Opinion

Little Rock, let’s get to work

December 4, 2018 was a defining moment for Little Rock. Not just because of the historical significance of the Mayor’s race, but because of the clear direction given to us…

All I want for Christmas is an investor

As children, most of us sat on Santa’s lap at some point in our lives, barely containing our enthusiasm as we shared our deep-felt hopes and desires. Many business owners,…

Infrastructure to grow

Nearly a decade after craft beer first achieved mainstream popularity, industry growth remains steady. The national craft beer market now tops $26 billion, and key players continue to seek new…

Charitable giving numbers down: your year-end gift matters even more

Starting early in 2018, national sources were sending up flares that charitable giving looked to be decreasing this year. That caused concern in the nonprofit sector because the only reason…

A look back at eight years at the helm in Fort Smith

Suddenly, eight years seem to have passed in just minutes. But passed they have. Thank you to the voters who twice elected me Mayor of Fort Smith and who have…

Employers should prepare for the minimum wage increase

The Arkansas Department of Labor recently issued amended notice posters for the Arkansas minimum wage increase to $9.25 per hour beginning on January 1, 2019. By law, employers subject to…

Opportunity Zone guidance: real impacts for real estate

In October 2018, the Treasury Department and the IRS released needed guidance related to the Qualified Opportunity Zone program (QOZ program) created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. As…

In defense of Millennials – as if they needed defending

I write this article from three perspectives: First, as someone who went to college in the 60s. Second, as someone who has dedicated his career to creative pursuits. Finally, as…

Where the magic happens

I am a big fan of the sciences. I’m an even bigger fan of the arts. And I’m fanatic about the intersection of the two because that’s where the magic…

Searching for energy solutions

Coal has been used to produce electricity since the 1880s and has played a major role in providing low-cost electricity for many regions of our country. City Water and Light…

Harassment claims in the #MeToo era should be a priority

In the wake of the recent media coverage of sexual harassment, an organization and its leaders must realize they cannot stick their heads in the sand with respect to harassment…

Self-storage investors find strong prospects in NWA

New construction and development have been prevalent across Northwest Arkansas, and the self-storage sector is no exception. Whether it’s brand new ground-up projects, expansions or remodels, developers have been addressing…

Earn an ‘A’ in investing

Forget buyer’s remorse. It’s about this time every fall when parents of college students are often more remorseful about paying for dorm fees or rent rather than an equity-growing investment…

Telemedicine expands health access to rural Arkansas

Arkansas needs a successful, cost-effective way to reach patients in rural areas. “Telemedicine,” a term coined in the 1970s that means healing at a distance, may be the answer. About 44 percent…

Replace judgment with curiosity

Replace judgment with curiosity. I don’t know if these words found me or if I found them, but they have transformed my life, my work and my understanding of humanness….

Parity or a disparity: Assessing women in tech

2018 has been called the Year of the Woman. But as a woman in a technology career, I’m looking toward 2092. According to a recent statistic from the Cardozo/Google Patent…

Riff Raff: Ironically, medical marijuana is not a valid prescription for incompetence

Christians may consider sending their thoughts and prayers to fix the LSU football coach’s mouth. His speech seems to be a series of consonants, puffs and grunts, mixed with the…

The more things change …

Two things, music and the passage of time, in the right circumstances seem to smooth the rough edges of one’s memory. So it was pretty easy — sitting in a…

Riff Raff: Remembering Raymond

This week we are to remember the military men and women who served this country — especially those who saw combat and those for whom combat was the last thing…

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…