Political News

Fort Smith city e-mail has statewide impact

What one Fort Smith city employee did on Tuesday (May 14) could soon be a criminal offense according to Arkansas Ethics Commission Director Graham Sloan. At issue is an e-mail…

Trucking execs talk about industry struggles

Trucking exec Greg Carman said the industry is tough and uncertain thanks primaritly to inconsistent business trends and costly government regulations. Carman, the CEO of Fort Smith-based Carman Trucking, was…

Sebastian County officials discuss aquatics park work

The Sebastian County Quorum Court picked up right where the Fort Smith Board of Directors left off tonight (May 14), discussing the next steps in the Ben Geren Aquatics Center…

Voters approve Sebastian County tax renewal (Updated)

Sebastian County voters have overwhelmingly approved renewal of the 1% countywide sales tax, with 78.87% voting for the tax to be in place for another 10 years. According to results…

Board talks new trash term, water park process

Trash is still proving to be a divided issue for the Fort Smith Board of Directors. At issue during Tuesday's (May 14) noon study session was the possibility of changing…

Speaker Carter: ‘A political kind of guy’

The success of the recently completed regular session of the 89th General Assembly has many wondering what Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, will do next. He has fresh political…

Talk Business: Arkansas’ Top 10 legislators

So who stood out in the 89th General Assembly? Before the session, we offered our picks of ones to watch, but there were surprises in our post-session analysis. We give…

Regional hospitals prepare for new healthcare laws

As the major implementation of the Affordable Care Act looms in the near future, area hospitals are working to prepare. The City Wire contacted the large hospital networks in Northwest…

Politics: Guns, ‘golden’ names and gubernatorial money

Politico Senior Reporter Jonathan Martin says he doesn’t believe U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., will have to take another vote on the controversial Manchin-Toomey gun control legislation. Martin, appearing on…

Asa and Brandon

Has Arkansas finally found a candidate for Governor who is camera shy? I seem to recall Asa Hutchinson as a candidate for several offices, U.S. Senate, Attorney General, Congress and…

Colleges, universities begin to set campus gun policies

Despite all of the discussion in the legislature about Act 226, a bill that would allow faculty and staff to carry a concealed firearm on college campuses, NorthWest Arkansas Community…

Daniels reflects on his many years in office

Auditor of State Charlie Daniels (D) announced earlier this week that he would not seek re-election to another term of office in 2014. His eventual retirement will mark nearly three…

Susan Inman to run for Arkansas Secretary of State

The candidate announcements continue to trickle in and the first announced candidate for Arkansas Secretary of State has been made by Pulaski County Elections Commission Chair Susan Inman. Inman, a…

Gov. Beebe names 36 to boards and commissions

Gov. Mike Beebe also announced the following appointments. David Stewart, Fayetteville, to the Washington County District Court, Fayetteville Department. Appointment expires Dec. 31, 2014. Replaces Rudy Moore. Larry Dean Autry,…

Arkansas tobacco tax revenue down 5.2%

Tax revenue is strong for the state of Arkansas in many of the largest collection areas, including income taxes, where year-to-date revenue is up more than 9%. But one area…

Expert: Employers will opt for insurance, not penalties

Greg Hatcher, CEO of The Hatcher Agency, says health insurance reform measures are about to kick in a higher gear for state businesses, but none of his accounts are weighing…

Womack: Internet bill is about tax fairness

Listening to U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, tell it, the issue of Internet taxation is not an issue of raising revenue. Instead, he says it is an issue of fairness….

Legislators pleased with regular session results

Now that the 89th General Assembly has concluded, representatives and senators representing the Fort Smith and northwest Arkansas regions were asked to reflect on the session's successes. Specifically, the members…

UAFS students present use ideas for former Girls Inc. building

Seven University of Arkansas at Fort Smith students in a Community Leadership class gave some timely advice to city leaders May 6 in an end-of-the-semester presentation. The students spent…

Fort Smith Board OKs trash rate reduction

Trash collection will cost less in the city of Fort Smith thanks to a vote by the Board of Directors at Tuesday night's meeting (May 7). During Tuesday's meeting, the…