Political News

Fort Smith to assume operation of downtown park

The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted Tuesday (Dec. 15) to enter into an agreement by which the city’s Parks Department would operate The Park at West End. Owned by…

Fort Smith directors to meet with federal lobbyists

Lobbyists hired by the city of Fort Smith will be in town Thursday (Dec. 17) seeking “clear direction” from the city directors, according to a memo from Deputy City Administrator…

Cap-and-trade could kill more than 20,000 Arkansas jobs

Arkansas could lose more than 20,000 jobs by 2030 and the average disposable income of an Arkansan could drop almost $800 a year by 2030 if the federal cap-and-trade bill…

Hendricks announces for Sebastian County Judge post

Annie Powell Hendricks has announced she will run for the post of Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge, Division II. Judge Harry Foltz has announced he will retire when his position…

The City Wire special report: Mental illness hits one in five persons

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories on mental illness issues. Throughout 2010 The City Wire will attempt to post at least one story a month…

Federal bill could push $1.6 million to Fort Smith area

Millions in federal funding for Arkansas agencies, cities and projects were included in a group of fiscal year 2010 spending bills approved Friday (Dec. 11) in the U.S. House of…

Stanley Reed announces run for U.S. Senate

The Republican field running for U.S. Senate is a little more crowded. Roby Brock, a content partner with The City Wire, reports that former Arkansas Farm Bureau President Stanley Reed…

Van Buren A&P sets 2010 budget

story by Marla Cantrell [email protected] It’s been a tough year for the Van Buren Advertising and Promotion Commission. Director Maryl Koeth said at the Wednesday night (Dec. 9) monthly meeting…

UAFS board hears reports on state funds, capital campaign

Money, and the struggle with it on two fronts, dominated much of the discussion at the Tuesday (Dec. 7) meeting of the Board of Visitors for the University of Arkansas…

Arkansas lottery sales surpass $100 million

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery sales passed the $100 million mark on Monday (Dec. 7), just 71 days since sales began Sept. 28, according to a release from the lottery staff….

Area legislators explain budget session to leadership groups

The first annual session of the Arkansas Legislature to deal solely with budget matters should be a relatively short and uneventful term, according to Legislators gathered Monday (Dec. 7) for…

Influential Arkansas legislator Jodie Mahony dies (Updated)

Jodie Mahony, who served many successful years as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and Arkansas Senate, has died after a long bout with cancer. Mahony, who represented…

Baker wins GOP straw poll in U.S. Senate race

The seven announced GOP candidates for the U.S. Senate and their throngs of supporters assembled at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs for a “straw poll” vote. Such votes require…

Marshall selected as federal judge for Arkansas’ Eastern District

Judge Denzil Price Marshall Jr., has been nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as the U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas, according to statement from the…

State tax collections down 2.3%

Arkansas tax collections between July and November are $2.147 billion, down 2.3% below the same period in 2008 and 0.9% below forecasts, according to a Wednesday (Dec. 2) report from…

Fort Smith Mayor leaves hospital, ‘progressing well’

The news that Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker had been released from the hospital and is doing better drew applause from the audience at the Tuesday (Dec. 1) meeting of…

Downtown Fort Smith homeless dorm project withdrawn

A brewing controversy over the construction of a 3,300-square foot dormitory-style housing for the homeless was temporarily calmed Tuesday night (Dec. 1) when the director of the Community Rescue Mission…

Fort Smith airport increases parking fees

story by Marla Cantrell [email protected] It will cost you an extra $1 a day to park at the Fort Smith Regional Airport beginning Jan. 1. The increase was approved at…

Fort Smith directors may fudge on wage freeze

If given the choice between attending a Fort Smith city budget hearing and getting a root canal, remember that the dentist has narcotics. The Fort Smith Board of Directors and…

Directors begin review of $40 million Fort Smith budget

Fort Smith City Directors spent a little more than two hours Monday night (Nov. 23) reviewing a 2010 budget the projects revenue of about 3.5% less than 2009 and expenditures…