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.
A newly permitted industrial swine breeding operation, under construction on a tributary of the Buffalo National River, will spread millions of gallons of hog waste on adjacent pastures as fertilizer. But as word spreads about the giant hog farm, an unlikely coalition of opponents is forming to stop it.
“Sky Tunnel” by Robert Rich
Wednesday is the annual Live United Day sponsored by United Way of Northwest Arkansas. Hundreds of people in northwest Arkansas will not go to their office in the morning. Instead, with their boss’ blessing they’ll help out with a project for an area non-profit organization.
An exhibit opening today in the Ann Kittrel Gallery features a handful of dresses designed to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
The big pigs around Fayetteville, dressed up by local artists, will soon end their visit. But first an auction will be held so some of the pigs can go home with admirers while raising money and awareness for both Ozark Literacy and local artists.
“Serenade” by Ennico Toselli
Helen Kwiatkowski and Todd Williams are both displaying their artwork at the Fayetteville Underground this month.