Auto retailer's CFO joins Tyson's board
Tyson Foods has named Cheryl Miller, chief financial officer for AutoNation Inc., the country's largest auto retailer, to its board of directors.
"Our nominating committee recommended Cheryl because of her financial background in consumer-focused industries and her experience in such key areas as acquisitions, cybersecurity and e-commerce," said John Tyson, chairman of the board of directors.
This is Tyson's second board of directors pick since announcing Tom Hayes as the company's incoming chief executive officer. Earlier this month, Tyson appointed Procter & Gamble executive Jeffrey Schomburger to the board.
Miller will be the ninth independent member on the 12-member board. She joined AutoNation in 2009 as treasurer and vice president of investor relations, and she has been its chief financial officer since 2014.
-- Claire Williams
State sues seller of home alarm systems
The Arkansas attorney general's office has filed a consumer-protection lawsuit against NorthStar Alarm Services LLC in Pulaski County Circuit Court.
The office said the Utah-based home security company violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Arkansas Home and Solicitation Sales Act.
The attorney general's office said NorthStar "subjects consumers to illegal high pressure sales tactics, often misrepresenting its affiliation with other alarm companies and failing to disclose the length and full cost of the proposed service agreements and contract."
In its news release, the office also said NorthStar "routinely fails" to repair broken equipment, and makes it difficult for customers to cancel contracts.
Matthew Thomas, compliance manager for NorthStar, said in an email that the company has not been served with a complaint and hasn't had the "opportunity to analyze the allegations and therefore cannot provide any specific response." He added the company believes the "allegations are without basis."
Thomas said NorthStar has "some of the highest customer satisfaction rates in the industry. ... We look forward to working with the Attorney General's office to try to address any legitimate concerns that it may have."
-- Jessica Seaman
11 stocks improve, but index slips 2.82
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, dropped 2.82 to 367.65 Friday.
Eleven stocks advanced and seven declined.
Murphy Oil rose 2.4 percent in active trading.
Dillard's lost 4.6 percent on heavy volume.
For the week, 13 stocks declined and five advanced.
Bear State Financial had the best week, rising 5.5 percent.
USA Truck fell 12.7 percent for the week.
Total volume for the index Friday was 41.1 million shares. The average daily volume for the week was 26.1 million shares.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 12/17/2016