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.
Last week, Fort Smith released a report of the progress made in the top strategic priorities and key issues identified by the top city staff and the Fort Smith Board of Directors. Ozarks at Large’s Iti Agnihotri-Mudholkar spoke with Ray Gosack, Fort Smith City Administrator to learn more.
“City Hall” by Vienna Tang
The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is looking for a volunteer to represent the taxpayers of Arkansas. Christina Thomas spoke with David Still of the IRS from his office in Oklahoma City. To apply to represent Arkansas on the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, visit www.improveirs.org. The deadline to apply is April 27.
“Clocks” – A Tribute to Coldplay by String Quartet
Roby Brock from our content partner www.talkbusiness.net has a round-up of last week’s business and political news.
Los Fotos-Northwest Arkansas founder Bertha Gutierrez nominated for International Women’s Day Challenge; gas prices in Arkansas on the rise, again; the Arkansas Razorback baseball team sits alone at the top of the SEC West standings; and more – on this edition of Ozarks at Large Half-Time.
“Lipstick” by David Carbonara (from Mad Men)
Becca Bacon Martin from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers says this is not going to be one of those Mondays or weeks where we don’t have much to do.