by - February 2, 2011 11:07 am
Fort Smith area jobless rate jumps to 8.6%
A big increase in the number of unemployed in the Fort Smith metro area pushed the December metro jobless rate to a preliminary 8.6%. Of Arkansas’ eight metro areas, Only…
News on the Wire
by - February 2, 2011 10:01 am
State tax revenue up 2.1%
Arkansas tax collections were up again in January. It’s good economic news that could be bad news for Gov. Mike Beebe and Legislative leaders trying to push back a tide…
by - February 2, 2011 8:42 am
Coalition to push downtown development bills
Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] In last year’s legislative session, several efforts were made to advance…
by - February 2, 2011 8:32 am
Whirlpool 2010 net income up 83.6%
Whirlpool may have missed the fourth-quarter earnings estimate, but the company ended a two-year earnings decline with 2010 net income of $650 million. Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool announced early Wednesday…
by - February 1, 2011 5:12 pm
USPS to close another Fort Smith station
The U.S. Postal Service announced late Tuesday (Feb. 1) it will on March 26 close the 3400 Rogers Ave. station in Fort Smith. The station, near Creekmore Park, has been…
by - February 1, 2011 3:03 pm
Trial set for Holland; legal re-election status likely ‘safe’
A tentative trial date of May 12 has been set for Arkansas Sen. Bruce Holland, R-Greenwood, who faces a misdemeanor charge of fleeing and charges of careless driving and improper…
by - February 1, 2011 1:31 pm
Attempt expected to toughen Arkansas smoking regs
Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] Talk Business has learned that no later than next Monday, proponents…
by - February 1, 2011 1:24 pm
The Compass Conference: A mix of business and politics
Past and potential future economic and political moves will be addressed during the 2nd Annual The Compass Conference scheduled for Feb. 25 at the Phoenix Expo Center in Fort Smith….
by - February 1, 2011 11:40 am
Not all ‘community leaders’ support Congressional shift (Updated)
It’s unclear who Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, referred to when he said “community leaders” in Fort Smith and Sebastian County may support seeing Sebastian County move into the 4th Congressional…
by - January 31, 2011 6:45 pm
Restaurant group preps for possible signature push
A group of Fort Smith restaurant owners hope to soon secure legal services in the event they need to seek a referendum to reverse a 1% prepared food tax that…
by - January 31, 2011 5:17 pm
Spring enrollment up at ATU-Ozark, UAFS
Spring enrollment figures show an increase in students physically and electronically attending to area universities. The spring 2011 enrollment at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus is 1,406, up 15.9% compared to…
by - January 31, 2011 12:14 pm
Arkansas Senate Report: Agency status, pro-life votes and ethics reform
Editor’s note: Arkansas Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, provided the following commentary on the previous week of the 88th Arkansas General Assembly. The Capitol is finally starting to see some…
by - January 31, 2011 11:52 am
Arkansas House Report: Millitary, abortion and trade in the mix
Editor’s note: Rep. Leslee Milam-Post, D-Ozark, provided the following commentary on the previous week of the 88th Arkansas General Assembly. The 88th General Assembly is winding down the month of…
by - January 31, 2011 11:44 am
The City Wire Special Report: C.A.L.L. support
Editor’s note: The following is part of a series of stories The City Wire will post in 2011 about foster care issues and organizations in the Fort Smith region. At…
by - January 31, 2011 8:44 am
Sebastian County redistricting possibility discussed
Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected] Arkansas Sen. Gilbert Baker, a veteran Republican from Conway who chairs…
by - January 31, 2011 8:39 am
Eureka Pizza finds ‘Eureka’ moment with Craig Box Corp.
Officials with Fort Smith-based Craig Box Corp. approached Rolf Wilkin, owner of Eureka Pizza, in early 2010 to convince the Northwest Arkansas pizza company owner to switch box manufacturers. Wilkin,…
by - January 28, 2011 6:51 pm
What’s right and wrong discussed at chamber meeting
story by Michael Tilley and photos by Joel Rafkin [email protected] The more than 500 who attended the annual banquet of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce heard John McFarland…
by - January 28, 2011 5:04 pm
Fort Smith board hears lobbying update from Watts Partners
Former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts and Steve Pruitt met with the Fort Smith Board of Directors on Friday (Jan. 28) to summarize the ins and outs of the new political…
by - January 28, 2011 4:23 pm
Festival on the Border planned as new area music event (Updated)
Editor’s note: A statement from festival organizers is at the end of this report. A new music event designed to possibly replace the now defunct Fort Smith Classic and the…
by - January 28, 2011 9:42 am
J.B. Hunt posts big 2010 income gain
Lowell-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services, one of the nation’s largest transportation companies, recorded 2010 income of $199.617 million, up 46.3% compared to 2009. And despite continued tough times in the…