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.
Ozarks At Large
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.
Though the plans are in the early stages, The University of Arkansas Fort Smith may begin offering its first Master's degree in a few years.
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.
Today's week in review looks back at the school-related news we've aired over the past seven days.
The Benton County Children's Advocacy Center recently received reaccreditation. Lake Wedington in Washington County and Shores Lake in Franklin County will soon be partially drained to allow the U.S. Forest Service to allow for some winter maintenance. And Bentonville Public Schools begins to think about names and mascots for its second high school that will be built in Centerton.


Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, the 2014 Cancer Challenge aims to add to the $10 million raised with the event over the past 20 years. The three-day event this year encompasses a variety of locations and activities including golfing, running, trap-shooting and wrapping up with the more traditional gala. Plus, uncovering stories at Oak Cemetery, and if you're unsure of which stages to make it to during this weekend's Wakarusa Music Festival, Becca offers some suggestions.
The band Speck Mountain creates a sound all its own, and our reviewer says that’s a great thing.
Republican leaders of Arkansas' legislature met with the media yesterday to discuss their plans to shore up the state's Medicaid system during the upcoming legislative session. Fort Smith looks to purchase property for a new recreational facility, the first of its kind in the city. And Fayetteville is recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in the nation.
"Bumblebee Blues" by Tampa Red
An Ozark native who grew up exploring urban woodlands as a boy, left the Natural State for New York, where he now works as Principle Urban Designer for the City of New York Parks & Recreation. We amble with Charles McKinney, during a holiday visit, along the Fayetteville Trail to learn more about his big life in the Big Apple.
Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers says the rush of the holidays is over, but there is already a packed scheduled of events…even for a January Tuesday.
Catch Me if You Can, a Tony Award-winning musical, opens tonight at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. We caught up with a cast member to ask about the ambitious stage production based on a true story of forgery and deceit.