
Ozarks At Large


(Photo: Walmart 2011 Diversity and Inclusion Report)
The Arkansas Board of Education rolls out a new progress assessment system for school across the state, waypoints in Northwest Arkansas may soon be easier to locate, and Rogers school district officials are looking at changing the way early-achieving students receive credit for courses.
No matter how hard some may try, money is inescapable. We use it to buy stuff, and most often we pay taxes with it. Ozarks at Large's Timothy Dennis takes a look at news stories related to citiesí tax revenue from the past week.

The Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission waits for more input before deciding whether to give $1 million to the U of A, but the commission gives out more than $145,000 to a number of other groups. State officials work to close a funding gap in Arkansas' Medicaid system, and the city of Fort Smith takes another look at zoning for sexually oriented businesses.
David Shipler, author of the book “The Working Poor” spent time in northwest Arkansas last month for the annual One Book, One Community event. During his visit he participated in a public discussion at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Crystal Bridges of American Art in Bentonville is one year (and one day) old today. We take a look back at the museum's last twelve months.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, a conversation with the director of special education for the U.S. Department of Education; she says many with disabilities are capable of learning anything and everything that those without disabilities can. Plus, as strawberries begin to pop up in gardens and farmers' markets in the area, a group of national leaders in the industry meet in Fayetteville to discuss sustainable growing practices.
The ending sports seasons, art with a new permanent home, and a new effort to collect diapers are all part the Tuesday notes.
After Sunday's tornado devastated Vilonia, Mayflower and the surrounding areas, several businesses began offering a slew of options to provide additional support to relief efforts, some traditional and others more novel.
For a list of some of the ways to help relief efforts, click here.
A half-mile wide tornado killed at least 16 last night when it rolled across the central part of the state, hitting the cities of Mayflower and Villonia especially hard. Meanwhile, the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross begins coordinating its response teams to help in the recovery efforts.
"Bizness" by tUnE-YaRdS
The Human Rights Campaign based in Washington, D.C. has announced plans to aggressively expand operations in Arkansas and two other southern states. And as Jacqueline Froelich reports, the group has committed $8.5 million dollars to make it happen. (Photo: Chad Griffin, HRC President and Arkansas native)
Plus, Wal-Mart pays large sums in legal fees. Roby Brock has more in this week’s Talk Business and Politics Update.
“In/Out” by Dan Croll