News on the Wire

Fort Smith area home sales up in July

The number of homes sold in the Fort Smith area (Crawford, Franklin and Sebastian counties) during July was up 20% with the number of homes sold in the area during…

McDaniel not on board against NLRB action

story by Roby Brock and Michael Tilley [email protected] Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, a Democrat, is not willing at this time to support the legal effort of 15 Republican Attorney…

Study: 4G could grow jobs, economy

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] A new study from consulting firm Deloitte suggests that the rollout…

Beebe sets special election for Interstate bonds

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] Gov. Mike Beebe (D) called for a special election on Nov….

Police, parks to take hit if 1% tax fails

A $317,900 cut to the Fort Smith Police Department and $202,600 in the city’s Parks Department are some of the cuts proposed to help cover Fort Smith Convention Center funding…

4th District holds promise for a run-off

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] There is a real possibility that Republicans could see a run-off…

Bikes, Blues and BBQ: ‘We’ve outgrown Fayetteville’

story by Christopher Spencer Bikes, Blues and BBQ, the region’s largest biker rally, expands to Springdale this year for the first time. “Frankly, we’ve outgrown Fayetteville,” said event organizer Joe…

NLRB pushing new workplace notice rule

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has found itself in a…

U.S. GDP up just 1% in second quarter

Those determined to read only positive and uplifting economic news would be advised to avoid stories — including this one — about Friday’s (Aug. 26) second quarter revision of the…

Arkansas drug court programs underfunded

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] A funding shortfall for drug courts could trip up changes approved…

Mercy system to invest $192 million in Fort Smith area

Officials with the St. Louis-based Sisters of Mercy plan to invest about $192 million in St. Edward Mercy health care facilities in the Fort Smith region as part of a…

Beebe sets Nov. 8 special election on highway bonds

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] Gov. Mike Beebe (D) is expected to announce plans for a…

Petition to remove Blevins is dismissed

A petition to remove Sebastian County Circuit Clerk Ken Blevins was dismissed Thursday morning following a brief court hearing. Miller County Circuit Court Judge Kirk Johnson dismissed the petition to…

Fort Smith chamber up to $1.812 million for job fund (Updated)

Editor’s note: This story is updated to reflect that Cheryl Garner was not fired by the board of directors of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. However, Garner nor…

Turner Bend to celebrate 100 years on the Mulberry

story by Jill Rohrbach, travel writer, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism The Turner Bend store — set amid the changing shape of a lush landscape influenced by rippling…

XNA unveils $20 million concourse

A cross section of the business and political movers and shakers in Northwest Arkansas gathered Wednesday evening to tour the new $20 million concourse at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport…

State job chief ‘concerned’ about Whirlpool, Mitsubishi

Maria Haley, director of the Arkansas Economic Development Department, said Wednesday she has concerns about Whirlpool and Mitsubishi operations in Fort Smith, and that the state is doing what it…

AEDC director discusses economy, job recruitment

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] 73 is the new 60. AEDC Director Maria Haley told a…

First Bank Corp. names new CEO, board chairman

The board of directors of First Bank Corp, the parent company of First National Bank of Fort Smith and other financial entities, have named Sam T. Sicard president and CEO…

The Compass Report: July 2011 Numbers by the Wire

Hospitality tax collections and building permit values were the only bright spots in the regional economy for the July report of Numbers by the Wire. Sales tax collections are down,…