Political News

Arkansas tax cut talk includes state comparisons

Still short on dollar amount details, Speaker of the House Davy Carter, R-Cabot, says he will amend his capital gains income tax cut measure later this week or early next…

Arkansas, Oklahoma to study Illinois River Watershed

As a follow-up from a Feb. 20 announcement in Little Rock, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Wednesday (March 13) during a stop in Fayetteville that the state and Oklahoma…

Fort Smith, Little Rock to see public service institute

Fort Smith and Little Rock will soon be home to a public service institute for incoming high school sophomores and juniors, with the program partially supported by the Clinton School…

Greenwood group to look at annexation options

The once-quaint town of Greenwood has morphed into a thriving small city situated along U.S. 71. If city officials get their way, Greenwood could soon be growing beyond its current…

Bill filed to push for Arkansas-ASU football game

HB 2274 by Rep. Andy Mayberry, R-Hensley, would force the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University – two of the state’s Division 1 schools – to play at least…

Billboard talk raises idea of sign elimination

Members of the Fort Smith Board of Directors discussed outdoor advertising regulations at Monday's (March 12) noon study session, but the way some members of the Board and the crowd…

Rural loan program loss could hurt NWA, Fort Smith area

Like all things deemed too good to be true, local homebuyers will have one less financing option as they seek out mortgage loans after March 27. The rural development loan…

New Fort Smith Comprehensive Plan group named

Members of the Fort Smith Board of Directors, along with Mayor Sandy Sanders and City Administrator Ray Gosack, met in executive session Monday night (March 11) at the Creekmore Park…

Biofuel tax credit sought for Arkansas producers

A bipartisan group of Arkansas legislators – to include representatives from Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith area – are supporting legislation creating a 10-cent per gallon fuel production tax…

Arkansas woman travels suffrage march sites

Individuals in attendance at Monday's (March 11) League of Women Voters lunch in Fort Smith learned about the women's suffrage movement from a fellow member who spent last September exploring…

Student health, abortions and tax reform

The issues facing members on the House floor this week ranged from Medicaid reform to funding court assistants. By the end of our 8th week in session, close to 900…

Arkansas legislators exploring insurance exchange

At a health insurance expansion rally on Thursday (Mar. 7), Gov. Mike Beebe (D) encouraged stakeholders in the debate to be patient with lawmakers as they grapple for a fiscal…

McDaniel unveils election reform proposals

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D) held a press conference at the Arkansas Capitol on Thursday (Mar. 7) to unveil three bills that are part of his legislative package. He was joined…

The Legislative tax battles have begun

Everybody wants a slice of the pie, and there are no shortages of tax cutting ideas in the 89th General Assembly. By some estimates, there are more than $2 billion…

10 new cabins open at Lake Fort Smith State Park

A more than $2 million expansion project at Lake Fort Smith State Park first announced during the 2012 The Compass Conference has been completed, according to a statement from the…

Several tax changes, voter reform bills filed

Floodgates have opened in Little Rock on tax cut proposals and voter reform measures. A Senate tax panel approved two tax breaks and one tax increase on Wednesday (March 6)….

Arkansas in a ‘good position’ for aerospace job growth

Former U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Mansfield Jr., and Arkansas Economic Development Executive Director Grant Tennille offered in separate interviews similar formulas for what is needed to grow the…

Agenda outlined by new aerospace alliance chief

With just a few weeks under his belt as the first executive director of the Arkansas Aerospace Alliance, Chad Causey outlined on Wednesday (Mar. 6) an agenda that includes getting…

Bentonville wins tourism nod, Fort Smith area misses out

Nominations from the Fort Smith region did not make the cut, but the City of Bentonville received the Community Tourism Development Award during the Tuesday night (Mar. 5) Henry Awards…

Former Senator Bill Walters of Greenwood dies (Updated)

Former Arkansas Sen. Bill Walters of Greenwood, who served in the Senate for 18 years, has died from complications related to his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 69. Sen….