Jobless level in state edges down to 4.5%
Arkansas’ jobless rate continued to improve in February, dipping to 4.5% for the 10th-consecutive monthly decline since spiking to double digits in April. The state unemployment rate is inching closer…
Little Rock tourism office posts 2020 annual report
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought travel around the world to sudden standstill. In the months prior, the year looked to be on track for a record-setting one in…
Report: Little Rock’s 2020 A&P Tax Collections Down 19%
Officials at the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau expected 2020 to be record-setting tourism and tax collection year, but the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way, according to the…
Baxter County leads the state in tourism tax percentage collections for 2020
The final Arkansas Tourism Ticker report for 2020 is out, and Baxter remains the state’s top bright spot in terms of 2% tourism tax collections for the year, as one…
Existing US Home Sales Fell in February, While Prices Rose
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slowed last month as rising prices and a dearth of homes for sale kept some would-be buyers on the sidelines. The National Association of…
High-speed internet flowing to rural Arkansas
Broadband is continuing to expand in rural Arkansas with Augusta and Stuttgart now delivering fiber high-speed internet services to local residents through the state's grant program. Ritter Communications is providing…
Feeling the Squeeze: Nonprofits Relying on Gumption, Faith to Survive
Nonprofits, like many other businesses, have felt the heavy financial burden brought on by COVID-19. But, unlike most businesses, charities have faced the unique challenge of balancing a higher demand…
Pandemic economics: Changed consumer, workplace patterns will be part of post-pandemic world
A new economic normal post-pandemic may include pandemic realities such as online shopping, working from home and zoom meetings. It also will include a struggle for the tourism industry –…
Little Rock restaurant, bar owners hope COVID relief package boosts business
The coronavirus pandemic hit Arkansas in March 2020, causing thousands of Arkansans to lose their jobs. Some Arkansas bar and restaurant owners said they may have felt the impact the…
In White House vaccine distribution push, some rural areas fear being left behind
Amid the new administration effort, some rural health care providers say they — and the unique needs of the communities they serve — are being left behind. Each Friday afternoon…
REPORT: COVID-19 Pandemic Caused More Death in Rural Communities
A recent McKinsey & Company report found the 46 million people who reside in rural counties have faced major racial and ethnic health inequities during the pandemic. During the pandemic,…
Abstract background for COVID-19 outbreak crisis to collapse the global economy. COVID-19 Virus pendulum swinging to dollar coin on beige background. 3d rendering illustration.
Poll: Many in US Still Face COVID-19 Financial Loss
Roughly 4 in 10 Americans say they’re still feeling the financial impact of the loss of a job or income within their household as the economic recovery remains uneven one…
Arkansas travelers head out of state to get COVID-19 vaccines
As Arkansas kept tight rein on who could get COVID-19 vaccines even as businesses got the go-ahead to open back up to full capacity, Arkansas travelers headed to neighboring states…
U.S. Capitol
Restaurants Are Big Beneficiaries of COVID-19 Relief Bill
Restaurants devastated by the coronavirus outbreak are getting a lifeline from the pandemic relief package that’s awaiting final approval in the House. The bill passed by the Senate on Saturday a dds…
US Economy To Recover Twice As Fast As Expected, Report Says: Live Updates – The New York Times
The U.S. economy will accelerate almost twice as fast as expected this year as the next pass of President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion stimulus package, combined with a rapid vaccine…
COVID-19 Stresses Apartment Renters
The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent unemployment have put stress on renters and apartment properties in the United States, the National Association of Realtors Research Group noted in its February 2021…
3 physicians take stock of what worked, didn’t
Twelve months into the coronavirus pandemic, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette asked three current and former top health officials to reflect on a year of life-and-death challenges, share what frustrated them most…
US Adds A Strong 379K Jobs in Hopeful Sign for Economy
U.S. employers added a robust 379,000 jobs last month, the most since October and a sign that the economy is strengthening as confirmed viral cases drop, consumers spend more and…
Vaccinations will have ‘meaningful impact’ on recovery in Arkansas’ tourism industry
Arkansas Tourism Director Travis Napper said during the State of the Industry opening session of the Governor’s Conference on Tourism Tuesday (March 2) that though tourism was hit hard by…
Asa Hutchinson Signs Tax Forgiveness Bill Into Law
Gov. Asa Hutchinson has signed into law a bill that forgives taxes on unemployment benefits paid to Arkansans in 2020 and 2021. The state Department of Finance & Administration projected…