Northwest Arkansas

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Hispanic School Enrollment Jumps 64.5 Percent

If Northwest Arkansas’ unemployment rate and housing costs continue to stay below the national average, the area will continue to see increases in population.

May Climbs Aspen Ridge (Real Deals)

May Construction Co. begings a $38 million project on Aspen Ridge, a 28-acre town-home development in Fayetteville.

Bubba’s Barbecue Gets a Five-star Rating (Business Lunch)

Bubba’s Barbecue has something that’s lost on the homogenized national chains. The Eureka Springs restaurant doesn’t have to manufacture a sense of fun ? it just is.

D-G Buys CPI Newspapers

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette will exercise its option to buy the Northwest Arkansas Times, the Benton County Daily Record and related assets of the Walton-owned Community Publishers Inc.

Clear Channel Takes Top Radio Spots

San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications snagged four of the top five spots in demographics.

KHOG Hires Lericos As Sports Anchor

KHBS/KHOG, Channels 40/29, hired Mark Lericos to replace former sports anchor Aaron Peters who resigned in July.

Former Hoffbrau Co-owner Files for Bankruptcy

A former co-owner of the historic Fayetteville restaurant and bar Hoffbrau Steaks of Arkansas Inc. filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation on Aug. 5.

Don DeSpain Leaves Embassy Suites

Don DeSpain, the well-known director of sales at Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas, has left the company.

Kool & The Gang to Play Christmas Party

The Barber Group has hired funk and R&B icons Kool & The Gang to play at this year’s Christmas party. The musical group is famous for hits such as “Celebration,” “Ladies’ Night,” and “Jungle Boogie.”

VIP Event Trolls for Legacy Investors

We heard the invitation-only, V.I.P. event The Barber Group hosted at Bordino’s restaurant on Aug. 23 brought in more than just a few handshakes.

ANB Financial to Open Loan Office in Jackson, Wyo.

Bentonville-chartered ANB Financial N.A. opened a loan production office in St. George, Utah, back in January and is looking to outfit a yet another loan production satellite in trendy and highly affluent Jackson, Wyo.

Robert Powell Sells $19 Million in USA Truck Stock

The single largest insider shareholder in USA Truck Inc. of Van Buren sold 800,000 shares of his holdings Aug. 17 that netted him $19 million.

Virtual Incubation Client Receives Innovation Award

A Virtual Incubation Corp. client, NanoMech LLC, receives its seventh Small Business Innovation Research award.

The Region’s Largest Office Furniture/Equipment Suppliers

National Home Centers and Moser Corp. top the list of the region’s largest office furniture and equipment suppliers.

AERT Tries to Bury Ashes

Despite escalating raw materials costs, legal battles, the destruction of seven total fires and a burdensome stock option plan, AERT co-CEO Joe Brooks said he’s never thought of folding up the tent.

Consider the Vendor Factor (Jeff Hankins Commentary)

When Wal-Mart decided to encourage a local presence by vendors, it was equivalent to the state landing a major Fortune 500 company with high-paying jobs. It was an evolution that is now producing results no one imagined.

Exec Appears Drunk with Power (Editorial)

We can’t help wondering if million-dollar salaries just drive some people insane.

Dixie Digs Deeper For Deal Potential

At Dixie Development Inc., it’s all about the numbers. The $30 million company analyzes about 100 properties per quarter and wades through spreadsheets of probable scenarios to determine a projects’ viability.

Strategic Networking Starts By Tapping Into Connectors

The business world is numb with numbers, analysis ad nauseam and jargony gibberish. But executives say one tangible that accounts for the majority of their business can’t be crammed into a spreadsheet ? the ability to network.

Vendor Space Expands, But New Arrivals Scarce

Real Estate Data Market Inc. provides a summary of real estate activity.

ARDOT wants feedback on final segment of Springdale Northern Bypass

Walmart announces top executive leadership changes

Most Arkansas metros post year-over-year job gains in November

Kris Wolf promoted by Encore Bank market president in Jonesboro