Manufacturing jobs down 1,425 in state
The number of industrial jobs in Arkansas has declined 1 percent in the past year, according to a report Wednesday from Manufacturers’ News Inc., a publisher of industrial directories in Evanston, Ill. The number of manufacturing jobs in the state fell by 1,425 from September 2012 to September 2013, said a news release.
There are now 195,174 workers in Arkansas’ manufacturing industry, the news release said.
“Manufacturers in Arkansas have yet to fully recover from the recession, and the state faces heavy competition from its neighbors,” said Tom Dubin, president of Manufacturers’ News Inc.
“However, Arkansas’ low taxes and abundant natural resources continue to be a draw for many companies.” Neighboring states saw an increase in industrial jobs in the past year. The number of manufacturing jobs in Louisiana rose 2.9 percent and in Oklahoma the jobs rose 2.6 percent.
- Jessica Seaman
Stator-tumble victim at Nuclear One sues
Ronnie Francis, one of the eight workers injured in the March 31 accident at Arkansas Nuclear One near Russellville, has filed a lawsuit against Entergy Arkansas and contractors who were working at the plant.
The lawsuit was filed in Pope County Circuit Court.
Francis, a Garland County resident, was an employee of Precision Surveillance Corp., which was contracted to work at the plant.
A 1 million-pound, $20 million generator stator - a large stationary enclosure where electricity is generated - fell as it was being moved from the turbine building.
Francis suffered injuries to his right knee and his back as he tried to rescue another worker trapped under a fallen beam.
Wade Walters, a 24-year-old worker, died in the accident. At least three lawsuits have been filed by injured workers.
- David Smith
Arkansas Index falls with broader market
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, fell 1.35 to 328.07 Wednesday.
“U.S. stocks ended mostly lower on Wednesday after some mixed economic data and the release of the Fed’s Beige Book report which indicated that the economy continues to expand at a modest to moderate pace,” said John Blackwell, senior vice president and managing director of equity trading at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock.
Volume for the index was 26.8 million shares.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business, Pages 26 on 12/05/2013