Jim Kordsmeier

Little Rock

Business Editor at Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Newspaper editor. Bourbon hoarder. Reader of travel guides. Too often, itchy. Guided By Voices.

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Articles

Business People | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - Arkansas' Best News Source

1 week ago | arkansasonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

On the move? Let us read it for you. LISTEN NOW Your browser does not support the audio element. Jackson Murray has joined Stone Bank in Harrison as a commercial loan officer. Ashlyn Rogers has been promoted to Bank Secrecy Act analyst, Labrinna Ayers to operations specialist and Heather Plunk has been promoted to Bank Secrecy Act officer for Stone Bank. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis appointed Brittany Goings Marsh to the Health Care Industry Council and J.
Fired federal staff face uphill search | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

1 month ago | arkansasonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

If they seem unlikely postings, they probably are -- but a recently fired federal worker can dream. Axed from jobs not easily found outside government, thousands of federal workers caught in President Donald Trump's cost-cutting efforts now face a difficult search for work. "If you're doing, say, vegetation sampling and prescribed fire as your main work, there aren't many jobs," says Eric Anderson, 48, of Chicago, who was fired Feb.
Uncertainty grips financial bureau | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

2 months ago | arkansasonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

The day before Linda Wetzel closed on her retirement home in Southport, N.C., in 2012 -- a cozy place where she could open the windows at night and catch an ocean breeze -- the bank making the loan surprised her with a fee she hadn't expected. Wetzel scoured her mortgage paperwork and couldn't find the charge disclosed anywhere. Wetzel made the payment and then filed an online complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Tariff threats spike coffee supply worry | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

2 months ago | arkansasonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

Arabica coffee futures rose to a fresh record after a short-lived United States tariff threat against Colombia added to trade uncertainties in a market grappling with tight global supplies. President Donald Trump over the weekend ordered his administration to impose tariffs and sanctions on Colombia for refusing to allow two military planes carrying deported migrants to land.
Chile sure licenses to drill for lithium will draw investors | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Jan 25, 2025 | arkansasonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

Chile, home to the world's biggest lithium reserves, is confident that investors will compete for licenses to drill new deposits even amid a worsening global glut that's squeezing the battery-metal industry. "We're convinced that there's interest," Mining Minister Aurora Williams said in an interview late Wednesday -- a day before Chile warned that global oversupply is set to increase this year, despite some cutbacks in the industry. Companies have until Jan.
US power giants to merge in $26.6B deal | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Jan 10, 2025 | arkansasonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

Constellation is buying natural gas and geothermal power provider Calpine for $16.4 billion, joining together two of the country's biggest power companies. The acquisition would create the nation's leading retail electric supplier, serving 2.5 million customers, the companies said Friday.
Whirlpool can’t beat the current | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Jan 7, 2025 | arkansasonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

On its face, Whirlpool Corp.'s newest washing machine, with its modern muted veneer, looks nicer than its old ones. And for $100 more, it should be. But behind the scenes, the century-old U.S. appliance maker implemented a series of cost-cutting measures to squeeze more profit out of its machines.
EPA approves requests to restrict vehicle emissions

Dec 18, 2024 | nwaonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday granted two requests from California to enforce strict standards for vehicle emissions, including a rule aimed at banning sales of new gasoline-powered cars in the state by 2035. The incoming Trump administration is likely to try to reverse the action. The California rule is stricter than a federal rule adopted this year that tightens emissions standards but does not require sales of electric vehicles.
Nippon Steel still optimistic for buy | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Dec 6, 2024 | arkansasonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

KASHIMA, Japan -- The signs at Nippon Steel read: "The world through steel," underlining why Japan's top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel. "We can't expect demand in Japan to grow as the population is declining. We need to invest in production that leads to growth," a company official, Masato Suzuki, said Friday while giving reporters a look at a Nippon Steel plant in Ibaraki prefecture, north of Tokyo. Nippon Steel Corp.
Nonprofit fosters culinary arts | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Sep 7, 2024 | arkansasonline.com | Jim Kordsmeier

NEW YORK -- A side of beef bigger than a classroom desktop sat before high school students huddled around a kitchen on New York's Lower East Side. "Anyone wanna jump in?" asked the butcher teaching the Tuesday afternoon class. One student dared, grabbing a saw blade about as long as his arm and sweating to successfully separate the short rib from the rib eye. These demos are regularly hosted by the Food Education Fund.