Mercy Health used an innovative walking program to become one of the healthiest workplaces in the country.
Ozarks At Large
A roundup of events and news for the next few weeks include an alternative way to deliver a Valentine.


An administrative law judge with the Arkansas Public Service Commission on Friday ordered SWEPCO to proceed on its proposed plan to build a massive new power transmission line through portions of northwest Arkansas. Also, Governor Mike Beebe says that recent cost analyses of operating the state's Private Option expansion of Medicaid justifies the program's passage during last year's session of the state legislature. And the state Attorney General's office warns residents about rapid-refund tax providers.

Ahead on Ozarks, a conversation with young adult author An Na. Also, we learn what it takes to become a police officer.

We speak with An Na, author of A Step From Heaven, a book that was awarded the Michael L. Prince Award when it was published a decade ago. Critics and reviewers commended the book's characters for speaking like a child without being too precocious or condescending. The author will speak in Fayetteville later this month.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Weekend Ozarks, we visit the kitchen of Jen Lewis, take a spin in a state-run clinic that aids veterans in rural communities, and we meet a recovering opiate addict who has found hope with methadone.
Poet Gerry Sloan reads and signs copies of his poetry book “Paper Lanterns” tonight at Nightbird Books, “Tigers Be Still” continues its run at Nadine Baum Studios, and “Hairspray” is tonight at 8 p.m. at Rogers Little Theatre. Becca Bacon Martin from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers has the details.
“Baltimore Gas & Electric” by Raymond Scott
University of Arkansas genocide scholar Dr. Samuel Totten’s book “We Cannot Forget,” which he co-authored with Rafiki Ubaldo, is a compilation of interviews with survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He discusses his experiences with Ozarks at Large’s Kyle Kellams.
To listen to more of this conversation, click here.
“Poison Oak” by Bright Eyes
Jodi Beznoska from Walton Arts Center entertains our request to offer suggestions for entertainment purposes.
Yesterday, an updated plan for the expansion of Walton Arts Center venues was released. The report highlights the need for a new University of Arkansas campus venue that has close to 600 seats.
To hear more about Walton Arts Center’s expansion, click here.
“Close to Champagne” by Los Straitjackets
Last week, business and civic leaders from northwest as well as central Arkansas came together to discuss potential partnerships to enhance the economic development of the two regions.