News on the Wire

Changes planned for sex offender registry system

Lloyd Jones was a model registered sex offender. Following his 2001 conviction for rape, he was paroled in 2008 and received discharge two years later. “He was one of my…

MetLife joins Wal-Mart selling insurance in a Snoopy box

MetLife Inc., the largest U.S. life insurer, is turning to the world’s biggest retailer and Snoopy to boost sales of its policies to less-affluent consumers. The insurer began offering prepaid…

Beebe, GOP Legislators spar over ad

Looking for a preview of future wrangling between the state’s Democratic Governor and legislative Republicans? This week’s public addresses between Gov. Mike Beebe (D) and the House Republican leadership offer…

Arkansas part of 22-state effort in CNG push

Gov. Mike Beebe has joined what is now a 22-state “bipartisan” effort to convince major automakers to build more affordable compressed natural gas vehicles. In early April Oklahoma Gov. Mary…

Trends changing in NWA event-planning industry

Amy Bates of Bates Events in Northwest Arkansas knows the exact month that work started picking back up in the event-planning industry since the economic downturn. “In January 2011, we…

U.S. consumer spending stalls as fuel prices jump

Consumer spending stalled in August after the surge in gasoline prices squeezed Americans’ paychecks, showing the biggest part of the economy is struggling to contribute to the economic recovery. Purchases…

Most Arkansas-based stock prices up in 2012

Share prices improved during the first nine months of 2012 for nine of the 15 publicly-held companies based in Arkansas, with the two retailers who serve different ends of the…

Jon Allen: Coffee connoisseur (updated)

SPRINGDALE — For Jon Allen, a morning cup of coffee is much more than a ritual, it is a way of life. He doesn't just drink the stuff. Allen studies…

NWA Economic report highlights need for improvement

SPRINGDALE — Employment growth in Northwest Arkansas is back to pre-recession levels but the region continues to lag behind comparable communities in education attainment, according to the 2012 State of…

Grocers big and small tackle business challenges

People have to eat and that should be constant demand for grocery stores – large and small. But the challenges have never been greater according to grocery experts. Grocery stores…

Plunge in goods orders may restrain U.S. expansion

Demand for U.S. durable goods other than transportation equipment unexpectedly dropped in August for a third consecutive month, signaling that slowdowns in business investment and exports will restrain the economic…

Arkansas sees three-month decline in home sales

August home sales in Arkansas’ largest metro areas were down more than 8%, and marked three consecutive months of declining home sales in key urban areas of the state. Northwest…

Local businesses cashing in on Bikes, Blues crowds

The roar of motorcycles during Bikes, Blues and BBQ means another sound for local businesses — the ka-ching of the cash register. If recent years’ numbers hold true, the annual…

New mobile studio ‘win for the state’

FAYETTEVILLE — When ((RADAR)) One rolls into town, it’s hard to miss the 45-foot long recreational vehicle with its sleek black look. What’s inside is even more impressive and it…

Arkansas voters like Beebe, generic GOP candidates

This year’s state legislative races are shaping up to be an epic battle between a growing Republican favoritism in the Arkansas electorate and the popularity of Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe….

Weather satellite issue not a problem for Arkansas – yet

There are replacement refs, talk about replacing a coach (think John L. Smith), and now in the mix is a replacement weather satellite. Accuweather.com was one of the first to…

Fort Smith job fair draws record crowd

The “best kept secret in government,” according to Robert Trevino, commissioner of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, a division of the Arkansas Department of Career Education (ACE), is not a secret anymore…

Income levels rise across the state

In the past two years the median family income rose across the Natural State, but the percentage increase was mixed with Northwest Arkansas and Hot Springs metro areas leading the…

Convention Center officials using ‘Event Impact’ tool

The Fort Smith Convention Center (FSCC) has added a new piece of technology to determine event profitability before ever signing on the dotted line. Through the DMAI Event Impact Calculator,…

Lend-A-Hand project could end up in court (Updated)

Fort Smith city government could soon be heading to court. The Board of Directors heard recommendations from Matt Jennings, director of community development for the city of Fort Smith, on…