
Ozarks At Large

The Joint Budget Committee of the Arkansas LEgislature hears from Arkansas Department of Human Services regarding funding for the state's Private Option expansion of Medicaid, while a new Talk Business Arkansas-Hendrix College poll suggests that Arkansans are supportive of the program. And, Crawford County officials are hopeful that voters will be supportive of a sales tax increase that would fund construction and operation of a new county jail.


A roundup of events and news for the next few weeks include an alternative way to deliver a Valentine.

An administrative law judge with the Arkansas Public Service Commission on Friday ordered SWEPCO to proceed on its proposed plan to build a massive new power transmission line through portions of northwest Arkansas. Also, Governor Mike Beebe says that recent cost analyses of operating the state's Private Option expansion of Medicaid justifies the program's passage during last year's session of the state legislature. And the state Attorney General's office warns residents about rapid-refund tax providers.
We speak with An Na, author of A Step From Heaven, a book that was awarded the Michael L. Prince Award when it was published a decade ago. Critics and reviewers commended the book's characters for speaking like a child without being too precocious or condescending. The author will speak in Fayetteville later this month.
We visit the Rogers Police Department to find out about how one can protect and serve the public, as the department prepares to offer the Entry Level Police Officer Examination early next month.


Our ten clips saluting sailors and sailing:
1. The theme to Popeye the Sailor Man.
2. Bob Denver and Alan Hale hatch a scheme on Gilligan's Island.
3. Christopher Cross creates the all-time yacht rock song with Sailing.
4. Gregory Peck, as Captain Ahab, ponders his life with Starbuck in Moby Dick.
5. Sloop John B by the Beach Boys.
6. Hercules ignores the orders of Jason in the 1963 version of Jason and the Argonauts. (later, the GREATEST MOVIE SCENE EVER with the sword-weilding skeletons).
7. Jimmy Buffett is Aa Son of a Son of a Sailor.
8. Russell Crowe catches up to a ship in Master and Commander.
9. Bogart and Hepburn on The African Queen.
10. Lyle Lovett sings If I Had a Boat.
Apologies to: Horatio Hornblower, Sinbad (the sailor, not the comic) and Errol Flynn. Maybe next time.
1. The theme to Popeye the Sailor Man.
2. Bob Denver and Alan Hale hatch a scheme on Gilligan's Island.
3. Christopher Cross creates the all-time yacht rock song with Sailing.
4. Gregory Peck, as Captain Ahab, ponders his life with Starbuck in Moby Dick.
5. Sloop John B by the Beach Boys.
6. Hercules ignores the orders of Jason in the 1963 version of Jason and the Argonauts. (later, the GREATEST MOVIE SCENE EVER with the sword-weilding skeletons).
7. Jimmy Buffett is Aa Son of a Son of a Sailor.
8. Russell Crowe catches up to a ship in Master and Commander.
9. Bogart and Hepburn on The African Queen.
10. Lyle Lovett sings If I Had a Boat.
Apologies to: Horatio Hornblower, Sinbad (the sailor, not the comic) and Errol Flynn. Maybe next time.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Monday, April 28, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, how lasers have gone from a phenomenon on The Jetsons to a part of daily life. We speak with a Stanford University professor who has been teaching about the light-emitting device since 1969. Plus, annual hospitality awards in the Arkansas River Valley honor those who serve and take care of the public.
Here are the eleven elements of today's Christmas tree montage:
Miles Davis' version of "O Christmas Tree"
Mr. Wilson volunteers to cut down a tree in a 1961 episode of "Dennis the Menace"
The Griswald Family goes a long way for the perfect tree in "Christmas Vacation"
Brenda Lee's classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Charlie Brown selects a tiny, sad tree in the "CHarlie Brown Christmas Special"
Tchaikovsky's "Christmas Tree" from "The Nutcracker Suite"
Cindy Lou Who questions the Grinch
Zuzu explains that bell ornament on the tree at the end of "It's A Wonderful Life"
Elvis and "Blue Christmas"
Festivus revealed on a classic episode of "Seinfeld"
Wynton Marsalis gives "O Christmas Tree" a bit of New Orleans bounce
Becca Martin Brown gives us a hurried list of holiday happenings for this afternoon in the region.
The Arkansas Supreme Court rules in favor of two school districts in their suit against the state Department of Education and the state treasurer. Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel files suit against two Washington County companies. And, Governor Mike Beebe's office weighs in on yesterday's jobs announcement in Fort Smith.
"It's Almost December" by The Real Pills
A deal for the Whirlpool plant falls through, a new manufacturer announces an arrival and unemployment numbers are released. Michael Tilley with the City Wire provides the details.
"A Great Adventure" by Carter Burwell
Jay Jennings has collected the short fiction, reporting and essays of Charles Portis in a new book, Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany. He’ll discuss the book at Nightbird Books tomorrow night.