Sparklight has ribbon-cutting
Planning Commission to meet; Hill honors students; Welcome to the Heat Dome plus sports and headlines
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MEETINGS: The School Board for the North Little Rock School District will have a special call meeting at 5:30 p.m, Thursday night. The Planning Commission for the city of Maumelle will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night at City Hall. For more on that meeting, keep scrolling. With Monday being the fifth Monday of the month, there’s no City Council meeting North of the River. Live your life city councillors and enjoy your freedom.
EVENTS: Next Friday, July 4, is the Fourth of July. Plan accordingly.
ANNIVERSARY: Today is our anniversary and hence the early arrival. If you see us at Petit & Keet, come over and say hi. We’ll be the stunningly handsome and beautiful couple, so easy to pick out of the crowd.
Planning Commission to meet
The Maumelle Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday night at City Hall.
For the agenda, click here.
The agenda is a light one, with only one item of new business and no old business.
That one item is a preliminary plat of five acres located at 12400 Louis Nelson Drive.
A proposed rezoning of property off of White Oak Crossing was withdrawn by the applicant. The reason for the withdrawal wasn't given on the agenda and the packet that is typically available the week of the Planning Commission meeting wasn't posted online on Tuesday night.
The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed on the city's YouTube page.
Sparklight has ribbon-cutting
Sparklight, as part of its rebrand from Fidelity, held a ribbon-cutting at its offices in Maumelle last Thursday.
The internet service provider covers Maumelle and portions of rural north Pulaski County.
The launch party also included music, food, drinks and prizes.
It was held at 1001 Murphy Drive in Maumelle.
“Our Sparklight rebrand reflects more than just a new look; it represents a renewed, energized commitment to the communities we serve,” said Kenny Walker, Sparklight Senior Director, South Central Region in a press release. “We’re thrilled to celebrate this exciting milestone with the residents of Maumelle and surrounding areas, and to continue building strong connections through fast, reliable internet and local service our community can count on.”
Welcome to the Thunder Heat Dome
\There's a heat advisory on for most of Arkansas through Friday as the combination of high temperatures and humidity will make it extremely dangerous to be out and about.
Also, be mindful of those traveling with you, if you do get out and about., When it is this hot, it doesn’t take long to turn the interior of your vehicle into an oven hot enough to kill your dog, or child, as this helpful chart, below, illustrates.
Really, the best thing to do is stay inside. Watch something fun on the teevee and only come out to get into the pool.
The humidity is supposed to break by Friday night, and here's hoping, but temperatures will stay in the high 90s through the weekend.
Eye on the Sky
Today: Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 106 and with a low around 75.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 102 and with a low around 75.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 96 and with a low around 75.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97, with a low around 75.
Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97, with a low around 75.
Hill comes down the hill, honors students
U.S. Rep. French Hill, a rare sight in these parts, recently announced the winners of his Educational Achievement Award that recognized 39 high school students in his Second Congressional District.
North of the River honorees include:
Taylor Jamison, 11th grade and Elli Eaton, 12th grade at Maumelle Charter
Lucas Mazzoni, 11th grade and Saniya “Gabby” Jones, 12th grade at Maumelle High School
Troi McKinney-Ezeagwula, 11th grade at North Little Rock High School Center of Excellence:
Johah Pulliam, 12th grade, at North Little Rock High School
The honorees were determined by academic achievements, at least a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for grade point average, and community contributions. Students are nominated by their counselor or principal with one junior and one senior from each school.
The other honorees include:
Benton High School: Madeline Moran, 11th grade; Ty Matyja, 12th grade
Bryant High School: Chanley Morrow, 11th grade; Taylor Dischinger, 12th grade
Catholic High School for Boys: Whitton “Whit” Butler, 11th grade; Zachary Ellis, 12th grade
Conway High School: Brogan Nix, 11th grade; Cora Jones, 12th grade
Episcopal Collegiate School: Matthew Collins, 11th grade; John Jennings, 12th grade
Greenbrier High School: Oliver Jerry, 11th grade; Shiloh Maxwell, 12th grade
Hall-West High School of Innovation: Angelica Esquivel, 11th grade; Sabrina Jones, 12th grade
Jacksonville High School: Jennifer Green, 11th grade; Jarvis McCray, 12th grade; Joshua Murry, 12th grade; Kzaja Conklin, 12th grade
Mount St. Mary Academy: Carson Vogelpohl, 11th grade; Amaria Love, 12th grade
Mt. Vernon Enola High School: Abigail Wagler, 11th grade; Kennedy Peterson, 12th grade
Pangburn High School: Kira Thomas, 11th grade; Brylie Butler, 12th grade
Pulaski Academy: Andrew Sidarous, 11th grade; Walden Culpepper, 12th grade
Quitman High School: Gretchen Waggoner, 11th grade
Riverview High School: Tristan O’Connell, 11th grade; Kelsie Pettiet, 12th grade
South Side Bee Branch High School: Changing Thorn, 11th grade; Brooklyn Cullum, 12th grade
Vilonia High School: Elissa Graham, 11th grade; Kohen Sprague, 12th grade
UA Little Rock celebrates first cybersecurity graduates
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock marked a major milestone this spring as it celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of students to earn a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity.
The inaugural class of nine graduates includes Kenneth Barnett, Bryce Ebsen, Isaac Gonzalez, Courtney Ingram, Cameron Jackson, Cameron Johnson, David Leitnaker, Emily McClenahan, and Brandon Orender.
Ingram, Gonzalez and Orender are all of North Little Rock.
These students represent a diverse range of backgrounds, including traditional students, military veterans, working professionals, and student-athletes, who are all united in their mission to enter a high-demand profession and protect critical systems from cyber threats.
"Watching our first class of cybersecurity graduates walk across that stage is beyond exciting-it's deeply rewarding," said Rebecca Passmore, an assistant professor of cybersecurity. "They came in as students full of curiosity and potential and are leaving as confident professionals ready to make a difference."
UA Little Rock launched its bachelor's degree in cybersecurity in 2021 in response to growing national and statewide demand for skilled professionals. Since then, the program has rapidly expanded in scope, student enrollment, and national recognition, recently being named to national lists for both Top Cybersecurity Programs and Most Affordable Bachelor's Degrees.
"It's incredibly rewarding-like reaching the summit after a long climb," said Dr. Philip Huff, associate professor of cybersecurity and director of cybersecurity research. "We laid the groundwork for this program about six years ago, and to now see our students stepping into meaningful careers is a moment of real joy and pride."
The program now includes a growing number of certifications and specialized tracks in areas like digital forensics, software security, and cybersecurity operations. With new graduate programs in artificial intelligence security and cybersecurity operations on the horizon, UA Little Rock is solidifying its role as a statewide leader in cybersecurity education.
"It's a profession for every organization," Huff said. "We've barely begun to supply the cybersecurity workforce needed in Arkansas. There are thousands of job openings right now, and we're committed to preparing students to fill them."
The success stories among the first graduates reflect the program's accessibility and flexibility. Courtney Ingram, a North Little Rock native, began college in 2004 but paused her education to focus on work and raising a family. After discovering the new degree program through a 2021 newspaper article, she enrolled and completed her degree while working full time.
"I never thought I would be in the category of being one of the first to do what I'm doing," Ingram said. "The journey that I took to get here is something I'll never take for granted. I put myself in a very uncomfortable position for four years, but I made it. This program sharpened me. It made me more organized and gave me something to strive for. I've changed since I started. I've become more confident, and it's helped my mental health. If I can do this, I'm ready for what's next."
Ingram recently began a new role as an information security analyst associate at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. She was also the winner of the university's Spring 2025 Grad Cap Contest. A picture of her grad cap earned more than 1,900 likes on Facebook.
Cameron Jackson, a student-athlete from Kilgore, Texas, balanced his passion for track and field with rigorous cybersecurity coursework.
"As I learned more about cybersecurity and how important it is in today's world, I knew it was the field I wanted to pursue," Jackson said. "UA Little Rock offered a strong program and the chance to grow in both athletics and academics, so it was the right fit for me. It's been a great experience. The program is hands-on and constantly evolving, and I've had the chance to work on real world projects that have challenged me and helped me grow."
He now plans to pursue a master's degree in information science while working in cybersecurity as well as training as a professional athlete.
"It's exciting and humbling to be part of the first graduating class," Jackson said. "We're setting the tone for future students and helping build the reputation of the program. It feels like I'm part of something bigger than just my own education. Long term, I'm interested in combining my cybersecurity knowledge with legal studies to help organizations stay secure and compliant. I'm excited for what comes next and to represent UA Little Rock wherever I go."
Emily McClenahan, a former chef and sales professional from Malvern, saw cybersecurity as a chance to pursue a more intellectually challenging career.
"I've always been curious about how things work-especially in tech-and after a decade in the culinary and sales industries, I was ready for a career that would challenge me intellectually and keep me learning," she said. "Cybersecurity checked all the boxes, and the program at UA Little Rock felt like the perfect fit."
McClenahan returned to school after reading about the new program in an article and graduated this spring with honors.
"My experience was challenging, rewarding, and hands-on," she said. "I've learned so much and gained confidence in areas like digital forensics, incident response, and compliance. The faculty support has been outstanding, and I'm proud to be graduating with honors.
"It's incredibly emotional and rewarding," said Dr. Sandra Leiterman, cybersecurity education research professor. "We launched this program during the uncertainty of COVID, when we had just a handful of students. These graduates took a chance on a new program. They believed in us, and we believed in them."
Graduates are stepping into roles such as security operations center analysts, threat hunters, and incident response specialists across government, healthcare, and private sectors.
"The stakes are high when it comes to cybersecurity," Passmore said. "From safeguarding patient records to protecting infrastructure, these students are entering careers that truly matter."
As cyber threats grow in complexity and frequency, the demand for trained professionals continues to climb.
"The market is robust and expanding," Passmore said. "We need more students to step into this field prepared to protect what matters most.”
Upcoming Travs games
At Amarillo, June 24-29
At Frisco, July 1-3
Frisco RoughRiders,three-game homestand
Friday, July 4, 5:35 p.m.
Fireworks Friday - Patriotic Finale: Celebrate America at DSP with a BANG! | Presented By Arkansas Army National Guard
Saturday, July 5, 7:05 p.m.
Fireworks - Patriotic: End your week at DSP with a BANG!
Sunday, July 6, 1:35 p.m.
Operation: Military Appreciation: Service Members get $3 off General Admission and Field Reserved tickets by presenting a Military ID (only available at DSP Box Office) | Presented By Mid-South Ford Dealers
Kids Run the Bases: Kids 13 and under are invited to run the same basepaths the Travs run after the game! | Presented By First Community Bank
Health
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.
Covid toolkit
There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.
If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:
Get vaccinated
Get boosted
Wear a mask
Avoid crowds