Fort Smith

Worker skills hinder U.S. factory gains

BLOOMBERG — Paul Bonin has no problem getting enough orders to keep his South Bend, Indiana, factory busy. What he can’t find are enough qualified employees to work on the…

Walmart private label reaches new highs

Walmart recently promised to lower your food bill, but an independent analysis found prices of its private-label products at an all-time high. In March, Reuters reported Walmart would provide financial…

First quarter tourism tax revenue up in Fort Smith, Van Buren

The first quarter 2012 numbers are positive for the tourism business in the Fort Smith and Van Buren area, and collections of Arkansas’ 2% tourism tax are up almost 13%…

Arkansas House District 80: Bibbs and Fite

The primary battle for the GOP nomination to the Arkansas House of Representatives District 80 pits Republican challengers Charlene Fite and Terry Bibbs in a contest that presents an educational…

Poll: Cotton pulls ahead in 4th District primary

Fourth District GOP Congressional candidate Tom Cotton appears to have opened a lead over rival Beth Anne Rankin. The latest Talk Business-Hendrix College survey of Fourth District Republican primary voters…

Beshears Construction wins awards on two projects

Fort Smith-based Beshears Construction has received three awards for construction projects completed in 2011. The 188th Fighter Wing Civil Engineering Headquarters of the Arkansas Air National Guard was recently awarded…

Girls Inc. crowd gathers in Fort Smith for crawfish

Around 200 people gathered Saturday (May 12) at the Fort Smith home of LuAnn and George Moschner to enjoy a Crawfish Boil and raise money for Girls Inc. of Fort…

A fortunate son

A lot has changed in Mom’s world. The world in 1949, the year of her birth, was a crazy place. Europe was rebuilding its continental economy, the Soviets were rattling…

Art: Huffington in New York

An Ozarks treasure with works in public and private collections across the country, sculpture artist Anita Huffington is half of a two-man exhibit running through June 8 in Chelsea New…

CASA’s Stand By Me brings back the ‘60s

FORT SMITH — There was no shortage of flower power at the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Sebastian County’s Stand By Me party on Friday evening (May 11). A crowd…

Report: Severance tax hike would cost jobs

The Perryman Group, a Waco-based research firm, released its economic study of raising Arkansas’ severance tax rates on natural gas — a proposal being pushed by former gas exec Sheffield…

Arkansas ethics reform group gains momentum

Regnat Populus, a grassroots group pushing a ballot measure to reform Arkansas’ ethics laws, just got a shot in the arm from a bipartisan group of politicos. On Friday (May…

Batesville hit with 233 job losses

ConAgra Foods Inc. gave notice that it intends to consolidate operations from a Batesville factory to one in Missouri in July — a move that will result in layoffs of…

Democrats split with Obama on gay marriage

BLOOMBERG — Congressional Democrats who don’t agree with President Barack Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage now find they’re in an awkward spot. U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Joe Manchin…

Fourth of July Craft

Fourth of July will soon be here. Start your celebration off early by coming to the Van Buren Public Library and making your own patriotic craft to enjoy this year. …

Family Friday Flick

Bring the family to the library to enjoy another afternoon of movie and popcorn! Call the Van Buren Public Library for the movie title. This is a free program for…

Same-sex marriage unpopular with 4th District voters

President Barack Obama’s reversal of opinion on same-sex marriage is unlikely to alter his standing with Arkansas voters, at least in the Fourth Congressional District. The Fourth District covers all…

Own the Night – Movie & Popcorn

Beat the heat with an afternoon film! We’ll watch a delightfully undead film by Tim Burton. This is a free program for ages 10 – 18. Yes, we’ll have lots…

Scrapbooking

Ms. Bridgette will be teaching a two page layout. You may scrapbook on this and other pages until 3 pm. Join the fun and be creative! This is a free…

Breast Health Awareness Seminar

Leslie from Summit Hospital will be here to set up FREE mammograms appointments for those who qualify and answer all your questions. Can’t make it? Call the Mulberry Library at…