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McDaniel Issues Opinion

REGIONAL MOBILITY MEMBERS AIM TO CLARIFY LIMITATIONS

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Regional mobility authorities cannot refer sales taxes to voters but their member counties and cities may, according to an Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel’s opinion requested by local transportation planners. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Feb 7, 2012 at 5:31 a.m.

Drive-By Shooting Reported

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — Police are investigating a drive-by shooting reported on Braxton Drive on Friday night. Continue reading...

By STAFF REPORT Posted: Feb 5, 2012 at 5:49 a.m.

Wings Popular Game Choice

SUPER BOWL FANS TO EAT 1.25 BILLION

Subscriber onlyThe most dominating performance of today’s Super Bowl Sunday may be waiting in the wings, the chicken wings that is. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Feb 5, 2012 at 5:45 a.m.

Tyson Profit Down, Beats Expectations

CEO Tells Shareholders Beef Continues To Be Challenge

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — Tyson Foods earnings were down about 48 percent for the first quarter, but still beat Wall Street’s expectation. The meat and poultry producer reported Friday net income of $156 million, or 42 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2012. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Feb 4, 2012 at 5:50 a.m.

Tax Plan Drives Forward

TRANSIT BOARD BOOTS MOVE TO WITHDRAW BALLOT INITIATIVE

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Ozark Regional Transit won’t put the brakes on a proposal to put a one-quarter cent sales tax to a vote in Washington County. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Feb 2, 2012 at 5:27 a.m.

Planners Seek Regional Approach

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Regional Mobility Authority members expressed their desire and intent to tackle transportation needs, funding and priorities from a regional perspective. That includes public transit. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Feb 1, 2012 at 5:17 a.m.

Malone: Transportation options include, reductions, taxes and tolls

Regional Mobility Authority members expressed their desire and intent Tuesday to tackle highway and transportation needs, funding and priorities from a regional perspective. That includes public transit. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 31, 2012 at 3:58 p.m.

Analyst: Tyson Poised For Success

HIGHER DEMAND FOR CHICKEN, PORK PRODUCTS SHOULD PUSH COMPANY’S STOCK UP

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — Analysts aren’t sure if Tyson Foods will meet expected earnings for the quarter but said lower feed costs, smaller supply and higher demand for chicken and pork products should push the stock higher in the long term. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 29, 2012 at 5:21 a.m.

Engineers Recommend Replacing Airport’s Runway

Subscriber onlyRepair to the main runway at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport will require tearing out and replacing the concrete, the drainage system and at least some of the base at an estimated cost of $30 million to $40 million. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 28, 2012 at 5:48 a.m.

Hunt Continues Roll With Record Quarter, Year

Subscriber onlyJ.B. Hunt Transport Services announced Thursday a 25 percent profit increase for 2011’s fourth quarter. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 27, 2012 at 5:57 a.m.

Economists Optimistic Turnaround Coming

Subscriber onlyROGERS — A panel of economists said Wednesday they’re cautiously optimistic the economy will improve this year. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 26, 2012 at 5:20 a.m.

Analysts Disagree On J.B. Hunt

TRANSPORTATION COMPANY SET TO RELEASE YEAR-END FINANCIALS

Subscriber onlyJ.B. Hunt Transport Services has been on a roll but analysts differ on whether the recovering economy will create enough loads for the carrier to maintain its momentum this year. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 22, 2012 at 5:16 a.m.

Tax Would Send Millions To NWA, State Says

Highway Director Outlines Road Projects

Subscriber onlyNorthwest Arkansas can expect to see more than $400 million in highway construction and $60 million in turnback money for local road projects if voters approve a half-cent sales tax in November. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 21, 2012 at 5:47 a.m.

Transit Advocates Planning Campaign For Transit Money

Subscriber onlyAdvocates for Ozark Regional Transit on Thursday got down to the business of raising money to support a campaign to pass a quarter-cent sales tax in Washington County for public transit. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 20, 2012 at 5:46 a.m.

Used Car Sales Promising

INCREASED INVENTORY, LOWER DEMAND COULD DROP PRICES

Subscriber onlyThe used car market is showing some signs of stabilizing after a couple volatile years of high demand, tight supplies and resulting high prices. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 15, 2012 at 5:35 a.m.

Tax Idea Causes Rift

PLANNERS WANT TO TAKE UNIFIED APPROACH

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Planners want to take a unified approach to solving transportation issues in Northwest Arkansas and don’t want a public transit money proposal gumming up the works. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 12, 2012 at 5:16 a.m.

USDA Office Set For Closure

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — A U.S. Department of Agriculture office in Benton County is among 259 offices, labs and other facilities across the country slated for closure. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 11, 2012 at 5:27 a.m.

Benton County USDA Office on the Chopping Block

Subscriber onlyA U.S. Department of Agriculture office in Benton County is among 259 offices, labs and other facilities across the country slated for closure under a new cost-cutting proposal announced this week. All programs administered by the Benton County Office, and the employees who work there, would be transferred to the Washington County office in Fayetteville, according to Ted Collins, executive director of the USDA Benton County Farm Service Agency. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 10, 2012 at 11:39 a.m.

Region Sees Seasonal Jump In Jobs

ECONOMIST SAYS EXPECT ROLLER COASTER RECOVERY

Subscriber onlyFAYETTEVILLE — The Northwest Arkansas metro region got a seasonal employment bump in November but still lags pre-recession job numbers. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 5, 2012 at 5:22 a.m.

Northwest Arkansas Sees Uptick In Seasonal Jobs

SPRINGDALE — The Northwest Arkansas metro region got a seasonal employment bump in November but still has a long way to go to get back to pre-recession job numbers. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 4, 2012 at 11:53 a.m.

New Car Sales Turning Around

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AUTO DEALERSHIP SELLS 78 MORE VEHICLES THIS YEAR

Subscriber onlyAutomobile dealers in Northwest Arkansas say they’re selling more cars amid improving economic news. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Jan 1, 2012 at 5:19 a.m.

Methods Save Ozarks Taste

LOCAL COMPANIES SHIP NATIONWIDE

Subscriber onlySince the 1930s and ’40s companies in Northwest Arkansas have used traditional methods to preserve foods, allowing them to send a taste of the Ozarks to customers around the country to enjoy for the holidays. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Dec 25, 2011 at 4:38 a.m.

Working Holidays Part Of Season

Subscriber onlyThe holiday rush means different things to different people. Many are rushing to finish holiday shopping, decorating and cooking. But for caterers, chimney sweeps, wood haulers and Christmas light hangers ’tis the season to work long hours and make some cash. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Dec 18, 2011 at 5:46 a.m.

Progress Seen On Access Road

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — An access road to Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport is a step closer after state highway officials said they have no more comments on the environmental impact study. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Dec 15, 2011 at 5:22 a.m.

Program Targets Trucker Shortage

COMPANIES SEEK TO PRODUCE DRIVERS

Subscriber onlyDELHI, India — At least two local trucking companies are working with the Arkansas Trucking Association and the state to produce new drivers at a time when there’s a nationwide shortage of experienced and qualified drivers. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Dec 11, 2011 at 5:31 a.m.

October Sees More Employed; Recovery Still Slow

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Unemployment in the Northwest Arkansas metro region dipped slightly from September to October, but remained flat year-to-year, according to the latest figures from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Dec 7, 2011 at 5:25 a.m.

Regional unemployment remains flat

Unemployment in the Northwest Arkansas metro region dropped slightly from September to October but remained flat year-to-year, according to the latest data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Dec 6, 2011 at 12:18 p.m.

Air Travel Picking Up This Holiday Season

FLIGHTS, HOTELS COST PREMIUM RATES, AGENCY OWNER SAYS

Subscriber onlyNorthwest Arkansas residents are starting to spend money to travel for the holidays but don’t expect the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport to be any busier than usual. Just think more babies and fewer briefcases. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Dec 4, 2011 at 5:41 a.m.

Interstate Improvements Only Part Of Road Plans

Subscriber onlyVoters overwhelmingly approved a bond program in November to repair the state’s interstate highway system, but that’s only the first step toward solving Northwest Arkansas’ traffic problems. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Dec 2, 2011 at 5:54 a.m.

Deer Season Boosts Economy

ANNUAL IMPACT OF HUNTING ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN $789 MILLION

Subscriber onlyThousands of hunters will hit the deer woods Saturday for Arkansas’ annual modern gun season. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Nov 13, 2011 at 5:11 a.m.

Voters Support Road Bonds

MONEY TO REPAIR HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Voters in Benton and Washington counties joined voters statewide Tuesday in overwhelmingly approving a bond program to repair interstate highways. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Nov 10, 2011 at 5:33 a.m.

Region Struggles To Add Jobs

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE SLIGHTLY LOWER

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Northwest Arkansas is still struggling to recover jobs lost during the recession even though the unemployment rate for the metro area was slightly lower in September than August. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Nov 3, 2011 at 5:36 a.m.

Region Still Trying to Add Jobs

Northwest Arkansas is still struggling to recover jobs lost during the recession even though the unemployment rate for the metro area was slightly lower in September than in August. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Nov 2, 2011 at 2:22 p.m.

‘HIRING OUR HEROES’: Job Fair Aims To Help Veterans

TROOPS STARTING OVER AFTER RETURNING HOME

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Finding employment for veterans, National Guardsmen and Reservists was a big part of Monday’s job fair in Rogers. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Nov 1, 2011 at 5:27 a.m.

Voters To Decide Program To Speed Road Work

Subscriber onlyFarmington resident Amy Smith idles in congested traffic at the Interstate 540 interchange at Martin Luther King Boulevard twice a day between her home and north Fayetteville workplace. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Oct 30, 2011 at 5:50 a.m.

Berry Business Grows Inside

VIRUS-FREE PLANTS CLONED

Subscriber onlyPRAIRIE GROVE — Gardeners have stuck cuttings in dirt to grow new plants for centuries. It worked but was slow. Now, the magic happens in a lab where thousands of plants can be tailormade in a fraction of the time. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Oct 30, 2011 at 5:15 a.m.

Black Walnuts Big Business In Ozarks

PROCESSOR SAYS IT’S ‘CASH LAYING ON THE GROUND’

Subscriber onlyWhether it’s picking up a little extra cash for Christmas, dropping a few kernels in the Halloween fudge or buying millions of pounds for commercial processing, October is harvest time for black walnuts in the Ozarks. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Oct 23, 2011 at 5:47 a.m.

Proposal Nets Concerns

STATE SUGGESTS OPTIONS CONNECTING SPRINGDALE, ROGERS

Subscriber onlyROGERS — Donya Wells is worried an extension of Arkansas 265 on the east side of Rogers could run through the middle of her five acres on Primrose Road, east of Lowell. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Oct 20, 2011 at 5:36 a.m.

Highway Plans Worry Some

EXPANSION COULD FORCE A MOVE

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — David and Anita Baker are looking for some blind, Ozark cavefish. David Baker joked Tuesdayhaving a threatened or endangered species on their property could be one way to save the home the couple recently built on land east of Lowell, where they’ve lived for the past 20 years. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Oct 19, 2011 at 5:16 a.m.

Hearings Set On Arkansas Highway 265 Improvements

STATE OFFICIALS SET PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — Highway officials have long wanted to extend Arkansas 265 from the north side of Springdale to Rogers to provide the region with a four- or fi velane eastern corridor. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Oct 16, 2011 at 5:43 a.m.

State Chamber: Education Key To Competition

LOWER TAXES ALSO A FACTOR IN ‘LEVELING PLAYING FIELD’

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — Arkansas needs a more favorable business climate and better education to compete against neighboring states and in the new global economy, state Chamber of Commerce officials said Tuesday. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Oct 12, 2011 at 5:21 a.m.

Billboards Go High-Tech

NEW PROMOTIONAL SIGNS FAR CRY FROM ‘BARBASOL’ ADS

Subscriber onlyThe days of roadside barns hand painted with advertisements for “Barbasol” and “See Rock City” are long gone. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Oct 9, 2011 at 5:36 a.m.

PEOPLE & PLACES

Subscriber onlyWilliams Marks 98th Birthday Continue reading...

By - STAFF REPORT Posted: Oct 2, 2011 at 4:45 a.m.

Airport Officials To Look At Industrial Park

CONCEPTUAL STUDY PART OF LARGER EFFORT TO BETTER USE FACILITY AS ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR REGION

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport officials will take the lead on a conceptual study of a potential 2,000-acre industrial and technical park adjacent to the airport. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Sep 22, 2011 at 5:46 a.m.

Report Identifies Region’s Needs

FINDINGS EMPHASIZE EDUCATION

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Northwest Arkansas has fared better over the past decade than comparable metropolitan areas but needs to invest in research and education to remain competitive and maintain its overall quality of life. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Sep 21, 2011 at 5:35 a.m.

House Repairs On Rise

WEATHER AFFECTS FOUNDATIONS

Subscriber onlyThe first subtle sign was a telltale crack in the wall above a doorway. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Sep 18, 2011 at 5:43 a.m.

Analyst: Region Needs To Invest In Future Now

Subscriber onlyEconomic times will continue to be tough for the foreseeable future but Northwest Arkansas can’t afford to stop investing in infrastructure and education, according to Kathy Deck, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Sep 17, 2011 at 5:46 a.m.

Must invest despite pain, economist says

Schools, infrastructure pay off, Deck says

Subscriber onlyEconomic times will continue to be tough for the foreseeable future, but Northwest Arkansas can’t afford to stop investing in infrastructure and education, according to Kathy Deck, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Sep 17, 2011 at 3:37 a.m.

Residents Expect Widening Arkansas 264 To Change Rural Feel

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — Onetta Clark understands progress but she also hates to see the nature of the property where she has lived for 43 years change. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Sep 16, 2011 at 5:52 a.m.

Recession Survivors Optimistic, Poised for Success

Subscriber onlyROGERS — Businesses that survived the recession did so because they got lean and mean. Now, those survivors are poised to take advantage of a post-recession world with less competition. Continue reading...

By Ron Wood Posted: Sep 2, 2011 at 5:41 a.m.

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