Fort Smith

2013 net income up 13% for Bank of the Ozarks

Bank of the Ozarks Inc. reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $24.4 million, an 18.1% increase from $20.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2012. For…

2013 home sales up in Sebastian County, down in Crawford County

Year end figures for Fort Smith area home sales posted mixed results with Crawford County continuing a slide in home sales while Sebastian County posted double-digit growth during 2013. Starting…

Whirlpool issues first annual report on Fort Smith pollution cleanup

Whirlpool on Thursday (Jan. 16) released its annual report detailing the early stages of the cleanup trichloroethylene (TCE) at its former manufacturing facility on the south side of Fort Smith….

Economist says women are the economic indicator to watch

Nationally known chief economist Rich Yamerone, of Bloomberg L.P. , said tracking ladies dress and make-up sales will offer insight into consumer spending and sentiment — responsible for 72% of…

As in Oklahoma, Arkansas gay marriage ban could be overturned

News late Tuesday (Jan. 14) that Oklahoma's ban on gay marriage had been overturned on grounds that it violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment caught many off…

Home Bancshares posts record quarterly earnings

Home Bancshares, Inc., parent company of Centennial Bank, reported record net income for the year ended Dec. 31, 2013 of $66.5 million compared to $63 million for the year ended…

J.C. Penney to close 33 store, none in Arkansas

Retailer J.C. Penney announced plans to close 33 underperforming stores seeking $65 million in cost savings this year, while also eliminating about 2,000 jobs by May. The retailer released the…

Lessons learned from Stan Bedford

This past week a very good small businessman, operating a very unique style of commercial business, passed from our midst. Stan Bedford was 60. He died young, but accomplished so…

Foreclosure filings during 2013 up in NWA, down in Fort Smith area

Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac reports 1.361 million foreclosure filings on U.S. properties in 2013, down 26% from a year ago and some 53% lower than the $2.9 million peak hit in…

Groundbreaking held for new $1.5 million APAC Central regional office

A groundbreaking was held Wednesday (Jan. 15) on a new 12,200-square-foot office building at Chaffee Crossing that will be a regional office for APAC-Central Inc. The $1.5 million building, located…

Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home to be moved to Crystal Bridges

That a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home is art is not a revelation, but to move such a home almost 1,100 miles to be actual art on the Bentonville grounds…

NLRB alleges worker rights violations against Wal-Mart

The general counsel for the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint Wednesday (Jan. 15) against Wal-Mart Stores alleging that more than 60 store supervisors and one corporate officer violated…

Gov. Beebe proposes $5 billion budget ahead of fiscal session

In what should be his final legislative session, Gov. Mike Beebe proposed a $5 billion budget that includes increased funding for prisons and public schools, projected savings from the private…

Smart meter use varies between Fort Smith area, Northwest Arkansas

The days of meter readers venturing out in the elements to measure energy consumption has become a thing of the past, at least at two providers of energy in the…

Ross gubernatorial campaign enters 2014 with $2.5 million (Updated)

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross' campaign is starting to sound like a broken record after the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor announced fundraising figures for the fourth quarter of 2013…

Prom Fair – GHS Bulldog Breakout Fundraiser

NanoMech expands global campus, adds jobs to Springdale

NanoMech announced it has purchased its existing factory and will build an adjoining 25,000 square-foot facility in east Springdale, tripling its size and making room for more than two dozen…

Fort Smith Board may move forward on River Valley Sports Complex

The on again, off again River Valley Sports Complex project appears to be back on again following a study session of the Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Jan….

Federal Judge says Oklahoma gay marriage ban is unconstitutional

Gay marriage may be coming to one of the most conservative states in America after a federal judge Tuesday (Jan. 14) struck down Oklahoma's state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage…

Greenwood Mayor Del Gabbard resigns

Greenwood Mayor Del Gabbard has resigned from his post with a year left in office. Gabbard, who won office in November 2010, said he was resigning for health reasons. "It…