Ahead on Ozarks: Michael Tilley from The City Wire helps us keep with the moving pieces in the puzzle that is the 2014 Arkansas election. Plus last-minute Valentine’s Day plans courtesy of Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers and Shannon Wurst explains one inspiration for writing love songs.
Ozarks At Large
The state legislature yesterday continued considering changes to the Private Option in order for the Medicaid expansion to continue, at least for the remainder of the year, changes that Governor Mike Beebe doesn't necessarily agree with, though he does concede the amendments make the bill more pallatable to some politicians. And Crystal Bridges gets a new installation just in time for Valentine's Day.
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, a movement in Fayetteville is encouraging residents to be kind to others, not just on Valentine's Day, but all year long. Plus, extremely cold temperatures and out of the ordinary snow storms have some wondering about climate change. We speak with one U of A researcher about global warming's effects on vegetation. And, two R&B divas perform in the region, Becca Martin Brown tells us what's up and more.
February is a month of compassion in Fayetteville. We hear this story of compassion from Kristina Andazola.
One researcher at the University of Arkansas has been taking a look at what would happen to the planet's surface vegetation if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate through the end of the century.
Charles Baum was both a philanthropist and a baseball lover. We learn more about the man behind the Arkansas Razorback's baseball stadium.
State legislators yesterday suggested several amendments that would allow the state's private option expansion of Medicaid to continue, and one of the state's circuit judges calls for a moratorium on building new prison facilities in Arkansas.
When the Federal Communications Commission opened up licensing opportunities for thousands of new independent low-power non-commercial FM radio stations in 2010, several dozen Arkansas groups applied. In northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville Community Radio appears to have made the cut. We meet Joe Newman, station manager, and volunteers Olivia Hines and Moshe Newmark.
The fiscal session of the Arkansas legislature continued yesterday, with talk about the Private Option and NOT talk of dealying Common Core implementation. The Washington county Sheriff's Office moves its enforcement and investigation divisions into the same space after remodeling 10,000 square feet of the department's east annex. The search for a missing Arkansas Forestry Commission pilot ended sadly yesterday. And Walmart is the latest in a string of multi-million dollar donors to the new Arkansas Music Pavilion under construction in Rogers.
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks: In 1980, thousands left Castro's Cuba on a boatlift to the United States. Many of them were given housing at Fort Chaffee. Jacqueline Froelich examines what happened then, what's happened since…and why historians are spending time getting the facts correct. Plus, a new adult education library for Northwest Arkansas Community College.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Ahead on Ozarks, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families releases a new report on children's health coverage. Also, a project looks at the idea of community, we hear an interview with gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross, and more.
Next month the Ozark Natural Science Center will begin hosting fifth grade students from around the region. We recently talked with the education director at the center about what will happen when the students arrive and what the wildlife has been like on the nearly 500 acres this summer.
For more information, visit the center’s website here.
“Air and Kilometers” by Kaki King
Twin Shadow, the '80s synth drenched musical project masterminded by George Lewis Jr., just released the new album Confess. Ozarks at Large's Katy Henriksen takes a closer look at the divisive music.
Summer is for blockbusters at the neighborhood theater. As fall gets closer, quieter movies start to hit the screen. Wayne Bell, the author of the column Culture Club at fayettevilleflyer.com, says he’s ready for the change of pace.
“The Hippest Cat in Hollywood” by Horace Silver
Crawford County looks for new plans to expand its current jail, Tontitown joins the growing list of Northwest Arkansas cities and counties that will have a liquor vote in November, and Razorback football tickets are already selling out.
“Clog Dancing” by Evelyn Glennie
Since it first opened more than thirty years ago, a regional landfill, operated by Waste Management in south Tontitown contained a highly valued resource. But now operators are recovering it. We travel to Eco-Vista, as it’s now called, to take a look.