Ozarks At Large

Fourth Congressional District Representative Tom Cotton weighed in on several prescient national issues over the weekend during a stop in Texarkana. Congressman Tim Griffin urges President Obama to disclose more to the American public about the nation's financial situation. State House Speaker Davy Carter says that the issue of a Medicaid funding shortfall is the biggest issue facing the upcoming legislative session in Little Rock. And the Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History has a new director.


Here is the list of pop culture references included in today's montage honoring food service workers:
- Billy Joel sings "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant."
- Kermit, Miss Piggy and Steve Martin confer in The Muppet Movie.
- Jennifer Aniston complains (understandably) about her flair in Office Space.
- The very underrated band The Bus Boys and the song "Minimum Wage."
- Meg Ryan defines high maintenance as a customer in When Harry Meets Sally.
- The Austin-based Asleep at the Wheel sings "House of Blue Lights."
- Judge Reinhold gets a raw deal in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
- Homer is disappointed with the slow service at Moe's Family Feedbag in a classic Simpsons episode.
- Arlo Guthrie and the most famous restaurant song ever, "Alice's Restaurant."
- Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback and Polly Holiday inside Mel's Diner on the situation comedy Alice.
- Cab Calloway sings "Everybody Eats at My House." The best rhyme in the song: Want a pancake, Mandrake?
January is "Be Kind To Food Servers Month." Ozarks at Large's Christina Thomas speaks with local server David Jelinek to talk about the difficulty of the food service industry.

Several cities made news this week with talks of real estate deals. Ozarks at Large's Timothy Dennis takes a look back at some of those stories
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Ahead on this morning’s show: a rundown of theater as the area’s stages get ready for the autumn season. We’ll also conclude our summer series on what the approach Affordable Care Act means for Arkansas with a report on a little-known provision that provides for long-term care in the home.
Alison Moore has worked on her novel for years, using the true stories of the orphan trains of the 18th and 19th centuries as inspiration.
"Southbound Train" by Big Bill Broonzy
We frame the Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History profile of George Haley, a member of the “Pioneer Six,” who integrated the University of Arkansas Law School circa 1950. George Haley is the younger brother of Alex Haley, author of “Roots.” (Photo courtesy Pryor Center)
New state revenue numbers for the month of November show a slightly improving economy in Arkansas, Bentonville school officials propose a rezoning of some schools in the district only a year after rezoning the district's elementary schools, and state health officials say flu season has started early in Arkansas.
"Nothing LIke You" by Frightened Rabbit
The shuttering of the Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs portends the decline of Christian tourism and the rise of cosmopolitanism. And as Jacqueline Froelich discovered, when you lift Eureka’s Victorian skirts you’ll get a glimpse of the town’s tawdry roots.
The Great Passion Play site in Eureka Springs has been shuttered.