In 2011, Northwest Arkansas Community College received a one-million-dollar federal grant to offer certifications and other classes to the unemployed in Northwest Arkansas. Now in its third year, the ARK Grant program has already helped 275 area residents further develop their skills in order to more easily find a job
Ozarks At Large
The Fort Smith Board of Directors last night held its first quarterly open-forum meeting. The sessions are designed to discuss any "What" and "Why" questions the directors might have.
The six-county Ozark Mountain Solid Waste District filed for bankruptcy in January on a landfill and hauling franchise it purchased nearly ten years ago in north Baxter County as a money-making venture. As Jacqueline Froelich reports, a state legislator has stepped forward to allocate special funding to safely seal the site. 
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks at Large, the types of food establishments--restaurants, convenience stores, grocers, fast food businesses--that surround a school have an impact on childhood obesity. We speak to two U of A System Division of Agriculture researchers who make that claim. Plus, Habitat for Humanity Washington County completes its 50th home, Roby Brock has his Talk Business Arkansas update, Becca Martin Brown tells us What's Up, and more.
Michael Thomsen and Rudy Nayga, researchers with the UA Division of Agriculture, look at how restaurants and stores that surround schools affect the weight of students.
This month's Stigler Lecture will be delivered by Jennifer Harty and Kade Ferris of Cardno ENTRIX of Bismarck, N.D.. Last year, the two helped identify stone features at a Chippewa site that had been impacted by oil and natural gas well construction.University of Arkansas Theatre presents the rock musical Spring Awakening during this spring semester. Becca Martin Brown says the play has a tie to Fayetteville.
Habitat for Humanity Washington County has constructed its 50th home, which is also the first Habitat home in the state to seek LEED certification.
The Arkansas House on Friday again failed to give enough votes in favor of the appropriation for the state's Private Option Medicaid expansion, Governor Beebe touts the results of the Arkansas Payment Improvement Initiative, the Libertarian Party of Arkansas holds its nominating convention, and the Bentonville airport will soon see improvements to the airports runway safety areas.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, golf is a sport, but it's also a vehicle for life lessons about honesty and perseverance. We visit the green as First Tee of Northwest Arkansas spends an afternoon teaching values to area youth. Plus, a look at the senate race in Arkansas.
Becca Martin Brown from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers previews the next stage offering at Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale.
Here are the ten clips in our salute to the City of Brotherly Love on its 331st birthday:
1. Hall and Oates sing Private Eyes.
2. Paul Giamatti as John Adams, arguing for Independence, in HBO's miniseries, John Adams.
3. Tom Hanks and Denzil Washington in court in Philadelphia.
4. La La La Means I LoveYou by The Delfonics.
5. Philadelphia native Bill Cosby as Fat Albert (a fictional Philadelphia native).
6.The Stylistics sing Betcha By Golly Wow.
7. Katherine Hepburn teases Jimmy Stewart in The Philadelphia Story.
8. TSOP by MFSB. (the song is an acronym for The Sound of Philadelphia).
9. Rate A Record on American Bandstand.
10. Sylvester Stallone's Rocky survives to embrace Talia Shire's Adrian at the end of Rocky.
Apologies to Jimmie Foxx, Dr. J, Teddy Pendergrass, Ben Franklin, the Broad Street Bullies and the cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Maybe next time.
During his visit to KUAF, Michael Jonathon picked up his banjo.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe was in Texarkana yesterday, where he refused to reveal his future political plans, but offered his opinion on the recent partial shutdown of the federal government. Fayetteville's Owl Creek School next year will become the third school in the district to move to a continuous learning calendar. And the NCAA releases the most recent data on graduation success rates for student athletes.
Michael Tilley from The City Wire discusses two job announcements made in the region this week and the ever-changing political landscape in Arkansas.
