by - July 1, 2014 7:56 pm
Economic stability. Now what?
The corpus of the Fort Smith regional economy is not a fully recovered patient but we should pause to take note of recent positive developments. The developments may offer even…
Tag: Fort Smith area home sales
by - July 1, 2014 3:17 pm
Food retailers expect $6.2 billion July 4 spending boom
July 4 is one of the most widely observed American holidays, with 153 million consumers expected to celebrate with food this year for an estimated $6.2 billion spend, according to…
by - July 1, 2014 2:49 pm
Van Buren Mayor Bob Freeman says a third term will be his last
Three terms will be enough for Van Buren Mayor Bob Freeman, who announced his intent Tuesday (July 1) to seek his third and final term as mayor. Freeman, who followed…
by - July 1, 2014 2:36 pm
Big River Steel closes on financing, construction is next
Arkansas’ $1.3 billion steel mill superproject in northeast Arkansas has closed on its private equity financing. Next up, construction and maybe another superproject. State officials and Big River Steel CEO…
by - July 1, 2014 1:41 pm
Northwest Arkansas metro jobless rate rises to 4.9% in May
The Northwest Arkansas jobless rate continued in May to be the lowest in Arkansas, but the regional labor force and the number of employed shrank compared to May 2013. The…
by - July 1, 2014 1:39 pm
Fort Smith area jobless rate rise to 6.3%, employed numbers fall
The Fort Smith metro jobless rate for May rose back above 6%, with the regional workforce declining 3.51% and the number of employed down 1.97% compared to May 2013. May’s…
by - July 1, 2014 12:32 pm
Gas prices expected to hit six-year high during July 4 holiday
Independence Day vacationers looking to hit the crowded highways during the long Fourth of July weekend will have to shell out a little more of their hard-earned dollars for fuel…
by - July 1, 2014 10:18 am
Pinnacle drops Hillshire deal, opens path for Tyson Foods’ acquisition
Pinnacle Foods announced Monday (June 30) it has exercised its right to terminate the merger agreement with Hillshire Brands, originally announced in May. That move now clears the way for the…
by - July 1, 2014 9:32 am
Most Arkansas-based stocks improve in the second quarter
After a rough start to 2014, all but six of the 17 publicly held companies in Arkansas posted higher stock prices through the second quarter ending June 30. The biggest…
by - July 1, 2014 1:25 am
Arkansas legislators move fast on first day of special session
With a touch of fanfare, Arkansas lawmakers made quick work of the first day of the 89th General Assembly’s second extraordinary session. The House of Representatives met in the Old…
by - June 30, 2014 8:24 pm
Sebastian County election officials hire consultant and new coordinator
The Sebastian County Election Commission on Monday (June 30) voted to hire former County Election Coordinator Jerry Huff as a consultant to work on elections through the end of this…
by - June 30, 2014 6:55 pm
New Sparks CEO comes from Northwest Health System in Springdale
Dan McKay, who has worked for five years as the CEO of Northwest Health System, has been named CEO of Sparks Health System in Fort Smith. McKay is the fourth…
by - June 30, 2014 5:37 pm
NW Health CEO departs for Sparks Health Fort Smith
Dan McKay, CEO of Northwest Health System, is leaving his post of five years to take over as the new CEO of Sparks Health System in Fort Smith. “It is…
by - June 30, 2014 5:36 pm
The Supply Side: Wal-Mart tweaks its post-payment audit rules
Suppliers for Wal-Mart Stores were notified Friday (June 27) that the retailer is making two major changes – including raising the automatic deduction from a supplier’s account to $100,000 –…
by - June 30, 2014 4:59 pm
Mercy NWA names new chief operating officer
Andy Thompson has been named the new chief operating officer for Mercy Clinics in Northwest Arkansas. Thompson takes on his new role as Mercy is set to open two new…
by - June 30, 2014 4:46 pm
City of Fort Smith searching to hire an internal auditor
As the argument over whether the city or Fort Smith should hire an outside auditor to review legal billings following claims of invoices submitted for work never completed continues, the…
by - June 30, 2014 4:18 pm
Fort Smith tax revenue dips in May report, down year-to-date
Sales tax revenues for the city of Fort Smith were down in May, with what appeared to be a narrowing of the revenue gap from the previous month's report evaporating….
by - June 30, 2014 3:50 pm
Beebe names 26 to state boards and commissions
Gov. Mike Beebe on Monday (June 30) announced the following appointments to boards and commissions: Greg Ashcraft, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas Deaf and Hearing Impaired Telecommunications Services Corporation….
by - June 30, 2014 3:44 pm
Wal-Mart pegs Springdale for new Neighborhood Market
Springdale, a town of 70,000, has been underserved by Wal-Mart Stores but that’s about to change as the retail giant continues to blanket Northwest Arkansas with new stores. Wal-Mart announced…
by - June 30, 2014 3:24 pm
Chuck Barrett to end job as Razorback baseball play-by-play announcer
Chuck Barrett has decided to step away from his baseball play-by-play duties after 23 seasons. Barrett will still handle play-by-play responsibilities for football and men’s basketball. He broadcasted all three…