Subject: Wednesday Morning Briefing
From: Talk Business <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 18 May 2016 11:44:48 +0000
List-Id: 4403c46412536341322b6e88cmc list <4403c46412536341322b6e88c.454909.list-id.mcsv.net>

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. (http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=3647d19f3c&e=b5f4886f5f)
http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=3a13f0f6ce&e=b5f4886f5f

http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=a9a28acec5&e=b5f4886f5f
ACXIOM’S TWO PENNY 4Q LOSS WELL BELOW WALL STREET VIEWS, SALES RISE 9%: Acxiom Corp. on Tuesday reported fourth quarter and year-end losses as the Little Rock data provider looks to expand its data integration and enhancement services that enables companies to better market their products to consumers.

For the period ended March 31, 2016, Acxiom reported a loss of $1.6 million, or 2 cents per share, compared to a loss of $6 million, or 12 cents per share, in the same period of 2015. Earnings adjusted for one-time items were 18 cents per share.

For the full year, Acxiom reported net income of $6.7 million, or 9 cents per share, compared to losses of $11 million, or 14 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. Yearly revenue rose 5.6% to $850.1 million, compared to $804.9 million in the previous year. Read more on the Little Rock-based data marketer at this link (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=64635c2a42&e=b5f4886f5f) .

http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=d33dcb99c4&e=b5f4886f5f

ARKANSAS CONSUMER SENTIMENT MOVES HIGHER, TOPS OKLAHOMA AND MISSOURI: Consumer sentiment about the economy is growing more positive among Arkansans, edging out sentiment ratings in Oklahoma and Missouri, according to the Arvest survey conducted in March by the University of Arkansas in concert with the University of Oklahoma and Missouri State University.

The consumer sentiment index reading for Arkansas was 84.9 in March, up from 77.8 in September, 79.1 in March 2015 and significantly higher than 68.1 in October 2014 and 67.4 in the first survey done in June 2014. The recent survey marks the highest Arkansas index score since the survey began, and is the first time Arkansas’ index is higher than Oklahoma and Missouri.

Reflecting an outperforming Arkansas economy, Arkansas consumer sentiment improved from September 2015 to March 2016, said Kathy Deck, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the lead economist for the survey. Read more on the results here (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=0b36f36d33&e=b5f4886f5f) .

BENTONVILLE, ROGERS BEGIN TO SEE RETURNS ON DOWNTOWN INVESTMENTS AROUND QUALITY OF LIFE: City officials in Bentonville and Rogers have one thing in common – a drive to make their downtown areas destinations and places to live, work and play. The cities have invested in comprehensive downtown master plans and continue to use public dollars to encourage private sector investment. Such investments are paying off. Read more (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=b27710e050&e=b5f4886f5f) of what's at work in these efforts in part one of a two-part series.

AMANDA DENTON: ARKANSAS NON-COMPETE RULES STILL RELEVANT UNDER NEW FEDERAL TRADE SECRETS LAW - Attorney Amanda Denton says that a recent federal trade secrets law doesn't discount Arkansas legal efforts to strengthen protection of trade secrets. Denton says local laws — such as in Arkansas — are still likely to figure prominently with the newly crafted tool under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) to enjoin former employees from working for competitors where there is “evidence of threatened misappropriation” of trade secrets. Read more of her opinion on this subject here (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=eaa2b328cf&e=b5f4886f5f) .

http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=cab7507ef6&e=b5f4886f5f

NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: GOVERNOR’S HIGHWAY PLAN FACES HURDLE IN SENATE COMMITTEE - Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s highway plan is expected to have widespread support in the Arkansas House and Senate in the special session that starts Thursday. However, can the bill get out of a key Senate committee?

If the bill goes to the Senate Transportation Committee as expected, several members have indicated they are "uncommitted" at this time. Four of the eight senators on the panel have pushed for an alternative to the governor's plan, while a fifth member, Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, has been one of Hutchinson's biggest adversaries. The highway plan will need five votes from the eight members to get out of committee.

Read more here (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=023fe9b868&e=b5f4886f5f) on the path Hutchinson's highway plan faces as well as upcoming political drama surrounding the death penalty and a state response to the national transgender bathroom debate.

BETSY BROYLES ARNOLD: PUBLICITY RIGHTS LAW STRIKES A BALANCE - Betsy Broyles Arnold, daughter of the legendary Frank Broyles, offers a guest commentary on a bill that the state legislature will consider on Thursday. The legislation will center on the right to control the commercial exploitation of your name, likeness, voice, signature, and image – which isn't protected in every state and hasn't been fully addressed by the legislature in Arkansas. A law was passed by the legislature in 2015, but was vetoed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Read more about the new effort here (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=ec1e97fa63&e=b5f4886f5f) .

D.C. CIRCUIT COURT RESCHEDULES CHALLENGES TO OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S CLEAN POWER PLAN: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia unexpectedly rescheduled next month’s challenges to President Obama’s Clean Power Plan to be heard by the full bench instead in mid-September. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay of President Obama’s historic Clean Power Plan on Feb. 9, blocking the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing the far-reaching rules that would dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions across the U.S. by shutting down most of the nation’s coal-fired power plant fleet. Read more here (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=6af82e6f4e&e=b5f4886f5f) .

http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=aa6a052ab2&e=b5f4886f5f

UAMS TO HOST PACIFIC ISLANDER HEALTH CONFERENCE IN FAYETTEVILLE: The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Center for Pacific Islander Health is hosting the first Gathering for Pacific Islander Health on May 24-26 in Fayetteville. The conference is an opportunity for researchers, health care providers, public health leaders and members of the community who work with Pacific Islander populations to share research, programs, knowledge and lessons learned. More information on the conference, including the agenda, speaker list and speaker bios, can be found at www.PacificHealthGathering.com (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=f598e8da74&e=b5f4886f5f) .

HHS FINALIZES RULE TO IMPROVE HEALTH EQUITY UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule to advance health equity and reduce health care disparities under the Affordable Care Act. Under the rule, individuals are protected from discrimination in health care on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex, including discrimination based on pregnancy, gender identity and sex stereotyping.

In addition to implementing Section 1557’s prohibition on sex discrimination, the final rule also enhances language assistance for people with limited English proficiency and helps to ensure effective communication for individuals with disabilities. For more information about Section 1557, click here (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=63e8b7a63c&e=b5f4886f5f) .

CDC ANNOUNCES FUNDS FOR STATES, U.S. TERRITORIES TO PREPARE FOR ZIKA VIRUS: U.S. states and territories can now apply to CDC for funds to fight Zika locally. More than $85 million in redirected funds identified by the Department of Health and Human Services is being made available to support efforts to protect Americans from Zika infection and associated adverse health outcomes, including the serious birth defect microcephaly.

Under the latest announcement, $25 million in fiscal 2016 preparedness and response funding will go to states, cities, and territories at risk for outbreaks of Zika virus infection. Applications for the funds are due to CDC by June 13, 2016. Funds will be disbursed during the summer and remain available through July 2017.

http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=7ee2920584&e=b5f4886f5f

“We enter fiscal 2017 from a position of strength, propelled by our recent progress and momentum.” - Acxiom CEO Scott Howe.

"Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be delivered to each school district and institution of higher education in the State of Arkansas, the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate, and the United States Department of Justice." - From a resolution sponsored by Rep. Stephen Meeks, R-Greebrier, urging dissent for a federal directive on transgender bathroom guidance.

“For most people visiting an area, the first barometer is the downtown area. Our goal is to make Bentonville the best downtown you could find anywhere.” - Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin.
http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=8ef4b61821&e=b5f4886f5f
------------------------------------------------------------
You are receiving this e-mail as a result of your free subscription to Talk Business & Politics.  For written inquires, please contact the editor at [email-masked] or by mail at 8308 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR  72227.

View email in your browser (http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=3647d19f3c&e=b5f4886f5f) | Unsubscribe (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=a8cb0d3206&e=b5f4886f5f&c=3647d19f3c) | Update your profile (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/profile?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=a8cb0d3206&e=b5f4886f5f) | Forward to a friend (http://us2.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=3647d19f3c&e=b5f4886f5f)

Copyright © 2015-16 The Wednesday Morning Briefing is produced by Talk Business & Politics. All rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be used for any purpose other than personal use. Therefore, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, for reasons other than personal use, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.