Fort Smith

Mark Elrod named chair of Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission

Mark Elrod of Conway has been elected chair of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, and Mary Joe Rogers of Stamps has been re-elected as vice chair, the commission announced on…

Fayetteville’s George’s Majestic Lounge celebrates 90 years in business

George’s Majestic Lounge will have been open on Dickson Street in Fayetteville 90 years in 2017. The establishment will celebrate the anniversary with several concerts New Year Eve’s weekend, according…

Fort Smith Schools Superintendent candidate Brubaker talks state of district, millage, and teaching students how to learn

The Fort Smith School Board interviewed Dr. Doug Brubaker, the second of two finalists for the position of superintendent on Wednesday (Dec. 14) in a daylong event that included interviews…

Simmons First to buy Oklahoma bank in cash-and-stock deal worth $564 million, deal expands operations to seven states

Simmons First National Corp. announced after Wednesday’s closing bell it had entered into an agreement to acquire Stillwater, Okla.-based Southwest Bancorp Inc. in a cash-and-stock deal valued at more than…

Health task force moves toward adoption of final report

Legislators on Wednesday moved within one day of voting for a non-binding “road map” that the author estimates will save $963 million or more in Medicaid costs over five years….

Medicaid backlog down from 146,000 cases to 8,912

The backlog of overdue Medicaid applications has fallen from 146,000 in May to 8,912 today, with the rest hopefully resolved by the end of December, the director of the Arkansas…

EIA report: Lower prices lead to decline in oil and gas reserves

As U.S. oil and gas prices fell so did reserves. U.S. crude oil proved reserves fell 11.8%, or 4.7 billion barrels, and U.S. natural gas proved reserves declined 16.6%, or…

Jim Johnson named senior lending officer at Stone Bank in Harrison

Jim Johnson has been named senior vice president, senior lending officer at Stone Bank in Harrison. “Jim is a life-long Harrison native and understands the needs of the Boone County…

Federal Judge asks Arkansas AG to intervene in case on tenants’ rights law, new bill filed on the issue

A northeast Arkansas lawmaker has filed a measure that would alter the statute criminalizing failure to pay rent in the state’s controversial landlord-tenant law that was ruled unconstitutional by an…

Poultry industry attacks new farmer contract rules, calls it an attack on rural U.S. that helped elect Trump

The poultry industry’s broad use of a “tournament system” which ranks growers on various metrics and determines the payments grow out farms are eligible to earn based on their rankings…

Report: Benton County wage growth outshines all Arkansas counties and most of the nation

Only the counties that are home to San Francisco and Atlanta ranked ahead of Benton County as economically sound places to live and work, according to a new report from…

Physicians’ residency program receives $150,000 donation

Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas gave $150,000 to support the community internal medicine residency program in Northwest Arkansas, according to a news release. The residency program is…

Mars Petcare to invest $72 million in Fort Smith plant, add 130 jobs

Mars Petcare is set to undertake the third major expansion of its Fort Smith pet food manufacturing plant since its opening in September 2009. The planned $72 million expansion –…

Federal Reserve raises interest rates a quarter point to 3/4%, three hikes expected in 2017 (Updated)

In a year-end move largely expected by market watchers, the Federal Open Market Committee on Wednesday (Dec. 14) raised interest rates for only the second time in nearly 10 years,…

Big River Steel begins production in its melt shop and hot mill

One of the largest industrial development projects in Arkansas history is about to begin production. Big River Steel has produced its first hot roll coil tube, and its melt shop…

American Heart Association’s NWA office in Fayetteville names new executive director

The American Heart Association (AHA) on Wednesday (Dec. 14) named Ian Hudspeth the executive director of its Northwest Arkansas office in Fayetteville. He is replacing Cindy Hudlow, who still works…

Retailers ready for ‘free shipping day’ and last-minute shopping crunch

Now just 11 days away from Christmas, it’s crunch time for shoppers and retailers alike, especially those consumers seeking to finish up holiday purchases online. Free Shipping Day, slated for…

Voter ID bill filed in House

A bill was filed Tuesday that would require voters to present a photo identification, two years after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled the state’s previous voter ID law invalid. House…

Health Beat: New report details impact of the Affordable Care Act ahead of federal enrollment deadline

Editor’s note: Each Wednesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Health Beat,” a round-up health-related topics. ––––––––––––––– NEW REPORT DETAILS IMPACT OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AHEAD OF FEDERAL ENROLLMENT DEADLINE…

Gateway Planning, 64.6 Downtown set final presentation date for Fort Smith redevelopment plan

Gateway Planning will present its final strategic redevelopment plan for downtown Fort Smith to the Fort Smith Board of Directors on Jan. 31, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. The event will…