News on the Wire

State tax collections down 2.3%

Arkansas tax collections between July and November are $2.147 billion, down 2.3% below the same period in 2008 and 0.9% below forecasts, according to a Wednesday (Dec. 2) report from…

Fort Smith jobless rate jumps to 7.8%

What goes down also may come back up. After three consecutive months of declines or no change, the Fort Smith metro unemployment rate in October jumped to 7.8% from the…

Lady Lions fall to No. 20 Drury University

Editor’s note: Story by Jonathan Gipson, sports information director for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Four players scored in double-figures for the University of…

Fort Smith Mayor leaves hospital, ‘progressing well’

The news that Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker had been released from the hospital and is doing better drew applause from the audience at the Tuesday (Dec. 1) meeting of…

Downtown Fort Smith homeless dorm project withdrawn

A brewing controversy over the construction of a 3,300-square foot dormitory-style housing for the homeless was temporarily calmed Tuesday night (Dec. 1) when the director of the Community Rescue Mission…

Griffin, Koprovic families donate $200,000 to Marshals Museum

It was a $200,000 Tuesday night reception for the U.S. Marshals Museum. No, that’s not what the food and beverage cost. It’s the amount the museum was given from two…

Fort Smith tax collections see double-digit decline

The recession may technically be over but the effects are still hitting hard the coffers of Fort Smith city government. Each of the city’s one-percent sales taxes collected $1.508 million…

Effort to place 12,000 wreaths gathering momentum

Philip Merry was on his way Tuesday (Dec. 1) to meet about the placement of 12,000 wreaths at the Fort Smith National Cemetery when a person walked up and gave…

Rise in area home inventory not yet problematic

A more than 21% increase in the number of homes for sale in the Fort Smith/Van Buren market does not alarm state and local housing-market watchers. The inventory of new…

Kaza: Recession likely ended in June

The deep recession that began in November 2007 likely ended in June 2009, making it the longest recessionary period of post-World War II period and longer than the average length…

HMA, Sparks deal is official

The deal is done. Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates formally announced late Monday (Nov. 30) it has acquired Sparks Health System, with the transition effective Tuesday (Dec. 1). A definitive…

UAFS student media ready to launch Web publication

story submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith December will mark the arrival of a new student publication at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith when The…

Crawford County, Van Buren leaders talk 2009, look ahead

story by Marla Cantrell Crawford County Judge John Hall and Van Buren Mayor Bob Freeman didn’t need a crystal ball to know 2009 was going to be a lean year….

The Compass: Interim report predicts no area tax revenue relief until late 2010

When it comes to regional sales tax and hospitality tax collections, there is nothing for which to be thankful. Sorry. According to an interim The Compass report, national economic conditions…

Missouri Southern wins ‘Battle of the Lady Lions’ with UAFS

Editor’s note: Story by Jonathan Gipson, sports information director for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. JOPLIN, Mo. – Missouri Southern used its perimeter prowess and its defense…

Trucking chairman to deliver UAFS commencement address

story submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Guest speaker for the Dec. 17 fall commencement exercises at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will be Robert…

Trojans pull away for win against UAFS Lions

Editor’s note: Story by Jonathan Gipson, sports information director for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. STATESBORO, Ga. – It appeared like the University of Arkansas at Fort…

No. 7 Lady Hornets swarm UAFS Lady Lions

Editor’s note: Story by Jonathan Gipson, sports information director for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. JOPLIN, Mo. – Emporia State has been ranked in the Top 25…

Regional bankruptcies and incorporations

Following are recent bankruptcy and incorporation filings from Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties. The information is provided by The Daily Record. a Little Rock-based news and legal information publisher….

Being thankful a key to being healthy

story by Marla Cantrell [email protected] It’s not easy being happy. Authors write bestsellers detailing the search for it. Theme parks are based on it, commercials at Christmas promise to sell…