Ozarks at Large

On today's program, we learn more about the inaugural Fort Smith Mardi Gras celebration. Plus, we learn how people living in rural areas, where there are typically few lawyers, can find legal representation, and we get a look at what's coming up this weekend in music in the region

On today's program, acrobats from Australia tell us the best way to wish them good luck before a show--it's not “break a leg”--as Circus Oz comes to town and John Brummett and Roby Brock discuss the best, or not best, ways to amend a state constitution.

On today's program, we hear about hidden figures beyond NASA...women and men of color who were and are major figures in the scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical fields. Also, we learn more about how to access one's personal health records.

On today's program, reaction to arguments at the State Supreme Court yesterday over the city of Fayetteville's ordinance including sexual identity as a civil rights protection. Also, we learn how The House of Songs project brings songwriters from Sweden, Ireland, Canada and the Ozarks together.

On today's program, a new funding formula for higher education in Arkansas is now law and for residents of Fort Smith named Smith, an unusual health promotion. Plus, as many as 14,000 Pacific Islanders from the Marshall Islands, more than a third of them children, live in Arkansas, but much of that population lacks comprehensive health care. We hear about an effort at the state capitol may change that.

On today’s show, the University of Arkansas counters rising national increases in sexually-transmitted diseases with a new testing clinic, Congressman Steve Womack will discuss efforts to collect sales taxes on internet purchases. And we hear the latest about an effort by the city of Fayetteville to help ensure that 7 Hills Homeless Shelter remains open.

On today's program, we spend time at the Jones Center in Springdale for the winter Special Olympic games, and then we climb to the roof of the almost-finished 8W Center in Bentonville to see where a different kind of fundraiser will take place for the Sunshine School. At least 18 people are trying to raise at least one thousand dollars each to go off the roof and rappel to the ground.

Ahead on today’s show, what a restriction on products defined as junk food might mean for SNAP recipients in Arkansas and the latest from the state capitol on campus-carry legislation. Plus, highlights from a speech given last night by former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on the JBU campus in Siloam Springs.

On today's program, we learn about a data journalism project at the University of Arkansas that investigated whether there is a connection between race and home loan rejection rates in northwest Arkansas. Also, we learn about seasonal affective disorder, which is a subset of depression and is fairly common, but is often underreported because its symptoms mimic those of other conditions.

On today's program, we get an update on Canopy NWA's efforts to resettle refugees in northwest Arkansas in light of recent executive orders from President Trump barring refugees from some countries in the U.S.. Also, Fayetteville Virtual Academy opened last fall as the first online charter school in Arkansas, accepting students in grades four through eight, but the school is already planning to add high school students starting in fall of 2017. We'll hear from the school's director.