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Ozarks At Large
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Arkansas's new state treasurer is reshaping policies of the office based on input from employees of the division. The 2014 fiscal year begins today with a new budget for the state, which includes increased spending for Medicaid and higher education. Today is the deadline for public input on the state's new voter ID law. Political commentators ruminate on Tom Cotton's chances for running a successful Senate campaign against Mark Pryor. And, Benton County starts looking at building a new courts building to replace the current one, built in 1928.
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In our weekly review of the headlines, we take a look at groups and organizations that are on the hook for more money, and one organization getting a sizable amount of money.
Former state treasurer Martha Shoffner talks to reporters on her way into the courtroom in Little Rock. Some state lawmakers wonder if Arkansas can cover the cost of the so-called private option when the state has to pick up part of the cost in a few years. And UAFS gets a sizable gift to help expand the college's nursing program.
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Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Monday, March 31, 2014
On this edition of Ozarks, a preview of an upcoming grief seminar for bereaved parents. Also, Fort Smith releases an annual report on its homeless community.
Roby Brock from Talk Business Arkansas discusses a farm bill not passing the House of Representatives and more in his weekly recap of political and business news from around the state.
Nine out of ten gay youth report verbal, sexual, or physical harassment at school. But now gay high school students are taking a stand by organizing, with their straight allies, Gay-Straight Alliances. Nearly 40 GSA clubs have been sanctioned by school districts across Arkansas but not without some resistance. We talk with students, as well as state, and national advocates.
"Good Man" by Josh Ritter
Becca Martin Brown discusses the lineup for this year's Harvest Music Festival.
Michael Heffernan will read tomorrow night at Nightbird Books. We talk to him about his latest collection of poetry, "Walking Distance."
Though we don't normally cover the doom and gloom, Timothy Dennis brings us a roundup of stories from the past week that involved statutes, crimes and punishments, and no Dostoyevsky.