by - July 19, 2022 10:54 am
Insiders reflect on Walmart turning 60
When 44-year-old Sam Walton opened the first Walmart in July 1962, the economy was recovering from a recession. Unemployment was high, as were taxes. But that did not stop the…
Latest News
by - July 19, 2022 9:58 am
Arkansas cattle producers facing ‘disaster’ as record drought conditions worsen
Drought conditions in Arkansas continue to worsen and it’s starting to have an impact on the state’s largest economic sector, agriculture. The impacts to row crops won’t be known for…
by - July 18, 2022 7:32 pm
Northwest Arkansas business and civic leader Cameron Smith has died
Cameron Smith, who launched his executive recruiting firm nearly 30 years ago in Northwest Arkansas and is credited with building customer teams for hundreds of Walmart supplier offices in the…
by - July 18, 2022 1:38 pm
Recreational marijuana petition finds widespread support, tests new signature collection process
Under new laws passed by the Arkansas Legislature in recent years, many political observers expected greater difficulty in collecting ballot petition signatures. But Responsible Growth Arkansas collected more than 193,000…
by - July 18, 2022 12:30 pm
All Democratic lawmakers call for teacher raises; governor says support still lacking
All 29 Arkansas Democratic legislators have signed an open letter addressed to Arkansas teachers and support staff calling for increasing their pay in the upcoming legislative session, but a spokesperson…
by - July 17, 2022 9:09 pm
ASU System President discusses HSU future, new Jonesboro chancellor
It’s been a busy few weeks for Arkansas State University System President Dr. Charles “Chuck” Welch. The ASU leader recently announced plans for the troubled Henderson State University campus and…
by - July 17, 2022 8:46 pm
Leaders reflect on Jimmie Lou Fisher
Two Arkansas politicos who worked closely with the late Jimmie Lou Fisher, Arkansas’ longtime state treasurer, reflected on her contributions to state politics. Dr. Chuck Welch, ASU System President, worked…
by - July 17, 2022 12:02 pm
Heartland Forward report highlights U.S. labor challenges, opportunities
Bentonville-based think tank Heartland Forward recently released a report showing that decades of declines in domestic manufacturing, demographic shifts and labor force participation preceded and exacerbated the ‘Great Resignation’ experienced…
by - July 16, 2022 11:39 am
The Supply Side: Field Agent launches Plum marketplace for supplier services
Field Agent, a company based in Fayetteville, was founded 12 years ago on the principle of solving problems for retail suppliers. Today, the company continues to evolve by launching a…
by - July 16, 2022 9:11 am
Supply chain, costs, labor force are top issues for regional construction sector
The McDaniel family has for generations been known for two things in Northeast Arkansas — practicing law and construction. The family had been involved in building projects since the early…
by - July 14, 2022 4:49 pm
Highway officials tout benefit of I-49 completion
The consensus is that completion of the Interstate 49 corridor in Western Arkansas is essential to providing all the necessary components that will allow the Fort Smith metropolitan area to…
by - July 14, 2022 3:48 pm
Drone program to help monitor Arkansas forests
Dr. Hamdi Zurqani, assistant professor of geospatial science, joined the University of Arkansas-Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources (CFANR) in the fall of 2021. When he arrived on…
by - July 14, 2022 3:41 pm
Arkansas medical marijuana tax revenue down in the first half of 2022
Arkansas collected $15.8 million in tax revenue from medical marijuana sales in the first six months of 2022, down from $16.9 million in the same period of 2021. Pounds of…
by - July 14, 2022 2:51 pm
NWA Council says region at ‘critical inflection point’, puts forth new strategic plan
The Northwest Arkansas Council convened its annual meeting Thursday (July 14) in Springdale, where it released a new report that provides recommendations to strengthen a region at a crossroads. Entitled…
by - July 14, 2022 11:56 am
Construction begins on 1 million square foot industrial storage space at LR Port
State and local economic officials on Thursday (July 14) joined Bluestem Partners of Kansas City and Bailey Construction for the groundbreaking of a one million square foot industrial storage space…
by - July 14, 2022 6:01 am
New coalition launches to help close Arkansas’ digital divide
Bentonville nonprofit Heartland Forward has organized a coalition of more than a dozen Arkansas organizations whose goal is to help expand internet access in the state. According to a Thursday…
by - July 13, 2022 10:25 am
ArDOT wants feedback on plan to build electric vehicle charging network
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT), in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Environment, is accepting comments on a draft plan to install electric vehicle charging stations across the…
by - July 12, 2022 8:22 pm
Commission: Uniform training needed to prevent Uvalde’s confusion
Law enforcement officers from all agencies need uniform training for school shootings to prevent the confusion during the recent killings at the Uvalde school in Texas, several law enforcement members…
by - July 12, 2022 4:26 pm
Arkansas River commercial tonnage up 3% through June
Commercial tonnage shipped on the Arkansas River in the first half of 2022 is up 3% thanks in large part to a 22% increase in sand, gravel and rock shipped…
by - July 12, 2022 4:02 pm
Grocery prices rose 15.1% in June from a year ago
Consumers are seeing record grocery prices with the latest inflationary report indicating prices are up 15.1% from a year ago and up 7.4% since the start of 2022, according to…