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.
Ozarks At Large
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.
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.
Spring break is over; let the deluge of spring events begin.
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.
The Walmart AMP's topping off ceremony was Monday, now the rest of the work takes place.
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
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, a look at the increasing educational accountability standards placed on the nation's 5-year-olds. Plus, Michael Pakko discusses the state's economy, and more.
On game days, Tusk IV, the live mascot for the University of Arkansas, travels from his home near Dardanelle to Fayetteville to help cheer on the Razorbacks.
Becca Martin Brown says some folks like to get out of town during homecoming at the University of Arkansas...and there are plenty of things to do away from the game.
"Dream a Little Dream" by Chicago/Jade/Paul Shaffer
Rosco Bandana hails from Gulfport, Mississippi and is back in our neck of the woods for the Yonder Mountain String Band's Harvest Music Festival.
The city of Fayetteville ponders sharing the cost of adding a railroad crossing gate at Dickson Street in exchange for some needed easements for trails construction. The City of Bentonville aims to add more than a thousand trees to the landscape during October. And results from this year's Secchi Day at Beaver lake are helping officials with the Beaver Water District better understand the effects of drought and flood years on water quality.
"Working Woman Blues" by Valerie June
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a quarter of a million residents are eligible to enroll in free private health insurance made possible by the new Arkansas Healthcare Independence Program. Arkansas is the only state to expand Medicaid coverage via this "private option."