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.
Ozarks At Large
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.
Though the plans are in the early stages, The University of Arkansas Fort Smith may begin offering its first Master's degree in a few years.
Our ten clips saluting sailors and sailing:
1. The theme to Popeye the Sailor Man.
2. Bob Denver and Alan Hale hatch a scheme on Gilligan's Island.
3. Christopher Cross creates the all-time yacht rock song with Sailing.
4. Gregory Peck, as Captain Ahab, ponders his life with Starbuck in Moby Dick.
5. Sloop John B by the Beach Boys.
6. Hercules ignores the orders of Jason in the 1963 version of Jason and the Argonauts. (later, the GREATEST MOVIE SCENE EVER with the sword-weilding skeletons).
7. Jimmy Buffett is Aa Son of a Son of a Sailor.
8. Russell Crowe catches up to a ship in Master and Commander.
9. Bogart and Hepburn on The African Queen.
10. Lyle Lovett sings If I Had a Boat.
Apologies to: Horatio Hornblower, Sinbad (the sailor, not the comic) and Errol Flynn. Maybe next time.
1. The theme to Popeye the Sailor Man.
2. Bob Denver and Alan Hale hatch a scheme on Gilligan's Island.
3. Christopher Cross creates the all-time yacht rock song with Sailing.
4. Gregory Peck, as Captain Ahab, ponders his life with Starbuck in Moby Dick.
5. Sloop John B by the Beach Boys.
6. Hercules ignores the orders of Jason in the 1963 version of Jason and the Argonauts. (later, the GREATEST MOVIE SCENE EVER with the sword-weilding skeletons).
7. Jimmy Buffett is Aa Son of a Son of a Sailor.
8. Russell Crowe catches up to a ship in Master and Commander.
9. Bogart and Hepburn on The African Queen.
10. Lyle Lovett sings If I Had a Boat.
Apologies to: Horatio Hornblower, Sinbad (the sailor, not the comic) and Errol Flynn. Maybe next time.
Today's week in review looks back at the school-related news we've aired over the past seven days.
The Benton County Children's Advocacy Center recently received reaccreditation. Lake Wedington in Washington County and Shores Lake in Franklin County will soon be partially drained to allow the U.S. Forest Service to allow for some winter maintenance. And Bentonville Public Schools begins to think about names and mascots for its second high school that will be built in Centerton.


Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, the 2014 Cancer Challenge aims to add to the $10 million raised with the event over the past 20 years. The three-day event this year encompasses a variety of locations and activities including golfing, running, trap-shooting and wrapping up with the more traditional gala. Plus, uncovering stories at Oak Cemetery, and if you're unsure of which stages to make it to during this weekend's Wakarusa Music Festival, Becca offers some suggestions.
Opponents to Arkansas' 12-week abortion ban are asking a federal judge to issue a permanent injunction to prevent the law from ever being enforced. Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport gets a $3.4 million grant that will be used for pavement upgrades, a master plan and more. Mount Sequoyah Gardens in Fayetteville is getting upgrades to make it a more appealing overlook. And, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality is holding several public meetings around the state regarding a revised statewide ten-year solid waste plan.
"They Were Wrong" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
Roby Brock from our content partner Talk Business Arkansas speaks with Axiom executive Jerry Jones, the chairman of a task force called FASTER Arkansas, that's working to improve broadband access to public school students.
Benton County native, Joe Woolbright, operator of Ozark Ecological Restoration, contracts with local and state nonprofit agencies, to help bring native grassland prairies on both public and private land back to life.
"When We Both Are Cats" by Bombadil
Becca Martin Brown from NWA Newspapers discusses entertainment options in the region, including a Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.
The owner of a new drums-only store in downtown Springdale thinks Emma Avenue has unique potential to become a destination community.