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."
One Arkansas senator is pressing election officials to resolve issues with the state's voter ID law. Other legislators are pushing to prevent the state lottery commission from implementing video gambling games throughout the state. The FASTER Arkansas committee continues its push for changes in state law to allow public schools to connect to an existing, state-funded fiber optic network. And one Eureka Springs alderman is trying to move forward a decades-long debate on what to do about parking in that city's downtown area.
More than twenty Northwest Arkansas specialty shops sell electronic cigarettes, both disposable and rechargeable. The popular devices deliver a smooth warm nicotine-laced white vapor in variety strengths and flavors. We visit the Velvet Vapor in Rogers and also talk to an Arkansas Department of Health tobacco specialist about pending regulations and potential risks associated with “vaping.”
Our history doctor, Bill Smith, explains the relationship between politics and money is an American tradition.
Becca Martin Brown, from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, directs us to performance art and fireworks this weekend.
Jonathan Story sits down at the Mary Baker Rumsey Steinway.