Arkansas Business articles from May 2007

Arkansas Business archives from May 2007

Fayetteville Shale Play spurs concerns: environmental impact remains unknown.
May 7, 2007... ALTHOUGH THE FAYETTEVILLE Shale Play is providing an economic hot in the arm for north-central Arkansas, the environmental impact of drilling for gas remains largely unknown. Some state officials and landowners are expressing concerns,...

ARM switches boost lending in early 2007.
May 7, 2007... RESIDENTIAL LENDING ACTIVITY Pulaski County showed signs of growth during early 2007. However, the numbers for the traditionally slowest two months of the year had some help. Year-to-year comparisons among eight leading mortgage companies in...

Crain auto grows, so do complaints.(Crain Automotive Holdings of Sherwood)
May 7, 2007... CRAIN AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS OF Sherwood is expanding--additional locations, a wider variety of car makes and pumped-up Internet marketing of used vehicles. But problems have shadowed Crain's aggressive business plan. Two former employees...

Insurance shake-up.(Whispers)(QualChoice)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... Did you know that nearly all of the 8,000 Arkansas school employees who were members of QualChoice of Arkansas recently fled to Health Advantage? We don't have all the details yet, but here's what we know: QualChoice, which is located...

Texas twist.(Whispers)(Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods)(Marcantel Crouch LeBlanc)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... An announcement this week is expected, but we picked up a few early details regarding the purchase of a Dallas public relations firm by Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. CJRW, the state's largest advertising firm, last week acquired...

Wish we were there.(Whispers)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... In a hearing last week, Little Rock attorney Gary Corum persuaded U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes to postpone the trial of his client, former Little Rock mortgage broker Nelson Miller. Miller's trial on 16 counts of defrauding lenders was...

Elsewhere on the docket.(Whispers)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... Little Rock attorney Barry Jewell is scheduled to enter a plea in his five-count federal indictment at 10 a.m. May 15. We predict it will be not guilty, since he told us after the charges were announced April 5 that he would "fight these...

All in a TIF.(Editorial)
May 7, 2007... SURELY THE RECENT STATE Supreme Court ruling on tax increment financing districts has some economic development folks wondering how they'll now make it work. The court made it very clear, in its ruling on a Fayetteville TIF case, that the...

High gas prices, again.(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... CONTINUING SUPPLY CONCERNS have fueled higher gas prices just as the summer driving season is getting ready to kick off this month. The national average is already at $3 a gallon, and most think prices will stay high because the tight supplies...

Housing market mess?(Publisher's Note)
May 7, 2007... WHEN TECHNOLOGY STOCKS were flying high in the late 90s, many of us enjoyed the ride but expected a tumble--though perhaps not as steep as most tech stocks flopped. As the housing market sizzled throughout the country with historic low...

Disconnect to connect.(Commentary)
May 7, 2007... EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, IT seems like there is an over abundance of PDA. Walk into any restaurant, bar or retailer,--you can't help but be overwhelmed with it. And no, I'm not talking about public displays of affection. I'm referring to the...

Concrete purchase.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... The sale of three concrete properties in Pulaski County added up to an $897,000 deal. Central Concrete LLC, led by Richard Newland, bought the 25-acre location at 220 Wilcox Road in North Little Rock, a 1.89-acre site at 7305 W. 12th St....

Industrial sale I.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(mergers of Accommodator Properties LLC and Alawest-AI LLC )(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... About 34 acres in southwest Little Rock drew an $873,000 transaction. Accommodator Properties LLC, led by Richard Barrett, acquired the property on Mabelvale West Road. The seller is Alawest-AI LLC of Northport, Ala., led by Gene Taylor....

Industrial sale II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(mergers of Dalton Properties LLC and Sibbie Burnett and Gary Burnett)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... An industrial property in North Little Rock changed hands in a $265,000 sale. Dalton Properties LLC, led by Dale Dague and Tony Burnett, purchased the one-acre location adjoining its 3501 Industrial Center Drive property from Sibbie...

Rural residence.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... A 60.7-acre residential spread in west Little Rock sold for $2.4 million. Beck Investments LLC, led by Barry Beck, Jason Beck and Monica B. Glover, acquired the 4,613-SF home and land from Allen and Mary McKnight. The deal is financed...

Overlook home.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Martha E. Robertson Revocable Trust)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... A 5,000-SF home in Little Rock's Overlook Park neighborhood tipped the scales at $950,000. The Martha E. Robertson Revocable Trust bought the house from the Charles and Bunny Harper Joint Revocable Trust. The deal is backed with a...

House trading.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 7, 2007... A 5,351-SF home in west Little Rock rang up an $861,000 transaction. The Selig Family Revocable Trust, led by John and Judy Selig, purchased the property from Michael and Cathy Kincaid. The residence previously was linked with a...

Auto loan I.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 7, 2007... The owner of a luxury auto project in west Little Rock landed a $6 million mortgage. Larock Properties LLC, led by Cyril Murphy III and Lee Owens, obtained the four-year loan from Red River Bank of Alexandria, La. The 6-acre Jaguar and...

Industrial mortgage.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Burkhalter Property Group LLC)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... Development of a 7.5-acre industrial property in North Little Rock is in motion with a $5.3 million funding agreement. Burkhalter Property Group LLC, led by John Burkhalter, Todd Smith, Stephen Niswanger, William Pierce and Scott Harter,...

Eatery funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 7, 2007... A restaurant project in southwest Little Rock was used to help secure a $3.2 million financial package. Spirit Master Funding II of Scottsdale, Ariz., got the funding through Citibank of New York. Spirit Master purchased the 0.68-acre...

Auto loan II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 7, 2007... The owner of a Sherwood auto dealership picked up a $1.8 million loan. North Little Rock Pontiac-Buick-GMC Inc., led by Bill Gwatney, landed the financing from Harold Gwatney. The 4.4-acre Sherwood Pontiac-Buick-GMC development at 5700...

Paper financing.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 7, 2007... A 1.1-acre commercial property in west Little Rock was used to help secure a $670,000 mortgage. Little Rock Paper Co., led by Lawrence Moffett, obtained the one-year loan from Bank of the Ozarks. The 14929 Cantrell Road property...

On the web.(Arkansasbusiness.com/realestateguide)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... To search office space, retail property, industrial parks and warehouses in central and northwest Arkansas visit Arkansasbusiness.com/realestateguide. For the latest Arkansas real estate news visit Arkansas business.com/realestate Get...

Walton dedicates site of Crystal Bridges Museum.(TOURISM)
May 7, 2007... The site dedication for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art was held last week at Bentonville. Alice Walton spoke about her first trip to the construction zone that's turned a wooded valley of her family's property into piles of...

UA professor considers legality of forwarded e-mail.(LEGAL)
May 7, 2007... In an article set to be published in the summer volume of the Kansas Law Review, University of Arkansas law professor Ned snow says forwarding a private e-mail without the sender's permission violates common law rights. Snow, an assistant...

UA RFID Center joins Global RF Lab Alliance.(TECHNOLOGY & COMPUTERS)
May 7, 2007... The University of Arkansas RFID Research Center has joined seven other research centers in the United States, Europe and Asia to found the Global RF Lab Alliance. This alliance of radio frequency-focused laboratories was founded by the...

Baldor earnings rise 84% in first quarter.(Public Reports)(Financial report)
May 7, 2007... Baldor Electric Co. reported first-quarter net earnings of $20.9 million, or 50 cents a share, up 84 percent when compared with $11.4 million, or 34 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Wall Street analysts were expecting a gain of 37...

P.A.M. Transportation earnings off 76% in 1Q.(Public Reports)
May 7, 2007... P.A.M. Transportation Services Inc. posted first-quarter net income of $1.3 million, or 12 cents a share, a decline of 76 percent when compared with $5.2 million, or 50 cents a share, for the same period of 2006. Operating revenue,...

Tyson reports profit of $68 million in 2nd quarter.(Public Reports)(Financial report)
May 7, 2007... Tyson Foods Inc. had a profit of $68 million, or 19 cents a share, for its second quarter, indicating that the company's efforts to pull out of its slump appear to be working. It's the second straight positive earnings quarter for the...

Alltel sales, subscribers up, profit down in 1Q.(Public Reports)(Financial report)
May 7, 2007... Alltel Corp. reported a 13 percent increase in revenue and strong customer additions in its earnings report for the first quarter, the company's second full quarter as a pure-play wireless carrier. For the second quarter in a row, Alltel...

Wal-Mart justifies CEO pay in proxy amendment.(Public Reports)
May 7, 2007... Because of a media inquiry regarding Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s executive compensation practices, the company filed an amendment to its recent proxy in which it reported total compensation for president and CEO Lee Scott of $29.7 million for fiscal...

P.A.M. Transportation pays CEO Weaver $900,861.(Public Reports)
May 7, 2007... In its proxy filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, P.A.M Transportation Services Inc. disclosed executive officer compensation as the annual meeting approaches. Robert W. Weaver, president and CEO, made a salary of $475,000. He...

J.B. Hunt announces dividend, share repurchase.(Public Reports)
May 7, 2007... J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. declared the regularly quarterly dividend of 9 cents a share payable May 29 to stockholders of record on May 11. The board of directors also authorized up to $500 million in additional repurchases of its common...

Wal-Mart to expand RFID to 400 stores.(RETAIL)
May 7, 2007... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will expand its RFID, or radio frequency identification, capability to 400 stores by the end of the fiscal year. In a speech to the RFID Journal Live conference in Orlando, Fla., Wal-Mart Executive Vice President and...

Group assails Wal-Mart over tactics on unions.(INSIDE BUSINESS)
May 7, 2007... Human Rights Watch last week accused Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of using numerous tactics, many illegal, to keep its workers from forming unions. Human Rights Watch said in a report that Wal-Mart has banned talk of unions in its stores, used...

DHHS to split, become separate agencies July 1.(INSIDE BUSINESS)(Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... The Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services will be separated into two independent agencies on July 1. Gov. Mike Beebe signed an executive order last week to split the agencies into the Department of Human Services and the Department...

Don Tyson recovers from liver surgery.(AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS)
May 7, 2007... Don Tyson, the former CEO and chairman of Tyson Foods Inc., is recovering from liver surgery. Tyson, 77, is being treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., following an operation to remove a tumor from his liver. "His doctors...

Arbitrator selection in construction claims.(A PUBLIC SERVICE OF DAVIDSON LAW FIRM)(Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association )
May 7, 2007... Construction onstruction Industry Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association establish the procedure for arbitrating construction claims. Once arbitration has commenced, the rules set the procedure for selection of arbitrators....

Pfeffer's pushing for national sales.(NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 7, 2007... Pfeffer's Catering of Rogers is looking to grow its business with Sam's Club. Owner Juliane Pfeffer is making Lemon Jewel cookies exclusively for Sam's Club. The buttery shortbread cookie topped with lemon icing can already be found at...

Harding University expands offerings.(NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 7, 2007... Harding University's Northwest Arkansas Professional Center will be expanding as student enrollment continues to increase. Cecil Boothe, the center's director, said the facility will expand from 6,000 SF to 12,000 SF, completely occupying...

Steiger begins work on $22.5 million project.(NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)(Fritz Steiger)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... Fritz Steiger, through his The Arbors at Deer Crossing LLC entity of Rogers, has started preliminary work on a residential project that will be valued at $22.5 million on completion. Dave McCabe of Northwest Escrow Services Inc. in...

Randolph County hospital seeking Pocahontas' help.(NORTHEAST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 7, 2007... Randolph County Medical Center is trying to resell the hospital to the city of Pocahontas. Associated Healthcare Systems Inc. of Brentwood, Tenn., which has owned the hospital for about three years, couldn't be reached for comment. ...

Creative Foods bought by Japanese company.(NORTHEAST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 7, 2007... Creative Foods LLC of Osceola, which has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since January, recently was sold to Kagome Ltd. of Japan. A spokesman for Kagome couldn't be reached for comment and a sales price couldn't be determined....

Arkansas Northeastern raises tuition 2 percent.(NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 7, 2007... Officials at Arkansas Northeastern College at Blytheville said its tuition will rise 2 percent in the fall semester to $49 per credit hour. Robin Myers, president of the two-year college, said the money is expected to raise an extra $36,000...

Stephens Inc.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * Stephens Inc. is expanding its institutional equity trading operation with the opening of trading desks in Chicago and New York and the addition of four trading professionals. The Chicago trading desk will be staffed by William G. Van Buren....

McCain Mall in North Little Rock has gained three retailers this year.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * McCain Mall in North Little Rock has gained three retailers this year. Opening this month is American Eagle Outfitters, which sells its own brand of clothing targeting 15- to 25-year-olds. Select Comfort, which sells the Sleep Number bed, and...

Arkansas Institute of Languages.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * Arkansas Institute of Languages will begin offering Chinese for Toddlers and Spanish for Toddlers this month. Parents and children learn one of these languages together through songs, games, stories and more. Teachers are native-speaking...

Mountain Valley Spring Co. of Hot Springs has been named the 2007 Clear Choice Award winner by the Glass Packaging Institute.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * Mountain Valley Spring Co. of Hot Springs has been named the 2007 Clear Choice Award winner by the Glass Packaging Institute for "excellence in packaging in the non-carbonated beverage category."

A team of students from Central High School in Little Rock earned first place in the Federal Reserve's Eighth District Fed Challenge, an economics competition sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * A team of students from Central High School in Little Rock earned first place in the Federal Reserve's Eighth District Fed Challenge, an economics competition sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The Central High students will...

Alltel Corp.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * Alltel Corp. now offers customers the ability to buy day-pass access to the Internet via their cellphone on a daily basis. Customers with Web-capable handsets now have free access to a basic level of service, while customers with premium...

Keith Glover, president and CEO of Producers Rice Mill Inc. in Stuttgart, has been named to the Agribusiness Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * Keith Glover, president and CEO of Producers Rice Mill Inc. in Stuttgart, has been named to the Agribusiness Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Glover is also a member of the USA Rice Foundation, the Stuttgart Rotary...

The Arkansas Army National Guard celebrated the completion of Camp Robinson's new $33 million.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * The Arkansas Army National Guard celebrated the completion of Camp Robinson's new $33 million, 187,000-SF Army Aviation Support Facility last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Interfaith Hospitality Network.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., was named Homeless Advocate of the Year by the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Little Rock last week. The IHN was recently formed as a group of 17 area church congregations whose goal is to help homeless...

QualChoice of Arkansas has signed a seven-year agreement to renew and extend its software hosting and licensing with the TriZetto Group Inc., a health care information technology company focused exclusively on payers.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * QualChoice of Arkansas has signed a seven-year agreement to renew and extend its software hosting and licensing with the TriZetto Group Inc., a health care information technology company focused exclusively on payers. QualChoice is investing...

Arkansas State University.(Business Briefs)(Gov. Mike Beebe gets doctor of laws degree)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... * Arkansas State University at Jonesboro awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree to Gov. Mike Beebe last week in recognition of his outstanding achievements and exemplary public service to the people of Arkansas. He is the 13th person to...

Mangan Holcomb Partners' advertising campaign for Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis has won three best-of-show honors in national, state and local industry competitions within two weeks.(Business Briefs)
May 7, 2007... * Mangan Holcomb Partners' advertising campaign for Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis has won three best-of-show honors in national, state and local industry competitions within two weeks. The Little Rock marketing, advertising...

Bank of Eureka Springs plans branch in Carroll County.
May 7, 2007... THE BANK OF EUREKA SPRINGS branching into Berryville. expansion plan long in the works will come to fruition this year when the Bank of Eureka Springs breaks ground on its new building on two acres just west of Berryville. Bank president...

State sales, use tax receipts increase 6.7 percent in 2006.(List Overview)
May 7, 2007... THE TOTAL OF STATE SALES and use taxes collected in Arkansas in 2006 was up 6.7 percent from the previous year. And, for the first time in recent memory--and possibly last time--that figure may actually be a good reflection of consumer activity...

Sales & use tax receipts.(Table)
May 7, 2007... Sales & Use Tax Receipts Counties ranked by 2006 receipts 2006 Total Sales & County, Seat Use Tax Receipts 1 Pulaski County, Little Rock ...

Little Rock amphitheater plans still on hold.
May 7, 2007... AFTER YEARS SPENT DISCUSsing the future of the Riverfest Amphitheatre at Riverfront Park, Little Rock city government still has no concrete plans for improvements the facility needs if it's to become a competitive outdoor music venue. The...

Calendar.(Calendar)
May 7, 2007... * 8 -- Supervisory/Leadership Seminar Time: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Location: Little Rock (locations in Little Rock may vary from date to date), Fayetteville Fee: $1,595 for full six-day program For more information, call (479) 575-2856...

2007 Mahlon A. Martin Employee of the Year.(GOVERNMENT)(William C. Mann III)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... William C. Mann III, chief deputy attorney for the city of Little Rock, was named the 2007 Mahlon A. Martin Employee of the Year for the city of Little Rock. Mann was cited for his outstanding leadership and dedication. The Mahlon A. Martin...

Arkansas drug director.(GOVERNMENT)
May 7, 2007... Fran Flener of Batesville has been named Arkansas drug director by Gov. Mike Beebe. Flener currently works as the director of program and product development for Health Resources of Arkansas Inc. She previously served 12 years on the Arkansas...

Neal & Associates.(MEDIA/MARKETING)(Andy Mayberry appointed)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... Andy Mayberry has joined Neal & Associates in Little Rock in the public relations division of the advertising agency. Mayberry has had 20 years of experience in communication. He was the leader of the marketing and communications section of the...

YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock.(NONPROFIT)(Mary Jane Sawyer appointed at Young Men's Christian Associations)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... Mary Jane Sawyer has joined the staff of the YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock in North Little Rock as director of development, where she will help lead the fund-raising, pubic relations and marketing efforts of the association. Sawyer has...

Kathy Manis Findley, founder and executive director of Safe Places in Little Rock, received the American Society of Victimology's 2007 Edward R. Stout Victim Practitioner Award in Baltimore on April 12.(NONPROFIT)
May 7, 2007... Kathy Manis Findley, founder and executive director of Safe Places in Little Rock, received the American Society of Victimology's 2007 Edward R. Stout Victim Practitioner Award in Baltimore on April 12. The award is given annually to a victim...

American Cancer Society.(NONPROFIT)
May 7, 2007... Laura Vaughn has been promoted to executive director of the Little Rock office of the American Cancer Society, where she works to help increase awareness of and support for the American Cancer Society in the Little Rock area. Previously,...

Latoria Daniel and Parris Kennedy have joined the West Markham branch office of Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty in Little Rock.(REAL ESTATE)
May 7, 2007... Latoria Daniel and Parris Kennedy have joined the West Markham branch office of Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty in Little Rock. Tammi Coakley has joined the Hinson branch office. Lenord Vaughan has joined the Cabot branch office. Natalie...

Arkansas Real Estate Commission.(REAL ESTATE)
May 7, 2007... Karen Crowson, an executive broker for Crye-Leike Realtors Benton branch and the immediate past president of the Arkansas Realtors Association, has been sworn in for a three-year term on the Arkansas Real Estate Commission by Gov. Mike Beebe....

Hart Lazenby Commercial.(REAL ESTATE)
May 7, 2007... James Harkins has joined Hart Lazenby Commercial as director of leasing and brokerage. Before coming to Hart Lazenby Commercial, Harkins was vice president and principal broker for Henry Corporation, specializing in multifamily brokerage and...

Small Business Specialist Award.(TECHNOLOGY)
May 7, 2007... Robert S. Lindley, president of Innovative Systems Inc., received the Small Business Specialist Award for the South Central Area at the Microsoft Partner Briefing in Dallas. ISI, of Little Rock, was one of two partners to receive the award out...

Truckload Carriers Association.(TRANSPORTATION)
May 7, 2007... Auburn Jackson, vice president of marketing at Communications Development Inc. in central Arkansas, was elected to the 2007-08 board of directors and appointed to co-chair of the membership committee of the Truckload Carriers Association at the...

Stock summary.(Movers and Shakers)
May 7, 2007... Stock Summary 5/3/2007 Weekly YTD Arkansas Public Company Stocks Close Change Change Acxiom Corp. (ACXM) 23.01 1.92% -12.00% A.E.R.T....

Movie time.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)(3-D technology used in theaters)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... It doesn't seem that long ago that the movie theater of the future would have stadium seating, more leg room and a better view of the big screen. Now the future of the movie house, like just about everything else these days, is digital,...

Movie makers.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)
May 7, 2007... While on the subject of movies, there's some news involving the short-version variety and the local production thereof. The Little Rock take on the international 48-Hour Film Project has not only set dates for its third annual event, but it...

Park ranger.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)
May 7, 2007... The most visited authority on the Web concerning professional baseball parks has given Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock a glowing review. The lucky author, Joe Mock, has visited and reviewed nearly 250 base-ball stadiums and has...

In Sync.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)(weekly newspapers)(Brief article)
May 7, 2007... You might have noticed the much-anticipated first issue of Sync hit the streets last week. If you've somehow missed the special newsstands situated around town, get some glasses. They're the brightly colored, image-filled ones that will...

Edgehill Abode.(Whispers)
May 7, 2007... A 5,500-SF home in Little Rock's prestigious Edgehill neighborhood tipped the scales at nearly $2 million. Michael and Suzanne Brown bought the remodeled house from Little Rock's Wayne Moore Construction Co.

AEDC director targets global marketplace.(Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Maria Luisa M. Haley)
May 14, 2007... IF ANYONE CAN GIVE the Arkansas Economic Development Commission a global perspective, it just might be Maria Luisa M. Haley, who was asked by Gov. Mike Beebe in January to be executive director of the agency. She also has the backing of the...

Equity merges in shadow of lawsuit.(Equity Broadcasting Corp. merged with Coconut Palm Acquisition Corp.)
May 14, 2007... EQUITY BROADCASTING Corp. of Little Rock has reached its longtime goal of going public with the help of a Florida blank-check company. It has not yet, however, reached its goal of profitability. And the deal that made its stock available to...

'Cinderella' bank stock moves up list.
May 14, 2007... HOME BANCSHARES INC. OF Conway hasn't even celebrated its first year as a publicly traded company and it's already one of the most profitable financial institutions in Arkansas. Home BancShares, which went public on June 23, reported net...

Shop talk.(Whispers)
May 14, 2007... Word on the Little Rock retail scene has Wild Oats Natural Marketplace establishing a location at the Promenade at Chenal project under construction in west Little Rock. Phone calls to the developer and parent company of Wild Oats have...

Backside action.(Wild Oats Markets Inc. contracts with Strode Properties Co. to set up the facility in Arkansas)(Brief article)
May 14, 2007... You might recall that Wild Oats was on the brink of closing on a deal to set up shop in the 130,000-SF Midtowne Little Rock project. The sale to Whole Foods ended that would-be transaction. We hear that Strode Properties Co. of Dallas,...

'Green' building plans.(Whispers)
May 14, 2007... Heard about a four-story office building planned near the state Capitol? The proposed 26,000-SF structure would include underground parking for 60 vehicles. Little Rock businessman John Burkhalter is the mover behind the project,...