Fort Smith

Fort Smith tax revenue up almost 10% in 2022

Fort Smith sales tax revenue posted another record breaking year in 2022. According to the December sales tax report, Fort Smith’s share of the Sebastian County sales tax was $23.553…

Arkansas to receive more than $137 million in loans to modernize electrical grids

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday (Jan. 30) the department is investing $2.7 billion to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities expand and modernize the nation’s…

U.S. Marshals Museum begins to hire workers ahead of summer opening

With a summer opening still on the horizon and an estimated $3 million needed for construction and operational needs, the Fort Smith-based U.S. Marshals Museum is starting the drive to…

FCRA touts progress in 2022 at Chaffee Crossing

2022 was a record-breaking year for the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, according to the organization’s annual report released Wednesday (Jan. 25). The report noted that 2022 property sales totaled $3.8…

Hotel property sale the top Sebastian County property deal in December

A $2.45 million sale of the Rodeway Hotel at 2123 Burnham Road was the top Sebastian County property deals in December, according to info from the office of Sebastian County…

Grand Jury issues indictments against Crawford County deputies

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas announced Tuesday (Jan. 24) that a Grand Jury issued indictments against Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputies Zackary King and Levi White…

Former legislator Denny Altes pleads guilty to abuse of public trust charge

Former Arkansas legislator and state drug czar Denny Altes pled guilty on Monday (Jan. 23) to one count of abuse of public trust, a class A misdemeanor. He was sentenced…

Fort Smith police pay raises will help in ‘retaining quality’ officers

Pay raises for Fort Smith police officers, approved by the Fort Smith Board of Directors Jan. 17, will be vital to meeting the public safety demands of the city over…

Arkansas Tech University elects Jim Smith board chairman

Arkansas Tech University announced Thursday (Jan. 19) the election of Fayetteville attorney Jim Smith as chairman of the ATU Board of Trustees. Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Smith to a five-year…

ACHE adds master’s degree program

A master’s degree in public health will be yet another degree program to be offered by the Fort Smith-based Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE), with the first class set…

WAIA to form advisory committee before search for new director

The Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority (WAIA) will form an advisory committee and take time to develop a new five year plan and directives before deciding how best to find a…

Crawford County Library System funding approved; LBGQT+ book controversy continues

In the midst of a controversial debate regarding whether to remove LBGQT+ books from the Crawford County Library System, the Crawford County Quorum Court on Tuesday (Jan. 17) approved a…

WAIA director resigns; officials to consider next steps for intermodal study

The effort to build an intermodal port in the Fort Smith metro has received $3.17 million in government funds and spent or obligated at least $2.9 million since 2019. While…

Employee pay raises on the agenda for Fort Smith Board

A proposed ordinance that would give all non-uniformed Fort Smith city employees, except the city administrator and internal auditor, a raise effective April 3 is on the agenda for the…

Arkansas River commercial tonnage up almost 3% in 2022

A more than 16% gain in outbound shipments and gains in sand, gravel, rock and iron/steel shipments resulted in a 2.94% gain in commercial tonnage shipped on the Arkansas River…

Fort Smith city water leaks rise more than 43% in 2022

Aging infrastructure, a shortage of repair workers, and a deep winter freeze were primary reasons for 43.4% more leaks in 2022, a pending list of 371 leaks at year end,…

2022: Notable deaths in NWA, Fort Smith metro

Significant contributors to the Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith metro business community died in 2022. JANUARY Eldon Long, 67, Jan. 20 — Long was elected mayor of Lowell for two…

Coughlin joins U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation board

Cynthia Coughlin of Bentonville has been appointed to the U.S. Marshals Museum Foundation Board of Directors, bringing the board number to 20. After many years of delays, the Fort Smith…

Fort Smith to move ahead with military flag display

The Fort Smith Board of Directors has approved a plan to install a military flag display at the Fort Smith Riverfront Park where the Flags over Fort Smith display once…

Corporate sale, controversial demolition part of top Fort Smith metro news in 2022

The $435 million sale of Van Buren-based USA Truck to a company based in Germany, and Fort Smith voter approval of a tax extension package valued at more than $210…