
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.
A new collection of Charles Portis' works will be discussed at the Fayetteville Public Library this week.
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
Senator Mark Pryor outlines some of his top priorities for 2013 as he tours the state. The Bentonville school district hears from the voting public about what would make for a more successful millage campaign. And Arkansas' public school system gets a passing grade, though there is room for improvement.

A new report released yesterday by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation finds that Arkansas had the fourth-highest rate of immigrant population in the United States during the first decade of this century. But while the state's immigrant population remains below the national average, the report also says that the growth has been beneficial to the state's economy.
Governor Mike Beebe urges Republican state legislators to look at all possible solutions to shore up the shortfall in the state's Medicaid system, though he stated he is against using one-time budget surplus funds to close the gap. The city of Fayetteville looks into selling a bit of land in an effort to clear an eyesore in the name of new commerce.
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.
Later this month, Siloam Springs will be home to a Whitewater Recreation Park, the first of its kind in the state.
"Moon River" DJ Chill
Becca Martin Brown, from Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, says new scripts are going to be a highlight of next week.
Ozarks at Large’s insect expert discusses the annual trip the monarch butterflies make from the northern United States to Mexico. He also suggests planting milkweed to help to nourish them as they make their way through your yard.
Before performing at Wakarusa, Caroline Rose and her band stopped by the Carver Center for Public Radio and performed the song "Roll On."
Our montage this week is dedicated to royalty
1. Queen plays Another One Bites the Dust.
2. Babar takes a vacation with his family.
3. Koko Taylor and Queen Bee.
4. Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen in the 2006 film The Queen.
5. Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, sings Chain of Fools.
6. Jerry Stiller and Kevin James in the sitcom King of Queens.
7. BB King (and Lucille) play The Thrill is Gone.
8. THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE, King Kong, 1933.
9. Ian McKellen as King Lear.
10. Bert Lahr is the Cowardly Lion!
Apologies to : All of the Kansas City Monarchs, Gene Chandler, Juice Newton, Elvis, The Kingsmen, Game of Thrones and chess players. Maybe next time.