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 project at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks will teach people how to make birdhouses and hopefully attract bluebirds. Antoinette also tells us what else is up in the coming week.
The National Labor Relations Board issues a ruling in Walmart's case against an organization that claims to be struggling to raise awareness about the company's labor practices. A bill that would bar doctors from conducting abortions on women as early as six weeks pregnant passes the state Senate. And rains from earlier this week have raised the water level at Beaver Lake, though the lake is still several feet below normal levels.
"30 Rock Theme" by Jeff Richmond
Michael Tilley from The City Wire helps us review the week's business and political news.
Following yesterday's Energize NWA Summit in Rogers, plans begin for healthy initiatives in northwest Arkansas.
"A Walk" by Tycho
The comedic, two-man show "Potted Potter" condenses all seven Harry Potter books into a 70-minute production that is coming to the Walton Arts Center.