Ozarks At Large
The head of the Hatcher Agency, the state's largest independent insurer, says that many of his clients are providing insurance to employees rather than paying penalties associated with the Affordable Care Act. Senator Mark Pryor talks about his push for answers from the Air Force regarding the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith while Senator Boozman says he is concerned about a backlog in disability claims for veterans. And Elton John is coming to Fayetteville in just a few weeks.




Two public meetings were held late yesterday in Jasper to address concerns about the large CAFO in Newton County. Picasolar took home several thousand dollars from an MIT competition earlier this week. Fort Smith has finished automating trash collection, but now the city's sanitation department is turning its eye to automating recyclable collection. And speaking of Fort Smith, Senator Mark Pryor demands answers from the U.S. Air Force regarding the future of the 188th Fighter Wing.

Ozarks at Large's Meredith Martin Moats recently sat in on a conversation with Bud Rector, who will turn 99 later this year and has lived almost all his life in Yell County. We conclude her two-part report on his recollections of an Arkansas that has nearly vanished.

Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Remembering Some of the People We Lost in 2013
On this special edition of Ozarks we hear again some of the voices we lost during 2013, including Bill Harrison, Curley Miller, Ivan Denton and Dick Renko.
The NWA Naturals are preparing to host the 77th annual Texas League All-Star Game June 25.
"Baseball Theme" by Vince Guaraldi Trio
Becca says the Fort Smith Museum of History is presenting a recreation of the Boston Store's tea room at noon Thursday.
The Genesis Technology Incubator has been in the same place in some form for nearly three decades. But much has changed in and around that facility, as the Arkansas Research and Technology Park has coagulated on the acreage surrounding the facility.
"Kangaroo Court" by Capital Cities
Daniel Hintz discusses a new Downtown Bentonville Inc. event that begins tomorrow.
The state Department of Corrections is looking for a vendor for pharmaceuticals used in lethal injections. Several hundred-thousand-dollars will be given out in reparations to victims of crimes during the month of May. The Bentonville School District continues its push toward a millage election in September, and the city of Fayetteville considers an ordinance that would place restrictions on door-to-door solicitation.
"Stripes" by FM Belfast