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Easter Sunday bomb blasts kill more than 200 in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — More than 200 people were killed and hundreds more wounded in eight bomb blasts that rocked churches and luxury hotels in or near Sri Lanka's capital on Easter Sunday — the deadliest violence the South Asian island country has seen since a bloody civil war ended a decade ago. by BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI and KRISHAN FRANCIS Associated Press

Family weighs in after Little Rock officer cleared At a picnic organized in Bradley Blackshire's honor Saturday, his family members said they disagreed with the decision not to charge the Little Rock police officer who fatally shot him in February. by Clara Turnage 22 hrs. ago

'Mature' response: Noland bounces back to forge Hogs' sweep Connor Noland couldn't get an out at Vanderbilt, but he shut down No. 2 Mississippi State on Saturday at Baum-Walker Stadium. by Bob Holt 1 day ago

Why so many notables? Little-pond city of Hope spawned big names People ask what's in the water at Hope. by Bill Bowden 22 hrs. ago

Police: Gunman shot by authorities outside west Little Rock fast food restaurant dies A gunman who was hit in an exchange of shots with police outside a west Little Rock fast food restaurant Sunday afternoon has died, authorities said.

Arkansas Constitution threshold questioned Questions linger over a 68-year-old Arkansas Supreme Court opinion that denied lawmakers the ability to alter constitutional amendments, after attempts to force a reconsideration of the ruling failed to gain traction during this year's legislative session. by John Moritz 22 hrs. ago

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS: Two Little Rock apartment complexes fetch $21.6M in two deals BSR Real Estate Investment Trust, a publicly traded company in Little Rock, sold two of its Little Rock apartment complexes this month for about $21.6 million. by David Smith 1 day ago

Arkansas legislators cool to retiree filings; system trustees faulted on offering reasons for changes Most of the bills proposed by the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System trustees to reduce the system's unfunded liabilities failed to clear the Legislature during this year's regular session. by Michael R. Wickline 22 hrs. ago

JOHN BRUMMETT: What do we stand for? Let's all get to work on finding four principles or themes that define Arkansas well. It might prove instructive, even healthy. by John Brummett 1 day ago

Remedial students increase to 35% of state's 1st-time college-goers The proportion of Arkansas public college students needing remedial courses is back up to where it was when schools began being able to more flexibly change their remediation policies, according to a new report from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. by Emily Walkenhorst 1 day ago

207 people die in Sri Lankan Easter blasts More than 200 people were killed and hundreds more wounded in nine bombings that rocked churches, luxury hotels and other sites in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday -- the deadliest violence the South Asian island country has seen since a bloody civil war ended a decade ago. by COMPILED BY DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF WIRE REPORTS Updated 28 mins. ago

OK to take Russian help, Giuliani insists President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani insisted Sunday that there is "nothing wrong" with a campaign taking information from the Russians, as House Democrats pledged stepped-up investigations into 2016 campaign misconduct and possible crimes of obstruction detailed in special counsel Robert Mueller's report. by COMPILED BY DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF WIRE REPORTS Updated 29 mins. ago

New restrictions put on abortions Mirroring a nationwide trend, Arkansas legislators introduced bills during the recently adjourned session that tack a growing number of restrictions onto a woman's ability to legally obtain an abortion. by Linda Satter 30 mins. ago

New laws on licenses ease path for drivers Thanks to nearly a dozen laws passed this year in Arkansas' 92nd General Assembly, obtaining a state driver's license just got a little easier -- especially for teenagers and inmates in the state correctional systems. by Jeannie Roberts Updated 31 mins. ago

UAMS grads find fewer matches in state Fewer than half of area medical school graduates are matching with residencies in Arkansas, but the state still does well in retaining its graduates as physicians, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Association of American Medical Colleges data show. by Kat Stromquist 31 mins. ago

Jail changing strategy to aid more inmates The Pulaski County jail will switch to a new method of dividing inmates by June, recognizing people for good behavior with increased privileges. by Alex Gladden 49 mins. ago

Worshippers celebrate at sunrise There was already a promise of bright sunshine on the horizon Sunday morning as people carried blankets, young children and camp chairs on walkways and through dewy grass along the Arkansas River bank to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. by Francisca Jones 50 mins. ago

Capitol session wraps up this week Legislative leaders aren't expecting much, if any, action when the 92nd General Assembly reconvenes at noon Wednesday at the state Capitol to wrap up the regular session. by Michael R. Wickline 51 mins. ago

Police encounter turns deadly in LR A man who was shot in an exchange of gunfire with police outside a west Little Rock fast-food restaurant Sunday afternoon died, authorities said. by Stephen Simpson 51 mins. ago

Library employees not entitled to unique benefits, panel says The Saline County Library's employees would not be "duly entitled" to certain benefits such as a child care and elder care stipend and student loan reimbursement if these benefits are different from those approved by the Saline County Quorum Court for other county employees, the Arkansas Ethics Commission has concluded. by Michael R. Wickline 52 mins. ago

McFarland adjusts to less-active role Jordan McFarland made his first SEC start this season for the University of Arkansas baseball team Saturday against Mississippi State because of Heston Kjerstad's one-game suspension. by Bob Holt 1 hr. ago

Perch precarious for 1st-place Hogs A three-game sweep of No. 2 Mississippi State has moved the University of Arkansas baseball team to the top of the SEC West standings. by Bob Holt 1 hr. ago

Judge hits IL; Yanks down 13 Aaron Judge won't be back with the New York Yankees anytime soon, a further blow to an injury-decimated team with a mediocre record 3½ weeks into the season. by The Associated Press 1 hr. ago

Cards keep Syndergaard on a search for solutions Noah Syndergaard has found his health, and even a little bit of luck at the plate, but he's still off to a vexing start to the season. by The Associated Press 1 hr. ago

Teenager hospitalized after fall from Newton County bluff A 15-year-old boy from Texas was hospitalized on Saturday after he fell from a waterfall in Newton County, authorities said. by Stephen Simpson 7 hrs. ago

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Motion on DWI case cites 2 tickets; governor’s son seeking dismissal A drunken-driving charge against William Asa Hutchinson III, the governor's son, should be dismissed because there are two separate "charging documents" in the case, Hutchinson's attorney wrote in a motion filed in Washington County Circuit Court. by Bill Bowden

Burglaries The following burglaries are from reports collected from the Little Rock and North Little Rock police departments. The names listed are of those who reported a burglary and the dates are when the crime is believed to have taken place. Cammack Village data are not included.

Police beat NLR teen arrested after shots fired by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Prosecutor says Little Rock officer justified, no charges in fatal shooting Officer Charles Starks was justified in the Feb. 22 fatal shooting of Little Rock resident Bradley Blackshire and will face no criminal charges, according to a letter from Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley. by Clara Turnage

Grieving central Arkansas family pleads for tips in 2018 slaying One year and three months after a woman was shot to death while holding her 5-year-old daughter in Pulaski County, investigators and family members asked again for the community's help in identifying her killer. by Clara Turnage

Exotic pets removed from filthy residence A Miller County woman has been charged with 16 counts of animal cruelty after hundreds of exotic animals, including snakes and lizards, were taken from her home. by LORI DUNN TEXARKANA GAZETTE

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JOHN BRUMMETT: What do we stand for? (55) Let's all get to work on finding four principles or themes that define Arkansas well. It might prove instructive, even healthy. by John Brummett

Police: Gunman shot by authorities outside west Little Rock fast food restaurant dies (18) A gunman who was hit in an exchange of shots with police outside a west Little Rock fast food restaurant Sunday afternoon has died, authorities said.

Family weighs in after Little Rock officer cleared (14) At a picnic organized in Bradley Blackshire's honor Saturday, his family members said they disagreed with the decision not to charge the Little Rock police officer who fatally shot him in February. by Clara Turnage

Prosecutor says Little Rock officer justified, no charges in fatal shooting (45) Officer Charles Starks was justified in the Feb. 22 fatal shooting of Little Rock resident Bradley Blackshire and will face no criminal charges, according to a letter from Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley. by Clara Turnage