Ozarks At Large

Arkansas ends its fiscal year with a surplus of several million dollars, but lawmakers have no firm plans yet of how to spend the money. Ongoing highway improvements mean some road closures and delays over the holiday weekend. And, students at UALR react to the interest rate hike that went into effect this week on Stafford student loans for low income students.




The United States Supreme Court decision regarding the Voting Rights Act means changes for Arkansas.
The popular resort town of Eureka Springs is a prime Ozarks vacation spot filled with pretty B&Bs, cottages and cabins for overnight guests. But as Jacqueline Froelich reports, some say a glut of tourist accommodations and vacation rentals are dislocating residents, forcing them to live out of town.
Arkansas home sales are up by 10 percent according to the Arkansas Realtors Association. The half-cent highway sales tax kicks in this month and will continue for the next ten years. The Fort Smith Fire Department honors one of its own who rescued a child from a 30-foot utility shaft. And a familiar term to Fayetteville residents: construction zone.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
On this edition of Ozarks, a conversation with photographer and author Tim Ernst. Also, giving the gift of a free family portrait to those in need.
Here are the 9 pop culture references used for today's montage:
"Reel Around the Sun" from a 1995 performance of Riverdance
Rudy gets ready to lead the Fighting Irish onto the field for the first, and only, time
The Band backing Van Morrison on "Tura Lura Lura (It's an Irish Lullaby)" on Thanksgiving night, 1976
A Lucky Charms commercial from the early '70s
Kermit the Frog being upstaged by none other than the late, great Ray Charles singing "It's Not Easy Being Green"
John Wayne tries to get his bearings from local Dubliners upon his arrival in Ireland in The Quiet Man
A 1979 commercial for Irish Spring soap
John Lennon singing "The Luck of the Irish"
A recent commercial for Jameson Irish Whiskey
"Perfect Stranger" by Dropkick Murpheys
Katy Henriksen fills us in on today's Independent Film event at the Fayetteville Public Library and tonight's Sunday Symphony.
"Swan Lake" by Tchaikovsky
To close out today's show, we have another traditional Irish song by musicians Carol Widder and Richy McCusker.
Simultaneous tax cuts and hikes, charter schools and the latest on Medicaid expansion from the state legislature; jockeys prepare for this weekend's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn; more sidewalks in Fayetteville and the population continues to grow in Northwest Arkansas; all in today's Segment A.
"Little Lion Man" by Mumford and Sons
Michael Tilley from The City Wire discusses home sales numbers, the governor's race and football.