December 2020

The pandemic drove us outdoors, where social distance is easily accommodated and the crazy twists and turns of 2020 more easily forgotten. And while restaurants and shops that typically entail indoor interactions at close quarters have been significantly impacted, the…

Arkansas insurance man and sports media guru Andrew Meadors can transition between the subjects of insurance and sports like one of his idols, Muhammed Ali, used to float around and then through opponents in the ring. Seamlessly weaving, say, the…

Photos courtesy of Seal Solar The sun is rising on the solar industry in Arkansas. Across Arkansas, as the sun shines down, its rays are striking rooftops and ground arrays, generating renewable energy for homeowners and businesses. Through advancements in…

The steel industry, like all others in 2020, had plenty of issues to deal with related to the pandemic. And it was an election year, to boot.  Fuel tax revenue was down; decisions on large projects were delayed. Plus, federal…

America’s steel industry has long been associated with the mills that dominate Pennsylvania and the Rust Belt. Yet Mississippi County also has a surprisingly robust presence in its manufacturing, employing nearly 5,500 Arkansans — a 39 percent increase since 2009.…

Rajesh Chokhani, COO of Welspun Tubular, looked out over a sea of workers’ faces. From this spot in the company’s Port of Little Rock manufacturing facility, he was 30 hours by air from his native India, give or take, but…

It’s been gaining on a year since COVID-19 landed in the Natural State, and only time will tell if the world will ever be the same. Even so, babies continue to be born, beaming couples still walk down the aisle,…

Boutique owner Kendall Sandifer began the year preparing for business as usual. Her shop, Fringe Clothing, sits in the heart of the River Market District of downtown Little Rock and attracts wandering tourists and dedicated shoppers alike. Sandifer opened the…

Changes in trade tariffs, COVID-19 regulations and the country’s top leadership have Arkansas international export officials keeping a close eye on 2021.  The state has always had a diverse export base, ranging from aerospace and defense technology, agriculture, mechanics, steel…

The rise of social media has transformed our society. We’re more connected than ever, but we’re also far more vulnerable to privacy breaches, cybercrime and misinformation. ARA Academy member Dr. Nitin Agarwal researches cyber information campaigns, social computing, deviant behavior…