Latest News

Walmart net income up 56.1%, revenue up 3.7%

Second quarter net income for Walmart was $7.026 billion, up 56.1% compared with the same period in 2024. Per share earnings were 88 cents before adjustments reduced them to 68…

Gov. Sanders announces appointments, including State Library Board

Gov. Sarah Sanders on Wednesday (Aug. 20) announced several appointments to state boards and commissions, including six new members of the Arkansas State Library Board. State Library Board Jack Fortner,…

The Supply Side: Retailers engaged in expansion, technology investments

Many retailers are investing in stores, people and technology to ensure they remain relevant in the evolving retail sector. Burlington, Walmart, Five Below, and Tractor Supply are just a few…

Merrill Steel to build $32 million facility in Osceola

Merrill Steel announced Wednesday (Aug. 20) it will open a steel fabrication facility in Osceola. The project will cost $32 million and create 108 new jobs during the next three…

Trane Technologies to expand Fort Smith plant, add more than 60 jobs

Trane Technologies plans to invest almost $6 million to expand manufacturing capacity at its Fort Smith plant. The expansion is expected to add 63 jobs to the 272 jobs now…

Utilities Black Hills, NorthWestern to combine in all-stock merger

Rapid City, S.D.-based Black Hills Corp. and Sioux Falls, S.D.-based NorthWestern Energy Group Inc. will merge in an all-stock deal, forming a publicly traded electric and natural gas utility valued…

Arkansas jobless rate steady at 3.7%, nonfarm job numbers up almost 2%

Arkansas nonfarm employment rose almost 2% in July with Education and Health Services and the tourism sectors accounting for a majority of the job gains. The state’s jobless rate in…

Economist: Consequences not good if Farm Bill not considered

A new Farm Bill is on the agenda for Congress when it returns to work in September and at least one agricultural economist in the state thinks a deal might…

UAMS nurse anesthetist program to expand to NWA

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) announced a collaboration with the Alice L. Walton Foundation, Heartland Whole Health Institute, Mercy and Washington Regional Medical Center to expand its…

AG Griffin preparing for social media summit, nitrogen gas lawsuit

Attorney General Tim Griffin has spent a lot of time in recent weeks with a spate of court rulings on everything from the 10 Commandments to a law affecting transgender…

Car-Mart CEO salary rises 9%, total compensation falls 81%

Douglas Campbell, president and CEO of Rogers-based America’s Car-Mart, received a 9.47% raise in fiscal 2025, which ended April 30, according to the company’s proxy statement. Campbell’s salary rose to…

Women’s Foundation expands program to Northwest Arkansas

Little Rock-based philanthropic organization Women’s Foundation of Arkansas recently invested $90,000 to expand its Women’s Economic Mobility Hub to Northwest Arkansas, according to the organization. Through a partnership with Conexión…

Sen. Cotton: Expectations for Putin-Trump summit limited

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said the Friday meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin should not have high expectations. “It’s more of a sensing session for him…

Walmart’s second quarter net income could grow 7.4%

All eyes will be on Walmart next Thursday (Aug 21) when the retailer reports second-quarter earnings in the midst of ongoing Trump tariff-related trade policy challenges and an uneasy consumer….

Gov. Sanders names Aaron Abbot to State Board of Education

Gov. Sarah Sanders announced Friday (Aug. 15) that she has appointed Aaron Abbott of Springdale to serve on the Arkansas State Board of Education. Abbott, whose term will expire on…

Groundbreaking set for work on I-49 Arkansas River bridge

With some prep work either finished and underway, state and local officials are set to gather Aug. 22 in Barling to ceremonially break ground on construction of the Interstate 49…

The Supply Side: Back-to-school shopping estimated to be $128.2 billion, up 2.23%

Back-to-school is a big deal in the retail world, even when consumers are concerned about the economy. The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects total spending among K-12 and college households…

Sales up, net income lower for Dillard’s in Q2

Little Rock retailer Dillard’s saw an increase in sales during its second quarter, but profits were slightly lower. The mall and online retailer reported quarterly sales of $1.536 billion compared…

More space needed for foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

The U.S. Air Force plans to lease six more acres from the Fort Smith Regional Airport to support the foreign military pilot training center now active at Ebbing Air National…

Federal appeals court upholds Arkansas law blocking gender-affirming care

The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday (Aug. 12) rejected a lower court’s action to block enactment of the Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act (SAFE Act) that was…