Mercy Health used an innovative walking program to become one of the healthiest workplaces in the country.
Ozarks At Large
A roundup of events and news for the next few weeks include an alternative way to deliver a Valentine.


An administrative law judge with the Arkansas Public Service Commission on Friday ordered SWEPCO to proceed on its proposed plan to build a massive new power transmission line through portions of northwest Arkansas. Also, Governor Mike Beebe says that recent cost analyses of operating the state's Private Option expansion of Medicaid justifies the program's passage during last year's session of the state legislature. And the state Attorney General's office warns residents about rapid-refund tax providers.

Ahead on Ozarks, a conversation with young adult author An Na. Also, we learn what it takes to become a police officer.

We speak with An Na, author of A Step From Heaven, a book that was awarded the Michael L. Prince Award when it was published a decade ago. Critics and reviewers commended the book's characters for speaking like a child without being too precocious or condescending. The author will speak in Fayetteville later this month.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Weekend Ozarks, we visit the kitchen of Jen Lewis, take a spin in a state-run clinic that aids veterans in rural communities, and we meet a recovering opiate addict who has found hope with methadone.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's new PLUS app allows readers to view extra content via their smart phone or other mobile devices. More information is available at www.arkansasonline.com/plus.
Tomorrow, the River Valley Ale Raisers will hold an all-American brew off in Fort Smith. Ozarks at Large's Christina Thomas spoke with Luke Stolz, president of the regions home brewing club, about the basics of making (there’s a science to it) and drinking beer at home. For more information: www.RiverValleyAleRaisers.com.
The Arkansas Board of Health is endorsing a proposal to expand Medicaid coverage in the state, the Rogers Historical Museum will be able to use a nearly 150-thousand dollar grant to help design the permanent exhibitions in a new facility, and more.
“Swimming” by: Florence and the Machine
The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, established 145 years ago is present in more than 2100 towns in 37 states. The nonprofit, nonpartisan, fraternal social organization advocates for rural America. In this story, we travel to Oklahoma to visit a still-operating grange on the Flint Creek Watershed.
Becca Martin Brown uses puns to tell us about all of the theater shows happening throughout the area this weekend.