News on the Wire

Lion Rifles rank 10th in the U.S.

story submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Lion Rifles, the air rifle club team at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, competed in its second consecutive…

House approves controversial Congressional map

story by Roby Brock and Michael Tilley [email protected] Despite passionate opposition from legislators from the Fort Smith and Van Buren areas, the Arkansas House of Representatives approved technical amendments to…

Commodity, energy prices to impact corporate earnings

Bank of the Ozarks will kick off the first quarter earnings period Wednesday (April 13) as Arkansas’ publicly concerns wrangle with the multi-faceted pressures of higher commodity and energy prices….

Bass Reeves relative donates gun and badge

Federal Judge Paul Brady and his wife Xernona were in Fort Smith on Monday (April 11) to donate a gun, U.S. Marshal badge and bullets that one belonged to U.S….

New Congressional map splits Alma, Fort Smith metro area

story by Roby Brock and Michael Tilley [email protected] A Congressional redistricting plan that divides the city of Alma evenly between the 3rd and 4th Districts and also sees the 4th…

Golden Living makes management changes

Dallas-based Golden Living announced Monday (April 11) a management shuffle that will see former Beverly Enterprises execs move back into top leadership positions. Cindy Susienka will begin April 15 as…

The Compass Report: March Numbers by the Wire

The March 2011 Numbers by the Wire report finds that persistent regional high employment rates and lackluster home sales continue to indicate a weak economy. As it was in February,…

Attorney: ‘Possible criminal charges’ in 1% tax petition (Updated)

Editor’s note: See bottom of story for update. As promised, the attorney representing the Citizens for Responsible Taxation has resubmitted documents calling for an election on the 1% prepared food…

Howard named Arkansas State Police director

J.R. Howard, 63, of Searcy is the new director of the Arkansas State Police. He replaces Winford Phillips, who retired April 8 after 42 years with the department. "JR has…

Fort Smith enplanements continue increase

So far, so good. Enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport total 18,674 for the first quarter of 2011, up 6.7% compared to the same period in 2010. March enplanements…

Wal-Mart changes pricing, inventory policies

Rising inflation, a jobless economic recovery and past decisions to reduce product numbers had previously loyal Wal-Mart customers shopping elsewhere for those everyday low prices. But the world’s largest retailer…

Fort Smith FOP seeks meeting to talk wages, benefits

Members of the Fort Smith Fraternal Order of Police met March 16 with Fort Smith City Directors George Catsavis and Andre Good to express concerns about wages, benefits and a…

Corps campsites may shut down; state park sites to remain open

The U.S. Corps of Engineers is preparing to close recreation facilities nationwide in the event the federal government is shut down as part of the inability of Congress to approve…

Overstock exits Arkansas; cites tax law change

Salt Lake City-based Overstock.com announced Friday it is pulling out of Arkansas after Gov. Mike Beebe signed into law a bill requiring online retailers to remit tax collections like their…

1% petition organizers ready for document resubmission

Organizers of a petition seeking to force a vote on a 1% prepared food tax plan to resubmit the petitions Monday — and their attorney dares the city to reject…

Trucking industry supports electronic logging systems

The trucking industry, including ABF Freight System and USA Truck, support federal legislation pushed by U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., that would require electronic logging devices to monitor driver hours-of-service….

Arkansans see lower gas bills; falling prices concern producers

As Arkansas consumers fret about higher commodity and pump prices, natural gas prices in the “Natural State” have fallen to the lowest levels since April 2002, according to newly released…

Report: Arkansas test scores improve, college readiness lags

More public school students in Arkansas score proficient on standardized tests, but fewer students are college ready than the national average, according to a report released Thursday (April 7) by…

House nixes redistricting map; process in limbo

The House State Agencies Committee made short work defeating a Senate plan and proposed amendment that could have advanced the Congressional redistricting debate. SB 871 by Sen. Robert Thompson, D-Paragould,…

Sebastian Countywide cleanup campaign begins Saturday

Editor’s note: The following statement about the Sebastian County Spring Cleanup Campaign is from the office of Sebastian County Judge David Hudson. Spring is in the air and that means…