News on the Wire

Retailers quietly battle loss prevention

It seems to be the subject that few want to talk about, yet behind the scenes retailers actively pursue means to protect their assets from theft and damage coming from…

Van Buren council OKs Field of Dreams upgrades

The Van Buren City Council accepted a bid from Crawford Construction Company for construction of a $237,500 concessions and restroom facility to be built at the city's Field of Dreams…

Security, immigration among issues for Internet commerce

Business and government leaders across Arkansas say the challenges in the Internet Age present opportunities for success and failures. Navigating the rapidly changing landscape may be the highest hurdle to…

Teamster reps endorse ABF contract

About 160 Teamster local union reps on Monday (May 20) unanimously endorsed a tentative labor contract between the union and ABF Freight System that includes an immediate 7% wage reduction…

Wal-Mart seeks injunction against protestors

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has a business to run and the lawsuit the retailer filed in Benton County Circuit Court last week is a step to protect that enterprise, its customers…

Future Shopper: Changing attitudes reshape retail

Much has been written about the convergence of technology and the act of shopping — a behavior that dates back some 10,000 years to the ancient Persian empire. And while…

Sources: Layoffs at Golden Living admin center

Several sources have told The City Wire that as many as 60 people have been laid off at Golden Living’s administrative center in Fort Smith, with the company acknowledging only…

Arkansas Best, Rheem freeze pension plans

It’s certainly not a popular move with potentially hundreds of employees in the Fort Smith region, but officials with Rheem and Arkansas Best Corp. recently said they will close their…

Sen. Pryor, Ross call for Shoffner’s resignation

A criminal complaint filed today against Arkansas State Treasurer Martha Shoffner details the federal case against her, which includes accepting payments in a pie box from a political supporter. The…

Arkansas Treasurer faces extortion charge (Updated)

Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner, 68, has been arrested and is being held for the U.S. Marshals office under a charge of extortion. The arresting agency is the Federal Bureau of…

Fewer employed, but state jobless rate falls to 7.1%

The number of unemployed in Arkansas fell by almost 3,800 in April but the size of Arkansas’ workforce and the number of employed continues to move in the wrong direction….

Speaker Carter says no to Governor’s race

House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, says he won’t run for Arkansas Governor in 2014, citing a return to the private sector. “After much deliberation, I have decided against a campaign…

Area I-40 work adds to traffic issues

Commuters in Crawford County have started seeing more orange cones and it does not look like it will change anytime soon. According to Bill Fine, resident engineer with the Arkansas…

Wal-Mart’s top merchandisers share insights

In a rare panel discussion held Thursday (May 16), four senior management merchandisers for Walmart U.S. spoke candidly about the importance of communication in the busiest company on the planet….

U.S. House votes (again) to repeal Obamacare

All four Arkansas member of the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday (May 17) to repeal Obamacare. It is the 37th time the Republican-controlled body has voted to repeal the…

Retailers, suppliers talk ‘Shop’ at UA conference

Today’s shopper has retailers, suppliers and brand consultants continuously scratching their heads as they work feverishly to keep pace with escalating and changing expectations. More than 300 business professionals attended…

Whirlpool asked Fort Smith for TCE plan in June 2012

Documents reviewed by The City Wire show Fort Smith city officials knew about Whirlpool's plan to request a groundwater well ban as early as June of last year and that…

8 Arkansas cities in sustainability program

Fayetteville is one of eight Arkansas cities to participate in a sustainability scorecard program. The Applied Sustainability Center at the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas has…

Wal-Mart income up, U.S. comp store sales fall

Softer consumer sales hindered by higher taxes and larger heating bills this winter led to missed analysts’ expectations by Wal-Mart Stores – but the company still pocketed $3.78 billion in…

Fort Smith city e-mail has statewide impact

What one Fort Smith city employee did on Tuesday (May 14) could soon be a criminal offense according to Arkansas Ethics Commission Director Graham Sloan. At issue is an e-mail…

Arkansas Economic Developers and Chamber Executives elects new leaders

Arkansas Children’s CEO describes $50M historic gift origins, goals

UAMS receives $3.18 million grant for REAL program

State gets $209 million for rural health under OBBBA