Regions

Indicators Suggest End of ‘Soft Market’ for Insurance

Good news for insurance agents whose commissions have been depressed with insurance rates, but not so good for the businesses that have enjoyed a respite from inflation in that budget line item.

Collaboration Solution To Mental Health Care Void

A collaboration of organizations addresses the mental health void in Northwest Arkansas by partnering to open a 29-bed psychiatric unit in Springdale.

Hospital: Uncovered Care Costs Continue Climb

Battling the costs of nonreimbursed care remains a problem for hospitals.

Reestablishing contact with Kind Readers in the Fort Smith region

On June 27, the fine folks at The Times Record in Fort Smith and The Morning News in Northwest Arkansas ended my almost eight years of employment as their business…

Earnings, economic reports for the upcoming week

It’s not just an election week. Several important earnings reports from publicly held companies and government economic reports are set to release this week. On Monday morning, the Commmerce Department…

Don Tyson emerges from his “behind the scenes” role

The Associated Press on Sunday posted a "rare and extensive" interview with Don Tyson, the former chairman of Springdale-based Tyson Foods Inc. The article provides interesting detail on the help…

A few notes on the trucking sector

Fort Smith-based Arkansas Best Corp. and Van Buren-based USA Truck are just two reasons why the health of the domestic trucking industry is important for the regional economy. Trucking companies…

Rethinking the conventional wisdom of Middle Class income

Terry Fitzgerald, a senior economist with The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, posted in September an interesting piece on the growth of middle class income. Yes, that’s right, the growth…

Home loan changes could ease nationwide ARM pain

About 1 million homeowners could benefit from changes.

Nanotechnology poised for success

Nanotechnology products are expected to benefit nearly all sectors in the near future.

At least one group expects strong holiday sales

One survey suggests three in four consumers will increase holiday spending.

Mom says we’ve been too greedy

Mom called. She says you need to rethink your finances.

A little Jack for the next President

Let’s hope the next President is as smooth as good whiskey.

Elvin Frick: Living a balanced life.

The September day before an interview with Elvin Frick, the stock markets fell like the French in 1940. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 300 points.

Purse power brings books to area children

Arkansas’ First Lady Ginger Beebe helps the United Way of Fort Smith Area raise funds to help buy books for more than 1,500 children in Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties.

The ‘River and Rails’ Tourism Connections

A dedicated coalition of economic development leaders from Eureka Springs to Pine Bluff are interested in utilizing the Arkansas River as the common transportation thread to a series of tourism attractions from the Ozark Mountains to the mighty Mississippi River.