by - April 20, 2014 4:30 pm
Tourism industry treasures
Throughout my time as Governor, we have seen many twists and turns in the national economy that have made their impact known in Arkansas. Throughout both the tumultuous and brighter…
Guest Commentary
by - April 17, 2014 5:01 pm
Pryor-Cotton and U.S. Senate control, part II
Because voter turnout is regularly low during midterm elections, and a president’s party has historically lost seats- with some rare exceptions- in Congress during midterm elections, the strategy that campaigns…
by - April 13, 2014 7:26 pm
Pryor-Cotton and U.S. Senate control, part I
6 is the ‘magical’ number that will dominate the national political discourse throughout this electoral year. 6 is the ‘magical’ number of additional seats that national Republicans will have to…
by - April 6, 2014 7:10 pm
Compounded economic development
How often do you hear a debate, among public officials or among residents, about the payback period or the return on investment of a multi-million dollar project before it is…
by - March 30, 2014 4:54 pm
Dialogue on the Constitution
Hey, neighbor, how are you doing? Hi, neighbor, I’m doing fine. Well, as long as the warm weather holds. Yeah, it’s been an awful winter. Said that right, brother. What…
by - March 28, 2014 11:55 am
Praising Arkansas agriculture
Over the years, consumers have become increasingly health-conscious, as well as environmentally aware of farming practices. One of the results of this has been a monumental rise in demand for…
by - March 24, 2014 4:13 pm
A vision mystery
Fort Smith is a great place to live, today, but as with any living thing, today’s actions affect tomorrow’s outcome. Individually we set goals to achieve a designed future for…
by - March 16, 2014 3:08 pm
There is little the U.S. can do about Crimea
In those quarters where Obama-bashing is a sport, the situation in Ukraine has given conservative commentators on Fox News and elsewhere more ammunition to bash President Obama. The tone has…
by - March 9, 2014 7:13 pm
City strengths and city governance
“After my kids are grown I might move to …” I often hear friends and clients with high school and college age kids make the above statement on a regular…
by - March 6, 2014 5:26 pm
Pryor, Cotton message development
“Tom Cotton: Wrong for Arkansas” read a blaring headline of a blog on U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor’s campaign website on Aug. 6, 2013, as Pryor’s campaign anticipated U.S. Rep. Tom…
by - March 2, 2014 4:22 pm
Planning notes from Superintendent Gooden
The concerns relative to the emerging plans for an additional high school are reasonable in view of the long-term impact such a project can have on the Fort Smith Public…
by - February 23, 2014 11:59 am
The importance of innovation
Steve Jobs said innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Michael Porter said innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity. Both ideas describe the importance of innovative thinking…
by - February 2, 2014 8:32 pm
The death of Fort Smith’s prosperity
“Unreasonable.” “Vindictive!” “They read too many books.” “They avoid common sense.” “Fort Smith is the laughing stock of the state.” Above is a sampling of the comments I heard from…
by - January 20, 2014 3:40 pm
The ‘Private Option’ push
The members of the Arkansas General Assembly return to the Capitol in February for the 2014 Fiscal Session. This will be the third such session since voters changed the Arkansas…
by - January 19, 2014 5:35 pm
The real battle for healthcare
The success of Obamacare depends on my son and those in his demographic, or we have been told. He is a healthy male in his 20’s whose health insurance premium…
by - January 5, 2014 8:21 pm
Game pieces and tough questions
I received a call from Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders a few weeks ago, kind of. It was an automated call. If you live within the city limits of Fort…
by - December 22, 2013 4:33 pm
Resolutions, gratitude and saying ‘no’
What is it about the human species that compels us at the beginning of each year to make New Year’s resolutions? Everybody means well but within a few weeks resolutions…
by - December 8, 2013 5:09 pm
Looking for a Fort Smith renaissance
Last month my article “We have arrived” focused on a conversation about Fort Smith compared to Pine Bluff and was provoked by a “top ten list” ranking Fort Smith as…
by - November 29, 2013 10:23 am
The megasite message
Arkansas must use every available tool at our disposal to highlight our state's economic advantages in a competitive global marketplace. Companies looking to call Arkansas home need and want easy…
by - November 24, 2013 5:35 pm
What a difference a year makes
This time last year the political rhetoric and conversation around coffee was about the expiration of the Bush “tax cuts.” Most provisions lowering federal income taxes after President Bush had…