
Ozarks At Large


(Photo: Walmart 2011 Diversity and Inclusion Report)
The Arkansas Board of Education rolls out a new progress assessment system for school across the state, waypoints in Northwest Arkansas may soon be easier to locate, and Rogers school district officials are looking at changing the way early-achieving students receive credit for courses.
No matter how hard some may try, money is inescapable. We use it to buy stuff, and most often we pay taxes with it. Ozarks at Large's Timothy Dennis takes a look at news stories related to citiesí tax revenue from the past week.

The Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission waits for more input before deciding whether to give $1 million to the U of A, but the commission gives out more than $145,000 to a number of other groups. State officials work to close a funding gap in Arkansas' Medicaid system, and the city of Fort Smith takes another look at zoning for sexually oriented businesses.
David Shipler, author of the book “The Working Poor” spent time in northwest Arkansas last month for the annual One Book, One Community event. During his visit he participated in a public discussion at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Crystal Bridges of American Art in Bentonville is one year (and one day) old today. We take a look back at the museum's last twelve months.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks, a conversation with the director of special education for the U.S. Department of Education; she says many with disabilities are capable of learning anything and everything that those without disabilities can. Plus, as strawberries begin to pop up in gardens and farmers' markets in the area, a group of national leaders in the industry meet in Fayetteville to discuss sustainable growing practices.
Becca Martin Brown has some (but not all) of the suggestions for warm-weather music here.
The winning slogan will be included in a logo and outreach materials. Slogans must be five words or less and include a form of the word recycle. Entry forms and more information on the contest can be found on ADEQ’s website, under the Hot Topics section on the homepage.
John Brown University will host a series of art workshops this summer.
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services points to a handful of reasons as to why employment and unemployment numbers in the state keep improving. The Arkansas Supreme Court grants a stay on a Pulaski County Circuit Court ruling that allowed same-sex marriages to occur in the state last week, and Arkansas Tech's board of trustees approves tuition increases for the coming academic year.
"The Machine" by Garage A Trois
A study released by Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families says that the state’s juvenile detention system is broken. But as Jacqueline Froelich discovered, two Northwest Arkansas detention centers have found a fix.