Tyson's plant plans
opposed in Kansas
An opposition group is taking steps to prevent Tyson Foods from building a new processing facility in the Wichita, Kan., area.
Last week, the Greater Wichita Partnership confirmed that Tyson Foods has narrowed potential sites to three finalists, including Sedgwick County, where Wichita is located.
The Greater Wichita Partnership said Tuesday that it will be gathering more information about the project and its impact on Sedgwick County before making final decisions, including labor analyses and community feedback.
The opposition group #NoTysonSedgwickCounty has scheduled its first public meeting Saturday morning in Wichita. One of the speakers, Donald Stull, professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Kansas, will speak about meatpacking plants and their effect on the economy and the environment.
Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, has a long meatpacking history, Stull said.
The $320 million plant was headed for a spot near Tonganoxie in Leavenworth County, Kan., last month until opposition forced the Springdale-based company to place its plans on hold.
-- Nathan Owens
Arvest adds to state debit card scenes
Arvest Bank and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism have added three specialty debit cards to the series of cards that feature some of the state's most scenic and popular attractions.
The new specialty cards showcase the Little Rock skyline, Bath House Row in Hot Springs and Mississippi River State Park in northeast Arkansas.
Arvest and the department began the feature last year with eight specialty cards, of Blanchard Springs Caverns, Buffalo National River, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Lake Chicot State Park, Lake Ouachita, Petit Jean State Park, The Ridges at Village Creek and Whitaker Point near Boxley.
-- David Smith
Arkansas Index dips 0.55, ends at 374.32
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, fell 0.55 to 374.32 Wednesday.
"The telecommunications sector led the S&P 500 Index lower as companies continue to report quarterly earnings against a backdrop of greater political uncertainty regarding tax reform," said Leon Lants, managing director at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock.
Total volume for the index was 22.8 million shares.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 10/26/2017