Regions

Terrance Simien brings delicious recipe of music, culture and energy to Fort Smith

The Grammy winner’s contemporary spin on Zydeco has landed him in a Disney movie and on stages in more than 40 countries.

Economic development also looks like this

Eat, sleep and Spike it Mary! is the most recent recipe for capturing clean cash.

Baldor income, hospital downgrade part of busy business news week

The City Wire economic review for the week of Feb. 2 – Feb. 6: REGIONAL• Fort Smith-based Baldor Electric Co. survived 2008 with a 6% increase in net income, but…

T. Boone Pickens remains darned upset about U.S. oil usage

Americans are oil sluts who don’t care about the dollars they send to the Middle East.

Tournament winner? The Fort Smith regional economy

A volleyball tournament is just a bunch of players hitting a ball back and forth across a net, right? Wrong. It’s business. Good business. Try about $2 million in business….

Baldor posts 2008 income gain despite bad fourth quarter

Fort Smith-based Baldor Electric Co. survived 2008 with a 6% increase in net income, but was hit with a 20% net income decrease in the fourth quarter of 2008. Baldor…

Tourism tax law change pulled to measure support (Updated)

Proposed legislation that would make it easier for cities to enact and control hospitality tax collections has been pulled from committee consideration until support for it can be measured. Filed…

Arkansas House approves cigarette tax increase

The Arkansas House of Representatives passed at about 2:15 p.m. today (Feb. 5) a cigarette tax increase of 56 cents per pack. The vote was 75-24, with 75 votes need…

The Fort Smith region is losing good doctors, nurses

Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker and area physicians say the loss of doctors and nurses can lower the quality of regional health care.

January retail sales dip; low-income shoppers changing retail game

Sales reported by national retailers on Thursday lend credence to a report that market share gains for retailers will come from catering to lower-income shoppers. Retail Metrics reported Thursday (Feb….

IC Men’s Golf Tournament

RU Ready Fore Some Golf?? The IC Mens Club will be hosting their annual GOLF TOURNAMENT Saturday April 18th. A full day of events will begin with Golf, followed by a…

From spicy to sweet, Peter finds culinary treats on Midland

Leave your preconceptions and biases at home, and take your Friday Feast down the Boulevard.

Sparks Hospital receives another credit downgrade (Updated)

Updated info:The recent Moody’s credit downgrade of Sparks Regional Medical Center included a report that includes several troubling details about the financial status of the hospital system. Moody’s analyst note…

Nuke power steamed efficiently in 2008; seeks to expand

U.S. nuclear power plants achieved near-record level of electricity production in 2008.

Faster home sale

Ethan Nobles, director of media relations for the Arkansas Realtors Association, says shortage of sellers requires more realistic home pricing.

Black History Month: Local event planned, Census stats released

The Fort Smith Public Library will host its Annual Black Heritage Celebration at 2 p.m., Feb. 7 at the Main Branch Community Room. Carolyn Henderson Allen (right), dean of University…

Fort Smith city staff to pursue bakery building purchase

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Feb. 3) gave City Administrator Dennis Kelly the green light to further investigate the purchase of Flowers Food Bakery on 6th Street…

Fort Smith board supports riverfront analysis

Fort Smith’s Board of Directors voted 5-1 Tuesday night (Feb. 3) to spend $62,000 as a one-third partner in an “opportunity analysis” study of riverfront development options. The Robbie Westphal…

ATU-Ozark reports big enrollment gain (Updated)

The Ozark campus of Arkansas Tech University reports 791 students for spring enrollment, an increase of 18% over spring 2007, and up 2% over the fall 2008 semester. Continued increased…