The third Downtown Rogers Restaurant Week includes chefs swapping kitchens and bartenders inventing drinks.
Ozarks At Large
The world’s largest retailer is testing a new convenient store format near the home office. And as Jacqueline Froelich reports, the company aims to corner a burgeoning quick check market, offering fresher faster, but at supply chain prices. 
We speak with a visitor communications specialist with the caverns to find out what precautions are being undertaken to insure the safety of the caves bats, other caves, and visitors. A new fellowship program in Arkansas aims to stem the flow of highly skilled college graduates from the state to other areas. And, two of the longer-operating hospital systems in the state announce a merger.
The latest revenue collections by the state came in again above what was originally forecast, while one gubernatorial candidate issues his plan to put mroe funding into Pre-K programs.
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, those amphibious harbingers of spring--frogs and toads--are being counted all over Arkansas. We'll find out how the frog watch works, and if the number of frogs in the state is diminishing. And, the AMP is being prepared for its first show. The seats aren't in yet, but work is going on almost around-the-clock to meet a June 1 completion date.
This month, visitors to a bustling Bentonville square can step inside the Visitor's Bureau to take in the serene landscapes of pastel artist Judy Howard.
We meet Tom Krohn, Arkansas Regional Coordinator for FrogWatch USA. Krohn hosts free workshops across the state, training citizen scientists to become certified frog listeners. He will be in Northwest Arkansasa April 8 & 15th at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale. To learn more visit Arkansasfrogsandtoads.org.There have been spies and spying in American history since before the formation of the country. Our history doctor, Bill Smith, reminds us of a few historic episodes.
In January, the Old Fort Homeless Coalition held its annual Point-in-Time Count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in the community. Overall, the number of homeless in Fort Smith decreased from last year, though the need for a homeless campus is still apparent.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Friday, May 30, 2014
Ahead on Ozarks, Michael Tilley talks about a potential multi-billion dollar acquisition by Tyson Foods and a less-than-expected participation rate for upcoming elections in the City of Fort Smith. And, a preview of two very different ways to spend tomorrow night: the rumble of monster trucks will be in Springdale, and music from the Artosphere Festival Orchestra will be in Fayetteville.
Christopher Spencer of www.ozarksunbound.com is back for another Monday edition of Unlicensed Opinion. Our guest this week is Philip Martin of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Visit Philip Martin's blog at www.bloodangelsanddirt.com
To hear more from the conversation, including the Culture Vulture guidelines for when you can spoil an ending or plot twist, click here.
Elizabeth Bailey was confined to her bed with a chronic disease when a friend brought her a plant to help brighten the room. The next day Elizabeth Bailey began observing a single snail that unwittedly immigrated into the room in the pot. Her fascination with the small animal helped her deal with her condition and eventually led to her book "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating." The remarkable book mixes science, philosophy and memoir.
Blogger Bike Snob NYC is not really a bike snob, though he does ride his bike plenty. His new book, "Bike Snob" covers the history of bicycles and takes a sometimes serious, sometimes tongue-in-cheek approach to the two-wheeled world.
Surfing might not seem like the best way to become more grounded, but it worked for author Peter Heller.
"Flowers" by 1 Oz. Jig
Becca Bacon Martin has an audio scavenger hunt and several ideas about how to spend the weekend.
