Regions

Fort Smith Board approves 2015 budget with close vote – maybe

The vote to approve a version of the fiscal year 2015 budget for the city of Fort Smith is over one hurdle and could have two more to go depending…

Project Compassion hosts Hearts of Gold Open House

Project Compassion ushered in the season of giving with its annual Hearts of Gold Open House on Tuesday (Dec. 2). Hosted at its headquarters at the St. Scholastica Retreat Center…

Tolbert: Salary Commission Should Consider Raises And Tighten Expense Reimbursements

Much to the surprise of many in the state – with perhaps the exception of Sen. Jon Woods and Rep. Warwick Sabin – Proposed Constitutional Amendment Issue 3 was passed…

DOJ deal raises questions about home and business plumbing issues

A section of the proposed consent decree negotiated between the United States Department of Justice and the city of Fort Smith could have a negative impact on plumbing businesses and…

Arkansas’ November Tax Collections Up 8%

Arkansas tax collections for the first five months of the fiscal year are up almost 3% with a healthy 8% gain in November gross revenue resulting primarily from “calendar-related shift…

Arkansas consumer sentiment dips in recent Arvest survey

Consumer sentiment has not changed much since summer, and almost half of the Arkansas respondents to Arvest's Fall 2014 Consumer Sentiment Survey believe the next six months would be a…

Credit counselors warn against holiday debt temptations

Consumer households will spend on average $800 this Christmas holiday, according to the National Retail Federation. But for many that is money they will charge or defer payment well into…

Report To Legislature Offers Ways To Curb Inmate Rise

To reduce a rising prison recidivism rate, the state of Arkansas should hire more parole officers, create a “pay for success” program where investors receive a return when private providers…

USA Truck hires director of engineering and network strategy

Anuj Davalbhakta has been named director of engineering and network strategy for Van Buren-based USA Truck. In that role, he is responsible for refining and enhancing USA Truck’s route network…

NWACC history professor receives Educator of the Year nod

Dr. Jami Forrester, a professor of history at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, recently received the Arkansas Council for the Social Studies University Educator of the Year Award. The honor…

Arkansas’ November tax collections up 8%, year-to-date tally up 2.8%

Arkansas tax collections for the first five months of the fiscal year are up almost 3% with a healthy 8% gain in November gross revenue resulting primarily from “calendar-related shift…

Crawford County officials narrow budget deficit, layoffs off the table

A budget deficit of $229,000 the fiscal year 2015 Crawford County general fund budget has been narrowed to only a $91,064 gap between anticipated revenues and budget requests as the…

The Community Strikes Back- Bowling Tournament to benefit the Children’s Emergency Shelter

The Fort Smith Children's Emergency Shelter and Commissary Kiwanis Club will host its annual bowling tournament fundraiser, "The Community Strikes Back" on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Bowling World in…

Arkansans Optimistic About Future Economic Conditions

Consumers say next six months good for major household purchases in Arvest-backed survey.

Campus Talk: Education Board Exempts Alternative Schools From Grade Rankings

Editor’s note: Each Tuesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Campus Talk,” a recap and deep-dive into education topics in our email newsletter, which you can sign up to receive daily…

Fort Smith deal with DOJ over Clean Water Act to cost at least $205 million

A possible agreement between the city of Fort Smith and the Department of Justice related to Clean Water Act violations with the city’s water and sewer system will require at…

Sports agent: College athletes will be paid

Paying college athletes a small stipend in addition to their scholarships is inevitable, the sports agent for former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett said during a speech before the Clinton…

College Athletes Will Be Paid, Agent Says

Arkansas Nonprofit Alliance Partners With 55 Groups For Giving Tuesday

The Arkansas Nonprofit Alliance has partnered with 55 nonprofits statewide to launch Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesdayAR) on Dec. 2 – part of a national movement to highlight local philanthropy. The groups…

NWA construction sector keeps steady pace, permits up 48.5% in October

Commercial and residential builders across Northwest Arkansas are wrapping up a solid year of work as the region’s four largest cities issued cumulative new construction permits valued at $86.484 million…

Nine Riceland facilities temporarily close

Tonnage up almost 11% on the Arkansas River through May

Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: USA Truck military support, Baptist Health to hold ‘MASH’ events

SGS opens Bentonville product testing lab