News on the Wire

Linam to pursue ‘progressive path’ as new AOG boss

Mike Callan’s office at Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp. was almost empty the Thursday before the Labor Day weekend. There were hooks on the walls where pictures once hung. On his…

Wal-Mart exec outlines growth strategy for Latin America

Leaders with Wal-Mart’s Mexican and Central American business unit have announced a three-prong plan to grow sales over the next year on the heels of solid second quarter results across…

Commercial building surge pushes NWA permit values higher in July

Construction crews in Northwest Arkansas had a productive month in July with combined permit values in the four largest cities totaling $71.33 million, up 57% from the same month last…

Poll shows support to use ARE-ON to boost school broadband access

A statewide survey conducted last week found that a strong majority of Arkansans are persuaded by a variety of arguments to increase broadband access to K-12 schools and students. The…

Arkansas tax revenue up 1.9% in first two months of fiscal year

Overall Arkansas tax collections for the first two months of the fiscal year are on a positive track, with the topline up 1.9% compared to the same period in 2013….

Fort Smith Board approves Chaffee road closure, Whirlpool pollution protection

The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted Tuesday (Sept. 2) to close a portion of Veterans Avenue in Chaffee Crossing to make way for possible future expansion plans for the…

CBID approves Jimmy John’s variance request, discusses splash pad

The Fort Smith Central Improvement District approved a variance at a special meeting Tuesday (Sept. 2) that would allow a new Jimmy John's sandwich shop under construction at 822 Garrison…

Building permits up almost 10% year-to-date in Fort Smith area

Building permits in Fort Smith, Greenwood and Van Buren were a combined $18.149 million in August, up 2.71% from August 2013's total of $17.7 million. Even though combined values are…

Pace Industries expands in Arkansas, benefits from ‘reshoring’ efforts

In an economic age where many companies are returning their manufacturing operations from overseas to in part satisfy consumer demands and also save money, an Arkansas-based company already has that…

Kellogg seeks greener operation, mirrors Wal-Mart sustainability push

Cereal giant Kellogg recently unveiled plans involving two new sustainability commitments — responsible sourcing and natural resources – that should help the company’s ratings on the Wal-Mart Stores sustainability index….

Dassault announces $60 million expansion of Little Rock operation

Dassault Falcon Jet broke ground on its new $60 million completion facility in Little Rock. The 250,000 square feet project will allow the Paris-based aviation firm to handle new aircraft…

Arkansas environmental director says state has flexibility with EPA plan

Arkansas’ efforts to grapple with a new EPA rule that will have a huge impact on the economy is still in the education phase and one key regulator says it’s…

Arkansas stakeholders debate impact of proposed ‘Clean Power Plan’

Six stakeholder groups went back-and-forth Thursday for several hours on the economic impact of the Environmental Protection Agency’s pending regulations to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants in Arkansas….

Tyson Foods completes Hillshire deal, makes management changes

Tyson Foods on Thursday (Aug. 28) completed the $8.5 billion acquisition of Hillshire Brands, the largest deal ever in the meat industry. As expected, Hillshire CEO Sean Connolly will not…

Fort Smith tax collections up in July report, below estimates year-to-date

For the second month in a row, Fort Smith sales tax collections have surpassed the same month last year. But even with the increase in revenues, sales tax receipts are…

Whirlpool: TCE pollution near Boys & Girls Club poses no risk

Whirlpool Corporation said in a statement Thursday (Aug. 28) that previously detected TCE contamination near a south Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club facility that originated at its shuttered facility…

Walmart ‘Pickup Grocery’ site preps for store concept opening

Grocery giant Wal-Mart Stores will soon unveil its “Pickup Grocery” format with the first concept store near its home base in Bentonville. The retailer has named the test format Walmart…

Arkansas home sales up 7% in July, year-to-date sales up 5.6%

The average Arkansas home sales price may be down more than 2% for sales during the first seven months of 2014, but the number of homes sold is up almost…

Five startups prep for ARK Challenge Demo Day

There are five entrepreneurial teams putting the final touches on their startup ventures as they wrap up the first five weeks of the “Summer 2014 ARK Challenge.” The teams are…

Legislators visit UAFS robotics lab, hear about classes for employers

An Arkansas legislative committee heard directly from employers and educators at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Wednesday (Aug. 27) about how they are partnering to meet the region's…