Bradford Estates Bought for $4.6M
Bradford Estates LLC, led by Ryan Aclin, Jeff Aclin and Jarod Puckett, bought its self-named 141-unit complex at 6310 Col. Glenn Road in Little Rock for nearly $4.6 million. read more >
Government & Politics
The Old Normal (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
Since I'm not at all sure any of us have a good grasp on how much our worlds will have been changed by the pandemic, I think of this week's list as a final snapshot of the old normal that will be valuable when it comes time to document the new normal. read more >
Former Walmart Lawyer Says His Firing Was Punishment
A former in-house attorney for Walmart Inc. said he knew in February 2017 that his career at the Bentonville retailer was coming to an end when he refused to make changes to a memo he had written years earlier about a bribery investigation in Mexico. read more >
Arkansas Unemployment Fund Stable, but Worrisome
The state's unemployment fund was in the best of shape before the pandemic and is still healthy, but politicians and community leaders are worried it will be depleted by early 2021 if the economy does not bounce back as expected. read more >
New Daily Record Set as Virus Cases Surge in Arkansas
Arkansas added a one-day record of more than 700 cases of COVID-19 on Friday and set a new daily record for the number of community-spread cases of the virus according to Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Friday. read more >
Arkansas Unemployment Drops to 9.5% in May
Arkansas' seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 9.5% in May from 10.8% in April, the state Department of Workforce Services reported Friday. read more >
Flippin Gets $3.58M Grant, $775K Loan For Wastewater Work
The city of Flippin has been awarded a $3.58 million grant and received a $775,000 loan to rehabilitate and modernize its wastewater collection system. read more >
Argenta Entertainment District Aims to Promote Outdoor Dining
North Little Rock's new entertainment district is all about allowing restaurant patrons to hang out and relax outside — but not party hard — in the Argenta neighborhood. read more >
Fayetteville Businesses Have Questions About Mask Ordinance
The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce says several businesses are seeking more information about the city's mask ordinance, citing questions left unanswered by the law's language. read more >
Tyson Foods Appoints Dan Turton Global Government Affairs Leader
Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale names Dan Turton as senior vice president of global government affairs, effective June 29. read more >
1.5M More Laid-Off Workers Seek Unemployment Benefits
About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, a historically high number, even as the economy increasingly reopens and employers bring some people back to work. read more >
New Forecast Shows Arkansas Economy in Better Shape Than Expected
Economist Michael Pakko says the state hasn't been as hard-hit by the economic effects of COVID-19, and it's so far escaped the worst of what other states have experienced. read more >
SBA Issues Revised PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications
The U.S. Small Business Administration posts a revised Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness application reflecting changes to the program signed into law by President Trump on June 5. read more >
Resource Guide: Financial Tools, Aid for Businesses Hurt by COVID-19
Arkansas Business is regularly updating this page with links and contact information for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. read more >
Arkansas AG Sues TV's Jim Bakker Over Virus Treatment Claims
Arkansas' attorney general on Tuesday sued Missouri-based TV pastor Jim Bakker over his promotion of a product falsely touted as a cure for the illness caused by the coronavirus. read more >
US Retail Sales Up A Record 17.7% in Partial Rebound
U.S. retail sales jumped by a record 17.7% from April to May, with spending partially rebounding after the coronavirus had shut down businesses, flattened the economy and paralyzed consumers during the previous two months. read more >
Businesses Ask Patrons to Waive Right to Sue If They Get Ill
As businesses reopen across the U.S. after coronavirus shutdowns, many are requiring customers and workers to sign forms saying they won't sue if they catch COVID-19. read more >
Appeals Court Stays Ruling Easing Arkansas Petition Rules
A federal appeals court on Monday halted a judge's decision blocking an Arkansas requirement for signatures on initiative petitions to be witnessed in person. read more >
Asa Hutchinson Signs Orders to Protect Businesses From Lawsuits
Gov. Asa Hutchinson signs three executive orders to protect businesses and employees from lawsuits over COVID-19 exposure. read more >
Some Surprises Left (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
With disparate treatment of minorities, particularly African Americans, being the impetus for massive protests from coast to coast, many companies have issued statements affirming a commitment to fairness and inclusivity. read more >
This Fall, Let's Not Be Georgia (Editorial)
A disastrous primary election in Georgia last week provided a cautionary tale of the nightmare that could unfold if voting officials nationwide don't do their utmost to ensure that everyone can vote safely. read more >
A&P Trends Show Pandemic Pummelling Arkansas Visitors Bureaus
The coronavirus pandemic has battered city convention and visitors bureaus in Arkansas and sapped their sources of revenue: lodging and restaurant taxes. An industry built on bringing people together and attracting tourists is uniquely vulnerable to an infectious disease. read more >
Fed Expects to Call Hundreds of Witnesses in USDA Fraud Case
It looks like the criminal trial involving four sisters in their 70s who are accused of defrauding the federal government is going to be a big one. read more >
WLR Plaza's Price Point Disputed in Eminent Domain Case
Eminent domain case associated with future improvements to Highway 10/Cantrell Road in west Little Rock hits the court docket. read more >
Arkansas Cities Say Pandemic Losses of Revenue May Be Overstated
City leaders around Arkansas are holding their breath as business and social activities gradually restart after the initial shock of the coronavirus pandemic. read more >
Municipal Employees Face Pandemic Job Uncertainty
Most Arkansas cities have not had to lay off or furlough employees in the ongoing fiscal turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. How long that remains the case is a good question. read more >
Taxes Accounted for 42% of Local Government Revenue in 2017
Local governments collected $1.7 trillion of general revenue in 2017, according to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, based in Washington, D.C. read more >
Virus Has City Parks Scrambling to Recover
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed Arkansas' municipal park programs, shutting down pavilions, pools and soccer programs. read more >
Mayor Frank Scott Jr. on How Little Rock Zoned In on Amazon
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. discusses what the city did right against COVID-19, what he might have done differently, and what lies ahead. read more >
Tom Cotton's Dunk on The New York Times
Yes, Tom Cotton owned the liberals at The New York Times. read more >
Editors' Picks
