The Arkansas Senate followed the House's lead in passing a federally backed expansion of the state's Medicaid system, and all that remains is final approval from Washington. The Arkansas Governor's race gets a little more crowded with an official announcement by former Congressman Mike Ross. Arkansas' two Senators give their thoughts on the Gang of Eight proposed immigration reform package. A hearing is held today in Nebraska regarding the Keystone XL pipeline, and a Bentonville group wants to turn Fridays into bike days.
Ozarks At Large



The Ozark Natural Science Center in Madison County announced a campaign today designed to keep it open.
Becca Martin Brown from Nortwest Arkansas Media ponders the definition of a jam rocker while reminding us that Umphrey's McGee will perform at George's Majestic Lounge tonight.

The Arkansas Legislature was a flurry of activity yesterday, with passage not only of Medicaid expansion, but the House also advanced bills regarding cuts to the state's income, capital gains and utility taxes. The House also passed the Senate bill that will provide financial support for construction of the Big River Steel superproject ion Osceola. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel rejects the latest proposed ballot initiative regarding medical marijuana, and Northwest Arkansas' two baseball teams have a disappointing Tuesday.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
On this edition of Ozarks, Reach Out Northwest Arkansas is to keep kids from dropping out of school. Plus, exploring the new green roof atop the newly renovated Vol Walker Hall on the UA campus.
The Fayetteville Farmer’s Market was voted the country’s favorite. Tomorrow the award is handed over.
Arkansan Tav Falco helped invent a sound that later became known as "psychobilly" in 1979 when he formed Tav Falco and the Panther Burns in Memphis. Although Falco currently resides in Vienna, Austria, he's bringing his blend of blues, punk and rockabilly to the Rogue on Dickson in Fayetteville tomorrow as he tours with his Unapproachable Panther Burns. Ozarks at Large's Katy Henriksen has this preview.
Union supporters and striking workers protested outside of Walmart's annual investors' conference in Bentonville, the drought slowly but surely improves in parts of Arkansas, and the creative economy adds jobs and revenue to the Northwest Arkansas economy.
"In Walked Bud" by Art Blakey
An Alabama law firm has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all Arkansas rice farmers against a chemical company that produces arsenic compounds and poultry integrators that mix the arsenic into their feed. The suit alleges the poultry litter, used as fertilizer, has poisoned Arkansas rice farms.
An outdoor education class that got its start as a college thesis more than ten years ago has a strong presence in a few Northwest Arkansas schools and is gaining attention nationally. Ozarks at Large's Christina Thomas hikes through the state park with students learning about the outdoors.
"Montreal" by Kaki King