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Officer Charles Starks will not face charges in the fatal Feb. 22 shooting of Little Rock resident Bradley Blackshire, authorities said.

MIAMI Hurricane Michael, which devastated a swath of the Florida Panhandle last fall, has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm, only the fourth to make recorded landfall in the United States and the first since 1992.

A federal judge sentenced a California prison inmate to more than 23 years in prison after authorities said he set up a drug buy with undercover agents in Northwest Arkansas.

In a world ruled by fairness, Ben Dickeys 2016 solo record Sexy Birds & Salt Water Classics and its 2019 follow-up A Glimmer on the Outskirts would be enough to make his a household name. It was, however, the fortuitous events of that three-year interim that would do the trick. The Little Rock native formerly of 90s-era local post-hardcore act Shake Ray Turbine found his name on the tongues of critics at Rolling Stone and Sundance last year after his friend Ethan Hawke cast him at the center of Blaze, a film depicting the life of Malvern native/songwriting legend Blaze Foley. What emerged was hailed as the best biopic of 2018 Dickeys film debut grappled with its subject unflinchingly, giving a wider audience not only awareness of Foleys catalogue and stunning biography, but an awareness of Dickeys own artistry. Even better, Bob Dylans longtime guitarist Charlie Sexton who played Townes Van Zandt in Blaze produced A Glimmer on the Outskirts, selecting its track list and its studio musicians. Its a mesmerizing collection of tracks, earnest and beatific, and worthy of getting lost in more than once, with vivid turns of phrase like the Great Rearranger drippin all his venom into our eyes. Dickey performs from it for this Saturday engagement at the White Water Tavern, where he debuted Sexy Birds in 2016, before he became an indie film darling.

Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley will not bring charges against Little Rock Police Officer Charles Starks, according to the LRPD and the prosecuting attorneys office. Starks, 31, fatally shot BradleyBlackshire, 30, in a parking lot on the corner of West 12th Street and Rodney Parham Road on Feb 22. Police said Blackshire was driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen.According to initial police accounts, Starks fired on Blackshire after Blackshire accelerated and hit Starks. But on Feb. 27, the LRPD took the unusual step of relieving Starks of duty. He remained on payroll, but had to turn over his badge and gun. On March 7, the LRPD released a 25-minute critical incident video. It shows Starks police vehicle speed to a stop in front of the vehicle Blackshire was driving. Then Starks asks Blackshire repeatedly and aggressively to get out of the car. Asked by Blackshire what hes done, Starks says, Get out Ill explain to you in a second. Seconds later, Blackshire says, What you gonna shoot me for, I aint got Starks continues to demand that Blackshire get of the car. Blackshire says, No. The car Blackshire was driving begins to move slowly forward in what appears to be an attempt to get around Starks police vehicle. Soon after Starks begins shooting. He fired into the car at least 15 times. Jegley, in a letter to LRPD Chief Keith Humphrey, said the shooting was justified because Starks was confronted with the imminent threat of deadly force in two forms: 1 the vehicle that was driving toward him and from which he had no duty to retreat, and 2 his reasonable belief that Mr. Blackshire was going to shoot him. Jegley says Starks believed Blackshire said, Youre gonna have to shoot me, instead of What you gonna shot me for. Jegley also says that when Blackshire puts the car into gear, his hand goes out of sight. Starks said he couldnt tell if Blackshire was reaching for something. Jegley writes that Desaray Clarke, who was a passenger in the car, said Blackshire was digging around in his pocket where she says he normally keeps his gun. Jegley says that Starks said that he moved in front of car in an effort to take cover behind his vehicles engine block as officers are trained to avoid getting shot. Starks also said that he was squaring up to Blackshire so that his vest would provide maximum protection if he was shot. Jegley, in his letter, anticipates that critics will point to how slow Blackshires car appears to be moving. There is less than one second that passes between Starks getting bumped by the vehicle, the vehicle continuing towards Starks, and Starks firing his first shot. So even though the video gives the impression of everything happening slowly, these are truly split-second judgements that Starks is making. An LRPD spokesman also said today that an internal investigation into the incident had concluded, but said it would take approximately two weeks for Chief Humphrey to make a final decision on Starks status. Protestors blocked the intersection of Markham and Broadway on Tuesday during a City Board meeting, demanding justice for Blackshire. Omavi Shukur, an attorney representing Blackshires family, provided the following statement from the family: Charles Starkss actions were criminal. The family disagrees with the prosecutors decision and will be undeterred in our pursuit of justice. We ask that the community not give the authorities any excuse to further neglect their responsibility to make amends for this devastating tragedy. Let us be constructive in the wake of Starkss destructive actions. We seek justice, not retribution. Retribution without justice does nothing to help us reach our ultimate goal of ensuring that no family has to experience what we are going through right now. Mayor Frank Scott issued the following statement: I received notice this afternoon from Little Rock Police Chief Keith Humphrey that Pulaski CountyProsecutingAttorneyLarry Jegleysofficewillnot filecriminalchargesagainstCharles Starks,theLRPDOfficerwhoshotandkilledBradleyBlackshireonFebruary 22nd. Inthespiritoftransparency,IearnestlyawaittheDepartmentofJusticescivilrightsreviewand itsresults.ChiefHumphreyhasassuredmethattheInternalAffairsinvestigationtodetermine policyviolationsordisciplinaryactionwillbedecidedwithintwoweeks. Whether or not you agree with Prosecuting Attorney Jegleys decision, the fact remains that thereisaLittleRockmothergrieving thelossofherson.IhavespokenwithMr.Blackshires mother,prayedwithherthisafternoon,andwillcontinuetoprayforherpeace,strengthand comfortduringthistimeofsorrow. Iunderstandtherangeofemotionsthattodaysdecisionhasstirred,forItooshareinyourpainandfrustration.However,IpersonallyaskthatthecitizensofLittleRockremainpeaceful. This post will be updated.

A number of our customers have been sharing memories of good times at Cajuns Wharf, which will close its doors for good on June 1st. We thought you might enjoy some of these and perhaps spark a few of your own. Enjoying my first Cape Cod on the deck thinking about beautiful women and seeing them too I was 16 years old with a group of my employers customers out on his 50 houseboat taking them to see the famous Cajuns Wharf from the river. Bob Hayes performing on stage, the good ole days. Play-De-Dos, great music, great friends, great food. Great memories So sad to see it closing. Always a must go to when I am back in the Rock All my clients have Cajuns on their agenda when they land in Little Rock. Cajuns is going out in style with an incredibleline up of musicians, drink specials and menu itemsthroughout the rest of April and May. Dont miss the weekly Throwback Thursday $5 menu for cocktails, craft beers, wine and appetizers in the bar and the deck. During these last weeks, Cajuns will be receiving daily seafood shipments from the Fulton Fish Market. Halibut, Atlantic Fluke, Red Snapper and a variety of other seafood arrive at the Fulton Market by 2 p.m. and are on your plate the next day. Thats fresh Thanks for All the Great Years, Little Rock Lets bring them back in these final days and make some new ones.

Get your brains and buzzers ready Brilliant high school students from across the state will test their mental mettle in the annual Arkansas Governors Academic Competition at AETN Saturday, April 27, 2019. The state finals matchup involving all seven conferences and a total of 14 teams will broadcast on AETN in two parts: 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m.

AETN Marketing and Engagement Coordinator Jamie Walters recently had the opportunity to visit third grade students at William Jefferson Clinton Elementary in Sherwood for a career presentation. Find out more about what she shared - and what she learned - after the jump.

An attorney for Little Rock police officer Charles Starks says that his client has been cleared by the Pulaski County prosecuting attorney and will not face charges for the fatal shooting of Bradley Blackshire.

Arkansas first responders have saved 234 lives using the overdose treatment Narcan.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Brian Keith Freeman, who is wanted on a capital murder charge

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