State briefs
Heat advisory issued for central, southern Ark.
LITTLE ROCK — A heat advisory has been issued for much of central and southern Arkansas.
The National Weather Service in Little Rock issued the advisory for today as heat index values could reach as high as 110 degrees.
Forecasters say the combination of highs in the mid-90s and high humidity values will make heat stress more likely for anyone who is outdoors, doing physical activity or people living in places without cooling.
The weather service advises those in the affected parts of the state to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms and check on relatives and neighbors.
Invasive beetle found in Randolph County
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas State Plant Board says an invasive beetle that feeds on and kills ash trees has now been confirmed in northeast Arkansas.
The plant board said Tuesday that Randolph County has been added to the confirmed sites of the emerald ash borer, which had previously been confirmed in southern and central Arkansas. The plant board says the insect likely made it into Randolph County from Missouri. Prior to this year, the insect had been confirmed in Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Hot Spring, Nevada, Ouachita, Union, and Saline counties.
In September 2014, the state implemented an emergency quarantine in a 25-county area that banned the movement of ash items including nursery stock and firewood in an effort to prevent the spread of the beetle.
U.S. judge bars student’s transfer into Cabot district
LITTLE ROCK — A federal judge says a student in Jacksonville cannot transfer into the Cabot School District because the new Jacksonville/ North Pulaski School District has claimed an exemption from the state’s school choice law.
U.S. District Judge Price Marshall’s ruling Monday reverses a state Board of Education decision last month that permitted the transfer. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
reports that Marshall said the state board must respect the wishes of the Jacksonville/ North Pulaski and Pulaski County Special school districts to not participate in the school choice law.
The state law provides an exemption if student transfers put a district in conflict with a
a federal court desegregation order or plan. Sixteen of the state’s 235 traditional school districts have claimed an exemption.
Sheriff: One killed after crop duster crashes
HICKORY RIDGE — Authorities say one person was killed after a crop duster crashed in northeast Arkansas.
Cross County Sheriff J.R. Smith says the crash happened Monday afternoon near Hickory Ridge. Smith tells Jonesboro television station KAIT that 61-year-old Michael Burnette of Hickory Ridge died in the crash.
Software engineering firm to expand, add 45 jobs
NORTH LITTLE ROCK — A software engineering firm that hired its first Arkansas workers two years ago is expanding and hiring 45 new employees.
Exlyxor Inc. announced Tuesday it was hiring 45 new workers — taking the number of employees at its North Little Rock office from four people to 49. The company said the average salary for the new positions will be at least $60,000 a year.
The company was founded in 2010 in Boston and hired its first engineer in Little Rock in 2014. The state Economic Development Commission says the firm will receive a state income tax credit of 1 percent of total payroll for the expansion.