Ozarks At Large

Fourth Congressional District Representative Tom Cotton weighed in on several prescient national issues over the weekend during a stop in Texarkana. Congressman Tim Griffin urges President Obama to disclose more to the American public about the nation's financial situation. State House Speaker Davy Carter says that the issue of a Medicaid funding shortfall is the biggest issue facing the upcoming legislative session in Little Rock. And the Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History has a new director.


Here is the list of pop culture references included in today's montage honoring food service workers:
- Billy Joel sings "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant."
- Kermit, Miss Piggy and Steve Martin confer in The Muppet Movie.
- Jennifer Aniston complains (understandably) about her flair in Office Space.
- The very underrated band The Bus Boys and the song "Minimum Wage."
- Meg Ryan defines high maintenance as a customer in When Harry Meets Sally.
- The Austin-based Asleep at the Wheel sings "House of Blue Lights."
- Judge Reinhold gets a raw deal in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
- Homer is disappointed with the slow service at Moe's Family Feedbag in a classic Simpsons episode.
- Arlo Guthrie and the most famous restaurant song ever, "Alice's Restaurant."
- Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback and Polly Holiday inside Mel's Diner on the situation comedy Alice.
- Cab Calloway sings "Everybody Eats at My House." The best rhyme in the song: Want a pancake, Mandrake?
January is "Be Kind To Food Servers Month." Ozarks at Large's Christina Thomas speaks with local server David Jelinek to talk about the difficulty of the food service industry.

Several cities made news this week with talks of real estate deals. Ozarks at Large's Timothy Dennis takes a look back at some of those stories
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Ahead on this morning’s show: a rundown of theater as the area’s stages get ready for the autumn season. We’ll also conclude our summer series on what the approach Affordable Care Act means for Arkansas with a report on a little-known provision that provides for long-term care in the home.
A Louisiana native and the author of the novel “King Cake Baby,” Scott Butler tells the story of a family with a life-changing secret. Butler now lives in Bentonville. “King Cake Baby” is now available at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville and online at www.kingcakebabybook.com.
To listen to more of this conversation, click here.
“Big Chief” by Professor Longhair
Ozarks at Large is reporting on the critical role social workers play in our lives, from elementary school to hospice.
Today, we visit four geriatric social workers who serve in very different capacities, including Sara Cain-Bartlett pictured here with Bella Vista resident and client Col. William Pogue.
The fiscal session of Arkansas Legislature begins; Governor Mike Beebe urges lawmakers to work together to arrive on a consensus of this year’s state budget; and more – on today’s edition of Ozarks at Large Half-Time.
“Valentine’s Day” by Bruce Springsteen
Still on the Hill releases its new album of love songs, and the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith faculty performs a concert tonight. Becca Bacon Martin from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers has details on these and more events.
The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in Arkansas. The Civil War Sesquicentennial will be celebrated between 2011 and 2015.