The Oklahoma Department of Health has confirmed the state's first death due to Heartland virus—a new tick-borne illness discovered in the mid-South. So far no cases have been documented in Arkansas. Jacqueline Froelich spoke with an Oklahoma epidemiologist to find out the status of the virus and how to avoid be bitten.
Ozarks At Large
The latest state revenue report shows a surplus for the end of the fiscal year. State and local leaders celebrated the opening of the 71-B Flyover last night in Fayetteville, and Rogers is working on building a new, modern fire station for the central part of the city.
Ahead on Ozarks, a roundtable discussion on workforce education in the state. And, and an effort to expand the footprint of Gulley Park.
Jacob Kaufman from KUAR provides a recap of the state legislature's recently concluded special session.
Local grocery shelves have a new local item on them. Bernice's Hellacious Hummus is make in northwest Arkansas.
Eleven acres adjacent to Gulley Park were recently put on the market. Friends of Gulley Park hope to raise the funds necessary to buy the property, expand the park and maintain the atmosphere of the current public space.
Planners for Pea Ridge National Military Park in northwest Arkansas in Garfield seek to return the American Civil War battlefield back to its original ecological nature. Chief Resources Manager, Kevin Eads takes us on a tour.
The Care Foundation announces more than $3 million in grants that aim to help underserved children with pre-K and food security programs. The Fayetteville city council approved governance changes for the Walton Arts Center. And state legislators approve changes to public school employee insurance plans.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
On this edition of Ozarks, how material seized by the police end up at auction. Also, the fate of undocumented young people who make it to Northwest Arkansas.
The Ozarks Genealogical Society's annual conference is scheduled for Sept. 13-14 in Springfield, Missouri, and the featured speaker is D. Joshua Taylor (http://www.djoshuataylor.com).
The first event outside of Eureka Springs for the Creative Energy Project will bring yarn, and plenty of it, to Bentonville.
Link: For more about Yarnology or the Creative Energy Project, www.creativeenergyproject.com
Officials with hunger relief organizations in Arkansas express concern over recent efforts to remove SNAP funding from the federal Farm Bill. Central Arkansas leaders request information from ExxonMobil regarding a stretch of pipeline in the Lake Maumelle Watershed. The Arkansas House and Senate Education Committees discuss the new Common Core curriculum, set to take effect when schools start in about a month. And the Fayetteville Public Library board of directors moves forward with an offer to purchase the former City Hospital property.
"Cut Me Loose" by T Model Ford
In the first of our series on the deployment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Arkansas, Cynthia Crone, the state’s insurance department deputy commissioner, explains the fundamentals, including getting an early look at Arkansas’s insurance exchange, now referred to as marketplace.
Early next month the organization called the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc. will hold its annual convention in Rogers. We talked to John Bircher, National Spokesman for the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Link: To learn more about the Military Order of the Purple Heart, visit www.purpleheart.org