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.
New Threshold Theatre, a new theatre company organized by young adults, is using Kickstarter to raise money for its first production.
Becca reminds us that the Rogers Public Library is hosting Reading Adventures with Scout this afternoon.
John Englehardt, a third year MFA in fiction candidate at the University of Arkansas, won the A&P short story contest sponsored by The Stranger, an alternative weekly paper in Seattle. The story, titled "Gingrich" is out today both in the print paper and online. "Ozarks at Large's" Katy Henriksen discusses both beginnings and endings, as well has why Englehardt was drawn into storytelling.
Kelly Mulhollan, Donna Stjerna, Phil Lancaster, and John Johnston, the original four members of the folk group Still on the Hill will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 14 in the Walton Arts Center's Starr Theater. Tickets are $16.
The Bentonville School District plans on how to move forward with a growth plan for its high school, students at Rogers high schools next year will be able to get their feet loose with a new class, and the Walton Arts Center gets a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts.
"Disconnect the Dots" by Of Montreal