Bill sent to governor redefines 'employer'
The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday, in a 23-2 vote without discussion, to amend the definition of "employer" in the Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993.
In the 1993 act, an employer is defined as a person who has nine or more employees in Arkansas for at least 20 weeks, "or any agent of such person." House Bill 1126 deletes the "any agent" phrase from the definition.
The state House of Representatives earlier passed the bill, 70-17.
The bill now goes to the governor.
Under federal law, only an employer is financially responsible in cases of retaliation against an employee. But an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling in 2010 on the Arkansas Civil Rights Act said supervisors and other employees in Arkansas are liable in claims of retaliation.
-- David Smith
Windstream merger gains agencies' OK
Little Rock-based Windstream Holdings Inc. has received all required state and federal regulatory approvals for its merger with EarthLink Holdings, Windstream said Tuesday.
The regulators include public service commissions in states where the firms are located, as well as the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department.
The companies still need approval from their shareholders. The deal is expected to close before April.
After the deal closes, Windstream shareholders will own about 51 percent and EarthLink shareholders about 49 percent of the combined company.
Windstream's Tony Thomas will remain chief executive officer, and Chief Financial Officer Bob Gunderman will maintain that title.
-- David Smith
State index up 0.08; Dillard's rises 2.6%
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, edged up 0.08 to 360.40 Tuesday.
"The major averages closed higher despite a statement from Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen that waiting too long to raise interest rates would be 'unwise,'" said Bob Williams, senior vice president and managing director of Simmons First Investment Group Inc. in Little Rock.
Shares of Dillard's Inc. rose 2.6 percent, and Home BancShares rose 1.4 percent.
P.A.M. Transportation Services Inc. fell 5 percent.
Total volume for the index was 20.2 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 02/15/2017