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.
The band Fauxnz may spell their name in an odd fashion (pronounce it “phones) but they take their music very seriously.
R.J. Mischo recently came to our studio and played a set for Paul Kelso and the Generic Blues Show. Paul let us hear one of the songs before the entire performance can be heard tonight at nine on KUAF.
Senator Mark Pryor outlines some of his top priorities for 2013 as he tours the state. The Bentonville school district hears from the voting public about what would make for a more successful millage campaign. And Arkansas' public school system gets a passing grade, though there is room for improvement.
"Organ Donor" by DJ Shadow
The Washington/Madison County Drug Diversion Court, recently awarded a million dollars in federal grant funding, offers not only intensive treatment, but career training and placement--with partnering businesses. The novel program, initiated by Judge Chadd Mason, is now the subject of a university study.
One of the many services KUAF provides to its listeners is the reading of Public Service Announcements. After a couple of years of reading similar PSAs from various research laboratories calling on study participants, Ozarks at Large’s Christina Thomas got curious. To find out what they are all about, she called on Dr. Matt Feldner with the University of Arkansas’ Intervention Sciences Laboratory.