Ozarks at Large

Northwest Arkansas Land Trust's NWA FARMLINK is a free new service connecting land-seeking farmers to available farmlands in the region, via an interactive web portal. Staff also provide guidance, resources and tools to farmers to cultivate success in their agriculatural endeavor. The mission of Northwest Arkansas Land Trust is to preserve and enhance the quality of life for all people in Northwest Arkansas through the permanent protection of both public and private lands.

We are dealing with cold and a pandemic, but Becca Martin Brown, the features editor with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, says for those who want entertainment...she has suggestions.

CACHE, the Creative Arkansas Community Hub and Exchange, is kicking off a Year of Learning with free workshops next week about the Art of Fundraising.

On today's show, a new semester starts at the University with a now-familiar challenge: COVID-19. Plus, the state of the state…business, politics and policy discussed with three CEOs, and much more.

We start our show today with a familiar refrain: record numbers associated with COVID-19 in Arkansas. Plus suggestions for making Arkansas highways safer.

A panel of campus leaders and experts from the University of Arkansas gathered on campus to answer questions about life on campus and the impact COVID-19 would have on the spring semester. Interim Chancellor Charles Robinson pointing out that as long as classrooms were safe and students continued to effectively mask, then the plan of action was face-to-face instruction on campus.

The University of Arkansas is holding a free, mass covid-19 testing clinic for students, faculty and staff through Feb. 18. Anyone with a university ID card can recieve a PCR test at the test site on the Union Mall on the Fayetteville campus weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Roby Brock, with our partner Talk Business and Politics, asks three CEOs about their thoughts for 2022. As expected, the ongoing pandemic shapes expectations. The conversation is part of this week's Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Report.

Not many new movies, and no blockbusters, are hitting theater screens this month. Courtney Lanning says that leaves room for a winter gem, Sing a Bit of Harmony. Her full review can be found in Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

On today's show, Arkansas Children’s will sponsor a hackathon in April. Plus, the second season of the podcast Undisciplined begins with a conversation about epidemics, and much more.

Our news today includes Arkansas hospitals continue to experience a surge of COVID-19 patients. Plus the observations connected to Arkansas and the National Day of Racial Healing.

This spring Arkansas Children's will host a hackathon. The 48 hour event, April 1st through 3rd, is designed to find possible digital solutions to healthcare challenges.

In the latest episode of Undisciplined, host Caree Banton talks to CDC scientist Ernest Yufenyuy about what the AIDS pandemic—which has been the focus of his work—can teach us about COVID-19.

The latest tour of University of Arkansas history from Charlie Alison, the executive editor of University Relations, recalls the first-ever day of classes at the U of A.

The nonprofit Jamison Alexander Success Center, headquartered in Faulkner County, assists Arkansas children with disabilitis living in a half dozen counties by delivering theraputic items at no charge. The center also operates a program to inspire all kids to succeed -- particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Antonio Jamison discusses why he is dedicated to serving youth in need, welcoming donations to aid his mission.

On today's show, an 1800s African-American cemetery in east Fayetteville, almost lost to history, is being restored. Plus, TheatreSquared readies The Mountaintop, a reimagining of the last night of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life, and much more.

The top of our show includes the latest regarding COVID-19 in Arkansas. Tests were down this weekend, but hospitalizations are up. Also: money for bridges in Arkansas.

An 1800s burial ground on a wooded western slope of Mt. Sequoyah in Fayetteville contains mostly unmarked remains of dozens of enslaved African Americans. Almost lost to history, the site is being documented and restored by the Northwest Arkansas African American Heritage Association. Sharon Killian, board president, walks us through the place known as East Mountain Cemetery, recently deeded to the group for perpetual preservation by Fayetteville native, Lynn Wade.

John Brummett, a columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, thinks President Biden didn't make it easy for voting rights legislation to be passed. He also considers Governor Hutchinson's week and the future makeup of the Arkansas legislature.

Katori Hall's The Mountaintop reimagines the night before the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The play opens tomorrow night at TheatreSquared. We asked the actors and director about the production.

Robert Ginsburg, the host of Shades of Jazz on KUAF, helps us prepare for the return of Bill Frisell to Fayetteville. The guitarist will play twice at the Roots HQ Saturday night.

The historic town of Eureka Springs is a popular tourist destination -- and now, increasingly, a homeless destination. We visit ECHO and A Cup of Love Ministry, two charities that generously serve the impoverished, and talk with a city official trying to find ways to better accomodate the low-income population.

On today’s show, preparing to portray Dr. King on stage in The Mountaintop for TheatreSquared. Plus, efforts to help people living without permanent shelter in Eureka Springs, and much more.

Later this week TheatreSquared will open its production of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop. We talked with creative forces behind the work about the reimagining of the events the night before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered. Much of our conversation will be on tomorrow's show, but we wanted to share some of the conversation today.

Bud Campbell was one of the most familiar faces, and voices, in Arkansas for two decades. We conclude our salute to the broadcaster with archives from the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History.

Next Monday night, the 24th, (ret) General Wesley Clark will deliver the years' first Pryor Center Presents lecture, virtually, at 6:00 p.m. We listen back to part of a conversation he had with us last year about the challenges the United States faces at home and abroad.

On today's show, a shift for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith to mitigate spread of COVID-19. Plus, helping relocate from Afghanistan to northwest Arkansas, and much more.

Top news for a Friday includes almost 13,000 new virus cases in Arkansas, Rogers schools pivoting because of staff shortages and a first-ever gymnastics meet in Bud Walton Arena.

Michael Tilley, with our partner Talk Business and Politics, says the fate of a dog park and the future of I-49 were topics of conversation across the Arkansas River Valley this week.

Canopy of Northwest Arkansas, the state's only resettlement agency began recieving Afghan evacuees in October of 2021. Joanna Krause, the agency's executive director, says they have onboarded at least one new arrival each week since then.

With the spread of COVID-19 continuing, UAFS is moving to mostly virtual instruction next week.

Christopher Schulte, endowed associate professor of art education and assistant director of the School of Art at the University of Arkansas, is founding and directing the new Center for the Study of Childhood Art, the first such instutite in country, he says.

There are things to do this weekend. Becca Martin Brown, the features editor with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, gives us highlights. She also says with a chance of snow and the continued spread of the virus, we should check on the status of any event before going to it.

One Penny Shy is scheduled to play at the Fayetteville Public Library Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00. We talked with Becky and Jacob last night about the show and their EP, Grown.

On today’s show, interest in land in Newton County. Plus, efforts to get more COVID-19 tests in Arkansans’ hands, another edition of young musical all stars, and much more.

Arkansas recorded nearly 11,000 new cases of COVID-19, a new single-day record. Also in the news: Arkansas' senior US Senator defends the filibuster and the Razorback men's basketball team gets a big victory.

The first shipment of at-home COVID-19 tests are being given away across the state at local libraries and other community partners. Dr. Jennifer Dillaha says that the high positivity rate is an indication that more testing is needed.

So much property in Newton County has sold during the pandemic, that once-affordable land prices have soared. Buyers include couples and familes relocating from crowded urban centers and climate catastrophe zones to carve out new lives on the Ozarks. But others are investors buying up land to develop or market as short-term vacation rentals. We query officials, businesses, locals and newcomers about what the changes portend.

Ozark Compost & Swap, a new residential compost pick-up service, aims to make composting more accessible for people in northwest Arkansas. The company offers weekly and bi-weekly options and also partners with local producers to deliver sustainable goods like coffee and household cleaners.

Governor Asa Hutchinson sat down with Roby Brock to discuss the record surge of COVID-19 in Arkansas. The governor says there are continued challenges Arkansans must confront.

The new anime film Belle places the familiar Beauty and the Beast directly into 2022. Courtney Lanning says the movie delivers an unexpected, and welcome, emotional edge.

For the sixth year some of the area's best young musicians will team up with jazz professionals.

On today’s show, trying to better understand COVID-19 testing in Oklahoma. Plus, the challenge of keeping track of a building’s history on a university campus, and much more.

Today's news includes a familiar refrain: increases in new and active cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas. Plus a special election field is set and the final AP football poll is released.

The most recent data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health indicates that there are 64,806 active cases of COVID-19. However, important data like the amount of tests being administered and clear reporting of hospitalizations is lacking. Mobile testing units are being dispersed across the state and testing sites can be found here.

A new project is a community collaboration to help northwest Arkansas residents live healthier lives.

Davis Hall began as women's residence on the University of Arkansas campus. In the decades since opening it has transformed more than once.

On today's show, the business of collecting blood donations during a pandemic. Plus, a conversation about creativity, connection and community, and much more.

The top news across Arkansas continues to be the latest surge of COVID-19 cases. Hospitals have more patients and more school districts are in higher infection zones.

Maintaining a sufficient blood supply is a never-ending challenge. A pandemic doesn't make the challenge any easier. The Arkansas Blood Institute continues to seek donors and is offering antibody test results for all donors through the end of the month.