Fort Smith

Fort Smith active water leaks tick higher in May

Active leak numbers on the Fort Smith water system rose from 611 at the end of April to 632 at the end of May, according to the city. The increase…

Peak Innovation Center hosting numerous career-focused summer camps

Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) Peak Innovation Center is taking advantage of good ole summertime as a chance to introduce children and teenagers to a wide-variety of career paths. Hundreds…

Director Catsavis ends push for hire-fire change, laments business leader lobbying

Fort Smith City Director Christina Catsavis will end her push to shift the hire-fire power with department heads from the city administrator to the board, but she is discouraged about…

Van Buren chamber staff ready to move into new offices

The Van Buren Chamber of Commerce is less than two weeks away from a long-awaited move into its newly renovated offices at 111 N. 12th St., according to chamber President…

Hire-fire shift proposal rejected by Fort Smith Board

An effort by Fort Smith Director Christina Catsavis to shift the city’s hire-fire authority over department heads from the city administrator to the board was short-lived, with the board voting…

Fort Smith Board approves highest possible sewer rate for Arkoma

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (June 17) rejected two sewer rate options for the city of Arkoma, which by default sets the rate at $8.75 per ccf….

Building permit issued for Bass Pro Shops store in Fort Smith

A $20 million building permit has been issued by the City of Fort Smith for construction of the Bass Pro Shops in the city. There is no word from the…

U.S. Marshals Museum lays off employees

The U.S. Marshals Museum recently laid off employees as part of “difficult choices” to respond to a downturn in visitors, according to Benjamin Johnson, museum president and CEO. Johnson said…

‘Energy & Environment’ plan set for a Fort Smith board vote

Lowering energy use in public facilities, enhancing curbside recycling, and tree planting are some areas city residents support in an energy and environment plan, according to Joshua Robertson, Fort Smith’s…

Executive Summary: McReynolds works to ‘stay aware’ of what’s going on around her

Editor’s note: The Fort Smith Metro Daily News Executive Summary series is focused on looking under the title, so to speak, of a business, government, and non-profit executive in the…

Hire-fire authority, Arkoma sewer rate on Fort Smith Board agenda

The Fort Smith Board of Directors may soon change a more than 10-year policy on the hiring and firing of city department heads. The board also is set to vote…

Crawford County leads region in sales tax revenue gains in early 2025

Sales tax revenue in four western Arkansas counties that are part of or adjacent to the Fort Smith metro is off to a slow start in 2025 with the exception…

2025 Fort Smith film fest set to screen more than 160 films

More than 160 films, with 45% from Arkansas, will be part of the 5th annual Fort Smith International Film Festival & MidAmerica Film Market. The event is set for Aug….

Multi-year renovation work begins at Fort Smith Museum of History

The first phase of a multi-year major renovation project at the Fort Smith Museum of History in downtown Fort Smith began Monday (June 9) with work on the building’s exterior….

Relationships, working with military qualities sought for Fort Smith airport director

The Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission is putting experience in working with the military and building relationships at the top of their list of qualifications for a new airport director….

Trump budget could cut funding for Fort Smith National Historic Site

Fort Smith Mayor George McGill is one of those in the region concerned about the future of the Fort Smith National Historic Site. Trump administration budget cuts would leave the…

Arkoma mayor suggests court action if Fort Smith pursues proposed sewer rate

Arkoma Mayor Joshua Johnson on Tuesday (June 10) told the Fort Smith Board of Directors that if the two cities can’t negotiate a new sewer rate agreement, a “plan B”…

Fort Kids seeking $1 million by September, plans Isaiah Joe camp

Fort Kids Children’s Museum organizers are working to raise $1 million by September as part of the plan to raise $7.4 million before breaking ground on the museum to be…

Special prosecutor to investigate City of Fort Smith, acting administrator in FOIA case

Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue has turned over a “criminal liability” investigation into the City of Fort Smith and Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman to a special prosecutor assigned…

Fort Smith metro building activity up more than 15% through May

Building activity in the Fort Smith metro had an upward swing in May. Building permits issued in Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren totaled $29.03 million, up 76.4% from the…