Members of Arkansas' Congressional delegation react to President Obama's State of the Union Address earlier this week, as well as the President's pick to lead the Department of Defense. And, Fort Smith city and Sebastian County officials plan their next step inn moving forward with a regional aquatics center following public dissatisfaction with recently revised plans.
Ozarks At Large

A survey released this morning by the Walton Family Foundation measures residents of Northwest Arkansas' happiness and opinions.
Arkansas legislators move forward with a bill that would cap annual growth of the state government, and the controversial bill that would allow some to carry concealed firearms on college campuses in the state moves forward as well. Plus, John Brown University in Siloam Springs gets a gift to help renovate the oldest dormitory on the school's campus.
A bill that would initiate a study of the state's public schools' readiness to acts of violence is one step closer to becoming law. The Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas selects cities to be a part of a program studying municipal sustainable energy consumption. And Lincoln residents will get the chance to see one of the Academy Awards nominees, weeks before the ceremony takes place in Holywood.

Becca Martin Brown from NWA Newspapers says tonight's entertainment suggestions include auditions for “Goodbye Charlie” at Rogers Little Theater, and the band Spoken returns to Fayetteville.
A recent bill in the Arkansas legislature would reward state employees who report waste or inefficiency with state money, and lawmakers speak out on a recently released audit of the state's Medicaid system. And, smaller beef cattle herds in the state caused by last year's drought may result in higher beef prices at the grocery store.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Monday, March 17, 2014
On this St. Patrick's Day edition of Ozarks, a conversation with Christopher Leonard, author of “The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America's Food Business.”
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.