Simultaneous tax cuts and hikes, charter schools and the latest on Medicaid expansion from the state legislature; jockeys prepare for this weekend's Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn; more sidewalks in Fayetteville and the population continues to grow in Northwest Arkansas; all in today's Segment A.
Ozarks At Large
Michael Vinson Williams’ book Medgar Evers: Mississippi Martyr studies the civil rights leader and the civil rights movement. The book was published by the University of Arkansas Press.
You can read more from Meredith Martin Moats at her blog
The Arkansas General Assembly moves forward with a controversial voter ID bill, education and education supporters rally against a proposal that would shift money from the state's general fund into highway construction, and Arkansas' U.S. Senate contingent speaks out about efforts to pass a federal budget.



State lawmakers continue to weigh the issue of Medicaid expansion two weeks after receiving word from Washington that federal Medicaid expansion funds could be used for a privatized expansion of the system. A pair of lawmakers also weigh in on how recent anti-abortion legislation has affected Arkansas' reputation in the rest of the country. And a controlled burn is set for tomorrow in one local city.
Late last week, the Northwest Arkansas Council released the results of a study on the area's Business Retention and Expansion Efforts. The study was compiled from interviews by area chambers of commerce with 459 area companies. We speak with Mike Harvey, chief operating officer of the council about the survey and what the results mean for the area moving forward.
Another area city plans to speak out against a bill in the Arkansas Legislature that could mean a rollback of city development regulations. Governor Mike Beebe touts the state's efforts to make sure fewer children in Arkansas go hungry, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art again gets national recognition, not for its paintings but for the construction of the museum itsself.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
On this edition of Ozarks, Roby Brock talks to Senator Jane English about the deal she made to switch her vote for the private option. Plus, we have a report on last night's public input forum that was organized by Ozark Regional Transit
Becca Martin Brown, from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, offers a preview of this weekend's film festival in Eureka Springs.
"Faber College Theme" by Elmer Bernstein
NWA TechFest , set to happen next week in Fayetteville, has changed much over the years. We talk to one of the event's organizers about its evolution.
Three brothers, based in Eureka Springs, make up the rock, folk, bluegrass band SX Rex. The trio will play Saturday evening at 6:00 during The Ozark Mountain Music Festival inside the Basin Park Hotel. We meet Josh, Nick and Chris Bower.
The latest results released from the Talk Business Arkansas-Hendrix College poll show that the chief concern among Arkansas voters is the economy as this mid-term election year gets underway. Crews with the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad continue to make repairs and determine the cause of failure to certain equipment on the railroad bridge crossing the Arkansas River at Van Buren. Cargill is ordered to pay more than $2 million in a settlement of hiring discrimination allegations, and the state of Arkansas is clawing back nearly a half million dollars from Hewlett-Packard after the company failed to meet employment projections at its facility in Conway.
"Windy" by Page France
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.