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.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's new PLUS app allows readers to view extra content via their smart phone or other mobile devices. More information is available at www.arkansasonline.com/plus.
Tomorrow, the River Valley Ale Raisers will hold an all-American brew off in Fort Smith. Ozarks at Large's Christina Thomas spoke with Luke Stolz, president of the regions home brewing club, about the basics of making (there’s a science to it) and drinking beer at home. For more information: www.RiverValleyAleRaisers.com.
The Arkansas Board of Health is endorsing a proposal to expand Medicaid coverage in the state, the Rogers Historical Museum will be able to use a nearly 150-thousand dollar grant to help design the permanent exhibitions in a new facility, and more.
“Swimming” by: Florence and the Machine
The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, established 145 years ago is present in more than 2100 towns in 37 states. The nonprofit, nonpartisan, fraternal social organization advocates for rural America. In this story, we travel to Oklahoma to visit a still-operating grange on the Flint Creek Watershed.
Becca Martin Brown uses puns to tell us about all of the theater shows happening throughout the area this weekend.