Several happenings at area libraries and music at local pubs for this National Chocolate Milkshake Day edition of the daily notes.
Ozarks At Large
This week Senator John Boozman talked about prospects for passage of a farm bill and mother matters before Congress.
The Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies yesterday approved plans to let 13 school districts across the state arm some of their staffs. Governor Beebe talks with Roby Brock about what's next in attempts to fix a shortfall in the state's Public School Health Insurance Program. John Brown University is again ranked at the top, and the Walton College of Business at the U of A again gets praise as well.

In addition, the University Libraries digital exhibit on the history of Vol Walker Hall can be accessed here
Web Exclusive: More About Vol Walker

Madison County residents won't see a sales tax increase, and the city sales tax in Siloam Springs will be split a little bit differently after special elections yesterday. The future site of the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith has moved slightly to another riverfront parcel that's twice the size. Residents in Benton County won't receive disaster aid for damage caused by the August storms. And more new jobs are coming to Fort Smith by way of another firearms-related company.


A new art gallery, dedicated to showing controversial and confrontational works, will open this month. We meet the curators at the new Bottle Rocket gallery.

The Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care is working to improve conditions at nursing homes throughout the state. And tax elections are taking place today in Madison County and Siloam Springs, while early voting begins for a millage increase in Bentonville.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Friday, February 28, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks: it has been 60 years since the largest-ever nuclear weapons test by the United States took place on the Marshall Islands' Bikini Atoll. Today, many Marshallese, including several northwest Arkansas residents, are marking the anniversary of the Castle Bravo Blast. Plus, Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers gets us ready for the weekend, Michael Tilley from The City Wire helps us analyze the week's news, and more.
Just in time for cooler weather our local food ambassador, Teresa Maurer, has a stew made almost entirely from local produce.
For more information about slow food in the region, visit ozarkslowfood.org
Web Exclusive: Teresa Mauer's Fall Market Stew Recipe
City officials in Rogers update the city's sign ordinance, unemployment numbers fall in the state and the city of Fort Smith plans improvements for the coming year.
"The Only One" by The Black Keys
A Eureka Springs organization offers medical assistance to anybody regardless of the patients' ability to pay. Ozarks at Large's Christina Thomas talks to one of the organization's co-founders about Echo's plans for the future.
A farm has sprouted in the middle of Fayetteville and the people behind the effort want to help change the way we think about food.
For more information, visit Tri Cycle Farms' Facebook page.
"Back in the Game" by The Greyboy Allstars
Nature recordist and Ozarks at Large essayist Joe Neal brings us the otherworldly sound the thrush. Joe Neal is coauthor of “Arkansas Birds,” published by the University of Arkansas Press. His latest book is “In the Province of Birds, a Western Arkansas Memoir.”