Subject: Tuesday Morning Briefing
From: Talk Business <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2016 12:05:16 +0000
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BIG RIVER STEEL PROJECT ALREADY BOOSTING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WITH MORE JOBS, SPENDING: The $1.3 billion Big River Steel superproject is still under construction but nearing completion in Osceola (Mississippi county). Its impact is already being felt in the Northeast Arkansas region.

Osceola’s one-cent sales tax has seen increases in the past three years. The tax, which was approved by voters in 2013, brought in $750,000 that year and $950,000 in 2014. The number jumped up to $1.3 million in 2015.

Also, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported drops in the unemployment rate in Mississippi County and several other surrounding counties from February 2015 to February 2016. Mississippi County saw its numbers drop from 10.2% to 7.7%, while neighboring Poinsett County dropped from 6.9% to 5.1%. The numbers dropped in Crittenden County from 7.7% to 5.3% and dropped in Craighead County from 5.4% to 3.9%.

There are other economic indicators trending in the right direction. Read more here (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=ec79cbe3c1&e=b5f4886f5f) .

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J.B. HUNT FIRST QUARTER INCOME RISES ALMOST 9%, REVENUE UP 6.1%: Lowell-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services posted first quarter net income of $100.098 million, up 8.8% compared to the first quarter of 2015 and better than what market watchers expected. The per share earnings of 88 cents were above the consensus estimate of 85 cents, and total revenue in the quarter of $1.528 billion was just above the estimate of $1.52 billion. Company officials said (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=c3f012dca8&e=b5f4886f5f) higher volume, lower maintenance costs, and better pricing helped boost revenue, while higher driver wages and recruiting costs, technology investments and higher rail costs squeezed margins.

MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TO LIFT BAN ON ARKANSAS POULTRY: The Mexican government is lifting a ban on Arkansas poultry that began in early 2015 following an avian flu discovery in Boone County. Despite United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tests showing the strain no longer exists in the region last year, Mexico wouldn’t reverse its ban. Sen. John Boozman said (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=42e2ba98a0&e=b5f4886f5f) his office helped lobby the Mexican government to alter its policy.

JEFF COLLINS: PUSHING PAST ECONOMIC ANGER TO REACH OPPORTUNITY - Economist Jeff Collins says technological advancements have had more impact on declining manufacturing jobs - and ultimately will impact service sector jobs. What does he see as key ingredients for communities and states to combat job losses? Read his guest commentary here (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=48a79a8f4d&e=b5f4886f5f) .

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BAKER KURRUS OUT AS LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT: Little Rock School District superintendent Baker Kurrus will not have his contract renewed through the Arkansas Department of Education, according to Education Commissioner Johnny Key. Kurrus was installed as the superintendent of the state's largest school district after the state board of education took over the troubled system and after former LRSD Superintendent Dexter Suggs resigned following allegations of plagiarism.

Key released a statement Tuesday night that read: "Baker Kurrus' contract as the Little Rock School District superintendent ends June 30. I have asked him to remain involved in the ongoing work of LRSD. This could occur in a formal position through ADE or informally as he had been doing previously under former Commissioner Tony Wood. A new superintendent will be named tomorrow who will continue the work of moving LRSD toward academic excellence."

ARKANSAS ETHICS COMMISSION MOVING FORWARD ON INVESTIGATION OF GOVERNOR: The Ethics Commission is moving forward on investigating Gov. Asa Hutchinson for a possible violation of Arkansas campaign laws. Attorney Matt Campbell, publisher of The Blue Hog Report website, filed a complaint March 31 regarding Hutchinson’s appearance at two events from 7:30 until 11 a.m. on Feb. 29 on behalf of Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot, who defeated his primary challenger March 1. The complaint centers on a previous Ethics Commission ruling that defined the word "candidate."

In a letter to Campbell dated April 14, Graham Sloan, Arkansas Ethics Commission director, wrote that the complaint met requirements contained in the Ethics Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure and that an investigation is beginning. The offense, if it were to be prosecuted by a prosecuting attorney, is a Class A misdemeanor, which potentially is punishable by up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and removal from office. Read more on this development at this link (http://talkbusiness.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4403c46412536341322b6e88c&id=c67b6c6173&e=b5f4886f5f) .

ARKANSAS WORKS OPPONENTS PLAN 'COMPROMISE' PRESS CONFERENCE: Several members of a 10-person State Senate caucus opposed to Gov. Asa Hutchinson's Arkansas Works program announced they would hold a press conference at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 19 in the Old Supreme Court Room at the state Capitol. A media advisory regarding the announcement said the senators planned "to discuss their proposed compromise."

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"Customer freight demand is expected to be closely aligned with the current choppy and unpredictable nature of the overall United States economy." - J.B. Hunt CEO John Roberts III.

"It has been a godsend." - Osceola Mayor Dickie Kennemore on the Big River Steel project.

"It’s an obvious fact that governors do engage in campaign activity. That tradition has gone on for decades in our state by Democrat and Republican governors, and the assumption is that the Ethics Commission will apply the law logically and consistently with that history." - Gov. Hutchinson spokesman J.R. Davis on the Ethics Commission decision to pursue an investigation of a complaint over campaigning.

"I’m not so interested in the misdemeanor criminal side of it as I am with the actual, the ethical side of it. If you’re not supposed to do it, then don’t." - Blue Hog Report blogger Matt Campbell on the Ethics Commission decision.

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