Rhea Lana Finds Silver Linings in Changes
by Gwen Moritz – 1 week ago
A painful loss in a long dispute with the federal government forced changes in Rhea Lana Riner's consignment sale business plan — and some of them have been positive.
Government & Politics
Marijuana Dispensaries Zoned to the Letter of the Law
1 week ago
Putting in a medical marijuana dispensary in Arkansas is a game of inches, or at least feet.
State Bank Commissioner Candace Franks Predicts Ownership Trends in '20
1 week ago
Candace Franks, the Arkansas state bank commissioner, says total assets under supervision have almost doubled since 2012.
Victimless Crime (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
For years Rhea Lana Riner offered her consignors the opportunity to shop her sales first in exchange for putting in a few hours helping organize and operate the sales. read more >
Do You Feel SECURE? (Johnny Brown Commentary)
The financial industry is adjusting to a new federal law that is not yet widely known by retirement plan investors and sponsors but could have serious implications for their retirement plans. read more >
Racing Chairman Alex Lieblong Keeps Tight Rein on Casino Applicants
Alex Lieblong, the Arkansas racing commissioner, says the "BS meter is probably the No. 1 meter you need, in all things in life." read more >
Arkansas Unemployment Unchanged at 3.6% in December
Arkansas' unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in December, unchanged from November, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services reported Friday. read more >
Group Sues Again to Block Arkansas Eye Law Referendum
Supporters of an Arkansas law expanding the procedures optometrists can perform mounted a new legal challenge Thursday to prevent a referendum on the measure from appearing on November's ballot. read more >
Jonesboro Renames Street in Martin Luther King's Honor
Residents in the northeast Arkansas city of Jonesboro celebrated a street being renamed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. after months of contentious debate. read more >
David Clay Fowlkes Named U.S. Attorney for the Western District
David Clay Fowlkes will serve as acting United States attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. read more >
Deferral Period Shorter for Non-Spouse Beneficiaries of Retirement Accounts (Dan Young Commentary)
The recently enacted Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 limits the deferral period for most non-spouse designated beneficiaries to 10 years. read more >
Future Shock (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
BlackRock won't be betting on climate change denialists — or on companies that refuse to plan for a future economy that is different from the one we're all accustomed to. read more >
Keeping the Door Open (Editorial)
In defending to legislators his decision to allow about 50 refugees to resettle in northwest Arkansas, Gov. Hutchinson sounded like the thoughtful Republicans we remember with nostalgia. read more >
Gov. Asa Hutchinson Makes Appointments to Boards, Commissions
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced appointments to state boards and commissions. read more >
Senate Approves US-Mexico-Canada Deal
The Senate overwhelmingly approved a new North American trade agreement that rewrites the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico and gives President Donald Trump a major policy win before senators turn their full attention to his impeachment trial. read more >
Marijuana Panel Rejects Sale of 2 Dispensary Licenses
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission rejected the sale of two medical marijuana dispensary licenses Tuesday, signaling frustration with licensees attempting to sell without having made significant progress toward opening their outlets. read more >
2 Move to Runoff in Primary for State House Seat Held by John Walker
Two candidates seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for an Arkansas House seat that had been held by a civil rights attorney who died last year have advanced to a runoff. read more >
US, China Deal Aims to Simmer Long-Running Trade Tensions
President Donald Trump describes an initial trade agreement with China as “righting the wrongs of the past and delivering a future of economic justice and security for American workers, farmers and families." read more >
Rebecca O'Donnell, Arrested for Collins Murder, Faces New Charges
A woman charged with killing a former Arkansas state lawmaker faced new charges Tuesday alleging that she asked fellow inmates to kill the victim's ex-husband. read more >
Rising Energy Costs Lift US Consumer Prices 0.2% in December
Rising energy costs drove U.S. consumer prices higher in December, and American workers' earnings couldn't keep up. read more >
Asa Hutchinson Defends Decision to Accept New Refugees
Arkansas' Republican governor on Monday defended his decision to continue accepting new refugees, challenging skeptical GOP lawmakers to avoid creating “fear” about welcoming people from other countries. read more >
Soiree Announces Sessions for 2020 Women's Leadership Symposium
Little Rock Soirée announces sessions that will be part of its 2020 Soirée Women's Leadership Symposium, which takes place Thursday, April 30, in Little Rock. read more >
US Supreme Court to Hear Arkansas Case on Drug Benefits Law
The U.S. Supreme Court says it will review a lower court's decision that upheld limits on Arkansas' regulation of companies that pay pharmacies on behalf of health plans. read more >
2 Charged in Scheme to Defraud Military Insurer Tricare
An Arkansas doctor and a medical sales representative have been accused of taking part in a scheme which defrauded the U.S. military's health insurer of more than $12 million. read more >
Arkansas' 'Firstborn' Osteopaths Near Graduation
One-hundred at New York Institute of Technology's College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro to walk in May; ceremony set for next year at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith. read more >
Specialized Cannabis Clinics Rise to Meet Demand
With medical marijuana expected to boom into a $100 million-a-year business in Arkansas within a year or two, medical clinics specializing in marijuana certifications are cropping up to handle the rush. read more >
Westerman's Fair Care Act Takes Aim at Affordability
A Republican congressman from Arkansas is working on what he calls a bipartisan health care bill that would close existing coverage gaps and lower costs: the Fair Care Act. read more >
I'll Have The Usual (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
Everyone has been in a situation in which we felt we had no options, and that is never a good feeling. But being overwhelmed or paralyzed by too many choices is even more familiar and almost as miserable. read more >
Paying More for Less (Editorial)
Health care costs in the United States are unsustainable, punitive to every American — except, of course, to those who benefit from this unsustainable system — and a drag on an otherwise robust economy. read more >
Elise Mitchell Makes News With New Year's Greeting
“New year, new beginnings,” writes northwest Arkansas PR entrepreneur Elise Mitchell, who led a parade of new year's greetings, big and small, funny and poignant, posted by Arkansas marketing, media and political figures. read more >
Amber Gregory Takes Seat on DC Nonprofit Board (Movers & Shakers)
Amber Gregory was named to the board of directors of the Universal Service Administrative Co. as the representative for libraries. read more >
Metroplan Report: Fintech Helping Region Grow
Amid modest overall job growth, the central Arkansas region's financial sector grew jobs at nearly twice the U.S. average from 2017 to 2019, according to Metroplan's 2019 Economic Review and Outlook report released Wednesday. read more >
Survey: US Companies Added 202K Jobs in December
U.S. companies added 202,000 jobs in December, led by robust hiring in construction, trade, transportation and utilities, according to a private survey. read more >
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