Fort Smith

Fort Smith Board asked to approve $32 million in federal funding requests

Two federal funding requests totaling $32 million are set to be reviewed Tuesday (March 31) by the Fort Smith Board of Directors, with $12 million of that for ongoing work…

Barling event marks part of more than $3 million in playground renovations

Fort Smith Public School District officials recently gathered at the Barling Elementary School to formally open a renovated playground at the school that is part of a more than $3…

Fort Smith mayor, city director seek more info from Baptist Health about future plans

Fort Smith elected officials are hoping Little Rock-based Baptist Health officials will soon provide details on partially announced plans to alter operations at its Fort Smith hospital campus and end…

Fort Smith, Van Buren hospitality tax revenues decline in 2025

Hospitality tax revenues in the Fort Smith metro were down in 2025 compared with 2024, but tourism officials are optimistic a downward trend will not continue through this year. Fort…

Early 2026 Arkansas River tonnage down slightly

Arkansas River traffic is down slightly in the first two months of 2026, with a more than 30% gain in internal shipments easing the impact of declines in inbound and…

Baptist Health-Fort Smith may cease full hospital operations

Little Rock-based Baptist Health is planning to end hospital operations at Baptist Health-Fort Smith with the campus providing emergency room and possibly limited surgery services. Some or all existing physician…

Fort Smith regional wage growth trails that of Arkansas

Sebastian County had the highest third quarter 2025 average weekly wage among Arkansas and Oklahoma counties in the Fort Smith region, with Sequoyah and Franklin counties posting the largest percentage…

Fort Smith auditor’s early work includes crafting a policies and procedures plan

Amanda Strange recently marked six months as the city of Fort Smith’s internal auditor, learning the challenges of the position, making a plan, and getting down to work as one…

Harps will use AI to generate personalized meal plans for customers

Springdale-based Harps Food Stores will usher in “SmartMeals,” an AI-powered shopping assistant, for customers using its more than 150 stores. The announcement was made Monday (March 23) at an Associated…

Tankersley, Fort Smith tourism officials creating worker relief fund

Discussions on the economy have dominated gatherings, social media and public discussions for months, maybe years. There is frequent discussion on social media forums about the cost of gas, groceries…

County sales tax revenue up almost 4% in the Fort Smith region

Sales tax revenue for counties in the Fort Smith area was up in 2025 compared with 2024, and among cities with more than $1 million in annual sales tax revenue,…

Fort Smith Regional Airport traffic up more than 2% through February

A rising number of Fort Smith Regional Airport enplanements has resulted in American Airlines using larger planes at the airport and planning to add an extra flight during the summer,…

‘Amazing’ progress made on proposed Butterfield Trail monument in downtown Fort Smith

In less than a month, or about the time it once took to deliver mail from Fort Smith to California and back, an idea to build a large Butterfield Trail…

Euper Lane, Midland Bridge lines part of effort to address water system ‘weak points’

Editor’s note: This is the third story in a series addressing identified Fort Smith water system replacement and repair needs with cost estimates that approach $600 million. Link here for…

Fort Smith Board study session to focus on change of government process

A Fort Smith Board of Directors study session to review the process to change the city’s form of government is tentatively set for April 28. A petition to change the…

Fort Smith Board approves water slide work, waterpark management

It was yet another 4-3 vote Tuesday (March 17) by the Fort Smith Board of Directors to yet again continue with installation of five waterslides at Parrot Island Waterpark. Directors…

Big Brothers Big Sisters NWA expanding into Fort Smith area

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas (BBBSNWA) is working to expand its mentoring program reach into the Fort Smith area, and has hired a program director who is based…

Waterslide funding vote again on the Fort Smith Board agenda

There will be yet another vote on whether to move forward with an almost 2-year process to approve funding to install new Parrot Island Waterpark waterslides. While the funding is…

Executive Summary: Family legacy, life balance, focus on effort important to Barr

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…

Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: Steel Horse Rally volunteer search, a Peak ‘Career Launch’

Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro. Steel Horse Volunteers The Steel Horse Rally, dedicated to “honor all who serve,” will be back in downtown Fort Smith…