A recent bill in the Arkansas legislature would reward state employees who report waste or inefficiency with state money, and lawmakers speak out on a recently released audit of the state's Medicaid system. And, smaller beef cattle herds in the state caused by last year's drought may result in higher beef prices at the grocery store.
Ozarks At Large
This is our list of items for this morning’s montage of snakes:
- Kaa, the snake from The Jungle Book, sings a hypnotic tune. The voice is provided by the legendary Sterling Holloway.
- Harrison Ford, as Indiana Jones, ponders his next adventure.
- Jim Stafford, now of Branson, sings one of his biggest hits, "Spiders and Snakes."
- The character Snake, from The Simpsons, watches his car get stolen.
- A highlight of Kenny “The Snake” Stabler running for a touchdown for the Oakland Raiders.
- A big (talking?) snake gets zapped in the Harry Potter movie Chamber of Secrets.
- Electric Light Orchestra performing "Don’t Let Me Down."
- The famous Spam skit from Monty Python. (python, get it…)
- The only part of *the* quote from the movie Snakes on a Plane we could put on the air.
- Duran Duran with the song "Union of the Snake."

Katy Henriksen gives us a preview of tonight's Sunday Symphony, in addition to giving us another song performed by Damn Arkansan in the Firmin-Garner Performance Studio.
Web Esclusive: Another Performance by Damn Arkansan
Becca Martin Brown of NWA Newspapers tells us about a talk about the West Memphis Three with Mara Leveritt this week in Fort Smith, as well as everything else that's up this week in the area.

Becca Martin Brown of NWA Newspapers gives some advice on what to do in terms of Valentine's Day happenings.
Drivers along several highways in the region are familiar with the sights, sounds and detours of road work. As OAL's Timothy Dennis reports, another major thoroughfare in northwest Arkansas is about to undergo construction.


Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Friday, February 14, 2014
Ahead on Ozarks: Michael Tilley from The City Wire helps us keep with the moving pieces in the puzzle that is the 2014 Arkansas election. Plus last-minute Valentine’s Day plans courtesy of Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers and Shannon Wurst explains one inspiration for writing love songs.
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.