Fort Smith

Fort Smith At-Large Director 5 candidate issues policy priorities ahead of three-way August primary

Samuel Price, a candidate for Fort Smith At-Large Director Position 5, has released his “five pillars and priorities” as part of his campaign for the city post. The upcoming Aug….

Former Sen. Jake Files sentenced to 18 months in prison, judge calls violations ‘egregious’ (Updated)

Editor’s note: Story updated with additions and changes throughout. –––––––––––––––––– Former Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, was sentenced Monday (June 18) to 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District…

Glatfelter provides public a view of $90 million investment in Fort Smith plant

It took a little longer than they expected and cost a little more than planned, but Glatfelter officials publicly opened their new $90 million manufacturing operation in Fort Smith with…

FCRA committee discusses land set aside for Fort Smith Schools, denies ‘right of first refusal’ offer

Will Fort Smith Public Schools ever build a third high school, and if so, will it be at Chaffee Crossing? According to Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) board member Paul…

‘High-quality prospects’ interested in space in former Whirlpool plant in Fort Smith

Part of the more than $3.65 million in ongoing work by Phoenix Investors to further renovate the former Whirlpool manufacturing plant in Fort Smith could make way for a warehouse/distribution…

New Greenwood Chamber of Commerce head sees city ‘busting at the seams’

Bob Purvis is home. After a career spanning close to 50 years in marketing and promotion, including 20 years as the executive director of the Eureka Springs Advertising and Promotion…

Sebastian, Crawford counties post home sales increases for month, up over 14% year-to-date

Fort Smith metro home sales are trending up for the first five months of 2018 with Sebastian and Crawford counties seeing year-to-date gains of 17.31% and 8.02% in sales volume,…

More than 5,300 Mercy employees in Arkansas eligible for paid parental leave

Healthcare organization Mercy will allow 5,336 employees in Arkansas to take up to two weeks of paid parental leave as it responds to a 2017 employee survey on benefits and…

MovieLounge business license filed under new name, ‘The Carter’

A business license application has been filed with the city of Fort Smith for 7601 Rogers Ave., the former site of the MovieLounge. According to the city’s planning and zoning…

Budget reduced for U.S. Marshals Museum, awaiting word on ‘major grant applications’

Staff leaders with the U.S. Marshals Museum told the museum’s board they were able to reduce the budget for the planned facility and the amount to raise is now down…

Fort Smith Finance Director explains why old police, fire pension plan insolvency ‘is not an emergency’

Old Local Police and Fire (LOPFI) retirement pension plans that ended in 1983 have a new projected insolvency date of 2026 with an estimated unfunded liability of $18-20 million, according…

Feds say Sen. Files’ ‘deliberate fashion’ to commit fraud warrants more prison time

Federal prosecutors are asking for up to 24 months of prison time for former Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, more than the 12 to 18 months that may have been…

Fort Smith sales tax revenues down more than $500,000 through April

Fort Smith sales tax revenues continue to trail 2017’s numbers as well as budgeted expectations with the city reporting over $500,000 less than expected – $440,588 from the 2% city…

64.6 Downtown names Talicia Richardson as new executive director

64.6 Downtown has named Talicia Richardson as executive director of the Fort Smith-based nonprofit. The job search became a focus after 2017’s approval of the Propelling Downtown Forward (PropelFS) downtown…

McGill releases policy pledges for Fort Smith mayoral race

In a press release late Thursday (June 7), Rep. George McGill, D-Fort Smith, announced 11 “Policy Pledges” in his bid to be the next Fort Smith mayor. McGill faces opponents…

Applied Process Fort Smith facility approved for ‘tax back’ program

On Tuesday (June 5), the Fort Smith Board of Directors approved a resolution supporting Applied Process Fort Smith, LLC’s entry into the state “Tax Back” program authorized by the Consolidated…

Statements of financial disclosures posted on city candidates; ballot positions set

Statements of financial disclosures are now available for the eight Fort Smith office candidates, and the city announced ballot positions based on a draw held by the Sebastian County Board…

Waitr restaurant delivery service arrives in Fort Smith metro

Dinner is served. The Fort Smith region welcomed a soft launch of Lake Charles, La.-based home restaurant delivery service Waitr earlier this week. The app, which launched in 2015, rolls…

Fort Smith Board gives Director Lau setback on real estate development; Silgan bonds approved

Fort Smith Director and real estate developer Keith Lau ran into a setback on Tuesday (June 5) with his fellow city Board members when they voted 6-0 to send his…

Medical college economic impact valued at $415 million, more with physician retention

An economic impact study suggests the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) will produce at least a $415 million boost to the Fort Smith metro. But ACHE President and CEO…