Opinion

Is Jonesboro ready to compete?

Bragg City, Missouri was home in my elementary school days. It was a thriving farming community, but things changed quickly in the late-1960s. It didn’t require as many people to…

To catch a thief

Dear Whoever You Are, I can only suppose that your Valentine’s Day holiday was one of the best ever. I would tell you you’re welcome, but you’re not and anyway,…

The case for the Marshals Museum tax

In late 2006, the U.S. Marshals Selection Team arrived in Fort Smith to measure it against Staunton, Va., the other finalist among 60 American cities hoping to land the U.S….

Tax saving opportunities: Taking advantage of the 2017 tax law

For most taxpayers, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) should provide a welcome reduction to their tax bills. Taxpayers should see the act’s immediate impact as they work…

Competition for tourists’ dollars has always been fierce. And with the advent of social media, the battle between states has become even more challenging. Today, many visitors, particularly Millennials and…

Economic impact of University of Arkansas only the tip of the iceberg

Surviving and thriving in today’s business climate isn’t about keeping up. It’s about being ahead and leading change, instead of responding to it. That holds true for communities as well…

Fiber optic internet key to improving rural quality of life

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative was formed in 1939 to deliver life-changing electricity to people in unserved rural areas. With access to electricity came running water, refrigeration, electric-powered farming equipment and…

A fine line on tax cuts

Before joining the Oklahoma legislature in 2008, I was a small business owner for 22 years. During that time, I learned firsthand how things like red-tape and high taxes could…

Riff Raff: Finding an Arkansan to stand with Bates

His music was patriotic and subversive. He told us “The One On The Right Is On The Left.” He talked social justice for Native Americans and minorities and folks in…

Another banner year ahead

There has been amazing growth and activity in the commercial real estate (CRE) market in Northwest Arkansas consistently over the past decade. In fact, according to data from Costar, in…

Following the money to a happy stomach and a healthier lifestyle

We’ve all heard that old saying that, “When they say it’s not about money, it’s about money.” But it was interesting to note that recently Dr. Linda McGhee, a family…

Home buying forecast: Trends to know

Expect 2019 to be another strong year for the Northwest Arkansas real estate market, even though the national home buying picture may be somewhat meager in comparison. Nationally, home buying…

For a better state of health

Every January as the new year rolls around, the United Health Foundation releases its America’s Health rankings showing how the health of Arkansans compares with other American states. We use…

Riff Raff: Let’s put the ‘public’ in Public Facilities Board

An initial response from the Fort Smith city administrator reflects the city’s persistent and puzzling tone-deaf default setting, but the city has an opportunity to pivot from past practices and…

Threatened by regulation and new business models, PBMs should show their ability to improve patient outcomes

A recent opinion piece submitted to Talk Business and Politics by Dr. Edmund Pezalla of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy in Washington, D.C. and a corporate executive for Aetna…

A look back and into the future

In 2018, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) completed 216 business recruitment, retention and expansion projects. That translates to more than 4,300 new jobs, with a capital investment of $1.6…

Small Business, Big Opportunities: The State of Small Business in Arkansas

Despite what you hear in the news about congressional gridlock and fears of a possible recession, nearly one-quarter of small businesses believe this is a good time to expand. That’s…

Focused on affordability, PBMs hold drugmakers accountable for consumers

Last year, Arkansas lawmakers debated the role pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, should play in the state’s health care system. PBMs negotiate rebates and price concessions from big drug companies…

Why STEM matters: Future jobs and livelihoods depend on it

Trends with robotics and AI, coupled with the socio-political milieu are all leading to a future where most available “good” jobs will be STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs….

Walmart.com’s right to win

Depending how Apple and Walmart performed in the month of December will determine who finishes the year No. 3 in American online sales for 2018. Assuming Walmart continues its winning…