Fort Smith

Sebastian County approves new health insurance plan

story by Aric Mitchell [email protected] Sebastian County Quorum Court members approved a health insurance plan and a number of budget deductions Tuesday night for the coming year. The self-insured plan…

Fort Smith board approves 2011 budget, 5% water rate bump

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Dec. 7) voted 7-0 to approve a $269 million budget for 2011 that includes increased revenue from a 5% water rate increase…

Jazz and Japanese performers help light up the UAFS campus

The Seasons Greeting Concert and Campus Lighting kicks off the holiday season a the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

Arkansas bankers unhappy with Dodd-Frank financial reform law

A room full of 300 state bankers and business leaders gathered at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock to discuss the ramifications and potential repercussions of the wide-ranging financial reform…

Fort Smith only state metro area to see jobless rate increase

The Fort Smith metro area was the only one of eight Arkansas metro areas to see an increase in the October unemployment rate. According to stats released Tuesday (Dec. 7)…

UAFS unveils look of new $14.5 million library expansion

story submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Those attending the Dec. 7 meeting of the Board of Visitors at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith received…

Manpower optimism

A new employment survey shows rising hiring expectations.

Fort Smith sees dip in tax collections; countywide tax up 1.74%

Fort Smith and Sebastian County sales tax collections continue to be trend-proof, with the October report showing a 0.3% dip in Fort Smith and a 1.74% gain countywide. Each of…

Hospitality tax gains continue; sector employment falls

Area hospitality collections continue to improve, despite a continued decline in hospitality sector employment in the Fort Smith region. Van Buren hospitality tax collections during October totaled $32,150, up 1.2%…

Summit Medical Center opens a new clinic

Summit Medical Center in Van Buren is opening an occupational medicine clinic located on the campus of the hospital. The Full Service Occupational Medicine Clinic is dedicated to promoting and…

Supreme Court to review of Wal-Mart discrimination case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday (Dec. 6) approved a limited review of what could be the largest class-action lawsuit — Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores — in the country. On…

Area building permits down 18.3% in November

The past four months have been slow for the area construction industry, with the value of permits issued between August and November by Fort Smith, Greenwood and Van Buren totaling…

Negative comments

Active commenters often have negative emotions.

Fort Smith board to consider 2011 budget, rate increases

Big decisions are expected Tuesday night (Dec. 7) as the Fort Smith Board of Directors will vote on the 2011 budget and consider water and sewer rate increases. Estimated revenue…

12,000, again

Editor’s note: Following is a repeat of an essay first published Dec. 13, 2009, following the overwhelming success of the first Christmas Honors. The essay is republished here as a…