Ozarks At Large
The head of the Hatcher Agency, the state's largest independent insurer, says that many of his clients are providing insurance to employees rather than paying penalties associated with the Affordable Care Act. Senator Mark Pryor talks about his push for answers from the Air Force regarding the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith while Senator Boozman says he is concerned about a backlog in disability claims for veterans. And Elton John is coming to Fayetteville in just a few weeks.




Two public meetings were held late yesterday in Jasper to address concerns about the large CAFO in Newton County. Picasolar took home several thousand dollars from an MIT competition earlier this week. Fort Smith has finished automating trash collection, but now the city's sanitation department is turning its eye to automating recyclable collection. And speaking of Fort Smith, Senator Mark Pryor demands answers from the U.S. Air Force regarding the future of the 188th Fighter Wing.

Ozarks at Large's Meredith Martin Moats recently sat in on a conversation with Bud Rector, who will turn 99 later this year and has lived almost all his life in Yell County. We conclude her two-part report on his recollections of an Arkansas that has nearly vanished.

Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Remembering Some of the People We Lost in 2013
On this special edition of Ozarks we hear again some of the voices we lost during 2013, including Bill Harrison, Curley Miller, Ivan Denton and Dick Renko.
A newly permitted industrial swine breeding operation, under construction on a tributary of the Buffalo National River, will spread millions of gallons of hog waste on adjacent pastures as fertilizer. But as word spreads about the giant hog farm, an unlikely coalition of opponents is forming to stop it.
“Sky Tunnel” by Robert Rich
Wednesday is the annual Live United Day sponsored by United Way of Northwest Arkansas. Hundreds of people in northwest Arkansas will not go to their office in the morning. Instead, with their boss’ blessing they’ll help out with a project for an area non-profit organization.
An exhibit opening today in the Ann Kittrel Gallery features a handful of dresses designed to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
The big pigs around Fayetteville, dressed up by local artists, will soon end their visit. But first an auction will be held so some of the pigs can go home with admirers while raising money and awareness for both Ozark Literacy and local artists.
“Serenade” by Ennico Toselli
Helen Kwiatkowski and Todd Williams are both displaying their artwork at the Fayetteville Underground this month.