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.
Ozarks At Large
Michael Vinson Williams’ book Medgar Evers: Mississippi Martyr studies the civil rights leader and the civil rights movement. The book was published by the University of Arkansas Press.
You can read more from Meredith Martin Moats at her blog
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
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
On this edition of Ozarks, Roby Brock talks to Senator Jane English about the deal she made to switch her vote for the private option. Plus, we have a report on last night's public input forum that was organized by Ozark Regional Transit
Recently, the duo Air Loom stopped by the Firmin-Garner Performance Studio for a conversation and a live performance.
After listening to speculation about Tom Cotton's political future for months, he finally, formally announced his intention to run for a Senate seat. This week's montage focuses on other cottons:
Zooey Deschanel's Cotton commercial
Michael Jordan's Hanes Lay Flat T-shirt commercial
Golden Corral cotton candy commercial
"Cotton Candy Land" by Elvis Presley
:Peter Cottontail" by Gene Autry
A clip from Francis Ford Coppola's movie The Cotton Club
"Cotton Mouth Man" by James Cotton (featuring Joe Bonamassa)
"Cotton Fields" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Pickin' Time" by Johnny Cash
"Cotton Eye Joe" by Rednex
Flooding affects many parts of Northwest Arkansas, manufacturing defects apparently affected the Pegasus Pipeline when it was tested in 2006, and the state lottery commission is finding itsself on the wrong end of a lawsuit.
"Sistine Chapel Ceiling" by Adorable
Michael Tilley with The city Wire explains how Arkansas has lost fifty-thousand manufacturing jobs in ten years and why full-time jobs are growing in number as quickly as part-time jobs.
Clint Fullin is an example of the second (or third) generation of documentary filmmakers with connections to the University of Arkansas Department of Journalism.
"When I Dream of Michelangelo" by Counting Crows