Opinion

FOIA in Fort Smith is almost DOA, Part II

We noted a few days ago in Part I of this essay the city of Fort Smith’s regard – or disregard – for the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)….

Addressing Jonesboro’s ‘expanding, diverse needs’

As I write this, a news story is making the rounds that a magazine for economic developers and investors has rated the Jonesboro metropolitan area No. 1 in the South…

Riff Raff: FOIA in Fort Smith is almost DOA, Part I

One may need a healthy dose of that still unavailable medical marijuana if hoping for a timely, cooperative and convenient response from Fort Smith city government to a Freedom of…

Issue 1: A solution looking for a problem

Issue 1 is a wolf cloaked in sheep’s clothing. Arkansas voters will vote in November to decide whether to change the Arkansas Constitution with this proposed amendment. The amendment is…

Taking your business global

In today’s global economy, business leaders should consider sourcing and selling in foreign markets to grow their business. Whether your company is a subsidiary of a foreign company or a…

Soybean politics

It’s only August, but I can’t wait for September to get here for a number of reasons. First, September means the return of football season. Friday night lights, Saturday afternoon…

Cigarette tax increase will help business and employee health

The Arkansas Tax Reform and Relief Legislative Task Force had a veritable buffet of options to consider this week as it prepared its recommendations for the Legislature. But they decided…

Considering term limits

According to a recent article by Steve Brawner in this publication, if cleared for the November 6th ballot and passed by the voters, the proposed amendment to the Arkansas constitution…

Lawsuit reform is key ingredient for Arkansas’ future

Arkansas needs lawsuit reform to compete economically and increase access to health care. As we work to grow our communities, we are burdened by the threat of frivolous lawsuits and…

There’s a lot of buzz today surrounding e-commerce and omnichannel retail. The revolution we’re witnessing in digital retail — mobile shopping, store pickup, local delivery — has ignited a fundamental…

Taking back our economy

Harvest season is just around the corner here in the United States and farmers across the country are concerned. Not so much about yields – always a factor when your…

The Arkansas Senate should end fight against live-streaming

“Incoming Senate President Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, says he wants members to vote later this year to open up the Senate chamber and its committee meetings for live-streaming.” This is…

High stakes

Medical marijuana is brand new in Arkansas, and even newer in other states in our region like Oklahoma, where voters just approved medical marijuana last month. Yet, the legal proceedings…

The challenges of ‘constantly changing’ higher education in Arkansas

I began serving as chancellor at Arkansas State University one year ago. While it is exciting to look back at all that I have learned about Arkansas higher education, it…

Yes to fairness, but for taxpayers too

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair allows states to require out-of-state internet retailers to collect and remit sales tax when they do business with in-state customers….

Riff Raff: Comets and Cash and Guthrie and conscience

Halley’s Comet came around in 1986 and is estimated to make another Earthly pass in 2061. There is a 50% chance Arkansas officials will have by then made progress on…

Managing the highway system decline

This summer, nearly $1 billion in four-lane highway construction projects across the state is scheduled thanks to the Connecting Arkansas Program (CAP) which is the half-cent sales tax approved by…

John Troutt Jr., a defender of public information

The passing of former Jonesboro Sun editor and publisher John Troutt Jr. recently put me in a reflective mood, not just about the near quarter century I spent in his…

Be in the driver’s seat

I began working for Arvest Bank in high school, so I can attest to many changes in the banking world during my career, as well as offer some helpful observations…

Talk Business & Politics editorial: Where are the hats?

Since 1994, just two people have served as Bentonville’s mayor: Terry Coberly (1994-2006) and Bob McCaslin, who announced earlier this year he will not seek re-election this fall. A lot…