News on the Wire

Sebastian County home sales steady; Crawford County home sales ‘baffle’

August proved a slow month for residential home sales in Sebastian and Crawford counties, with sales down 18.1% compared to August 2008. “As has been true since the start of…

Fort Smith airport traffic continues decline; trend improves

Traffic out of the Fort Smith Regional Airport continues to reflect the slowdown in the local and national economies and a June loss of a Memphis connection, with August enplanements…

Arkansas Labor leader talks card check on Labor Day

Alan Hughes, the head of the Arkansas chapter of the AFL-CIO, says he is not ending his effort to convince the six members of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation to support the…

Altes, Sanitation Department trash fight could get ugly (Updated)

Using survey results from the city of Fort Smith, Bobby Altes is ready to defend a residential trash collection contract of which the Fort Smith Department of Sanitation wants to…

No Fort Smith visit for U.S. Sen. Lincoln during August recess (Updated)

The office of U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., said she was unable to visit Fort Smith during the almost four-week recess of the U.S. Senate because of “scheduling difficulties.” According…

Entergy Arkansas seeks $223.2 million rate increase

Entergy Arkansas on Friday afternoon filed for a base rate increase of $223.2 million for its Arkansas system that provides electricity to about 700,000 customers in 63 of Arkansas’ 75…

U.S. unemployment rate up to 9.7%

The national unemployment rate hit 9.7% in August, up from 9.4% in July and up significantly over the 6.2% rate in August 2008. The number of unemployed increased by 466,000…

Doubts exist as to need for U.S. manufacturing czar

Michael Barr and Greg Kaza have doubts about the ability of a U.S. manufacturing czar to bring innovation, efficiencies and sustainability to the domestic manufacturing industry. Recent news reports indicate…

Former Wal-Mart exec tells Fort Smith crowd business ethics blurred

story by Linda Kaufenberg Former Wal-Mart Stores executive Don Soderquist was in Fort Smith on Thursday (Sept. 3) to address the first in a series of luncheons designed to better…

Stephens Media, Democrat-Gazette to merge NWA operations (UPDATED)

The newspaper war in Northwest Arkansas between Stephens Media and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is over. The two media groups announced Thursday morning they are seeking approval for a joint media…

UAFS cross country program begins inaugural season

Editor’s note: Story by Jonathan Gipson, sports information director for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Jason Merritt’s professional career has taken many twists and turns from captain in the…

Area home brewers serious about the craft

story and photos by Roy Hill Members of the River Valley Ale Raisers homebrew club are serious about having a good time. According to the club’s organizing document, River Valley…

Arkansas general revenue down 2.8% in fiscal year

Total tax collections for Arkansas for the first two months (July and August) of fiscal 2010 are $810.6 million, down 2.8% from the same period of 2008 and 2.8% off…

Marshals Museum message soon to hit larger audience

The U.S. Marshals Museum effort and story will soon hit millions of small screens around the country. Jessica Hayes, museum coordinator for the U.S. Marshals Museum, told the museum board…

UAFS volleyball team still hot, golf team sees clubs go cold

Editor’s note: Information for this story provided by Jonathan Gipson, sports information director for the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Lady Lions…

Reynolds Foundation gives $100,000 to Single Parent Scholarship Fund

story and photo by Linda Kaufenberg Officials with the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Crawford and Sebastian Counties announced Tuesday (Sept. 1) that the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation granted the…

No details released on city administrator job review

Fort Smith City Administrator Dennis Kelly’s job performance review by the city’s board of directors ended with the board not issuing a formal comment other than to say city administrator…

Fort Smith sales tax collections see double-digit drop

There was a time the sales tax collections in Fort Smith and Sebastian County did not reflect the troubles seen in other areas around the country. That time is over….

Another Republican emerges in bid against U.S. Sen. Lincoln

The field of candidates hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., in the 2010 election cycle grew even larger Tuesday with the announcement by Arkansas Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway,…

Regional building permit values dip

Regional building permit values dip The value of August building permits issued by the city of Fort Smith was $10.33 million, down 78.6% compared to August 2008 — yet another…