Governor Mike Beebe says that a package of tax cuts approved yesterday by the Arkansas Senate is acceptable, though he worries about the cuts' impact in the years to come after he leaves office. A proposed constitutional amendment that would move ethics reform forward in the state moves closer to the ballot after receiving final approval by the legislature. The latest on cleanup efforts on the Mayflower oil spill, in spite of the potential for severe weather. Plans for the Sebastian County aquatics park move forward, and a group at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville plans to take back the night with an annual event aimed at raising awareness about sexual violence.
Ozarks At Large



The Arkansas Senate followed the House's lead in passing a federally backed expansion of the state's Medicaid system, and all that remains is final approval from Washington. The Arkansas Governor's race gets a little more crowded with an official announcement by former Congressman Mike Ross. Arkansas' two Senators give their thoughts on the Gang of Eight proposed immigration reform package. A hearing is held today in Nebraska regarding the Keystone XL pipeline, and a Bentonville group wants to turn Fridays into bike days.



The Arkansas Legislature was a flurry of activity yesterday, with passage not only of Medicaid expansion, but the House also advanced bills regarding cuts to the state's income, capital gains and utility taxes. The House also passed the Senate bill that will provide financial support for construction of the Big River Steel superproject ion Osceola. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel rejects the latest proposed ballot initiative regarding medical marijuana, and Northwest Arkansas' two baseball teams have a disappointing Tuesday.
The Arkansas legislature passed a long-sought-for bill to protect the interests of land owners on a large natural gas play in north central Arkansas, where more than 4,000 unconventional gas wells have been drilled. The measure was pushed by Arkansans for Responsible Gas Development.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Ahead on Weekend Ozarks, a conversation with Arkansas photographer Tim Ernst. Also, singer/songwriter Joe Pug pays a visit to the Firmin-Garner Performance Studio.
The 15th annual Komen Ozark Race for the Cure is later this month.
"Taxman" by Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings
Gloria Goodwin Raheja is a professor of anthropology at the University of Minnesota and spoke on the University of Arkansas campus this spring. Her upcoming book is titled Logan County Blues: Frank Hutchison in the Sonic Landscape of the Appalachian Coalfields, which explores the injustices committed by the coal mining companies against coal miners, and how the miners fought against the companies through music.
Tartufi is a trio from San Francisco coming to Nightbird Books in Fayetteville tomorrow night. Their latest CD is “These Factory Days.” As OAL’s Katy Henriksen reports, the trio… made up of Lynne Angel, Brian Gorman and Ben Thorne… doesn’t always do things conventionally.
This week the staff of the Fayetteville Public Library asked customers: what do you want next?
Web Exclusive: What The Library of the Future Might Include
"Architect" by Trey Anastasio
Christina Thomas visits Timothy Nutt, head of special collections for the University of Arkansas library. Nutt says that the library's collections are directly affected by the death of letter writing.