Survey: US Companies Add 291K Jobs in January
U.S. companies added 291,000 jobs in January, a big increase from December, but much of that strength likely reflected unusually warm weather during the month. read more >
Government & Politics
Arkansas Revenue Above Last Year, Forecast in January
State tax officials say Arkansas' January net available general revenue was $594.6 million, up 7% from the same month last year and 0.2% above forecast. read more >
Former Sens. David and Mark Pryor Back Biden for President
David Pryor, a former Arkansas governor and U.S. senator, and his son, former Sen. Mark Pryor, are supporting Joe Biden's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, Biden's campaign said Tuesday. read more >
Jacksonville Sees Donated Parcel as Potential Green Space
A 0.76-acre parcel on the north side of Main Street in Jacksonville was donated to the city by the Wilson Charitable Trust, led by Mike Wilson. read more >
The Good, The Bad, The 'Huh?' (Editorial)
The past few weeks have comprised a particularly strange news cycle — good news, bad news, weird news. read more >
Officials Certify Signatures for Referendum on Eye Law
Arkansas officials on Friday approved thousands of signatures submitted for a referendum on a law expanding the procedures optometrists can perform. read more >
Fashion Leader Rebecca Minkoff to Headline Soirée Women's Leadership Symposium
Fashion industry leader Rebecca Minkoff will be the keynote speaker at this year's Soirée Women's Leadership Symposium in Little Rock. read more >
Arkansas, Oklahoma Governors Welcome Trump's Medicaid Offer
Republican governors in Oklahoma and Arkansas welcomed the Trump administration's offer of more control over Medicaid spending for some of their poorest residents, but it's unclear how many states will take it up. read more >
Willis, Former State 529 Plan Director, Joins MHP/Team SI
Mangan Holcomb Partners/Team SI of Little Rock has hired Emma Willis, former director of the state's 529 college savings plan, to help launch a vertical consultancy at the agency aimed at the government savings sector. read more >
Walton Family Foundation Gives $20M for Delta Trail
Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Walton Family Foundation announce a $20 million matching grant from the foundation that will complete a 84.5-mile Delta Heritage Trail. read more >
Campaign Begins Against Recreational Marijuana in Arkansas
Arkansas' surgeon general and church groups launched a campaign Thursday against recreational marijuana proposals that advocates hope to get on the ballot four years after voters approved medical marijuana. read more >
Court: Walmart Doesn't Owe 3rd Party's Online Sales Taxes
Walmart isn't responsible for paying sales taxes for items sold through its online “marketplace” for third-party sellers under Louisiana law, the state's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. read more >
Trump: New Trade Deal with Canada, Mexico to Boost US Growth
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico that he said replaces the “nightmare" of a Clinton-era agreement and will keep jobs, wealth and growth in America. read more >
Video: Steve Womack Honors David Glass, Forrest Wood on House Floor
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., this week honored two late businessmen with Arkansas ties on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. read more >
Update: Conway Council Aims to Recruit Ammo Maker
The city council aims to issue up to $250 million in taxable industrial development revenue bonds to help lure a company to a site at 1500 Lollie Road. read more >
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Arkansas Eye Surgery Referendum
An Arkansas judge dismisses a lawsuit trying to block from this year's ballot a referendum on a new law expanding the procedures that optometrists can perform. read more >
Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance, World Trade Center Arkansas Promote Trade Show Grants
The Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance and World Trade Center Arkansas have teamed up to promote the federal grant funding that is available to help the state's A&D companies attend national and international trade shows. read more >
World Services for the Blind Gets $475K Housing Grant
World Services for the Blind of Little Rock receives a $475,000 Affordable Housing Program grant to help it renovate 51 of its residential units. read more >
Court Rules Against Arkansas' 2-Year Limit on Contributions
A federal appeals court rules against Arkansas preventing candidates for state office from accepting campaign contributions more than two years before an election, blocking the restriction from being enforced. read more >
Walmart Gives $5M to National Museum of African American History
Walmart Inc. of Bentonville announces a $5 million grant to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. read more >
Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame Seeks Nominations
The Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for its 2020 class. read more >
Recent Real Estate Deals Total $3.4M
Foreclosure sales of a pawn shop in Sherwood and a home in North Little Rock led the most recent round of real estate transactions. read more >
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 >
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 >
Marijuana Dispensaries Zoned to the Letter of the Law
Putting in a medical marijuana dispensary in Arkansas is a game of inches, or at least feet. 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 >
Editors' Picks
