It's been a bordello, a restaurant and now a visitors center...and it's one of our favorite spaces in the region. We spent an afternoon at Miss Laura's in downtown Fort Smith,
Ozarks At Large

The Arkansas Department of Human Services has released numbers that show thousands of low-income Arkansans have shown intent to sign up for the state's Private Option insurance plans. Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families releases a report detailing inequality of enrichment opportunities between schools across the state. And furloughed work-study employees at Northwest Arkansas Community College returned to work this morning after a two-day suspension and before negotiations in Washington showed promise.


An effort to improve understanding in the classroom led to astonishing art.
Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers has still more Halloween events to tell us about today.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast comes back to Walton Arts Center this weekend and we talk with the set designer about what we see behind the characters.

Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Friday, January 3, 2014
On this special edition of Ozarks at Large we listen again to some of our favorite stories from 2013, including: how to make it to age 100 in Huntsville, an odds-defying collaboration between a renown musician and Trike Theater and the creation of the Ozarks at Large quiche cup.
In the span of 35 years, The Austin Lounge Lizards have released 11 albums including one this year. The band has a loyal following around the country, and when they were in Fayetteville recently, they stopped by the Firmin-Garner Performance Studio for a live set on The Pickin' Post. Here's one of the songs from that set.
Governor Mike Beebe yesterday released the results of an investigation into the Arkansas Department of Community Correction, and that systemic problems exist within the department. Excess state revenue in October may be needed later this year, according to a state economist. Work gets underway at Fayetteville's Wilson Park, as renovations begin to the buildings at the park's pool. A longtime lobbyist for the U of A announces his retirement. And the Walton College of Business gets another favorable ranking.
"Vivian Leigh's Veins" by Kaki King
Two years ago we reported on plans by the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville to establish a comprehensive support program for students with high functioning autism. Nine students are now enrolled. The UA is among two-dozen colleges offering such services.
Some kids may like athletics or marching band, but one effort in Fayetteville aims to nurture the next generation of nerds in a positive atmosphere.
"A Streetcar Named Desire" by Kenny Burrell
Becca Martin Brown gives us the details of the big food and wine week in Eureka Springs.