Local Wire

story by Roby Brock, editor and owner of TalkBusiness.net
roby@talkbusiness.net

The Arkansas General Assembly convened at noon today (Feb. 8) to start the first fiscal legislative session in its history.

A move by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to tighten deadlines will create changes throughout national and global retail supply channels and could prove a benefit for trucking companies like Fort Smith-based ABF Freight System, according to a recent report by The Journal of Commerce.

Asa Hutchinson, one of the leading potential GOP contenders in the now open race for the 3rd Congressional District, announced Monday (Feb. 8) he would not enter the race.

Fort Smith City Director Bill Maddox has announced he will retire from the board Dec. 31, 2010.

Maddox cited his wife’s retirement and travel to help family as reasons for the resignation.

Fort Smith veterinarian Layton Jackson was the surprise recipient of the 68th annual Book of Golden Deeds Award, presented by the Fort Smith Noon Exchange Club at a banquet at Fianna Hills Country Club on Friday (Feb. 1).

Republican John Boozman has been an official candidate for U.S. Senate less than 12 hours and he’s already catching heat from his GOP primary opponents and the Democratic Party.

U.S. Rep. John Boozman officially announced Saturday morning (Feb. 6) that he will enter the crowded GOP primary for Arkansas’ U.S. Senate seat.

Eric Pendergrass and Jack Marts are leading an effort to allow Sunday beer and liquor sales in Fort Smith.

J. Lee Didier is a Fort Smith liquor store co-owner. He’s against Sunday liquor sales. More on Didier later.

The weather outside was dreary. The comments inside were frightful.

John Taylor told more than 50 members gathered for a Feb. 4 monthly meeting of the Greater Fort Smith Homebuilders Association that the near term economic picture will include higher commodity prices, continued unemployment woes, inflation and “radically higher interest rates.”

Overall sales were up 1.7% and net income reach $105 million for Tyson Foods Inc. in its first fiscal quarter — a big improvement over the $104 million loss reported in the same quarter of 2009.