Good morning, Fort Smith.

A man accused of pistol-whipping and robbing a victim in a Fort Smith apartment was deemed fit to stand trial — a psychiatrist said he emulated mental illness during an exam.

Crawford County man Gregory Whitt was arrested on Aug.21 and is held on a one million dollar bond after police said he admitted to killing his husband Kevin Whitt near Catcher Road in Van Buren on Aug.20—he stabbed and choked him during a fight over drugs.

AAA said Labor Day weekend travel is expected to be busy while costs are lower than last year—with flights 6% cheaper, hotels 11% lower, and rental cars 3% less expensive—and in Arkansas, gas is about 20 to 30 cents cheaper per gallon.

AAA advises drivers to leave early, check their car’s oil and battery, and pack essential emergency items.

The Arkansas Division of Corrections announced that starting this fall, inmates will receive most non-legal mail digitally when it is sent to a digital mail center in Tampa—where the mail is scanned and uploaded to tablets to help block contraband.

Fort Smith’s Board of Directors will get an update on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Blue Lion about the progress of a 48-inch transmission line designed to bring water to the east side — the line will act as a backup supply as water demand grows.

The board will also review plans to upgrade the Lake Fort Smith Treatment Plant to boost capacity as summer use nears its limit — details were shared by Lance McAvoy of the Water Utilities.

State Sen. Bryan King called for a stop to payments to Vanir Construction Management for the Franklin County prison project, saying the firm refused to meet with local officials and answer questions about taxpayer dollars—he cited cost concerns that the project could exceed $1 billion. More than 1,200 locals have signed a petition that the Joint Performance Review Committee will review on Sept. 9.

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.