Northwest Arkansas

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The Largest Health Insurance Companies

Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield ranks No. 1 on the list of the state’s largest health insurance companies.

Arkansas 4Q ROA First in Region

In the fourth quarter of 2004, Arkansas banks collectively had a return on their average assets (ROA) of 1.19 percent, higher than the other seven states in the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank?s Eighth District.

Redford Speaks At UA Series

Robert Redford spoke about marrying industry and environmental concerns to a packed house at the University of Arkansas on May 5.

Mall Traffic Increases 8.6 Percent Since 2002

A Massachusetts consultant told a group in Rogers on May 10 that the number of people shopping at the Northwest Arkansas Mall dropped by 12 ?percentage points? since 2002.

College Friend to Return ?Final Four? Ring to Huery

A former Arkansas Razorbacks basketball star will soon receive a 15-year-old Final Four ring he sold after falling on ?hard times.?

One Thrift Passes, One Thrift Pursues Northwest Market

Jonesboro thrift First Community Bank opened a full-service branch in April in the Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow, Okla.

Whirlpool’s Fate on Hold Until Early 2006

Whirlpool Corp. workers in Fort Smith are forced to wait another year before finding out if their jobs will be outsourced to a new plant in Mexico.

Giving Wal-Mart the Biz (Editorial)

Maryland legislators pass legislation aimed at Wal-Mart.

UA Profs Pursue DNA Engineering

Three professors at the University of Arkansas are working on an engineering project that is sort of like Mary Shelley’s Dr. Frankenstein in reverse.

Family-Friendly Benefits (Jeff Hankins Commentary)

One of the primary reasons employers are reluctant to implement family-friendly initiatives in the workplace is the concern over the impact on the bottom line.

Tyson Powered By Value-Added

With slimmer profit margins on fresh meat, Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale is looking to its value-added segment — everything from pre-cooked bacon to case-ready meats — where profits can be three to four times higher.

Geary Sheds Light, Indirectly

Statistics from the American Optometric Association and others suggest indirect lighting could actually save employers money in the long run.

Landscape Architecture Gains Local Visibility

Patrick Hargus, a landscape architect with EGIS Engineering in Bentonville, said sometimes landscape architecture gets forgotten.

Architecture Trio Designs Space For the Long Term

Ask Steve Miller what year the firm turned the corner and he jokes, ?next year.? But Boskus said the firm now employs 21 people with six licensed architects.

Otis Rides Gen2s To Market Heights

Architects designing the University of Arkansas? $23 million parking deck got a lift from Otis Elevator Co.

Industrial Engineers Help Retail Flow

In addition to building everything from bridges to sewer lines, engineers also help retailers design stores. This type of industrial engineering concerns the flow of people through a store.

Curt’s Place Opens No. 2

Curt Harcourt of Springdale has opened his second Curt’s Place restaurant.

Rogers Buys Subways In Benton County

Russell Rogers of Springdale bought all of the Subway Sandwich Shops in Benton County from Terry Wiliams on March 2.

Mathews Brothers Revamp McDonald?s Stores

Bill and Walter Mathews plan to open two new McDonald?s restaurants this month and renovate six of their existing stores.

Hog Haus Brewing Co. Gets 4 1/2 Stars (Business Lunch)

Two Business Journal staffers took advantage of an exceptionally spectacular spring day and walked over from their now old offices to the revamped version of the Dickson Street hangout.

Group adds 2 leaders, to meet for Jan. 21 event

Fort Smith metro tourism job numbers up in November, overall job gain less than 1%

Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: Fort Smith police feedback, teacher recognition

Methodist Village to build early learning center, add 19 jobs