
Ozarks At Large

Rilla Askew and Timothy O'Grady are novelists and visiting associate professors at the University of Arkansas. They'll read from their work Thursday night at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville.
In our monthly series on numbers, Dr. Edmond Harris tells us that the number 'two' is where statements can begin to be made with numbers.
The city of Fayetteville was recently reassessed by the Insurance Services Office, which found that the city has made several improvements to fire protection since the last such rating more than a decade ago. The state highway department encountered few problems with clearing highways after yesterday's wintry precipitation that moved across the state. And two superstars will perform in Rogers later this month.

All are topics in this morning's week in review.
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has a new program designed to help landowners clean up hazardous substances without being fined. Senator John Boozman offers his thoughts on the Farm Bill that passed the House and is now on its way to the Senate. And the state's attorney general is being asked to clarify the state's new voter ID law.
A new report released yesterday suggests that home sales were up in Arkansas throughout last year. One of Fayetteville's trails is nationally recognized. The U of A announces that a multi-million-dollar deficit in its Advancement Division will be eliminated this fiscal year. NWACC reports a decline in spring enrollment, while ATU-Ozark posts another record spring semester. And several area Main Street programs receive awards from Main Street Arkansas.
Becca offers help for Valentine's Day outings with this list of regional visual arts and museum events.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Monday, June 9, 2014
Ahead on Ozarks, we learn the differences between various types of Arkansas charter schools. Plus, a UA researcher receives a grant to study the genetic composition of diatoms.
Justin Minkel, a Springdale elementary school teacher and 2007 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, has just written a new book aimed at young readers.
Here are out ten clips relating to Buffalo, New York and the War of 1812.
1) Ten Thousand Maniacs (from the Buffalo area) sing Because the Night,
2) Robert Redford and Wilford Brimley in The Natural (filmed in Buffalo).
3) Bruce Springsteen sings about Buffalo's Erie Canal.
4) A trailer, featuring Marilyn Monroe, for the movie Niagara…set in nearby Niagara Falls.
5) Buffalo native Rick James ponders a Super Freak.
6) A BBC documentary about the assassination of President McKinley. The shooting happened in Buffalo. (as did the subsequent swearing-n ceremony of Theodore Roosevelt).
7) The only electronic song we know of about Buffalo native Grover Cleveland.
8) Judy Garland sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow…written by Buffalo native Harold Arlen.
9) Amanda Blake, another Buffalo native, as Miss Kitty on an early episode of Gunsmoke.
10) Johnny Horton sings The Battle of New Orleans, about the final battle of the War of 1812. Arkansas connection: written by Jimmy Driftwood.
Roby Brock, from our content partner Talk Business Arkansas, offers a preview of the state's politics in the coming year.
"The Boxer" by Editors
Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers suggests 12 things you should do in 2014.
Kevin Kinder and Kyle Kellams compare their lists of favorite music for 2013.