Even new energy technologies are not immune to the economic malaise gripping the world. LM Glasfiber, the first of several windmill blade manufacturers to locate in Arkansas, has announced it will layoff over 150 workers.

The Danish based company announced last July that it was establishing operations in Arkansas with predictions of employing over 1,000 workers within five years. But the souring economy along with scaled back and…[more]

Consumer advocacy organization BuildClean today warned that cancer-causing radon may emanate from indoor building materials. “The only way to know for sure is to test your home,” says Sara Speer Selber, president of BuildClean.

“Certain industries, building materials manufacturers and resellers would have consumers believe there is absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to the potential for surface choices such as granite, concrete or ceramic tile…[more]

January is National Radon Month, and the Cherokee Nation is taking that opportunity to offer free radon testing throughout the month to any family residing within its northeastern Oklahoma borders regardless of citizenship. The Cherokee Nation stretches across 14 counties in northeast Oklahoma.

The Cherokee Nation is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to educate Americans about the dangers of radon exposure.

Radon gas is recognized…[more]

Southwestern Energy Co. is planning to build a regional headquarters in Conway, Arkansas that will support its operations in the Fayetteville Shale.

The Fayetteville Shale is a large natural gas deposit that has attracted several energy companies which are currently in the process of tapping into the deposit.

The $25 million, 100,000 square foot structure will be built on an 11.5 acre tract in a development…[more]

JEFFERSON CITY - Looking back on 2008, Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn said none of the agency’s accomplishments tops the drop in highway deaths the state has experienced.

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety announced in January that Missouri had reached its goal of 1,000 or fewer deaths one year early.  Not since 1993 has the state had fewer than 1,000 fatalities.

“Over the…[more]

The feud between the state of Oklahoma and Arkansas poultry producers continues as Oklahoma filed an appeal with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

Oklahoma wants to overturn U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell’s ruling that companies could continue to spread poultry litter in the Illinois River watershed after finding that Oklahoma had “not yet met its burden of proving that bacteria in the waters…[more]

The “Name the Train” Contest sponsored by the Missouri Department of Transportation and Amtrak® attracted more than 8,300 name submissions during the first phase of the contest.

Due to the overwhelming response, contest judges require additional time to select the five finalists. As a result, the final voting phase of the contest will begin the week of Dec. 22.

Once online voting begins, you can cast…[more]

In recent weeks, the Environmental Protection Agency has been deluged with letters from angry livestock ranchers and farmers concerned that the agency is about to propose a tax on cows because of their contribution to global warming.

The problem may be stemming from a debate between several environmental groups who want to use the Clean Air Act as a means of controlling greenhouse gasses and business groups who…[more]

Arkansas may be savvy in situating itself square in the middle of greener energy production.

At a news conference with former President Bill Clinton announcing a partnership with the Clinton Foundation to make state buildings more energy efficient, Governor Mike Beebe said the state was in the final stages of negotiating to bring in a fourth windmill manufacturer to the Natural State.

“Arkansas has carved out…[more]

This Christmas season, think twice about spending money on a commercial flame retardant for your Christmas tree. The good, old-fashioned method—keeping your tree in a container of fresh water—is probably all you need to keep your tree green and healthy. Researchers have determined that some flame retardants don’t work on cut Christmas trees; in fact, in several cases the chemical retardants sped up the drying process and made trees more…[more]