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.
Voters in Bentonville reject a millage increase; the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program awards $1.6 million in grants; and more – on today’s Segment A.
“Egyptian Robe” by Miniature Tigers
The group “Keep Dollars in Benton County” has until Aug. 8 to turn in enough signatures to get a measure on the ballot that would allow residents to vote on turning the county wet, allowing alcohol sales and manufacture.
“Dry Counties” by Mountain Sprout
We take a look behind the scenes of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship to see what it takes to organize the annual LPGA event.
For more information, visit www.nwachampionship.com.
University of Arkansas Razorback athlete Caleb Cross begins his quest to be part of the U.S. Olympic team this week.
Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers is still in New Orleans, but has some great suggestions on how to spend the day in a fun way in northwest Arkansas.
“Fun Stuff” by Frightened Rabbit