Four insurance companies have stated their intentions to participate in Arkansas' insurance marketplace that will be created through the federal health care law. Members of OUR Walmart are in Northwest Arkansas as thousands of Walmart shareholders and associates are in town for this week's shareholders' convention. Flags are being flown at half-staff today to honor the public servants killed in last week's flooding in Scott County. And a new postage stamp released today pays tribute to an Arkansas native.
Ozarks At Large
The 10th anniversary of Wakarusa was full of live performances and rain. Check out our photos of the festival here.

That's the question that Fabio Mendez, an economics professor at the University of Arkansas, sought to answer with his latest paper.
The Arkansas Secretary of State released a draft of rules for implementing the state's new voter ID law. Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel isn't overly concerned about discrepancies in Exxon-Mobile's reported timeline of the Mayflower oil spill. U.S. Geological Survey officials say that the flooding of the Fourche LaFave River last week was a flood of historic proportions, or at least the largest since record-keeping began on the river. And Fayetteville is ranked as one of the cheaper places to live in the country.


Though the Arkansas Music Pavilion won't move to Rogers for about another year, Becca Martin Brown of NWA Newspapers says that there will be plenty of opportunities to hear live music at Pinnacle Hills Promenade with the Music on the Lawn series.

Judge Leon Holmes rejects former state treasurer Martha Shoffner's guilty plea after being unsatisfied with her testimony regarding activities that led to her indictment. Senator Mark Pryor lashes out with his own ad against negative publicity regarding his voting record on gun control. Governor Mike Beebe lauds the state's Unemployment Insurance Program for bouncing back after running out of money a few years ago. Ozark Regional Transit offers free rides throughout the summer to children aged 17 and under. And Tyson Foods acquires a California-based ethnic food operation.
Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Monday, March 24, 2014
Ahead on this edition of Ozarks at Large, upgrades to a nearly decade-old program are designed to more effectively connect consumers with local farmers. Plus, the deadline to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is on the horizon. We learn about the consequences of failing to enroll in coverage.
In the first of our five-part series on the deployment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Jacqueline Froelich explains how the law will work in Arkansas.
In the second of our series on the launch of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Arkansas, we look at our state’s unique approach to Medicaid expansion.
For more information visit Arkansas Health Connector at http://hbe.arkansas.gov
Here are our ten clips of ten classic southern tales, each set in a different southern state. Extra points if you know the actor featured (if not actually heard) in two of our clips this week.
1. Vivian Leigh, as Scarlet, makes a vow at the end of the first half of Gone With the Wind. (Goeriga)
2. Richard Widmark, as Col. Bowie, questions the wisdom of defending the Alamo. (Texas)
3. Sally Field is encouraged to hit Shirley MacLaine in Steel Magnolias. (Louisiana)
4. Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs in In The Heat of the Night. (Mississippi)
5. John Wayne takes gets ready to take out four bandits in the 1969 film adaptation of Charles Portis' True Grit. (Arkansas)
6. Gary Cooper is a true shot even before he joins the military in Sgt. York. (Tennessee)
7. The five seconds we can air from Al Pacino in Scarface. (Florida)
8. Jeff Goldblum makes the case for a rationalization in the Big Chill. (South Carolina. Yes, South Carolina...who knew?)
9. Cape Fear. Scary. Robert DeNiro, of course. (North Carolina)
10. Boo Radley saves the day in To Kill a Mockingbird. (Alabama)
Apologies to: Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Maryland.
Next in our series on the roll-out of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Arkansas, Jacqueline Froelich profiles one insurance company competing to set up shop on the state’s health insurance marketplace.
To learn more about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act visit http://HealthCare.gov
And to see what’s happening in Arkansas go to http://ARHealthConnector.org
ArkansasBlueCross.com also provides a concise list of health care law news and information.
The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is providing community clinics across the U.S. billions of dollars to provide basic health care to under-served communities. In Washington and Benton Counties Community Clinic, a ministry of St. Francis House, will get an infusion and plans to expand into south Washington County.