Ozarks At Large
Simultaneous tax cuts and hikes, charter schools and the latest on Medicaid expansion from the state legislature; jockeys prepare for this weekend's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn; more sidewalks in Fayetteville and the population continues to grow in Northwest Arkansas; all in today's Segment A.
The Arkansas General Assembly moves forward with a controversial voter ID bill, education and education supporters rally against a proposal that would shift money from the state's general fund into highway construction, and Arkansas' U.S. Senate contingent speaks out about efforts to pass a federal budget.


State lawmakers continue to weigh the issue of Medicaid expansion two weeks after receiving word from Washington that federal Medicaid expansion funds could be used for a privatized expansion of the system. A pair of lawmakers also weigh in on how recent anti-abortion legislation has affected Arkansas' reputation in the rest of the country. And a controlled burn is set for tomorrow in one local city.
Late last week, the Northwest Arkansas Council released the results of a study on the area's Business Retention and Expansion Efforts. The study was compiled from interviews by area chambers of commerce with 459 area companies. We speak with Mike Harvey, chief operating officer of the council about the survey and what the results mean for the area moving forward.
Another area city plans to speak out against a bill in the Arkansas Legislature that could mean a rollback of city development regulations. Governor Mike Beebe touts the state's efforts to make sure fewer children in Arkansas go hungry, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art again gets national recognition, not for its paintings but for the construction of the museum itsself.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Ahead on Ozarks, distance education will have a strong presence in a program on the University of Arkansas campus next fall, plus Rogers Little Theatre brings a comedy classic to the stage. We go behind the scenes with The Man Who Came To Dinner.
An Ozark native who grew up exploring urban woodlands as a boy, left the Natural State for New York, where he now works as Principle Urban Designer for the City of New York Parks & Recreation. We amble with Charles McKinney, during a holiday visit, along the Fayetteville Trail to learn more about his big life in the Big Apple.
Opera Fayetteville is staging the ambitious, dark modern opera Dead Man Walking twice this weekend.
January is "Be Kind To Food Servers Month." Ozarks at Large's Christina Thomas speaks with local server David Jelinek to talk about the difficulty of the food service industry.
Here is the list of pop culture references included in today's montage honoring food service workers:
Billy Joel sings "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant."
Kermit, Miss Piggy and Steve Martin confer in The Muppet Movie.
Jennifer Aniston complains (understandably) about her flair in Office Space.
The very underrated band The Bus Boys and the song "Minimum Wage."
Meg Ryan defines high maintenance as a customer in When Harry Meets Sally.
The Austin-based Asleep at the Wheel sings "House of Blue Lights."
Judge Reinhold gets a raw deal in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Homer is disappointed with the slow service at Moe's Family Feedbag in a classic Simpsons episode.
Arlo Guthrie and the most famous restaurant song ever, "Alice's Restaurant."
Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback and Polly Holiday inside Mel's Diner on the situation comedy Alice.
Cab Calloway sings "Everybody Eats at My House." The best rhyme in the song: Want a pancake, Mandrake?
"Escape Velocity" by Art Lewy
A new collection of Charles Portis' works will be discussed at the Fayetteville Public Library this week.