Apparel has been a weak spot for retail low-cost leader Walmart for several years. Consumers who appreciate private-label discounts on a gallon of milk or loaf of bread have been largely unwilling to walk across the aisle to purchase clothing, outside of socks and tee-shirts. Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recently posted weaker same-store sales in its [...]

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Dillard’s, Inc. announced that the board of directors has approved an additional share repurchase program authorizing the company to repurchase up to $250 million of its Class A Common Stock. At January 28, 2012, $27.5 million remained outstanding under the $250 million program authorized in May, 2011. The new open-ended authorization permits the company to repurchase [...]

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday (Feb. 29) that Arkansas and Mississippi were the only two states to see an increase in their 2011 average annual unemployment rate compared to 2010. Several government and private sector economic reports of the past few days continue to indicate an erratic economic recovery in the U.S. and Arkansas. AVERAGE [...]

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Governor Mike Beebe today announced the following appointments to boards and commissions: Kathy Burl, North Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas State Board of Athletic Training.  Appointment expires January 14, 2015. Bradford Caldwell, Wynne, reappointed to the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority.  Appointment expires January 14, 2016. The Honorable Chris Claybaker, Camden, reappointed to the Arkansas Fire and [...]

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Just as we predicted here at Cook’s Outlook, there are some surprises during this filing for office season, both with candidates dropping out of and potentiality dropping into races.  Today, there were big shuffles in the First and Second Congressional District races. In the Second Congressional District, Arkansas Democrats believed that former State Rep. Jay Martin [...]

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The action on the trucker tax cut repeal happened pretty fast this afternoon, but here is my best shot at breaking it down. The original resolution HCR1009, which would have authorized the introduction of the bill that would repeal the trucker tax cut was brought up for a vote in the Senate where it had stalled.  [...]

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Every week, our content partner, The City Wire, compiles The Agribusiness Weekly Update, sponsored by the Farmers Cooperative. The update is compiled from various sources by The City Wire staff and is presented each Tuesday. Sources include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Meat Export Federation, and Stephens Inc. Statistics are for the week ended Feb. [...]

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A new Medicaid budget shortfall estimate — disputed by Gov. Mike Beebe (D) — has state lawmakers advocating for a more aggressive budget approach. Today, State Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Beebe) pushed for the Joint Budget Committee to set aside $40 million of the current $72.2 million budget surplus and park up to $60 million of a [...]

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Court officials released a special report that explains why the depleted Administration of Justice (AOJ) fund lost so much money in 2011 that Gov. Mike Beebe (D) has had to bail it out with emergency funds. Since November, Beebe has twice provided tens of thousands of dollars in funding to help the AOJ fund meet payroll [...]

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One of 2012′s hottest State Senate races looks to be a dead heat and voters in that district care more about local issues than national ones when voting for the State Legislature, according to a recent poll. Democratic State Representative Tiffany Rogers is challenging incumbent Republican Jonathan Dismang in Senate District 28 in east Arkansas and [...]

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