of first degree burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, robbery by…