
Ozarks At Large

Discussions continue in Little Rock about potential expansions to the state's Medicaid system, and a bill barring abortions after 12 weeks moves past a House committee. And, the Benton County Quorum court has a new member.

Our tech ambassador Tyrel Denison fills us in on all the details about Facebook's new Graph Search feature.
A “swabbing” drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the University of Arkansas Student Union. Donors at this event will be swabbed for blood type, this information will then go into the DKMS database, registering people to be potential donors in the future to patients undergoing treatment for various types of blood cancer. Ozarks at Large’s Christina Thomas spoke with organizers of the event, who said they would like to register 250 people on Thursday.

The bill proposing changes to the state's lottery scholarship program moves forward as it passes the Arkansas House, while a bill aimed at capping spending growth by the state government likely heads back to committee. And, two bridges in downtown Fayetteville could soon see rehabilitation.


- "Major Tom," as performed by David Bowie
- Neil Armstrong lands on the moon.
- Charlton Heston just before his space ship crashes into future earth. Spoiler alert: there are APES. This is the opening scene from the original Planet of the Apes
- A commercial for Tang
- HAL takes over in 2001: A Space Odyssey
- The Shocking Blue with their biggest hit, "Venus"
- A piece of the trailer for the disaster movie Armageddon. That's nativa Arkansan Billy Bob Thornton explaining "It's a meteor shower."
- Pluto, the dog, barking in his 1952 cartoon, "Pluto's Party."
- The worst bit of dialogue ever in a movie ("Future events such as these will affect you in the future.") from Plan 9 From Outer Space"
- Holst's Mars from "The Planets"

Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
On this edition of Ozarks, a task force on race is working in Harrison to discuss the past, present and future of that city. And a student organization at the University of Arkansas is working to make sure a small town in Belize will have an ample supply of safe water in the future.
The city council will consider buying just more than four acres for the city's fourth fire station. Plus, the Private Option compromises were discussed at the Political Animals Club in Little Rock.
"Mambo Meixcano" by Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkestra
Open enrollment for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act ends March 31st. And if you don’t have minimal essential coverage of any kind, you will be penalized. And as Jacqueline Froelich reports, how much depends on your income level.
Meanwhile, a push to raise the Arkansas minimum wage, and a separate effort to increase workforce programs get underway in the state. Roby Brock has that story and more in his weekly update.
The Arkansas Agriculture Department has recently revamped its program that connects local farmers to interested consumers, including an upcoming App.
Louis Jordan is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Still, many Arkansans might not know about their native son. Stephen Koch, the host of Arkansongs, has written a new book about him.