Rogers Little Theater's musical may be a period piece, but Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers says it’s still very much relevant.
Ozarks At Large
Heads of some of the state's community health clinics say that one aspect of the private option for Medicaid expansion won't reimburse the clinics enough for them to stay open. Arkansas lawmakers continue to explore ways to administer the death penalty, though the drug commonly used to administer lethal injections remains unavailable. The board of Ozark Regional Transit looks at taking management in-house next year. And the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department announces several road construction projects to be started in the next few years.
Arkansas' senators unveil a bill that would make reparations paid to Mayflower residents from ExxonMobil tax-free. Arkansas lawmakers are trying to fix problems with the state's parole system. The University of Arkansas announces a successful year of fundraising. And Rogers' historic district could soon be a bit larger.
The Ozarks Genealogical Society's annual conference is scheduled for Sept. 13-14 in Springfield, Missouri, and the featured speaker is D. Joshua Taylor (http://www.djoshuataylor.com).

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.
Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin faces a lawsuit after allegedly failing to comply with the state's Freedom of Information Act. Governor Mike Beebe calls on more lawmakers to think less about slashing taxes and more about providing essential services and projects for Arkansans. And a new partnership between the Clinton School of Public Service, Walton College of Business and Rockfish Interactive hopes to encourage students to pursue public service through entrepreneurship.



Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, golf is a sport, but it's also a vehicle for life lessons about honesty and perseverance. We visit the green as First Tee of Northwest Arkansas spends an afternoon teaching values to area youth. Plus, a look at the senate race in Arkansas.
Becca Martin Brown, from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, says Toto (and Dorothy) will be here soon.
Louis Jordan is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Still, many Arkansans might not know about their native son. Stephen Koch, the host of Arkansongs, has written a new book about him.
Here is the list of the ten clips we used as our salute to The Wizard of Oz (and the explanation for each):
1. Pinball WIZARD by the Who
2. Jed Clampett as played by Buddy Ebsen, the actor originally cast as the...
3. ...TIN MAN, also the inspiration for a song by America.
4. A 1961 documentary about Ham, sent into space by NASA...a real-life FLYING MONKEY.
5. John Cougar Mellencamp sings Rain on the SCARECROW.
6. Famous television doctor, Dr. OZ.
7. The song Africa by TOTO.
8. A 1966 commercial for the game TWISTER. (as in the phenomenon that sent Dorothy to Oz)
9. The Tokens sing the (cowardly?) LION sleeps tonight.
10. Elton John with the title song from his album Goodbye YELLOW BRICK ROAD.
Apologies to the band Kansas and the song Witchy Woman by the Eagles. Maybe next time.
Next year an LLM degree at the University of Arkansas will be obtainable in a face-to-face setting or from a distance.`
at end of show: "Amanda Jewell" by Ricky Skaggs
Michael Tilley, from The City Wire, helps us dissect an odd news week.