Fort Smith

Arkansas’ jobless rate holds at 5.6% in March

Relatively stable growth in the labor force size and the number of employed held Arkansas’ jobless rate at 5.6% in March. It is the ninth consecutive month the jobless rate…

Fort Smith Board may look for trail funding options if voters reject tax plan

Most members of the Fort Smith Board of Directors were hesitant to speculate about funding a trail plan if an upcoming 5% diversion tax fails to gain voter approval, but…

Secretary of State to launch web portal for one-stop business help

It flew under the radar for the most part, but a significant piece of legislation may make Arkansas a much easier place to start or run a business. Act 1190,…

Quarterly income up more than 13% for BancorpSouth

Tupelo, Miss.-based BancorpSouth reported Monday (April 20) that first quarter net income reached $32.2 million, up 13.3% compared to the 28.4 million in the first quarter of 2014. The earnings…

Field Agent report: Millennials spearheading TV revolution

The Millennial generation — consumers between 19 and 34 years of age — are nothing like their parents and grandparents. So it comes as no surprise that their buying habits…

Union wants Wal-Mart to rehire 2,200 workers

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday (April 20) stating that the 2,200 employees recently laid off at five…

Arkansas River tonnage down 8% in the first quarter

Tonnage moved on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System was down 8% during the first quarter thanks in large part to a 31% dip in outbound shipments and an 18%…

The Supply Side: Suppliers near Wal-Mart 30% rule to see more pressure

Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon’s renewed focus on the “every day low price” model and away from promotional pricing may result in pressure on large and small suppliers near the boundaries…

Another view of the ‘Hanging Judge’ heritage

Fort Smith embraced selling its frontier heritage to tourists in 1955 when Mayor H. R. “Happy” Hestand appointed Judge Paul Wolfe to lead a committee to restore the Parker courtroom…

Fort Smith: A great place to die

I recently had an “Aha!” moment. I’ve worried about the Greater Fort Smith Region’s lack of economic growth, the loss of our youth to other cities and states in order…

Fort Smith to enjoy Wine & Roses, inaugural Steel Horse Rally and more

It is a busy spring for the Fort Smith region, as the area is set to host a number of special celebrations, fundraisers, and awareness events. The coming weeks will…

Wal-Mart restructures store management hierarchy, closes five stores

Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores confirmed Friday (April 17) plans to eliminate the role of zone managers in its U.S. stores in the coming weeks. This impacts 14,000 workers who were…

Gilcrease on Wheels

Whirlpool settles on most claims related to TCE pollution at Fort Smith plant

Whirlpool officials said Friday (April 17) they have paid more than $3 million to property owners harmed by pollution around the company’s former manufacturing plant in Fort Smith, and have…

Waller named interim dean of Sam M. Walton College of Business

Matthew Waller was named interim dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and will assume the duties of dean Eli Jones who is…

UA Chancellor Gearhart, wife to donate $1 million to the university

University of Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart and his wife Jane, announced plans to make a $1 million donation to the college’s upcoming campaign efforts. The campaign, known as Campaign Arkansas,…

Student design portfolios get a critical look from professionals

As thousands of college seniors prepare to receive their degrees next month and then head out into the job market, a group of students from the University of Arkansas, University…

Committees raise more money for city, county tax renewal campaigns

The group seeking renewal of Fort Smith’s 1% sales tax for street work and a 5% cut of that tax for trail and greenway work raised $5,000 in March to…

Bentonville entrepreneurs put Junk Brands on the national retail map

In just under three years Kourtney and Beau Barrett have disrupted the fitness headband segment with Junk Brands, a growing custom headband manufacturing operation based in their hometown of Bentonville….