by - February 21, 2026 8:06 pm
Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro. Consent Decree Work The city of Fort Smith recently completed more than $8.1 million in sewer system improvements mandated by…
by - February 20, 2026 11:15 am
Van Buren voters are headed to the polls to decide on whether to fund major capital projects with proposed 0.5% sales tax. Election day is March 3, but early voting…
by - February 19, 2026 6:35 pm
A non-profit, Tailgate Time, has launched with the aim of helping farmers with their mental health. Like many farmers, Jonathan Bobbitt struggled with bouts of depression. The long, lonely hours…
by - February 19, 2026 6:31 pm
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) recently concluded Fiscal Year 2025 with an investment of nearly $17 million to help fund 11 infrastructure projects across the region. Provided through the Community…
by - February 19, 2026 1:34 pm
Consumers continue to turn to online shopping for food and other consumables. December online grocery sales totaled $12.7 billion, up 32%, or $3.1 billion over the same month in 2024,…
by - February 19, 2026 12:47 pm
Building activity in the Fort Smith region took a dip as calendars rolled into 2026. Permit values in Fort Smith and Van Buren totaled $16.437 million in January, 48.9% below…
by - February 19, 2026 12:27 pm
Walmart’s fiscal-year revenue reached $713.163 billion, up 4.7% compared with the previous fiscal year, and the global retailer reported fiscal-year net income of $21.893 billion, up 12.6%. Fourth-quarter net income…
by - February 18, 2026 9:01 pm
The remains of a man found in Mississippi County in 2006 have finally been identified. Little John Sutton was last seen on Aug. 1, 2006, in Memphis, Tenn., and his…
by - February 18, 2026 5:10 pm
Oxnard, Calif.-based drone manufacturer Swarm Aero has opened an 80,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center at Drake Field in Fayetteville to accelerate development and deployment of large drones, or uncrewed aerial vehicles…
by - February 18, 2026 5:02 pm
It’s the story that won’t die. The Fort Smith Board of Directors appears to be on a path to rescind a vote that gave Royal Ridge Construction a $1.059 million…
by - February 18, 2026 2:04 pm
When Dr. Josh Roller arrived in Northwest Arkansas in 2007, bariatric surgery was viewed with skepticism. Nearly two decades later, Roller has performed more than 13,000 weight-loss surgeries, and built…
by - February 18, 2026 2:01 pm
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences invested $2.8 million to open the UAMS Health Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Clinic in Bentonville. The facility, in the Blume building at 609…
by - February 18, 2026 1:54 pm
Fayetteville nonprofit Northwest Arkansas Land Trust recently renewed its national land trust accreditation. It’s the region’s only accredited land trust dedicated to protecting and enhancing natural landscapes in Northwest Arkansas,…
by - February 18, 2026 1:14 pm
Arkansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine remains on track for a fall opening with the accreditation process and construction of facilities proceeding as expected. ASU- Jonesboro Chancellor Dr. Todd…
by - February 18, 2026 10:52 am
An ordinance designed to outline the city’s dealings with “third-party intermediaries” was approved Tuesday (Feb. 17) by the Fort Smith Board of Directors. The board also approved funding to restart…
by - February 18, 2026 5:41 am
The board of directors of the Little Rock Technology Park Authority announced Tuesday (Feb. 17) that Executive Director Brent Birch will transition from his role in 2026, after 12 years…
by - February 17, 2026 7:41 pm
Two higher education institutions in Northeast Arkansas will work in concert to help better train the region’s workforce. Black River Technical College and Williams Baptist University formally signed a workforce…
by - February 17, 2026 4:42 pm
Early voting has begun for the March 3 primary election cycle, with several contested races and sales tax votes on the ballots in Crawford and Sebastian counties. The ballots for…
by - February 17, 2026 2:20 pm
Experience Fayetteville, the city’s tourism marketing agency, announced Monday (Feb. 16) that it has launched the Favoriteville Festival Fund to provide financial support to festivals and events, particularly during slower…
by - February 17, 2026 2:12 pm
Editor’s note: This is the first story in a series addressing identified Fort Smith water system replacement and repair needs with cost estimates that approach $600 million. Attention in recent…
