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.
To Fort Smith this weekend. We get a look into the life of a monster truck driver and learn how they ready those cars for a show.
"Master Pretender" by First Aid Kit
Tyson Foods yesterday announced that Hillshire Brands had accepted its $8.5 billion acquisition bid over a smaller acquisition by Pinnacle Foods. Senator John Boozman returns to Washington, D.C. more than a month after undergoing emergency heart surgery, and a new effort aiming at legalizing cannabis gets underway in Arkansas.
"Noble Square" by Billie the Vision and the Dancers
Arkansas has one of the highest rates of people living with HIV but don’t know it. To receive an HIV test, you can go to your county health department. To reach the Washington County HIV clinic call 479-973-4613. Testing and support are available at an ARCare HIV Office, for information or to find an office near you, click here or call 501-388-4613. For information on support and social groups through HIV Arkansas, visit hivarkansas.org
Saturday's Wellfest lets you run, ride, even hula hoop.
Here is a direct link to all things Wellfest, including race courses.
Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers offers a brief preview of the Eureka Springs Blues Weekend.
"Door to Door" by John Zorn