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Tokusen USA to close Conway plant, exit U.S. market

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Energy association appoints Ebony Mitchell to external affairs role

Constitutional showdown possibly coming over Arkansas Supreme Court controversy

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Tokusen USA to close Conway plant, exit U.S. market

Tire cord manufacturer Tokusen announced Thursday (Jan. 9) it will close its Conway, Ark. facility laying off approximately 250 workers in central Arkansas. Tokusen USA, the American subsidiary of Japan-based…

Energy association appoints Ebony Mitchell to external affairs role

The Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA) and the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation (AAEF) recently hired Ebony Mitchell as director of external affairs. This marks the association’s first director of external…

Constitutional showdown possibly coming over Arkansas Supreme Court controversy

The Arkansas Supreme Court remains divided over Chief Justice Karen Baker’s decision to remove the director of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). A five-justice majority has challenged Baker’s…

Landreaux, Hegeman to chair State Chamber, AIA in 2025

The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas Inc. (AIA) announced new board leadership for 2025. Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas, has been…

A 2025 cybersecurity forecast

Americans love to be busy — or at least give the impression we are. As Time magazine recently noted, our society increasingly values being active, at work and at home,…

El Centro Hispano, Life Skills for Youth receive $3 million for digital literacy initiatives

Two Arkansas nonprofits, El Centro Hispano and Life Skills for Youth, have been awarded more than $3 million in federal funding to expand digital access and literacy programs in Arkansas….

Family Leisure facility planned for Gateway Town Center

Badu Holdings, Inc. purchased a 5.3-acre commercial lot at Little Rock’s Gateway Town Center in December in a sale totaling $1.95 million. Isaac Smith, Justin Bentley and Lee Strother, all…

The Compass Report: Economic gains continue in the third quarter

The construction sector again was a strong part of Arkansas’ top four metro areas, with the regions continuing to see economic gains in the third quarter of 2024, according to…

Fort Smith Public School officials have yet to decide on an in-house lawyer

One more attorney has applied to be the Fort Smith Public School’s in-house legal counsel. Six attorneys applied for the position as of Oct. 14, with one withdrawing their application,…

Adobe: U.S. online spending topped $241 billion this past holiday season

Early reports of online holiday spending (Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024) peg U.S. sales rising 8.7% to $241.4 billion, ahead of earlier estimates by Adobe Analytics. The figures are…

The Supply Side: Retailers expect higher costs from proposed import tariffs

The National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates report retailers are under pressure as they front load cargo to avoid the disruption of a possible strike and higher costs from…

RJW Logistics investment to support area operations

Chicago-based RJW Logistics Group recently received an investment from Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners. The investment amount was not disclosed, but it will benefit area operations as the company…

Scott Family Amazeum begins $25 million capital campaign

The Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville will launch a $25 million fundraising campaign to enhance and expand the 50,000-square-foot museum, according to a Wednesday (Jan. 8) news release. Amazeum and…

Jacobs created branding for Molly Rawn’s mayoral campaign

Anna Jacobs, founder and owner of Fayetteville design studio Jacobs & Co., created the nontraditional branding for Molly Rawn’s successful mayoral campaign. Rawn defeated Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan in a…

Sen. King: Instead of one big prison, partner with counties

A bill being drafted by Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, would appropriate $600 million in fiscal year 2025 to expand county jails, particularly those in areas of the state where…

Stephens Insurance names new CEO, Chief Strategy Officer

Stephens Insurance, LLC, an affiliate of Stephens Inc., announced Wednesday (Jan. 8) that Korosh Saba will serve as the new President and Chief Executive Officer and Lizzie Phillips Sanford as…

Corn acres crash in Arkansas

The Arkansas corn crop had a catastrophic drop in acres in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS). Acreage in the state fell 41%…

Then & Now: Arroyos focuses on making an impact

Adam Arroyos’ parents taught him to serve other people and “make an impact” in the lives of those around him. That lesson resonated with him in starting his professional development…

Fort Smith schools set to receive federal noise mitigation grant

The City of Fort Smith, in partnership with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce and Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS), was selected as one of 13 communities eligible to…

Jones Center receives $550,000 from Walmart Foundation

Walmart Foundation has provided the Jones Center with a $550,000 grant to support access to the center over the next two years and space rental discounts to area nonprofits, the…