News on the Wire

Air Show safety part of airport commission talk

story by Aric Mitchell [email protected] With the Fort Smith Air Show slated for Oct. 1 and 2, safety was first on everyone’s mind at the August meeting of the Fort…

Trucking index drops; USA Truck share price falls

The slow and often up-and-down nature of economic recovery continues to be reflected in the American Trucking Associations’ truck tonnage index, which dropped 1.3% in July. The For-Hire Truck Tonnage…

Directors support attempt to save Mallalieu facade

story by Luke Hobbs [email protected] In a special meeting on Tuesday (Aug. 23), Fort Smith city directors approved a $135,000 contract in an attempt to save the facade of the…

Beebe repeats call for ‘Washington to work’

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] There were no UFOs in the room. Nor did anyone question…

Whirlpool studying ‘options’ for Fort Smith plant

Officials with Whirlpool Corp. have acknowledged a review of the Fort Smith refrigeration plant is underway, a change from previous denials that any significant changes were under consideration for the…

Greenwood native heads up UA animal science program

story info submitted by the University of Arkansas Greenwood native Dr. Mike Looper has been appointed head of the University of Arkansas department of animal science. Looper, who received the…

USA Truck issues third quarter warning

Thanks to problems with new software and the old problems of a soft economy, it doesn’t appear that Van Buren-based USA Truck Inc. will be able to build upon its…

Cotton makes early noise in 4th District race

story by Michael Tilley [email protected] At 6-foot, 5 inches, Tom Cotton is likely to stand out no matter how packed becomes the GOP primary in the 4th Congressional District race….

Battle begun for control of Arkansas Legislature

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] With 135 legislative seats technically up for grabs, Arkansas Republicans and…

Medical malpractice rates fall

story by Steve Brawner [email protected] Medical malpractice rates are continuing a downward trend in Arkansas, according to an annual report presented by the Arkansas Insurance Department to the Senate and…

Crowd gathers to cheer Fort Smith city staff

More than 65 people gathered near the Fort Smith city offices before noon on Friday (Aug. 19) for what might be best described as a pep rally for city employees….

State jobless rate up to 8.2%

Arkansas’ jobless rate increased to an estimated 8.2% in July, up from 8.1% in June, and up from 7.8% in July 2010. The rate is the highest seen since April…

FCRA donates $50,000 to chamber development fund

story by Aric Mitchell [email protected] Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) board members granted a $50,000 donation to the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce during a Thursday meeting. The agreement…

Regional connection part of XNA concourse opening

The Aug. 24 grand opening of a new $20 million concourse at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) is expected to draw more than 500 business and political leaders from…

Car-Mart quarterly income up 3.97%

Bentonville-based America’s Car-Mart Inc. blew past analyst estimates to earn $8.282 million in the second quarter, up 3.97% compared to the 2010 quarter, company officials reported Thursday (Aug. 18). The…

Arthur arrested, charged related to scuffle with Mayor

Eric Arthur was arrested Thursday afternoon (Aug. 18) following a warrant issued by Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue. Arthur is charged with battery in the third degree for “recklessly…

Smith a leader on Fort Smith trails development

Editor’s note: The City Wire seeks to recognize accomplishments of those living and working in the Fort Smith region. Special recognitions, accomplishments, philanthropic support and input from The City Wire…

Mayor: ‘Meetings will not be allowed to deteriorate’

story by Luke Hobbs [email protected] Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders and former city council candidate Eric Arthur both made statements a day after they were involved in an altercation following…

GOP primary set for Sebastian County Circuit Clerk post

The political filing season is more than seven months away, but a GOP primary for the Sebastian County Circuit Clerk post is already on the schedule. Denora Coomer, a 28-year…

ADFA, AEDC see 18%-25% of loans in default

story by Steve Brawner and Roby Brock [email protected] [email protected] The recent closing of Yarnell’s not only was a blow to the state’s economy (and taste buds), but it also called…