George Jared

Writer and Reporter at Talk Business & Politics

Journalist at Freelance

Podcast Host at Diamond State: Murder Board

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Articles

LaCroix Precision Optics expanding in Batesville, adding 107 jobs

1 week ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

LaCroix Precision Optics will expand its Batesville facility and add 107 jobs during the next five years, the company announced Thursday (June 5). The expansion will add 18,000-square-feet to the plant and will cost $13.8 million. The company held a press conference on their campus and there were several speakers, including Gov. Sarah Sanders.
Hallie Shoffner talks ‘farm crisis’ in her bid to unseat Sen. Tom Cotton

1 week ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

A.E. Shoffner decided to move from Orange County, N.C., to Jackson County in Arkansas in the 1860s to start a farm. He primarily grew cotton, and it wasn’t long before a cotton gin, complete with railroad switch that ran to it was built. A mercantile store, a lumber mill and even a post office were also built. The town of Shoffner was born. For six generations his descendants tilled the soils in Jackson County harvesting row crops. This year that won’t happen.
Dr. Christian Ostermann to lead National Cold War Center in Blytheville

1 week ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

The National Cold War Center (NCWC) announced Tuesday (June 3) that Dr. Christian Ostermann, one of the world’s foremost authorities on the Cold War, has become the organization’s executive director. Ostermann, director of the History and Public Policy Program at Wilson Center in Washington D.C., has been working with NCWC in Blytheville since 2022 as co-chair of the National Advisory Board.
Delta Arts Festival in Newport slated for this weekend

1 week ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

The 16th annual Delta Arts Festival will be held this Friday (June 6) and Saturday in Newport, and it will be combined with the city’s sesquicentennial, Jon Chadwell, executive director of the Newport Economic Development Commission, told Talk Business & Politics. At least 175 visual artists, 18 authors and 100 musicians will participate in the two-day event. About 28 musical performances are slated “We have combined the music and art back together.
Arkansas AG's operation targets retail theft, 16 arrested in Jonesboro

1 week ago | kasu.org | George Jared

Investigators from the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office led an organized retail crime blitz in Jonesboro with the cooperation of the Jonesboro Police Department and 13 retail store locations last week, Attorney General Tim Griffin said Monday (June 2). “We arrested 16 individuals on theft charges and identified five additional suspects. Some of those we arrested were charged with additional crimes such as drug possession, tampering with evidence, and forgery.
At least 16 people charged after retail crime bust in Jonesboro

1 week ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

Investigators from the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office led an organized retail crime blitz in Jonesboro with the cooperation of the Jonesboro Police Department and 13 retail store locations last week, Attorney General Tim Griffin said Monday (June 2). “We arrested 16 individuals on theft charges and identified five additional suspects. Some of those we arrested were charged with additional crimes such as drug possession, tampering with evidence, and forgery.
Jonesboro Unlimited expanding water service inside Craighead Technology Park

1 week ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

Jonesboro Unlimited (JU) has broken ground on an expansion of industrial water service to more than 600 acres inside the Craighead Technology Park. “We are grateful for the partnership among the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Craighead County, and Jonesboro City Water & Light to deliver the overbuilt water service our industrial park is known for to this 600-acre site,” said Steven Lamm, Vice President of Economic Development for Jonesboro Unlimited.
Rep. Crawford leads effort to freeze wages for H-2A visa guestworkers

2 weeks ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, co-led a letter to the leadership of the House Appropriations Committee requesting an H-2A visa guestworker wage freeze in upcoming appropriations legislation. He was joined in this effort by more than 100 other members of Congress. “A robust agriculture industry starts with a strong and healthy workforce. However, due to a labor shortage, American farmers are increasingly turning to overseas workers to fill positions on the farm,” he said.
Western Global Airlines has opened base maintenance facility in Blytheville

2 weeks ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

Western Global Airlines has opened a new base maintenance facility at the Arkansas International Airport in Blytheville. The new facility includes a 50,000-square-foot hangar, the largest at the Aeroplex, and 40,000-square-feet of storage capacity. The facility is projected to employ 60-75 workers. Maintenance operations for WGA at the site are expected to commence in June 2025.
Chinese-owned Syngenta sells ag land in Craighead County

2 weeks ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

A Chinese state-owned company that owned land in Craighead County has sold that land, according to the Craighead County Assessor’s Office. Syngenta Seeds LLC sold more than 150 acres to Moore Legacy Farm LLC on May 15. The deal was for $760,000. Syngenta had to sell the land after Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin enforced a new state law in the fall of 2023 that forbids several countries, including China, from owning land in the state.