Hundreds of millions of dollars have been slashed from Head Start, the historic preschool program, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Jacqueline Froelich reports on the closure of the Willow Heights Head Start in downtown Fayetteville.
Ozarks At Large

The Bella Vista Bypass hits a snag in Missouri, and the Rogers Fire Department gets a FEMA grant worth more than a half-million dollars


Becca Martin Brown tells us that the country lineup of Exile, which features a list of former members of the band, has reunited and will perform soon in northwest Arkansas.
Ezra Idlet and Keith Grimwood of Trout Fishing in America recently stopped by the Firmin-Garner Performance Studio. Here they are playing the title track from their new album, "Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers."
Becca Martin Brown tells us that the country lineup of Exile, which features a list of former members of the band, has reunited and will perform soon in northwest Arkansas.

Several happenings at area libraries and music at local pubs for this National Chocolate Milkshake Day edition of the daily notes.
Fayetteville competes in the International Compassion Games. Participants can earn points simply by being nice.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Monday, December 9, 2013
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, we learn about undergrounding. Plus, a conversation with the author of "Hanging On Upside Down: The Life and work of Marianne Moore."
Justin Minkel, a Springdale elementary school teacher and 2007 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, has just written a new book aimed at young readers.
Here are out ten clips relating to Buffalo, New York and the War of 1812.
1) Ten Thousand Maniacs (from the Buffalo area) sing Because the Night,
2) Robert Redford and Wilford Brimley in The Natural (filmed in Buffalo).
3) Bruce Springsteen sings about Buffalo's Erie Canal.
4) A trailer, featuring Marilyn Monroe, for the movie Niagara…set in nearby Niagara Falls.
5) Buffalo native Rick James ponders a Super Freak.
6) A BBC documentary about the assassination of President McKinley. The shooting happened in Buffalo. (as did the subsequent swearing-n ceremony of Theodore Roosevelt).
7) The only electronic song we know of about Buffalo native Grover Cleveland.
8) Judy Garland sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow…written by Buffalo native Harold Arlen.
9) Amanda Blake, another Buffalo native, as Miss Kitty on an early episode of Gunsmoke.
10) Johnny Horton sings The Battle of New Orleans, about the final battle of the War of 1812. Arkansas connection: written by Jimmy Driftwood.
Roby Brock, from our content partner Talk Business Arkansas, offers a preview of the state's politics in the coming year.
"The Boxer" by Editors
Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers suggests 12 things you should do in 2014.
Kevin Kinder and Kyle Kellams compare their lists of favorite music for 2013.