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.
American farmers are aging, the average is around 60.
But a new crop of young farmers is emerging across the American landscape. We travel to the foothills of the Ozarks in eastern Oklahoma to Three Springs Farm operated by Emily Oakley and Mike Appel.
“Midnight at Yoshi’s” by Pharoah Sanders
Democrat Darrin Williams was elected as the Speaker of the House in Arkansas last week. Representative Williams is the first African-American to be elected to the post. He spoke with Roby Brock from our content partner www.talkbusiness.net after his election.
Becca Bacon Martin from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers tells us about a book talk and a drawing class at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
“Forty Four” by Howlin’ Wolf
The non-profit Youth Bridge closes in on its $1.2 million goal for a new facility to serve area youth; the Arkansas women’s basketball team to open play in the NCAA Tournament Saturday in College Station, Texas; and more – on this edition of Ozarks at Large Half-Time.
Our history expert Dr. Bill Smith says there is a word that connects a Republican president from the early 20th century to the current president, a Democrat.
“Smokey” by Red House Painters