Good morning, Springdale.

Local artist Adam Ritchey exhibits his show titled 'Echoes in Ink' at Community Creative Center through the end of July; his work uses hand-printed linocut and woodcut prints from his personal archive and will lead to a residency at The Medium in Springdale from August through November.

The Northwest Arkansas Council has hired David Giesige as the executive director for a new workforce program designed to link educators, businesses and community partners + expand work-based learning options for around 50,000 future job openings.

The initiative, supported by the Walton Family Foundation, aims to boost local talent retention.

Professor James C. Stevens, formerly director at Clemson, will become dean of the Fay Jones School on Aug.

15 while Peter MacKeith retires on June 30 and Jim Gigantino serves as acting dean from July 1.

Central Arkansas school districts are granting exemptions so that third graders can move on without meeting new literacy test standards under the LEARNS Act; in Springdale, nearly 97 percent of Level 1 scorers received a waiver while a few will retest from June 23 to June 26.

At Wildcat Stadium on Thursday, Sapulpa (Okla.) came from behind to win the Springdale Har-Ber 7-on-7 Invitational 25-23 with a game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Braddox Broughton.

Honesty Holt, 25, served for three seasons as an assistant before being named head coach of Springdale Har-Ber softball following Randy Osnes' retirement.

The announcement came Wednesday (after Osnes endorsed her), and Holt will lead a team returning star players including Cyarah Dotts and Jasmine Thomas.

Arkansas pitching coach Matt Hobbs—who has long dreamed of coaching Team USA—was named an assistant coach for collegiate tryouts later this month in Cary, North Carolina and will coach at the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taichung City, Taiwan from late June to mid-July.

Seven of eight Razorbacks track qualifiers advanced in Eugene, setting up eight entries in five finals scheduled for Saturday.

Sanu Jallow-Lockhart broke the NCAA prelim record in the 800 with a time of 1:58.89 — a mark over 0.5 seconds faster than last season’s top time.

Dozens of fans gathered at Luther George Park to watch the FIFA World Cup opening match today, where supporters cheered on their teams — sparking a local celebration of soccer culture.

The tournament will continue with more games scheduled in the coming weeks.

Lucinda Williams Concert

6:00-8:30 p.m. — The Walmart AMP — Ticket prices vary — Experience the soulful sounds of three-time Grammy Winner Lucinda Williams on her current tour.