A spokesman for Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin says that the office should be able to use outside counsel that questions the office's compliance with the state's Freedom of Information Act. Benton County officials continue to assess damage done by recent floods, with the cost of said damage estimated at $5 million and rising. The same rains that caused damage in Benton County has given a rare opportunity to floaters of the Buffalo River. And while yesterday's elections resulted in a runoff next month in Springdale, voters in Paris and Huntsville approved more taxes in their own cities.
Ozarks At Large

Governor Mike Beebe says that while four sites are currently under consideration for a new state veterans' home, that potential still exists for other options should they arise. And, the Seville Hotel in Harrison is back on the market, some seek denied school transfer requests to be overturned in Little rock, an awareness campaign aims to decrease drivers illegally passing school buses and Mark Darr sets off another waterfall of political candidacies with his announcement that he will run for Congressman Tom Cotton's seat in Washington next year.


After listening to speculation about Tom Cotton's political future for months, he finally, formally announced his intention to run for a Senate seat. This week's montage focuses on other cottons:
- Zooey Deschanel's Cotton commercial
- Michael Jordan's Hanes Lay Flat T-shirt commercial
- Golden Corral cotton candy commercial
- "Cotton Candy Land" by Elvis Presley
- :Peter Cottontail" by Gene Autry
- A clip from Francis Ford Coppola's movie The Cotton Club
- "Cotton Mouth Man" by James Cotton (featuring Joe Bonamassa)
- "Cotton Fields" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
- "Pickin' Time" by Johnny Cash
- "Cotton Eye Joe" by Rednex
William Lyle, the current executive chef at Ella's Restaurant has been hired as the new executive chef at Eleven.

Artists find inspiration in all kinds of places, including the produce section of the world's largest retailer.
From millage elections to sales tax votes and even a run for U.S. Senate, we've covered a lot of political ground in the past seven days.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Friday, April 11, 2014
Ahead on Ozarks, Roby Brock discusses the latest poll results on Arkansas elections, and we explore a new educational standard that aims to bring about a revolution in science education.
The Lincoln Echo, published in Fort Smith, appears to be the end of a long tradition in black newspapering in Arkansas. Jacqueline Froelich talks with Echo publisher, Napolean Black, as well as Executive VP Cecil Greene (pictured).
Echo Sibley's one-woman show, "Flipping Channels in the Estrogen Zone," will be performed Sunday and Monday nights at the Stolen Glass, and Friday night at Caribe Restaurant in Eureka Springs.
The sweet treats of Martin Greer's Candies near Gateway are the product of a father-son candy-making tradition that's been going on for nine decades.
Here is our list saluting the letters ES. On some we ESchew the usual rules of capitalization to highlight our special letters.
1) Ed Sullivan introduces a famous band 50 years ago today.
2) Edward Scissorhands (Johnny Depp) says goodbye.
3) Ed Sheeran sings Kiss Me.
4) Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by a ghost. This ES is played by Albert Finney.
5) The theme to ESpn's Sports Center.
6) Emma Stone sees Ryan Gosling in Crazy, Stupid Love.
7) Esperanza Spalding performs Precious.
8) Kreskin, famed "mentalist" during the height of the ESp craze on TV. (OK, we're stretching it...)
9) Elizabeth Shue meets the Karate Kid for a date.
10) Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (soon to be seen at Wakarusa) sing Home.
Apologies to Elliot Smith, Emmitt Smith and Eureka Springs (we thought of playing a clip from Pass the Ammo...too obscure?)Maybe next time.
Bill Mendieta, who plays Ricardo Ricardo in “I Love Lucy Live on Stage” talks about the show, which is at Walton Arts Center this week.