Ozarks at Large

On today's show, we see how an advocacy group for mental illness is faring after four years. Plus, a conversation with an actor from The Book of Mormon who has ties to the River Valley.

On this edition of Ozarks, we learn how the Children’s Emergency Shelter in Fort Smith is helping young adults make a transition from foster care to the world beyond. Plus ,John Brummett considers another defection from the Arkansas Democratic party.

On today’s program, fake news and the voter — a conversation with a political scientist who studies politics and emotions. Plus cities across the country, including Fayetteville, mark the one-year anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement.

On today’s program, a dream of a sustainable community is getting closer to reality in Carroll County. Plus, TheatreSquared adapts Charles Dickens' Great Expectations for the stage.

On today's program, Michael Tilley of Talk Business and Politics explains why proposed new leadership at the EPA may be seen as favorable by the city of Fort Smith. We hear about how Gov. Asa Hutchinson's "Arkansas Works" Medicaid expansion plan may appeal to Republicans in Washington, D.C. looking for a compromise to the Affordable Care Act, and we get a preview of an annual holiday concert, featuring five musical duos and benefiting Open Avenues.

Arkansas is one of 15 states that expressly permit corporal punishment in schools, and data logged by the Arkansas Department of Education reveals certain public school districts continue to choose corporal punishment as a means of discipline. On today's program, we hear from school discipline reform advocates who say the practice is not only harmful but that it doesn't work either. Also, we hear about a program in Bella Vista that aims to help residents receive their life-saving treatments

A new report finds that In 2014, the foreign-born population contributed an estimated $3.1 billion to the Northwest Arkansas economy. On today's program, we find out more about the study made public by Engage NWA and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. Also, we speak with the executive director and the managing editor of The Oxford American magazine to get a preview of the publication's annual Southern Music issue.

On today's program, we talk with two members of CattyWampus Co-Op and organizers of the Wampus Wonderland holiday craft show and find out how they hope to fill a void left by another annual craft fair that was canceled for this year. Also, we hear about a piece of legislation that could become a voter-referred amendment to change the way supreme court justices are selected in Arkansas.

On today's program, we hear part one of a story about teaching licensure waivers approved by lawmakers in response to a decline in the number of Arkansans wanting to become teachers through existing pathways. Also, we take a look at Girl Scouts Rise, a juvenile prevention and intervention program designed to help low to medium risk teen and tween girls in the juvenile court system rise to their full potential.

On today's program, the band The Boss Tweeds joins us in the studio for conversation and to give us a preview of their upcoming CD release parties scheduled for this weekend. Also, we talk with American Indian studies scholar Greg Gagnon prior to his lecture, titled “Native American Conversations: A Brief Discussion of History, Politics and Culture,” this weekend in Bentonville.