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.
Robert Ginsburg talked with Defeayo Marsalis about his music, touring and his famous family. He’ll be at the City Auditorium in Eurkea Springs Saturday night.
For more information about jazz this weekend in Eureka Springs, visit the JazzFest website here. And for more news about jazz in the region in general, digijazz.com.
John Brown University announces that it is diverting all of its waste from landfills, a portion of Highway 62 in Lincoln is designated as a school zone and the state gets a federal grant to help combat prescription drug abuse.
"Numerology" by The Yellowjackets
According to a U.S. Census Bureau report released last week, in 2010 and 2011, close to 15 percent of Americans were living under the federal poverty line, but in Arkansas, that number was as high as 17 percent. The state has consistently ranked among the states with the highest rates of poverty. On Ozarks at Large this week, we are examining Arkansas' poverty problem.
Today, Ozarks at Large's Iti Agnihotri-Mudholkar examines the causes of poverty in Arkansas and the ways in which it affects all of us.
"Panning The Gold" by John Powell
A new web site is dedicated to attracting adults in northwest Arkansas with some college experience but not a degree. The plan, endorsed by five area institutions of higher learning, was announced yesterday.