Ozarks At Large

Last month, the relatively new University of Arkansas Ballroom and Latin dance club took to the floors of the Ohio Star Ball, the largest ballroom dancing competition in the nation. Christina Thomas attended one of the clubs meetings. She spoke with members of the team, including one who won best newcomer international in waltz and tango.
Students and staff at Lingle Middle School in Rogers collected more than 3,000 items of nonperishable food to donate to five local agencies.
Fort Smith city administrators put a hold on new applications for billboard signs in the city while city staff completes a study on digital billboards. And, Republicans have taken over the state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction, but a state historian says that the Republicans of yesteryear had different legislative priorities than the GOP of today.

40 former democratically elected heads-of-state from all over the world are in Little Rock for an annual conference this week.
Wayne Bell closes out his personal entertainment picks of 2012 by discussing his favorite books and plays of the year.
Ryan Fourt is an Arkansas native and has a diploma from the University of Arkansas. He lives in Colorado now, but he’s back in town for two shows at Legacy Blues this week.
Dr. Steven Rosales will be joining the University of Arkansas’ History Department faculty next year. Earlier this fall he came to KUAF to talk about oral history and more.
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.
Bishop Gene Robinson, elected in 2003 as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church will speak at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville February 9th and 10th. He took an early retirement from his post late last year and is now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington D.C. We speak to him by phone about his life and vocation, in advance of his visit.
"Untitled" by Kaki King
A new exhibit at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale includes many items from the University of Arkansas Museum collection.
Foxygen, a duo of 22-year-olds who've been playing music together since high school, have a new album out called "We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Love." "Ozarks at Large's" Katy Henriksen reviews the upbeat album, which she deems a perfect antidote to the winter blues.
Here's a video for Foxygen's song "San Francisco."
An audit of the state's Medicaid program that was set to be released late last week has been held until later this week. Also later this week, Governor Mike Beebe is expected to meet with state lawmakers to discuss details of a $1.1 billion dollar project that would see Big River Steel bring a steel mill to Osceola. Plus, there are more bald eagles on Beaver Lake this year, as reported by a recent survey by the Army Corps of Engineers.
"Monday" by The Sea and The Cake
Two companies announce relocation and expansion plans that will bring several hundred jobs to Arkansas. Roby Brock of Talk Business Arkansas gives us the details in his weekly update