Mercy Health used an innovative walking program to become one of the healthiest workplaces in the country.
Ozarks At Large
A roundup of events and news for the next few weeks include an alternative way to deliver a Valentine.


An administrative law judge with the Arkansas Public Service Commission on Friday ordered SWEPCO to proceed on its proposed plan to build a massive new power transmission line through portions of northwest Arkansas. Also, Governor Mike Beebe says that recent cost analyses of operating the state's Private Option expansion of Medicaid justifies the program's passage during last year's session of the state legislature. And the state Attorney General's office warns residents about rapid-refund tax providers.

Ahead on Ozarks, a conversation with young adult author An Na. Also, we learn what it takes to become a police officer.

We speak with An Na, author of A Step From Heaven, a book that was awarded the Michael L. Prince Award when it was published a decade ago. Critics and reviewers commended the book's characters for speaking like a child without being too precocious or condescending. The author will speak in Fayetteville later this month.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Weekend Ozarks, we visit the kitchen of Jen Lewis, take a spin in a state-run clinic that aids veterans in rural communities, and we meet a recovering opiate addict who has found hope with methadone.
The U.S. Interior Department has unveiled a national strategy to combat a plague threatening cave bat populations across the United States, including in Arkansas. The plan’s release coincided with a major conference held in Little Rock, May 17th. Jacqueline Froelich reports.
“Afai Bowon” by King Sunny Ade
Tonight there will be a meeting at Fayetteville City Hall to discuss an effort to create a local food directory.
Those interested in the NWA Local Food Guide can email localfoodguidenwa@gmail.com.
Here are some examples of current food guides from around the country:
www.buyappalachian.org
www.lanefood.org/locally-grown.php
www.localtable.net/farm_guide/index.php
www.buylocalshenvalley.org
Becca reports from New Orleans on things to do in NOLA and Northwest Arkansas.
“Tipitina” by Professor Longhair
Wayne Bell, author of Culture Club for www.fayettevilleflyer.com previews the upcoming Tony Awards.
To hear more from this conversation, click here.
“Overture” by The King and I Orchestra
While in town to perform at the Gulley Park Summer Concert Series, Austin-based musician Patricia Vonne stopped by the studio for a chat and castanet lessons.