Opinion

Riff Raff: It’ll never work

The City Wire launched Nov. 1, 2008. 10 years ago. A few folks like Fred Williams and then homebuilders association president Dave Hughes were supportive of the concept of an…

Saving for retirement for Millennials

As a financial adviser and Millennial, I often read articles highlighting the lack of retirement savings by people my age. Sometimes referred to as the “most-educated generation in American history,”…

Proposed Medicare cuts could further hurt elder care in Arkansas

It has been a tough year for those of us who provide community care and home care for older Arkansans. Changes in federal and state regulations, the latter being ensnared…

How renewable energy, electricity markets and constant change affect our mission to keep the lights on

Electricity is perhaps the most critical component of our nation’s critical infrastructure. Emergency services, healthcare, transportation, industry and nearly all of our creature comforts rely on electricity. Naturally, each of…

Uneasy riders

Do you remember those cross-country car trips, crammed in the back seat of the non-air conditioned family station wagon next to a baby brother you claimed you couldn’t stand? And…

Regional collaboration results in regional strength

A strong region needs a strong university partner. Likewise, a strong university needs strong regional communities. Northeast Arkansas communities produce and prepare future Arkansas State University (A-State) students, scholars and…

The death of season tickets as we know them

Let me start by saying I am proud season ticket holder. For the past decade I have purchased season tickets each year for Arkansas State University football, basketball and baseball,…

Reorganization and ‘Shared Services’

“Shared services” is an important component of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s proposed government reorganization, the first serious effort to reorganize state agencies since 1972. “The proposal will improve management control throughout…

The Land of (Qualified) Opportunity

A lesser known provision of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the establishment of Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZ), which allows taxpayers to temporarily defer (until 2026) tax on…

Vote against special interests trying to put a price on life this November

This November, Arkansans face what I believe may be the most consequential election in Arkansas’ history with Issue One, a proposed amendment to our state constitution. The so called, “tort…

Greedy lawyers or your family? You have a choice this November

As you go to the polls this fall, you will see a measure for tort reform known as Issue 1. It is similar to one we passed in Texas that…

Medical marijuana and the workplace

Medical marijuana will impact workplaces in Arkansas, and many employers are rightfully concerned about the implications. Although Amendment 98 was approved in November 2016, the drug is still not legally…

Advanced energy sources can power Arkansas’ economy

Camden, Ark., may seem an unlikely place for an energy revolution – a sleepy little town in Ouachita County that, according to the US census and like so many other…

‘Changing tides’ will help Arkansas’ medical education outlook

The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), ranks Arkansas 47th in active patient care physicians per 100,000. America’s Health Rankings.org and U.S. News and World Report grades Arkansas 48th and…

Life-saving resource is reducing opioid abuse

Too many Arkansans are dying or being harmed by opioid drug misuse or overdose. Opioids were involved in 61% of all drug overdose deaths and about 40% of all emergency…

The ‘perfect storm’ for a nursing shortage

This should get your attention. There will be 1 million vacancies for nurses by the year 2024 — a mere six years away. There are a few factors that are…

Let’s not forget the history of progress for women

I was recently recognized by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal as one of 10 honorees for its Women in Business awards. The recognition and the Business Journal publication surrounding the…

A Little Rock that is open for business

I have talked to hundreds of voters, and the question always arises: why aren’t we creating enough good-paying jobs in Little Rock? We saw the Amazon distribution center get awarded…

Breaking through the noise about workforce development

The rhetoric about the Arkansas workforce continues to swirl around the difficulty in finding qualified employees, with the blame most often pointed at a failed education system. At a time…

Click & Collect

“Add to cart.” Those three transformational words are shaping multiple industries, with significant implications for all of us who touch retail, both as shoppers or as professionals. People love to…