News on the Wire

Number of employed, unemployed fall in January

The good news about Arkansas’ January jobless picture is that the number of unemployed is down 5.17% compared to January 2012. The bad news is that the number of employed…

Arkansas foreclosure filings flare up

Roughly 800 homeowners across Arkansas face potential foreclosure as they are part of a growing number of residents more than 90-days behind on their mortgages, according to a recent report…

Clinton backs Pryor; Ross running for governor?

The big guns came out Saturday night (Mar. 16) to help incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor formally launch his re-election effort for 2014. At a Little Rock Statehouse Convention…

House bill changes alcohol permit licensing rules

A bill which will soon be under consideration by the General Assembly's House Rules Committee would allow local Arkansas cities and counties to have more influence in the decision-making process…

Tyson Foods’ Sara Lilygren works to build bridges

She’s a small lady with a big smile, but don’t let that size fool you. Sara Lilygren is a trailblazing executive, seasoned lobbyist and the highest ranking female at Tyson…

Grover Norquist provides cover for tax increase bill

The House Revenue and Tax committee approved a bill that would exempt most farmers from a sales tax on their utilities and a tax increase on timber companies. The influential…

XNA, Fort Smith enplanements off to slow start

Traffic at the Fort Smith Regional Airport is off to a rough start in 2013 following 2012 activity that resulted in three consecutive years of enplanement gains. Enplanements at the…

Womack not running for governor, open to Senate bid

Through his spokeswoman, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, denied any interest in entering the 2014 race for the Arkansas Governor’s office. However, his interest in the 2014 U.S. Senate race…

CaseStack goal is to boost supplier efficiency

Getting a product on Wal-Mart’s shelves is an accomplishment for sure, but it’s not just getting there that counts. That product also has to sell and be replenished efficiently or…

Van Buren utility revenue hurt by Allens loss

The loss of Allens Canning Company in Van Buren is not only going to leave scores of locals unemployed, it will also cause a sizable dent in the budget of…

New boss named for Sparks Health, Summit Medical

Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates has selected a veteran hospital administrator as the new CEO for Sparks Health System in Fort Smith and Summit Medical Center in Van Buren. Blan,…

Arkansas tax cut talk includes state comparisons

Still short on dollar amount details, Speaker of the House Davy Carter, R-Cabot, says he will amend his capital gains income tax cut measure later this week or early next…

Arkansas, Oklahoma to study Illinois River Watershed

As a follow-up from a Feb. 20 announcement in Little Rock, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Wednesday (March 13) during a stop in Fayetteville that the state and Oklahoma…

Fort Smith, Little Rock to see public service institute

Fort Smith and Little Rock will soon be home to a public service institute for incoming high school sophomores and juniors, with the program partially supported by the Clinton School…

Greenwood group to look at annexation options

The once-quaint town of Greenwood has morphed into a thriving small city situated along U.S. 71. If city officials get their way, Greenwood could soon be growing beyond its current…

Bill filed to push for Arkansas-ASU football game

HB 2274 by Rep. Andy Mayberry, R-Hensley, would force the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University – two of the state’s Division 1 schools – to play at least…

Billboard talk raises idea of sign elimination

Members of the Fort Smith Board of Directors discussed outdoor advertising regulations at Monday's (March 12) noon study session, but the way some members of the Board and the crowd…

Medical care on demand more prevalent in NWA

It used to be that if you lived in Northwest Arkansas and got sick, you either had to wait to get in to see your primary doctor or, if you…

Rural loan program loss could hurt NWA, Fort Smith area

Like all things deemed too good to be true, local homebuyers will have one less financing option as they seek out mortgage loans after March 27. The rural development loan…

New Fort Smith Comprehensive Plan group named

Members of the Fort Smith Board of Directors, along with Mayor Sandy Sanders and City Administrator Ray Gosack, met in executive session Monday night (March 11) at the Creekmore Park…