News on the Wire

Files of Fort Smith considering Republican party top spot

Jake Files of Fort Smith will soon decide if he will seek the post of party chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party. Files is a former member of the Arkansas…

Target clarifies circular promoting University of Central Arkansas

On Friday (Nov. 7), The City Wire reported on a confusing advertising circular mailed by Target Corp. to Fort Smith area residents prior to the opening of its Fort Smith…

Baldor Electric announces quarterly dividend

Fort Smith-based Baldor Electric Co. continues with its history of dividend payments by announcing Tuesday a quarterly cash dividend of 17 cents per share. The payments are scheduled for Jan….

Fort Smith/Van Buren real estate market prices reflect stability

Minor downward price adjustments and a steadily declining home inventory suggest relative stability in the Fort Smith and Van Buren residential real estate market. Average and median prices of new…

Committee assignments, seniority set for area legislative delegation

Committee assignments and seniority are set for members of the Arkansas House of Representatives. The Arkansas Senate will do the same on Nov. 17. This report follows up on a…

Tyson Foods fiscal 2008 net income drops 67 percent

Tyson Foods Inc. reported early Monday that its net income for fiscal year 2008 was $86 million, down 67.9 percent from $268 million in fiscal 2007. The Springdale-based company posted…

Regional tourism, I-49 featured in Talk Business Quarterly

TBQ (Talk Business Quarterly) is out with its fourth issue of 2008. Roby Brock, editor-in-chief of the magazine, is a content partner with The City Wire. The new magazine features…

Job numbers put hard close on tough economic week

The City Wire economic review for the week of Nov. 3 – Nov. 7: • The Dow Jones Industrial average closed Friday up 248 points. However, the index ended the…

Is Target off target with foundation faux pas?

Key members of the chancellor’s office at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith are puzzled about the community investment program touted by Target. As Minneapolis, Minn.-based Target Corp. prepared…

Arkansas House, Senate members prepare for 2009 General Assembly

With the elections over, activity builds toward the 2009 Arkansas Legislative General Assembly. Today (Nov. 7), new and existing members of the Arkansas House of Representatives who will participate in…

Fort Smith airport traffic drops 20% in October (updated)

Paid enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport could reach lows not seen since after the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy. Paid October enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport were…

Research suggests commercial chicken flock vulnerable to disease

The poultry industry is important to the Fort Smith region. OK Foods, a large regional poultry processing company is based in Fort Smith, and thousands of families in the region…

Arkansas Payday law ruled unconstitutional

The Arkansas Supreme Court today has ruled that the 1999 Arkansas Check Cashers law is unconstitutional. The ruling is a serious legal blow to check cashing companies operating in the…

Wal-Mart reports strong October sales (updated with Dillard’s results)

Updated info: Little Rock-based Dillard’s Department Stores continues to suffer declining sales. The company announced today that sales for the four weeks ended Nov. 1 were $406 million compared to…

Business conditions still tough for ABF Freight

One of Fort Smith’s largest and prominent employers noted Wednesday in a federal filing that “business levels remained depressed” nationwide, but that the company has the financial reserves to withstand…

Stockman resigns post as Fort Smith area entrepreneurship director

Michelle Stockman has resigned her post as executive director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center-Fort Smith effective Nov. 30. Stockman will begin work for the Little Rock-based Arkansas Capital Corp….

Obama, Arkansas lottery get election wins

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., made history Tuesday with his presidential election victory. Obama, who becomes our 44th president Jan. 20, will be the first black president. Obama won 52…

FCC approves Alltel-Verizon Wireless merger

The Federal Communications Commission approved this afternoon the $28 billion merger between Alltel and Verizon Wireless. Despite a 5-0 vote, two FCC commissioners offered dissenting opinions on a decision that…

More layoffs at the Times Record

Halloween was indeed a scary day for at least 16 employees at the Times Record in Fort Smith. Officials with Stephens Media, the Las Vegas-based newspaper company that owns the…

Cost increases to build Marshals Museum

The estimated price to build the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has grown from $25 million to between $30 million and $40 million, according to Sandi Sanders, museum project…