Fort Smith

Tepid home sales to start 2013

The local residential real estate market was muted in January as agents sold just 71 homes in Sebastian and Crawford counties combined. Unit sales slid 19.3% from 2011 and 26%…

Arkansas to soon have human trafficking law

Arkansas legislators have taken the first step in fighting the growing, but often hidden, problem of human trafficking in the state. HB1203, introduced by Rep. David Meeks, R-Conway, and SB…

UAFS chancellor dislikes proposed campus gun law

A proposed bill that would allow certain faculty and staff to carry a concealed firearm on college and university campuses does not sit well with at least one chancellor in…

USA Truck names new CEO (Updated)

Officials with USA Truck announced Monday (Feb. 19) that John Simone, 51, will be the company’s new president and CEO, with former CEO Cliff Beckham, 41, to become the executive…

Big River Steel: The Nucor pushback

With state lawmakers contemplating a $125 million bond program to advance a $1.1 billion steel mill project in northeast Arkansas, a competitor is quietly pushing back at the capitol by…

Whirlpool’s spin cycle

The Fort Smith Board of Directors should put the brakes on this request by Whirlpool Corp. to ban the installation of groundwater wells in an area near the company's former…

State government and basic math

I’ve been fighting and arguing with a certain business assessor in the Sebastian County Tax Assessor Office for at least two years, probably more. I am right and she is…

‘Total disaster’ sales noted by Wal-Mart exec

A Friday (Feb. 15) afternoon revelation that February sales for Wal-Mart Stores could hit lows not seen in seven years sent company shares on a brief dive before recovering to…

Legislator pushes public-private partnership plan

Freshman State Rep. Warwick Sabin, D-Little Rock, has made an early name for himself in the 2013 legislative session. Sabin was chosen by the 41 freshmen in the Arkansas House…

Jobs, education challenges noted at chamber banquet

Business and community leaders from across the Fort Smith area gathered Friday afternoon for the 125th annual meeting of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. Mike Callan, the chamber's…

Hickory Dickory Dead keeps audience guessing

“Hickory Dickory Dead,” written by Craig Sodaro and directed by Rikkee Workman-Black, is set in the Hickory Dickory Inn in New England. The snow is getting deeper outside the inn…

Patterson appointed to Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

Gov. Mike Beebe on Friday (Feb. 15) named Ty Patterson of Texarkana as the newest commissioner of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Patterson will serve the remaining 16 months…

Sean Rochelle named director of the Razorback Foundation

University of Arkansas graduate and former Razorback Athletics administrator, Dr. Sean Rochelle has been named executive director of the Razorback Foundation. The announcement was made Friday (Feb. 15) by Ken…

Tyson Foods acquires tortilla maker Don Julio Foods

Tyson Foods has purchased Don Julio Foods of Clearfield, Utah, to compliment the meat company’s tortilla business — Mexican Original. Donnie Smith, president and CEO of Tyson Foods, said the…

Art Night Out – Center For Art & Education

104 North 13th Street Van Buren, AR 72956 Join us for this year's first "Art Night Out." Artist Karen Ahuja will offer instruction in floral impressionism as you create your…

Arkansas Senate to consider voter ID law

Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, is no stranger to controversy and in the 2013 regular session, he’ll continue his familiarity with political firestorms. After three terms in the Arkansas House,…

Higher education busy with construction work

Hundreds of millions of dollars are flowing through the construction industry in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith area and it’s all thanks to the growing needs at higher education…

Next Step Day Room names new executive director

Amy Sherrill has been named the executive director of the Next Step Day Room, according to a statement released by the organization. Sherrill had served as the interim executive director…

InvoTek receives grant from the National Institutes of Health

Alma-based InvoTek Inc. recently received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health. The grant will fund the creation of a tool enabling children…

Revenue up, income down for Sparks Health owner

Health Management Associates saw its full year revenue rise by more than 15%, but net income for the year came in at $164.27 million, down 8% compared to the previous…