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.
Last night, three of the first African-American men to play football at the University of Arkansas shared some of their playing-days’ stories at the University of Arkansas Library. Yesterday afternoon, a few hours before the panel discussion, the three athletes, Brison Manor, Johnnie Meadors and Dennis Winston, met with reporters to talk about being recruited in the early 1970s to the university.
“Sunnyside” by: Kaki King
There was a slight decline in unemployment in the state in June, Governor Beebe says the state’s new trauma system could save the state in healthcare costs, and more.
“M79” by Vampire Weekend
In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act, we visit Buster Austin at his nineteenth century Ozarks homestead that’s been occupied since the mid-1800s. We also visit with a historian at the National Homestead Monument, to get some big history. For more information, visit the history and culture section of the National Park Service website: www.nps.gov.
Roby Brock from our content partner www.talkbusiness.net gives us the latest business and political headlines from last week.