A tribute to Charles Banks Wilson will take place not too far away from the artist's one-time Fayetteville home, and some connected to the U of A get some praise.
Ozarks At Large
The Ozark Natural Science Center was in dire straits earlier this year, but a fundraising campaign is nearing completion and students are expected to be at ONSC this fall.Fourth District Congressman Tom Cotton officially announced his bid for U.S. Senate yesterday, ending one of the worse-kept secrets in Arkansas politics. The special election date is set for Fayetteville voters to decide whether to extend bonds that were originally used to build the Fayetteville Town Center. And a lawsuit is the latest chapter in the saga surrounding C & H Hog Farms, the Farm Services Agency and the U.S. Small Business Association.
Ahead on Ozarks, how community clinics will change, and not change, with the roll out of The Affordable Care Act. We continue our series on how the act will affect Arkansas. Plus a warm documentary made during the latter part of Levon Helm's life will have its northwest Arkansas premier Friday night at the Fayetteville Public Library…we’ll hear from the film’s director. Plus Joe Neal returns with the sounds of his high-flying neighbors…American crows. And the music of Nora Jane Struthers and the Party Line shines in their 2013 release, Carnival. They’re coming to Fayetteville later this month as part of the Roots Festival and we'll have a review of the album.
When Joe Neal is not out in the field counting and taking audio recording of birds, he’s at home—counting and taking audio recording of birds, including some new “folks” in the neighborhood. Joe Neal is coauthor of “Arkansas Birds,” published by the University of Arkansas Press. His latest book “In the Province of Birds, a Western Arkansas Memoir,” is published by Half-Acre Press. 
Medically underserved individuals can secure care at twelve federally qualified community health centers in Arkansas. Some patients pay cash, on a sliding scale based on income. Others are enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. But under Arkansas’s new Health Care Reform private option, these health centers may see their Medicaid income slashed.A legislative task force is ironing out its recommendations for a new state veterans' home to be built in one of four potential cities. And, early voting begins today on a zoning issue in Russellville that could determine whether a Walmart Neighborhood Market will be built in that city.
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks. A Facebook-job-posting-a-day approach to getting people in the Fort Smith region who are looking for work. Work Fort Smith is taking a small, but consistent, path to connecting those seeking work to those seeking employees. We'll also review the past seven days in Arkansas politics and business with Roby Brock from Talk Business Arkansas and two approaches to solar power…including area high school students taking to a swimming pool to test their solar-powered boats. And Meredith Martin Moats continues her series on books about Arkansas with a review of a study of the man who brought electricity to the state, Harvey Couch.Meredith Martin Moats continues her summer series on books about Arkansas with a review of a biography about Harvey Couch.
You can read more from Meredith at theboileddownjuice.com.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks: In 1980, thousands left Castro's Cuba on a boatlift to the United States. Many of them were given housing at Fort Chaffee. Jacqueline Froelich examines what happened then, what's happened since…and why historians are spending time getting the facts correct. Plus, a new adult education library for Northwest Arkansas Community College.
The Fort Smith Symphony will salute the scores of the prolific composer John Williams next month.
Arkansas lawmakers begin to work toward $100 million in tax cuts, though it will reportedly take some convincing before Governor Mike Beebe signs off on the proposed cuts. Advocates are calling for new administrators at a Northwest Arkansas veterans' home. And, a Fayetteville resident and immigration reform advocate is honored by President Obama while an equality rally takes place in downtown Fayetteville.
"Typhoid Mary" by Hollis Webb
A special report offers highlights of Bentonville's past, present and future.
"Rollercoaster Overload" by Yosemite Rain
As the U.S. Supreme Court takes on issues of gay marriage this week, Arkansans are mostly unchanged in their views on the subject. State lawmakers yesterday held a conference regarding the Big River Steel mill super project in Osceola, and state economic officials say that while the deal has risks, precautions have been taken in drafting said deal. And, Governor Mike Beebe says he vetoed a controversial voter ID bill yesterday because he feels it is a redundant law.
"Slow Walk" by Hurray for the Riff Raff
