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Fort Smith School Board, officials concerned 2017 legislative session may...
Officials with the Fort Smith School District are watching the 2017 legislative session with uncertainty as rumblings from Little Rock have left some in fear of a minimum fund balance requirement for...
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A city disrupted: Why Arkansas’ second largest city trails state, national...
Fort Smith has fought its way back from losing its traditional manufacturing base. But while there is excitement among regional leaders about recent job announcements and capital investments —...
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FCRA extends Ivy Owen contract through end of 2018, approves 4.8% in...
The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) extended the contract of FCRA Executive Director Ivy Owen, approved its 2017 budget, and dealt with a busy real estate agenda Thursday (Jan. 19) at its...
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Fort Smith Mayor says ‘eFairness’ bill could bring $3 million annually to...
Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders believes the Amazon-inspired “eFairness” bill (SB 140), filed on Jan. 18 by Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, could help the city meet police and fire pension obligations if...
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Medical marijuana cultivation centers ‘a concern’ for zoning, Fort Smith...
Fort Smith Development Services Director Wally Bailey has concerns over how zoning will be handled for the state’s in-development medical marijuana industry, he said during Monday’s (Jan. 23) meeting...
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Fort Smith School Board President addresses lawsuits, defends superintendent pay
Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Steve Tabor ruled on Monday (Jan. 23) against the Fort Smith School Board’s motion to dismiss pending litigation charging it violated Freedom of Information (FOI)...
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Fort Smith Board pushes back on water, sanitation plans
The Fort Smith Board of Directors took issue with two proposals from city officials at the Tuesday (Jan. 24) study session. The first was a recommendation the Board transfer 30 remote water customers...
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New Fort Smith Schools Superintendent releases 90-day entry plan
Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) Superintendent Dr. Doug Brubaker has released his 90-day entry plan. The 8-page document was uploaded to the district’s website on Monday, Jan. 23, and announced to the...
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FCRA Executive Director Ivy Owen provides salary clarification
Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) Executive Director Ivy Owen signed an extension through the end of 2018 last Thursday, Jan. 19, after a short executive session near the end of the regular...
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ADEQ reduces Whirlpool reporting requirement on Fort Smith contamination,...
Whirlpool has received permission from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to go from quarterly progress reports to semi-annual reports, according to Fort Smith Deputy City...
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64.6 Downtown, artist Ana Maria announce new Fort Smith art school opening...
World-renowned artist Ana Maria is partnering with Fort Smith’s 64.6 Downtown — the group behind the city’s Unexpected murals project — to open a new art school at the Universal Chapel building located...
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Fort Smith Schools Superintendent voices concerns over school choice bill
Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) Superintendent Dr. Doug Brubaker voiced concerns over pending school choice legislation at Friday’s (Jan. 27) legislative forum presented by the Fort Smith Regional...
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Fort Smith City Administrator recommends terminating River Valley Sports...
River Valley Sports Complex (RVSC) organizers Lee Webb and Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, could soon be terminated from their agreement with the Fort Smith Board of Directors to build “tournament...
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Gateway Planning says strategic plan will ‘accelerate momentum’ for downtown...
Gateway Planning revealed a detailed draft for downtown Fort Smith’s strategic redevelopment at a special study session with city officials Tuesday night, Jan. 31, from the Riverfront Pavilion. Scott...
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Fort Smith metro entities consider $200,050 intermodal transportation study
The Fort Smith Board of Directors is not sure it wants to increase funding for another intermodal port study to be managed by the Western Arkansas Regional Intermodal Transportation Authority (RITA)....
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Steel Horse Rally charity announces bourbon tasting, railroad ride
The Steel Wheels Bourbon Express will leave the station on March 25 to benefit the Fort Smith-based Steel Horse Rally Inc. charity. The educational bourbon sampling will take place aboard an excursion...
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Former U.S. Senator calls for Convention of States to limit federal power
Tom Coburn, the former Republican U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, is ready to call for a Convention of States (COS) to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government. Coburn addressed the COS...
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Former Sen. Tom Coburn says waivers, medical savings accounts are ‘fix’ for...
Doctor and former Oklahoma Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn and believes Obamacare can be replaced, suggesting the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate and House look at two existing provisions within the...
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Fort Smith metro building activity begins 2017 with 84% increase in permit...
Fort Smith metro building activity started 2017 with significant gains from the same period last year with Fort Smith and Van Buren leading the way. The metro region, which consists primarily of Fort...
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Fort Smith Board of Directors places RITA on notice, terminates River Valley...
The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved an intermodal port study, overruled the city’s planning commission on a new business development, and terminated its contract with River Valley Sports Complex...
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