Ozarks at Large

On today's program, a whole range of stories related to nature, from details about the recently announced acquisition of land by The Nature Conservancy in the Buffalo River watershed to details on a new, detailed map of the Beaver Lake Watershed and protection for the monarch butterfly on the University of Arkansas campus. Also, we visit with trumpeter Chris Botti prior to his performance tomorrow in Fayetteville.

On today's program, we find out more about the Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program and how it aims to elevate architecture and design in the region. Also, the protests near Standing Rock in North Dakota are triggering other protests around the country, held in solidarity. We find out how people in Arkansas are also protesting a pipeline, the newly-permitted Diamond Pipeline.

On today's program, we get ready for a winter market with the Fayetteville Farmers' Market. Also, Donald Trump has more than once denied coverage by a press pool since becoming president-elect, a move that breaks with decades of tradition by presidents from both parties. We'll talk with a reporter for the Washington Post who has been part of the presidential press pool

There is concern about new rules regarding the practice of midwifery in Arkansas. On today's program, we learn why some home-birth advocates in the state oppose new rules proposed by the Arkansas Department of Health. Also, three members of the Arkansas press consider what a Donald Trump presidency will mean for the Fourth Estate and what a complicated Arkansas legislative session beginning in January might mean for the state.

Most of our program for this edition of Ozarks at Large is a conversation with Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, recorded at the Fayetteville Public Library. The discussion was the final installment in the One Book, One Community series of events this month.

On today's Thanksgiving Day program, Bobby Bridger explains why he decided to leave a contract with a major record company to create one-man shows about the west. Also, Pastor Clint Schnekloth has another winter book recommendation that considers how we think of Jesus. And, we hear the second half of a report on interracial relationships as Arkansas director Jeff Nichols' movie "Loving," about a Supreme Court case that ended miscegenation laws, is in theatres.

On today's program, we learn about a nearly $200,000 grant that will help educators and researchers at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith determine why some college students almost at the end of their degree protocol leave school, specifically students seeking a degree in a STEM major. Plus, Arkansas director Jeff Nichols’ new movie “Loving” is based on the true story of an interracial couple from Virginia whose U.S. Supreme Court case ended laws against interracial marriage. We hear how the

One of the oldest active cemeteries in Arkansas will come to life next month. On today's program, we learn how The Artists Laboratory Theatre plans to recreate the lives of some of Fayetteville's most notable residents who are interred in Evergreen Cemetery. Plus, we learn about a new mobile sawmill outfit based in Madison County that salvages fallen timber for landowners on-site into valuable craft lumber.

Marshallese college students in Northwest Arkansas are mentoring Marshallese middle school students in a special after-school program. On today's show, we learn more about that program, which is facilitated by the Marshallese Educational Initiative. We also hear from Doug Thompson of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Arkansas State Representative Greg Leding to discuss what's ahead for the country and the state as a new administration transitions into the White House.

On today's program, , Bobby Bridger is a storyteller. He was one of the first-ever guests on Austin City Limits, and tomorrow night he’ll perform his show Lakota, at the Museum of Native American History, and during this hour he’ll talk to us. Also, we have highlights from a ceremony this morning that saw a Rogers elementary school teacher receiving the Milken Educator Award.