Although 2012 was a tough year for agriculture in Arkansas, farmers are getting better prepared for next year. Also, the city of Fayetteville is renovating a pair of tennis courts at Wilson Park in an attempt to attract more young athletes to the sport. And Senator John Boozman speaks out against the Defense Authorization Act and the uncertain future for the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith.
Ozarks At Large


Becca Martin Brown from NWA Newspapers gives us some entertainment suggestion related to Christmas and some that are not.
Last month, the relatively new University of Arkansas Ballroom and Latin dance club took to the floors of the Ohio Star Ball, the largest ballroom dancing competition in the nation. Christina Thomas attended one of the clubs meetings. She spoke with members of the team, including one who won best newcomer international in waltz and tango.
Students and staff at Lingle Middle School in Rogers collected more than 3,000 items of nonperishable food to donate to five local agencies.
Fort Smith city administrators put a hold on new applications for billboard signs in the city while city staff completes a study on digital billboards. And, Republicans have taken over the state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction, but a state historian says that the Republicans of yesteryear had different legislative priorities than the GOP of today.

Wayne Bell closes out his personal entertainment picks of 2012 by discussing his favorite books and plays of the year.
Ryan Fourt is an Arkansas native and has a diploma from the University of Arkansas. He lives in Colorado now, but he’s back in town for two shows at Legacy Blues this week.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Ahead on this edition of Weekend Ozarks, a hands-on approach to preparing high school students for both college and the real world. Plus, an effort to encourage those who have some college credits to return to complete their degrees. We'll also visit a hidden treasure at the 80-year old Devil's Den State Park and hear the voices of Eureka Springs.
Governor Mike Beebe and the state legislature tie up some loose ends at the conclusion of the legislative session, the Northwest Arkansas Council holds a summit for area leaders to figure out how to connect immigrants--either international or domestic--to resources in the area. A group of concerned area residents held a protest on the U of A campus yesterday in an attempt to draw U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's attention to the confined animal feeding operation set to operate in the Buffalo River Watershed, and a group of UAFS students plan a run to benefit victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing.
"Sounds Like There's a Pacman Crunching Away at Your Heart" by Haiku Salut
Tom Vilsack, the country's Secretary of Agriculture, was the esteemed speaker of yesterday's Dale and Betty Bumpers Distinguished Lecture at the University of Arkansas. He took the opportunity to speak candidly with the standing room only crowd about short-, medium-, and long-term ag public policy goals, and about opening lines of communication.
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and the Northwest Arkansas Council yesterday announced that the college is now the sixth member of the higher education consortium.
Becca Martin Brown says the rumours are true. Fleetwood Mac is coming close enough to see several times.
For the past few months there have been meetings, open to the public, to discuss making Fayetteville a city of compassion. We met with two of the organizers of the meetings to find out what it might take for a more compassionate place.
Click