The third Downtown Rogers Restaurant Week includes chefs swapping kitchens and bartenders inventing drinks.
Ozarks At Large
The world’s largest retailer is testing a new convenient store format near the home office. And as Jacqueline Froelich reports, the company aims to corner a burgeoning quick check market, offering fresher faster, but at supply chain prices. 
We speak with a visitor communications specialist with the caverns to find out what precautions are being undertaken to insure the safety of the caves bats, other caves, and visitors. A new fellowship program in Arkansas aims to stem the flow of highly skilled college graduates from the state to other areas. And, two of the longer-operating hospital systems in the state announce a merger.
The latest revenue collections by the state came in again above what was originally forecast, while one gubernatorial candidate issues his plan to put mroe funding into Pre-K programs.
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, those amphibious harbingers of spring--frogs and toads--are being counted all over Arkansas. We'll find out how the frog watch works, and if the number of frogs in the state is diminishing. And, the AMP is being prepared for its first show. The seats aren't in yet, but work is going on almost around-the-clock to meet a June 1 completion date.
This month, visitors to a bustling Bentonville square can step inside the Visitor's Bureau to take in the serene landscapes of pastel artist Judy Howard.
We meet Tom Krohn, Arkansas Regional Coordinator for FrogWatch USA. Krohn hosts free workshops across the state, training citizen scientists to become certified frog listeners. He will be in Northwest Arkansasa April 8 & 15th at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale. To learn more visit Arkansasfrogsandtoads.org.There have been spies and spying in American history since before the formation of the country. Our history doctor, Bill Smith, reminds us of a few historic episodes.
In January, the Old Fort Homeless Coalition held its annual Point-in-Time Count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in the community. Overall, the number of homeless in Fort Smith decreased from last year, though the need for a homeless campus is still apparent.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Friday, May 30, 2014
Ahead on Ozarks, Michael Tilley talks about a potential multi-billion dollar acquisition by Tyson Foods and a less-than-expected participation rate for upcoming elections in the City of Fort Smith. And, a preview of two very different ways to spend tomorrow night: the rumble of monster trucks will be in Springdale, and music from the Artosphere Festival Orchestra will be in Fayetteville.
The Tontitown Grape Festival continues tonight, and Weird Sisters opens at Arts Live in Fayetteville. Becca Martin Brown has the details on these stories and more.
"Relay" by The Who
This summer five Republican legislators sent a letter to Governor Mike Beebe and his Medicaid team, asking them to slow down on Medicaid reforms and a possible expansion made possible when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act. Roby Brock from talkbuisness.net recently spoke with one of the GOP legislators, Johnny Key of Mountain Home.
The full season for Walton Arts Center is still a few weeks away. However, Jodi Beznoski reminds us that Second City, Miranda Lambert, the final concert in the KUAF Summer Jazz Festival and the Fayetteville Roots Festival are all set for this month.
For more information, visit the Walton Arts Center website here.
There are 281 personal weather stations in Arkansas actively uploading data to weatherunderground.com. We talked with three guys who run stations in northwest Arkansas.
More information:
Jerry Russell in Prairie Grove
Colby Ward on Mount Sequoyah
Terry Slagle's station in Springdale
Weather Station Info
We continue our series focusing on Olympic sports by talking with a coach at the Northwest Arkansas Fencing Center about the sport of fencing.
For more information, visit nwafc.org.
“Equestrian” by U.S. Royalty
