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.
We keep pace with Eric Walker and Keith Scheffler as they train for the “Tough Mudder Dallas.” Their team of seven will face a 12-mile gauntlet of wall, rope, fire, water, electro-shock and, of course, mud obstacles at the end of this month.
"Liztomania" by Phoenix
Tuesday afternoon, Ozarks at Large’s Antoinette Grajeda took a tour of the new Tyson Founder’s Room. Here’s her story.
"Four Leaf Clover" by Abra Moore
The University of Arkansas’ Full Circle Campus Food Pantry came in second in a nationwide contest launched by the White House called “Campus Champions of Change Challenge.” Representatives from the pantry visited the White House Thursday to be honored for innovation and determination.
The Arkansas Arts Council-organized event "Small Works on paper" is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year; plus, some fly-fishing, an antique show and HOWL for women and men make the weekend look very promising. Becca Bacon Martin from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers has the details.
Author Michael Downs talks about his book “The Greatest Show” which is a collection of short stories based on the 1944 Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus fire.
To listen to more of this conversation, click here.
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Tori Amos