News on the Wire

Murphy Oil quarterly income up 80.5%

Murphy Oil Corp. officials had a lot to like in the first quarter of 2011. The El Dorado-based oil and gas company saw revenues spike to $7.35 billion in the…

Womack, Ross push for energy independence

Natural gas and nuclear energy will “absolutely” be part of the effort among a small group of Republican Congressman tasked with promoting American energy independence, according to U.S. Rep. Steve…

Walton Family donates $800 million to Crystal Bridges Museum

The Walton Family Foundation announced Wednesday (May 4) its support of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art with three endowments totaling $800 million. “We seek thoughtful, strategic investments that…

Rosier outlook possible with unemployment trust fund debt

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] New projections on the state’s $343.6 million debt to the feds…

Area building permit values down in April, up for the year

Building permit values in Fort Smith, Greenwood and Van Buren were down more than 62% in April, but are up more than 21% for the first four months of 2011….

Delay in Dodd-Frank regs creates uncertainty

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] Last year’s financial overhaul reform measure — the Dodd-Frank law —…

Fort Smith board approves 1% tax collection process

The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted 6-1 on Tuesday to approve a plan for collection of the 1% prepared food tax that will become effective June 1. City Director…

Fort Smith maintains ISO 2 rating

The city of Fort Smith was able to maintain its ISO Class 2 rating until 2014, but officials say a new fire station will be required to hold that low…

Arkansas tax collections up 4.1%

Arkansas finance officials are hopeful that recent tax collection trends — especially individual income tax collection gains — point to what should be a positive year for a welcome change….

Barbara Harvel lands Parks Commission appointment

Barbara Harvel, executive director of Leadership Fort Smith, is one of the newest gubernatorial appointees to the prestigious Arkansas Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission. The office of Gov. Mike Beebe…

OK Foods denied appeal of $14.5 million verdict

Fort Smith-based OK Foods was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court a review of a $14.5 million settlement against the company. The Court ruled Monday (May 2) and did not…

Secretary of State payroll records raise questions

A story from the “Blue Hog Report” reveals a potential payroll record problem in the office of Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin. Matt Campbell, owner of the Democrat-leaning Blue…

FOP, Fort Smith officials meet about pay, policies

City officials are evaluating pay and policy issues raised by the Fraternal Order of Police, but are saying that “significant” changes may have to wait on consideration of the fiscal…

Beebe gets federal nod to pursue medicaid changes

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] Gov. Mike Beebe’s spokesman Matt DeCample said that federal officials have…

Baldor helps boost ABB financials

Revenue from its newly acquired Baldor division helped ABB see first quarter revenue jump 18%, the highest growth in two years. Ben Elias, an industrial infrastructure analyst with Sterne Agee,…

Ross begins ‘campaign’ in new 4th District areas

U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, has begun the process of increasing his familiarity with Fort Smith area residents who will in 2013 transition from the 3rd Congressional District to the…

Osama Bin Laden is dead, dead, dead

Osama Bin Laden, the head of al-Qaida and the organizer of 9-11 is dead. A U.S. Navy Seal team, led by the CIA, found and killed Bin Laden on Sunday…

Beebe seeks federal help for storm damage

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe has sent a letter to President Obama requesting a major disaster declaration for 57 Arkansas counties impacted by severe storms, tornadoes and floods beginning April 14,…

Citizens Bank preps for 125th anniversary

During the same month the first Coca-Cola — laced with cocaine — was served in Atlanta, B.J. Brown opened a bank in the 700 block of Main Street in Van…

Arkansas banks expand, announce earnings, dividends

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] There was a variety of banking news reported on Friday afternoon…