Talk Business & Politics

Southern Bancorp, Inc. of Arkansas has closed on its acquisition of FCB Financial Services, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Premier Bank of Arkansas, a $213 million asset bank with three branches operating in Marion, West Memphis, and Jonesboro, Arkansas.

With all key tax categories showing year-over-year gains through 11 months of Arkansas’ fiscal year, state officials project a fiscal-year end budget surplus of $1.473 billion, according to Thursday’s (June 2) revenue report from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).

Sierra Group Roofing and Solar announced Wednesday (May 25) it’s expanding into metal manufacturing specializing in standing seam, R-panel, gutters, and metal roofing accessories made with galvanized steel and galvalume.

The two races for U.S. Senate nominations in Arkansas will both be determined by undecided voters who have yet to make up their minds in the May 24th statewide primaries.

On Thursday (April 21), the Arkansas Press Association hosted “A Day of Debates” for four key races: Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General and Governor.

Envirotech Vehicles will locate a multimillion-dollar commercial electric vehicle plant in Osceola, with plans to hire up to 800 workers over the next 10 years.

Arkansas voters are evenly split on allowing businesses to impose vaccine mandates for workers, a slight change from six months ago, according to a new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College poll.

Prosecutor Keith Chrestman has filed a motion in Crittenden County Circuit Court asking a judge to not allow advanced DNA testing to move forward in the infamous West Memphis Three case. Among the arguments made in the filing is that the advanced, M-Vac DNA testing method would permanently alter the evidence and even if other DNA was discovered it wouldn’t conclusively prove who did it.

A longtime state lawmaker from Northeast Arkansas has decided he will not seek another term in the State House of Representatives. State Rep. Joe Jett, R-Success, announced Monday (Jan. 17) he will retire following the end of his current term, which is his fifth.

Being home to the nation's most advanced steel facility could help attract an auto manufacturing plant, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday.