
Ozarks At Large


Another ballot initiative group is moving forwarrd with petitions after the state's attorney general approved the wording of its measure, which would raise the minimum wage in Arkansas to $8.50. Booneville Community Hospital starts the new year with a new name and new management. Fayetteville is set to be recognized as a compassionate city. Thirteen Arkansas counties are declared disaster areas after the early December ice and snow storm. And with a budget set, the Sebastian County Quorum Court and Fort Smith Board of Directors agree on amenities to be placed in the future Ben Geren Aquatics Park.


For decades people have been concerned about preserving historic structures. The move to preserve historic landscapes is a more recent development.
On this first Monday of the first month of the year, we have the first installment in a monthly series looking more closely at the number of that month. Edmond Harris, math professor at the University of Arkansas, spoke with Christina Thomas about the importance of the number 1.

Arkansas Revenue totals for December came in above forecast, though state finance officials say that the increase is largely due to early deposits of securities fees. Governor Mike Beebe offers his thoughts on the landscape of Arkansas politics at the onset of his final year as governor. And, the Sebastian County Quorum Court and Fort Smith city board of directors will meet tonight to discuss amenities for the Ben Geren Aquatics Park.

Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks at Large, a chapter ends for a bankrupt landfill in the Ozarks. Plus, the new president of the state's largest advertising agency talks about his new post, and the Fort Smith Board of Directors holds its first quarterly brainstorming session.
In the first of our five-part series on the deployment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Jacqueline Froelich explains how the law will work in Arkansas.
In the second of our series on the launch of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Arkansas, we look at our state’s unique approach to Medicaid expansion.
For more information visit Arkansas Health Connector at http://hbe.arkansas.gov
Here are our ten clips of ten classic southern tales, each set in a different southern state. Extra points if you know the actor featured (if not actually heard) in two of our clips this week.
1. Vivian Leigh, as Scarlet, makes a vow at the end of the first half of Gone With the Wind. (Goeriga)
2. Richard Widmark, as Col. Bowie, questions the wisdom of defending the Alamo. (Texas)
3. Sally Field is encouraged to hit Shirley MacLaine in Steel Magnolias. (Louisiana)
4. Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs in In The Heat of the Night. (Mississippi)
5. John Wayne takes gets ready to take out four bandits in the 1969 film adaptation of Charles Portis' True Grit. (Arkansas)
6. Gary Cooper is a true shot even before he joins the military in Sgt. York. (Tennessee)
7. The five seconds we can air from Al Pacino in Scarface. (Florida)
8. Jeff Goldblum makes the case for a rationalization in the Big Chill. (South Carolina. Yes, South Carolina...who knew?)
9. Cape Fear. Scary. Robert DeNiro, of course. (North Carolina)
10. Boo Radley saves the day in To Kill a Mockingbird. (Alabama)
Apologies to: Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Maryland.
Next in our series on the roll-out of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Arkansas, Jacqueline Froelich profiles one insurance company competing to set up shop on the state’s health insurance marketplace.
To learn more about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act visit http://HealthCare.gov
And to see what’s happening in Arkansas go to http://ARHealthConnector.org
ArkansasBlueCross.com also provides a concise list of health care law news and information.
The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is providing community clinics across the U.S. billions of dollars to provide basic health care to under-served communities. In Washington and Benton Counties Community Clinic, a ministry of St. Francis House, will get an infusion and plans to expand into south Washington County.