Ozarks At Large
An audit of the state's Medicaid program that was set to be released late last week has been held until later this week. Also later this week, Governor Mike Beebe is expected to meet with state lawmakers to discuss details of a $1.1 billion dollar project that would see Big River Steel bring a steel mill to Osceola. Plus, there are more bald eagles on Beaver Lake this year, as reported by a recent survey by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Following Thursday's Energize NWA Summit in Rogers, plans begin for healthy initiatives in northwest Arkansas.
Here is the key to our mail montage on today's show:
- The song "Please Mister Postman" by the Marvelettes.
- Wayne Knight as Newman, the postman, on Seinfeld.
- Elvis, of course, singing "Return to Sender."
- Lana Turner and John Garfield up to no good in the 1946 version of The Postman Always Rings Twice.
- R. B Greaves' biggest hit: "Take a Letter Maria."
- John Ratzenberger, as Cliff Clavin the postman, on Cheers.
- Frank Cady, the postmaster general Frank Drucker, on Green Acres' first episode
- Kevin Costner in the movie The Postman.
- Reba the Mail Lady, played by S. Epatha Merkerson, on Pee Wee's Playhouse.
- "The Letter" by the Box Tops .
We've had another week with news about organizations that provide services to the community. Timothy Dennis looks at those stories, plus repercussions from the week's severe weather, in this week's Week in Review.

We get a preview of tomorrow night's Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra concert when guest artist Yoonie Han comes to the Firmin Garner Performance Studio

Following yesterday's Energize NWA Summit in Rogers, plans begin for healthy initiatives in northwest Arkansas.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
On this edition of Ozarks, Governor Beebe answers questions submitted by Arkansans. Plus, we talk to some organizers of Fayetteville Community Radio.
Becca Martin Brown, from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, says Toto (and Dorothy) will be here soon.
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.
Here is the list of the ten clips we used as our salute to The Wizard of Oz (and the explanation for each):
1. Pinball WIZARD by the Who
2. Jed Clampett as played by Buddy Ebsen, the actor originally cast as the...
3. ...TIN MAN, also the inspiration for a song by America.
4. A 1961 documentary about Ham, sent into space by NASA...a real-life FLYING MONKEY.
5. John Cougar Mellencamp sings Rain on the SCARECROW.
6. Famous television doctor, Dr. OZ.
7. The song Africa by TOTO.
8. A 1966 commercial for the game TWISTER. (as in the phenomenon that sent Dorothy to Oz)
9. The Tokens sing the (cowardly?) LION sleeps tonight.
10. Elton John with the title song from his album Goodbye YELLOW BRICK ROAD.
Apologies to the band Kansas and the song Witchy Woman by the Eagles. Maybe next time.
Next year an LLM degree at the University of Arkansas will be obtainable in a face-to-face setting or from a distance.`
at end of show: "Amanda Jewell" by Ricky Skaggs
Michael Tilley, from The City Wire, helps us dissect an odd news week.