
A staff report on the death of Bryan Malinowski in a shootout with federal authorities was the top story on the Arkansas Business website this year.
The 53-year-old executive director of Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport had allegedly been selling firearms illegally at gun shows and on the streets, which led to agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives attempting to serve a search warrant at his Little Rock home the morning of March 19. Malinowski opened fire, hitting one of the agents. Authorities shot back, killing him.
Prosecutors ruled the use of deadly force was justified. Whether the search was necessary in the first place has been the subject of state and federal hearings.
The year’s second most-read story came from Senior Editor Mark Friedman, who in March chronicled the legal saga of LaDonna Humphrey and her alleged campaign to ruin a former employer’s business. Friedman’s detailed reporting inspired the podcast “Pretend: Who’s Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey?” It was one of Spotify’s top true crime podcasts in 2024.
The third most-read story of 2024 came in October from Assistant Editor Kyle Massey, who looked at how Arkansas became a hub for bass boat manufacturing, with Flippin leading fiberglass innovation and Monticello driving aluminum boat production.
A scoop from Friedman was the No. 4 story of the year. In March, he broke the news that Dr. Alonzo Williams of Little Rock, who practices at the Arkansas Diagnostic Center, was under investigation for Medicaid fraud. The Arkansas State Medical Board later revoked Williams’ license over improper prescription practices.
Coming in at No. 5 was Assistant Editor Marty Cook’s report in May on how Arkansas poultry farmers were navigating the unexpected end of their contracts with Tyson Foods. The meat giant cut ties after it overestimated demand for chicken. Many farmers hoped to switch to other integrators, such as Cooks Venture, but the company ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy.
At No. 6 was Senior Editor George Waldon’s story on a legal tiff between the Stephens family and the city of Little Rock over a 43-lot expansion of the Copper Run residential development. The case could help determine the future connectivity and growth corridors in west Pulaski County. At last check, court filings indicated settlement talks were in motion.
Waldon also brought readers the No. 7 story of 2024, one of his many updates on the failed Little Rock convenience store chain SQRL. The report in January focused on the collapse of a $21 million deal to expand the chain. The more that would-be seller Blackmon Oil Co. of Greenwood learned about SQRL, the more concerned they grew about its viability.
The No. 8 story of the year came in July, when our Whispers column reported that Springdale businessman Fred Michael Brunner was suing his former love interest, a Las Vegas exotic dancer, for $3 million on allegations of fraud. The dancer in September asked a judge to throw out the lawsuit. After hearing about the case, one Las Vegas gentleman’s club offered to fly the heartbroken Brunner out for a complimentary night of entertainment and lodging.
Our Whispers column also delivered the No. 9 story, an item in November about Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King’s son buying a $2.45 million home in Fayetteville. Mark King and his wife purchased the 6,000-SF home from an executive at Pace Industries.
At No. 10 was an August report from Massey on the sale of Pactiv Evergreen’s mill in Pine Bluff and its outlook under new owner Suzano, a Brazilian pulp and paper giant. Suzano said it plans to continue operating the plant as part of its strategy to become “a sizable and competitive player in the global packaging segment.”