Fort Smith

Historic Adelaide Hall in downtown Fort Smith to be demolished

There was hope a Nov. 6 fire at Adelaide Hall in downtown Fort Smith would not be the end of one of the city’s most historic buildings. But it is…

Home builder group works with students to build the Santa House

Local businesses, the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders (GFSAHB), community organizations and the Fort Smith Public School District are bringing a little magic to Fort Smith this year…

Federal grant to help Fort Smith install safety measures on streets

Fort Smith has received a $1.241 million federal grant to advance the city’s Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, also known as the Safe Fort Smith Plan. Part of the funds will…

Fort Smith Board moves forward with federal climate grant participation

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Nov. 19) approved moving forward in the process to accept a $14.5 million grant that is part of the federal Climate Pollution…

ACHE opens two new research centers

The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education has officially opened its Biomedical Resource Center and the Center for Rehabilitation Research to focus on “innovative therapies” and “impactful studies.” The two centers…

Lennar agrees to buy Rausch Coleman Homes

Miami-based Lennar Corp. announced Tuesday (Nov. 19) it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Fayetteville-based Rausch Coleman Homes. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is expected…

Fort Smith Board to discuss 2025 budgets, financial strategies

The City of Fort Smith budget hearing is set for Friday (Nov. 22) and the city’s Board of Directors are going in with a goal to balance the needs of…

Report: New Fort Smith water leaks outpace repaired leaks

Water leaks seem to be a constant headache for the City of Fort Smith with a new leak seeming to spring up with every one repaired. The utilities department has…

Dispute continues over Crawford County library lawsuit legal costs

Because Crawford County officials “ignored good faith attempts” to resolve a lawsuit filed against the county’s library system for book censorship actions, the county should pay the legal fees, according…

Franklin County group hires attorney to oppose planned state prison

Fort Smith attorney Joey McCutchen has been selected as legal counsel for a Franklin County group opposed to a planned state prison in the county. He’s not sure if they…

Hmong family focus of ‘Big Read’ program at U.S. Marshals Museum

The U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith received a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), in partnership with Arts Midwest to help fund the Big Read…

Arkansas River traffic up almost 2% through October

Improving water levels on the Mississippi River have helped tonnage on the Arkansas River to swing from being down 4% year-to-date through August to being up almost 2% through October….

City of Fort Smith denies city boss exceeded authority with EPA grant program

The City of Fort Smith and City Administrator Carl Geffken filed an answer to a lawsuit brought against the city regarding the city’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, denying all…

Bragg picks up endorsement in Fort Smith director runoff election

Carl Nevin has endorsed Russ Bragg for Fort Smith City Director Ward 3. Bragg and Lee Kemp will face each other in a runoff election Dec. 3. They, along with…

Kids Unlimited Learning Academy moves into new Fort Smith facility

Over the past nine months, a renovation has transformed the 30,000-square-foot former home office of Beverly Enterprises near Central Mall in Fort Smith into the largest early intervention day treatment…

Crawford County officials want library system to pay potential lawsuit award

Attorneys for Crawford County have asked the court to understand it is time for a First Amendment lawsuit against the county to finally come to an end. The attorneys also…

Arvest Foundation, Rheem support Fort Kids Children’s Museum

Fort Kids Children’s Museum has received gifts from the Arvest Foundation and Rheem Manufacturing as part of the effort to raise more than $16 million to build a children’s museum…

Fort Smith area homebuilders learn more about VA loans

With more military veterans buying homes in the Fort Smith area, builders, remodelers and real estate agents need to know more about Veteran Administration (VA) loans and how they can…

Historic downtown Fort Smith building may not be a total loss after fire

Adelaide Hall, one of the oldest buildings in downtown Fort Smith, may not be a total loss following a Nov. 6 fire. A property owner rep says the structure appears…

Board of Corrections votes to accept land for planned prison

The Arkansas Board of Corrections (BOC) on Friday (Nov. 8) voted to accept the land for a planned 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County. The move comes after considerable protest from…