
Ozarks At Large


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.



Becca Martin Brown, with Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, says there is a wide range of music (some of it free) this week.
It was a year ago this week that an oil spill created a major disruption in an Arkansas town.

A wet March led Arkansas farmers to plant crops late, but it hasn't necessarily hurt this year's harvest. Plus, the Bentonville School District proposes a traffic study to project what traffic will be like in Centerton once the district's second high school is open for classes.

Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Friday, May 16, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, we conclude our series of conversations with candidates in primary races with GOP Congressional candidate Bruce Westerman. We also welcome Barrett Baber back into the Firmin-Garner Performance Studio to hear a new take on one of his songs.
One Arkansas senator is pressing election officials to resolve issues with the state's voter ID law. Other legislators are pushing to prevent the state lottery commission from implementing video gambling games throughout the state. The FASTER Arkansas committee continues its push for changes in state law to allow public schools to connect to an existing, state-funded fiber optic network. And one Eureka Springs alderman is trying to move forward a decades-long debate on what to do about parking in that city's downtown area.
More than twenty Northwest Arkansas specialty shops sell electronic cigarettes, both disposable and rechargeable. The popular devices deliver a smooth warm nicotine-laced white vapor in variety strengths and flavors. We visit the Velvet Vapor in Rogers and also talk to an Arkansas Department of Health tobacco specialist about pending regulations and potential risks associated with “vaping.”
Our history doctor, Bill Smith, explains the relationship between politics and money is an American tradition.
Becca Martin Brown, from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, directs us to performance art and fireworks this weekend.
Jonathan Story sits down at the Mary Baker Rumsey Steinway.