By Roby Brock
This week, U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) was one of two Democrats to twice cast a “no” vote for a public-option insurance plan, which has unified the Republican base, but divided Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee.
Lincoln has said repeatedly that she supports efforts to cover the uninsured and to reform federal rules on insurance companies. On Tuesday, she said Congress could achieve those goals “without creating a purely public new government program, which most Arkansans do not support.”
State revenues fall in September
Arkansas tax collections fell significantly in September. All major tax categories experienced shortfalls.
Net available general revenues totaled $410.3 million for the month, 14.8 percent below last year’s levels and 12 percent below forecast. Year-to-date and with one full quarter under its belt, state revenues have topped $1.16 billion.
That amount is 3.3 percent below last year and 7.1 percent below expectations.
Windstream cuts 350 jobs
Windstream Corp. announced a companywide workforce reduction of 350 jobs. The Little Rock-based telecom said it plans to cut the jobs by the end of 2009 in response to “revenue pressure.” The company will seek volunteers, eliminate open positions and utilize attrition as part of the reduction initiative to “minimize the effect of the changes.” Approximately 20 jobs will be lost in Little Rock. Windstream has about 7,100 employees across its U.S. territory.
Dassult Falcon lays off 72
Dassault Falcon Jet announced the layoff of 72 workers at its Little Rock completion center with additional workers taking advantage of an “early out” program. The center’s total workforce is now approximately 2,000 employees.
“Dassault Falcon has worked tirelessly to adjust to these difficult economic times. While the global economy has shown some promise recently, the market for business jets remains challenged,” said John Rosanvallon, president and CEO of Dassault Falcon. “The number of workers affected by this reduction, unfortunately, is in line with our order cancellations.”
Great Dane to lay off 67 in Jonesboro
Great Dane Trailers will temporarily shut down its local manufacturing facility in Jonesboro, idling 67 workers. Company officials cited a significant downturn in trailer orders for the layoffs, which will begin Oct. 15.
“Although we have experienced an extended decline in trailer orders due to a prolonged recession, we are optimistic that the market will improve, and our affected employees can return to their jobs,” Sam Gupta, senior vice president of manufacturing, told The Jonesboro Sun.
Mars petcare opens Fort Smith facility
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, Luc Mongeau, president of Mars Petcare, and local economic officials opened an $80 million, 305,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art pet food plant in Fort Smith on Wednesday.
The LEED-certified building will produce Mars’ line of CESAR Canine Cuisine for small dogs. Mars first announced it would build the plant in November 2007 and said it had plans to hire up to 200 workers.
Former Alltel exec named CEO of Telecom
Atlantic Tele-Network Inc., (ATN) which is buying a portion of divested former Alltel properties from Verizon Wireless, has named Frank O’Mara as CEO of its newly formed wireless subsidiary, Atlantic Wireless Communications Corp.
O’Mara is a former executive vice president of Alltel Communications.
His duties as CEO at AWCC will include leading the transition and operation of certain former Alltel wireless properties, licenses and network assets that ATN contracted to acquire from Verizon Wireless on June 9, 2009 as part of a $200 million deal.
The new company has approximately 800,000 subscribers in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio and Idaho.
Fayetteville biotech firm lands $5 million contract
A Fayetteville biotech firm may be on the verge of a major breakthrough for treating traumatic brain injuries.
SFC Fluidics received a $5 million federal contract from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program for development of a handheld device for rapid diagnosis of traumatic brain injury.
It can be used by first responders and caregivers to quickly choose a proper course of action for a patient in combat situations, at the scene of an accident, in an emergency room or at a sporting event.
Murphy Oil buys ethanol plant
Murphy Oil Corp. purchased a corn-based ethanol plant located in Hankinson, N.D. for roughly $92 million.
The plant, which initially began operating in July 2008 before being idled in October 2008, has an annual production capacity of 110 million gallons. Additionally, an estimated $15 million in working capital will be invested into the facility.
“We are adding this capability to supplement our growing North American fuels business. It also marks our initial entry into the manufacture of bio-fuels,” said Murphy Oil CEO David Wood. “Given the current ethanol mandates and our subsequent blending needs, having more of a presence in the supply chain better balances our business.”
Tyson foods to relaunch Holly Farms brand
After a 10-year absence, Tyson Foods is teaming with grocery store chain Food Lion to reintroduce the Holly Farms chicken brand. Food Lion has more than 1,200 retail grocery store locations in the eastern U.S.
“The Holly Farms brand has a strong heritage in many markets in which we operate as a provider of quality, premium fresh chicken at a great price,” said Hans Lefebvre, a merchandising vice-president for Food Lion.
Tyson Foods recorded net income of $134 million in its most recent quarter. It posted quarterly profits in all of its major meat divisions, including its troubled chicken segment. Holly Farms was phased out as a national brand several years after Tyson Foods bought the North Carolina firm in 1989.
Poll: Wal-Mart best symbol of America
A new 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll reveals that 48 percent of Americans think that Wal-Mart “best symbolizes America.” Google and Microsoft came in a distant second and third with 13 percent and 12 percent respectively.
The National Football League and Goldman Sachs rounded out the top five with 6 percent and 3 percent, in that order.
The poll is based on a random sample of 1,097 respondents nationwide. It was conducted by phone between Aug. 27 and 31 by CBS News.
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Roby Brock, a freelance journalist based in Little Rock, writes weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau. His weekly television program airs at 10 p.m. Sundays in Central and Northwest Arkansas. His e-mail address is roby@talkbusiness.net; his Web site address is www.talkbusiness.net.
