President Obama was in Central Arkansas yesterday, visiting victims of the recent storms and tornadoes that ravaged the area. Meanwhile, state legislators heard testimony from state finance officials regarding fiscal forecasts for the next few years.
Ozarks At Large
Ahead on Ozarks, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families releases a new report on children's health coverage. Also, a project looks at the idea of community, we hear an interview with gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross, and more.
The idea of Community varies from person to person. A year long project at Fayetteville High School concludes with an open house showcasing juniors’ and seniors’ ideas of community as seen through each of their camera lenses.
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families is closely tracking the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act in Arkansas, in both the Marketplace and under the Private Option. Turns out along with tens of thousands of grown ups, lots of children benefit. Read the full report, “Kids’ Health Coverage in 2014.”
Plans for substantial renovations to Parsons Stadium in Springdale take a step forward, and the director of Downtown Bentonville, Inc. steps down less than a year after taking the position.
Still on the Hill's latest album aims to help educate northwest Arkansas residents about the history of Beaver Lake, and to promote a greater stewardship of the region's largest drinking water reservoir.
A conceptual photography exhibit in Mullins Library on the UA campus explores the connections people have to built space and their homes. The works by Sabine Schmidt will be on display through May. 
Our content partner KUAR in Little Rock is interviewing Arkansas' gubernatorial candidates. Today's conversation is with Lynette Bryant. An extended version of the interview is available here.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Monday, June 16, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, how the Children's House in Springdale is trying to help some of the most neglected and abused children in two northwest Arkansas counties. Plus, how a public forum tomorrow, also in Springdale, is designed to stimulate children's learning even when school is not in session.
We continue our week-long series on summer camps by finding out more about the five weeks of art classes at Arts Center of the Ozarks.
PLUS: here are some links to some art camps in the region:
To learn more about the ACO camps, click here.
The Community Creative Center in Fayetteville has no shortage of camps this summer
The University of Arkansas Fort Smith Academy of the Arts isn't just song, dance and music…there are summer art camps beginning in June as well.
This is the second summer for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and there are camps there, too. Click through to their website, then click on the Summer Camps button on the home page.
Carter Sampson pulled her RV into the parking lot at the Carver Center for Public Radio yesterday. She played two songs…here's one of them. Another song and our conversation with her can be heard on Friday’s edition of Ozarks at Large.
You can see her at 8 o'clock tomorrow night at Frisco Club in Rogers and at 9 o'clock Wednesday night at Smoke and Barrel in Fayetteville.
Bob Clinard, Benton County Judge, declared the county a disaster zone Friday, after the county saw more than 6 inches of rain in the latter half of the week. A recent report shows meaningful long-term benefits for children taking part in the state's "Better Chance Pre-K" program. Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, spoke at the graduation for the Clinton School of Public Service over the weekend. Governor Mike Beebe likens the recently passed Arkansas Private Option to the successful ARKids First program, though he says that the children's insurance program has room to improve.
"A Heart's a Mess" by Gotye
Dr. Megan Witonski says that she is thrilled to take her new post with the Arkansas Department of Education as assistant commissioner with the Division of Learning Services. Among the many responsibilities of the new job is the state's transition to the set of common language arts and math standards being implemented by 45 states.
