Good morning, Fort Smith.

The Fort Smith Police Department will be at the Farmer's Market at 2nd & Garrison this Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. to answer questions and engage with local residents over coffee.

Prosecutors said no charges were filed for the July 10 shooting death of Charleston man Richard Bradley Jones because evidence showed the shooter reasonably perceived an imminent threat; the case was reassigned after the initial prosecutor recused himself due to a conflict of interest and the victim's family plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Special prosecutor David L.

Ethredge said evidence showed Kermit Acosta acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Brad Jones at a Lavaca home on July 10—while the Jones family plans to file a civil wrongful death suit.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announced that the second year of the early velvet buck archery season will run from Sept.

6 to 8, giving bowhunters a chance to pursue bucks before they shed their velvet—public comments on the 10-year Wildlife Action Plan are now open to help shape future conservation efforts.

Construction began on the $282.5M I-49 Arkansas River bridge in Barling on Aug.

22 that will eventually connect Kansas City to New Orleans by 2029—attended by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and local leaders at the groundbreaking.

The Arkansas Legislative Council dropped plans for a $57 million contract to design Gov. Sanders’ proposed 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County after test wells produced just 3,100 gallons per day—showing that nearly $3 million was spent on a site with insufficient water.

Lawmakers will hold a Sept. 9 hearing where local officials from Fort Smith and Ozark will ask questions about the project’s viability.

LINUX SHELL SCRIPTING Training/Class

Sep 3-4 — Sylvan Learning of Fort Smith — $990 — Dive into hands-on Linux shell scripting training to automate tasks effectively.

Arkansas Apraxia Festival

2-5 p.m. — 3301 S M St Parking — Fundraiser event — Support children with apraxia through fun activities and advocacy.

Save a Life Concert

The second annual Save a Life concert is a free, family-friendly, community event in recognition of National Recovery Month. Hosted at the beautiful Riverfront Amphitheater, with doors opening at 5pm, come enjoy local musicians, free food, and family fun!

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Automation with Ansible Training

Sep 15-18 — Sylvan Learning of Fort Smith — $2735 — Enhance your skills in automating system administration with comprehensive Ansible training.

Gospel Open Mic Night

7-9 p.m. — 1127 Coffee Shop — Free entry — Experience an uplifting evening of worship and local Christian talent at this communal open mic event.