Tyson to pay $2M
in '14 fish-kill case
Tyson Foods Inc. said it would pay a $2 million fine and serve two years of probation to settle federal concerns about a Missouri facility that in 2014 fouled nearby streams and killed thousands of fish.
In a news release Wednesday, company subsidiary Tyson Poultry Inc. said it has taken full responsibility for the incident in Monett, Mo., that resulted in the release of an animal feed ingredient into the city's wastewater treatment system.
"We deeply regret the mistake that was made and have taken corrective action to make sure it doesn't happen again," Tyson said in a statement.
Tyson of Springdale pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., to two counts of violating the Clean Water Act.
The company said it also will make a $500,000 community service payment -- with half going to Monett and half to Missouri environmental organizations.
According to the Kansas City Star, a chemical spilled at Tyson's feed mill in Aurora, Mo., in May 2014 and trickled into Monett's wastewater plant.
-- Nathan Owens
Waltons' share sales
from trust net $158M
Members of the Walton family sold 2 million shares of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. stock in multiple transactions during a three-day period in the past week.
The stock was sold out of a family trust established in 2015, and it netted about $158.9 million, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The trust was established by Walton Enterprises LLC to help offset potential increases beyond the 50 percent ownership level the family tries to maintain in Wal-Mart stock. The family put 194 million shares -- or about 6 percent of Wal-Mart's outstanding shares -- into the trust. The Waltons intend to use some of the shares to fund charitable contributions.
There are about 96.7 million shares remaining in the trust after the recent transactions.
-- Robbie Neiswanger
Index picks up 4.37,
finishes at 365.14
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, rose 4.37 to 365.14 Wednesday.
"Financials rallied sharply as bond yields rose following remarks by Fed Chairman Janet Yellen fueled speculation of a December interest rate hike while the broader market also rallied on release of President Trump's tax plans," said Leon Lants, managing director at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock.
Total volume for the index was 34.9 million shares.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 09/28/2017