We continue our series previewing this weekend's poetry festival at Nightbird Books. Katie Nichol grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota and says she started writing poetry when she was about 12 years old:
Ozarks At Large
Arkansas' U.S. Senators speak out in favor of the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would require online retailers to collect state and local sales tax on purchases anywhere in the country. Officials with the WestArk Area Boy Scout Council voice their feelings about changes to the national organization's membership policy regarding sexual orientation. The Rogers Farmers' Market will be in a different location when it opens Saturday, and the Bentonville School District gets state funding approved for construction of a second high school, though the battle for building bucks continues.
Nathan Vandiver from our content partner KUAR in Little Rock provides a wrap-up of this year's Legislative Session.


Governor Mike Beebe and the state legislature tie up some loose ends at the conclusion of the legislative session, the Northwest Arkansas Council holds a summit for area leaders to figure out how to connect immigrants--either international or domestic--to resources in the area. A group of concerned area residents held a protest on the U of A campus yesterday in an attempt to draw U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's attention to the confined animal feeding operation set to operate in the Buffalo River Watershed, and a group of UAFS students plan a run to benefit victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing.
The state's Department of Human Services holds a rally on the steps of the state capitol to raise awareness that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. One of Northwest Arkansas' two public transit operators get ready to expand certain bus routes in an efficiency reorganization. One economist at the University of Arkansas thinks that construction will help the state, and the nation, recover from the lingering effects of the economic recession. And Walmart sets a record for the amount of donations given by a retailer in a given year.


Recent numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Arkansas' unemployment rate remains lower than the national average, though the size of the state's workforce has shrank. Governor Mike Beebe touts the state's growing art tourism industry, Senator Mark Pryor's reelection bid will determine whether a Democrat can still be competitive in the state, and the Razorbacks split a series over the weekend, while the Naturals drop another three-game set at home.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Friday, April 4, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks: the former president of Heifer International speaks on the University of Arkansas campus. Plus, we take a walk through history that begins in Jasper.
Some private property owners in south Fayetteville have taken issue with how the city is going about acquiring general utility easements. We examine municipal eminent domain practices in our region and state.
“Arkansas Traveler” by Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant
Share some “Love Gone Bad” stories and music at this unique fundraiser that raises money for Seven Hills Homeless Center.
To listen to more of this conversation, click here.
“Glory of Love” by Andy Cohen
Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel to speak at Walton Arts Center as part of University of Arkansas’ Distinguished Lecture series; lawmakers still figuring ways to pay for 20 firefighting positions to be restored to the Arkansas Forestry Commission; and more – on today’s Ozarks at Large Half-Time.
Texas country troubadour Ray Wylie Hubbard performs tonight at Second Street Live in Fort Smith. Some eagle and “Willy Wonka, Jr.”-watching is also in order. Becca Bacon Martin from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers has the details.
“Trap Door”by Broken Bells
Still on the Hill’s new CD of love songs “Red Curtain” will be released February 14th at Goodfolk House on Block Street in Fayetteville. The release party will also be accompanied by a concert. They’ll also be at the Lyric Theatre in Harrison this Saturday with Three Penny Acre.
Learn more on www.stillonthehill.com.