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The Supply Side: Ranch2Retail seeks to connect retailers with cattle supply chains

Rogers-based startup Ranch2Retail (R2R) is just what the name implies – a bridge between cattle ranchers and retailers who sell beef products and the supply chain that connects the two….

Gov. Sanders names Sam Dubke as communications director

Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders announced Monday (Sept. 23) that Sam Dubke will serve as her new Communications Director. Dubke previously served as Sanders’ deputy communications director and speechwriter. He replaces…

UCA President discusses changes coming to higher ed, ‘enrollment cliff’

University of Central Arkansas President Dr. Houston Davis has helped guide the Conway-based university to some solid enrollment gains over the last four years. Earlier this fall, UCA welcomed one…

Gov. Sanders makes appointments to boards, commissions

Governor Sarah Sanders announced the following appointments: Arkansas Beef Council Michael McMillan, Hot Springs Village, to the Arkansas Beef Council. Term to expire March 30, 2026. Replaces Terry Laster. Arkansas…

Arkansas’ August job numbers up 1.8%, jobless numbers dip 1.14%

Net annual Arkansas job growth rose 1.8% in August, and the number of unemployed in the state fell 1.14%. The state’s August jobless rate was 3.3%, unchanged compared to July…

Ceremony marks operational opening of foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

With sounds of construction and activity in the background, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) on Friday (Sept. 20) held a “proof of concept” ceremony at Ebbing Air National Guard Base…

U.S. Department of Energy awards $225 million to lithium efforts in Southwest Arkansas

Standard Lithium Ltd. and Equinor announced Friday (Sept. 20) that its jointly-owned U.S. subsidiary, SWA Lithium LLC has been selected for up to $225 million from the U.S. Department of…

ASU trustees approve $48 million in capital projects

The Arkansas State University Board of Trustees on Thursday (Sept. 19) in a special meeting approved nearly $48 million in capital projects at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, including a…

Halloween spending expected to dip 4.9% from 2023

Retailers set up for Halloween in August in hopes of enticing consumers. Halloween spending in 2023 was $12.2 billion, the largest spend on record and 15% more than 2022. The…

Arkansas PBS schedules four Congressional debates in October

Arkansas PBS has scheduled four U.S. Congressional debates that will air daily starting Oct. 7. The debates will livestream at myarpbs.org/elections and air live on Arkansas PBS daily Oct. 7-10….

Car-Mart to sell $65 million in stock; Credit line reduced by $20 million

Rogers-based America’s Car-Mart Inc. plans to sell $65 million shares to repay a portion of the balance of its revolving credit facilities. Any remaining proceeds would be used for “general…

State of the State Mid-Year 2024: ‘Freight recession’ continues for trucking industry

The transportation sector and trucking in particular have been mired in an economic downturn for more than a year, and several stakeholders within the sector told Talk Business & Politics…

Arkansas sees drop in July new hires, gain in job openings

A federal report issued Tuesday (Sept. 17) showed a gain in July job openings in Arkansas, but included an almost 20% drop in hires and a more than 14% increase…

Efforts to build more than 100 new houses in Newport underway

A number of civic organizations and a developer will collaborate to build more than 100 houses in Newport. Thousands of commuters come to the city each day to work and…

Dean MacKeith helped to introduce mass timber to state

Mass timber products have become significant to many large construction projects in Northwest Arkansas thanks in part to the advocacy of Peter MacKeith, dean of the University of Arkansas Fay…

NRF: Retail sales improved more than expected in August

Consumer spending in August ticked higher and pushed overall retail sales – excluding automobiles and fuel – up 2.11% from a year ago. Core retail sales that also exclude restaurants…

Online grocery sales rise 7% in August to $9.9 billion

U.S. consumers spent $9.9 billion online buying groceries and consumables in August, up 7% from a year ago, according to a Brick Meets Clicks/Mercatus Group survey completed Aug. 31. The…

The Supply Side: Marketplace an expanding growth engine for Walmart

Walmart’s Marketplace business helped the Bentonville-based retail behemoth cross $100 billion in online sales last year. That was a milestone, but Walmart is doubling down with its bet that the…

Phillips Corp. shows off robots at grand re-opening

Humans and machines were both in motion at the Phillips Corporation showroom in Little Rock Sept. 12-13. The showroom hosted a two-day Haas Automation “Don’t Fear Automation” Demo Days event…

Thurston leads in Treasurer race; Undecideds at 70% in Chief Justice matchup

Republican Secretary of State John Thurston is the frontrunner in his race for Treasurer of State and a massive group of undecideds remain up for grabs in the election for…