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.
State revenue numbers for April show a higher than forecast amount collected during the month. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi speaks about her hopes for the next presidential election. And, the head of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals steps down to take a new job in Nevada.
"Spiderman" by Ugress
Michael Tilley from The City Wire talks about a rise in construction in Northwest Arkansas and possible plans for the Garrison Ave. bridge in Fort Smith
The nonprofit Equestrian Bridges will host its inaugural Mini Derby fundraiser tomorrow afternoon.
The Idle Class, a magazine about the arts in Arkansas, started as a Tumblr in 2011. Founding editor Kody Ford then launched it into a website and most recently as a print glossy distributed free throughout the state. The second print issue debuts tonight at The Stolen Glass in Fayetteville. Kody and Andrew McClain, managing editor, stopped by the studio recently to discuss both the challenges and rewards of running a magazine for the arts in Arkansas.
"Sunshine Superman" by Donovan
Becca Martin Brown from NWA Newspapers gives us a list of entertainment options with the caveat that weather may preempt some of these events.