Business as Usual for Arkansas Truckers
by Marty Cook – 2 days ago
Nothing much has changed for Gary Mars and his colleagues during the coronavirus pandemic, except for a greater difficulty in finding somewhere they can go to the bathroom.
Public Companies
Simmons First Shrinks Branch Operations in Response to COVID-19
2 days ago
Simmons First National Corp. temporarily closed 53 branches throughout its eight-state footprint to reduce the potential spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Arkansas Banks Ready for Opportunity Amid Chaos 
2 days ago
The three publicly traded financial companies headquartered in Arkansas were jolted last month by the global market uncertainty, but executives are looking past the daily market prices to the future opportunities that could shake out of the coronavirus pandemic.
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 >
George's Inc. Gives Temporary Pay Raises
Chicken producer George's Inc. of Springdale says it will temporarily raise hourly pay for 7,300 employees as an "appreciation bonus" for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. read more >
Wall Street Leaps 7%, Markets Rally Worldwide on Virus Hopes
Investors grabbed hold of a few glimmers of hope Monday that the coronavirus pandemic could be slowing and sent stocks surging in a worldwide rally, capped by a 7% leap for the U.S. market. read more >
Tyson Foods Stops Work at Iowa Plant Amid COVID-19 Cases
Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale suspends operations at an Iowa pork plant this week due to more than two dozen cases of COVID-19 involving employees there. read more >
Diagram of Responsibility (Craig Douglass On Consumers)
The dynamic needs of the community are where brands — pervasive, well-known, preferred — come into play. read more >
Unemployment Claims Soar to 3.28 Million
This chart highlights the dramatic effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the job market in the United States. read more >
Predictable Outlook For Dillard's: Bleak
Analysts predict grim quarter for the Little Rock department store chain. read more >
Total Compensation Rises for Dillard Family Members
Nearly all of the Dillard family members who work at Dillard's Inc. of Little Rock saw their total compensation skyrocket in the most recent fiscal year. read more >
Walmart Makes Annual Meeting Online-Only
Walmart Inc. of Bentonville says it will not hold its annual employee celebration event, which typically attracts thousands of employees from all over the world, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. read more >
Murphy Oil Cuts Expenditures Again — Along with Executive Pay
Murphy Oil Corp. of El Dorado, whose share price has been battered by falling oil prices, is cutting capital spending for a second time in a month — and it's cutting pay for top executives. read more >
State Partners with Walmart, Quest Diagnostics on Drive-Thru Testing
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces a partnership with Walmart Inc. of Bentonville and Quest Diagnostics of Secaucus, New Jersey, to install a drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility in Bentonville. read more >
Stocks Fall, Cap Worst Quarter Since 2008
Stocks fell Tuesday to close out Wall Street's worst quarter since the most harrowing days of the 2008 financial crisis. read more >
Tyson Foods to Pay Workers $500 Bonus
Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale said it would pay about $60 million in bonuses to 116,000 truckers and employees as a "thank you" for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. read more >
Arkansas Businesses Should Prepare Now to Apply for Federal Aid
Businesses can begin preparing now to apply for assistance under the federal rescue package signed last week by President Trump, but it will be about two weeks before they can turn in their paperwork. read more >
Murphy Oil CEO Jenkins, Hit by Virus, Also Takes Financial Blow
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Murphy Oil Corp. CEO Roger W. Jenkins with a one-two punch: He's sick with the virus, though recovering, and his wallet is taking a beating. read more >
Walmart to Begin Temperature Screening of Employees
Walmart Inc. of Bentonville says it will begin screening employees for signs of illness before they begin their shifts. read more >
Fed Projects Decade's Fastest-Growing Occupations
Employment in the United States is forecast to grow by 8.4 million jobs to 169.4 million jobs during the decade of 2018-28, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Or it was; the report was released months before the coronavirus pandemic caused widespread job losses. read more >
Preston: Arkansas Ready to Serve Employers, Workers
Arkansas Commerce Secretary Mike Preston says the COVID-19 pandemic is an “unprecedented” challenge to the state's economy, but the state is in a good position to cushion the blow to businesses and employees. read more >
Murphy Oil CEO Gets Presumptive COVID-19 Diagnosis, Takes Medical Leave
Murphy Oil Corp. announced Thursday that President and CEO Roger Jenkins has, pending test results, a presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19. read more >
Walmart, Sam's Club Waive Rent, Improve Supplier Financing Program
Walmart and Sam's Club announced late Wednesday that April rent will be waived for all small businesses that lease space inside Walmarts and eye doctors that operate inside Sam's Club stores. read more >
Walmart To Hire 3,000-plus in Arkansas
Walmart Inc. of Bentonville announced plans this past week to hire 150,000 workers through the end of May to help with the surge in online orders in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. read more >
J.B. Hunt To Pay Employees Bonus
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. of Lowell said it would pay a $500 bonus for drivers and field personnel for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. read more >
Arkansas Business Presents 2020 40 Under 40 Honorees
Arkansas Business announces the 40 honorees in this year's 40 Under 40 class, which honors people in business, nonprofits and government making a significant impact. read more >
Pulaski County's Most Expensive Home Sales of 2019
Last year, 32 luxury homes in Pulaski County sold for $1 million or more, up from 30 in 2018. read more >
Northwest Arkansas' Most Expensive Home Sales of 2019
The same Fayetteville house was the most expensive home sold in northwest Arkansas in 2019 and in 2018. read more >
Side Effects Of Pandemic? Legal Action
As the novel coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on people and the economy, attorneys are bracing for a flood of lawsuits in its wake. read more >
Walmart to Hire 150K, Pay Bonuses to Hourly Workers
Walmart Inc. of Bentonville is ramping up hiring and providing special bonuses to U.S. hourly employees amid the coronavirus outbreak. read more >
Proxy Shows Executive Pay Dropped at PAM Transport
Executive dropped from last year for executives of PAM Transport Inc. of Tontitown. Meanwhile, directors will consider electing 19-year-old Matthew J. Moroun, the son of the chairman, to the company's board. read more >
Simmons First Executives See Compensation Rise in 2019
Simmons First National Corp. Chairman and CEO George Makris Jr. saw his total compensation rise to $4.9 million in 2019. read more >
Tyson Foods Boosts Shipments to Stores; Walmart Curbs Hours to Restock
The COVID-19 outbreak has the world's biggest companies adjusting operations to meet surging customer demand for everything from toilet paper to meat products. read more >
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