Arkansas is one of 45 states to enact Common Core State Standards. A new office on the University of Arkansas campus has been established to find new ways bring those standards into the state's schools. We learn more about the Office of Innovation in Education from the office's director.
Ozarks At Large

Senator John Boozman says he would like to see the National Security Agency use more focused efforts to curb terrorism rather than relying on programs that use mass collections of data. The Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners approves a draft of rules for implementing the state's new voter ID law. Work is expected to begin soon on clearing the Cache River, a tributary of the White River. And the special collections department at the UA's Mullins Library unveils a new exhibit to celebrate National LGBT Pride month.


The Genesis Technology Incubator has been in the same place in some form for nearly three decades. But much has changed in and around that facility, as the Arkansas Research and Technology Park has coagulated on the acreage surrounding the facility.
Becca says the Fort Smith Museum of History is presenting a recreation of the Boston Store's tea room at noon Thursday.

Execution dates for inmates on death row in Arkansas have been put on hold. State lawmakers rally in Little Rock, urging the state's supreme court to uphold a judgement against drugmaker Johnson and Johnson. Also in the state capitol, close attention is being paid to how the state's parole monitoring system is being managed. Mercy Health Northwest in Rogers opens a new center to serve geriatrics in the area. And more trees are on the way for one parking lot in downtown Fayetteville.


Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, we talk to local officials about an increase in the DWI violations. Also, we attend a tasting at 28 Springs in Siloam Springs.
Our local food ambassador Teresa Maurer returns to tell us about a program that will allow some customers of the Farmers' Market to double their money during the month of March.
"Saturday Evening" by Big Bill Broonzy
Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie "Prince" Billy made a gorgeous album of duets when they released The Letting Go in 2006. Both children of the 1970s, they grew up hearing the close harmonies of the Everly Brothers on the radio. In What the Brothers Sang, just released on Drag City, the duo pays tribute to these early superstars of rock and pay homage to the great American songbook.
Link: The Making of What the Brothers Sang
Officials with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration talk about the potential for making up federal funds lost to sequester cuts, and two public transit services team up in Northwest Arkansas to more completely serve the University of Arkansas community.
“A Letter To Elise” by The Cure
The Arkansas General Assembly is considering passage of a new Voter ID law that will require government-issued photo identification to both register and to vote. Advocates claim it will suppress fraud, but some opponents believe it will suppress progressive voting. We talk with an election rights expert about the measure, as well as how Voter ID laws are trending nationally.
Roby Brock from our content partner Talk Business Arkansas looks at the top legislative and business stories from the last seven days.
"Bugs" by Charles Mingus