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.
As a festival that celebrates local food and farmers, Dig In! Food and Farming Festival will return to Fayetteville tomorrow.
More information is available at www.diginfestival.com.
“Life in Technicolor” by Vitamin String Quartet (Tribute to Coldplay)
Michael Tilley from our content partner www.thecitywire.com discusses a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report about increase in the unemployment rate in Arkansas and Mississippi in 2011; a proposed one-cent tax extension in Fort Smith; the increase in sales tax collections in Fort Smith and northwest Arkansas; and more.
“Perpetual Self/What Would Saul Alinsky Do” by Sufjan Stevens
Becca Bacon Martin from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers and a special guest explain to Iti Agnihotri-Mudholkar the mystery of “Veggie Tales.”
“Hairbrush Song” by Veggie Tales
Dr. Eric Baker from the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith will present a lecture next week about the depletion of oil resources around the world and the consequences. The event “The End of the Oil Age: Peak Oil and Its Ramifications” will take place in the Gardener Building Lecture Hall on the UA-Fort Smith campus this Monday at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
“Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve
Jodi Beznoska from Walton Arts Center talks about our entertainment choices for the month of March.