Labor

Arkansas begins implementing Medicaid work requirements this summer. Advocates say people living with HIV need a blanket exemption — or risk losing access to life-saving drugs.

A new Startup Junkie report finds that 30–40% of neurodivergent adults in Northwest Arkansas are underemployed or unemployed, and calls structural gaps — not individual deficits — the core problem.

A report from the Women's Foundation of Arkansas finds nearly 70% of mothers say childcare costs are a barrier to employment, costing families $17,500 a year — 27% of the state's median household income.

A Poyen teacher juggles a T-shirt business alongside her classroom. New Gallup data shows more than 7 in 10 U.S. teachers work a second job to make ends meet.

Reese Roberts of Leverett Lounge and Sidecar Cocktail Lounge speaks with Ozarks at Large's Matthew Moore and reflects on the launch of the Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance during COVID-19, its ongoing Hero Fund for restaurant workers in need, and how the community continues to show up.

The Lake Wedington National Recreation Area has been closed since 2019 due to staffing shortages and the need for facility upgrades. Earlier in May, boots were on the ground in the temporarily shuttered area. Ozarks at Large’s Jack Travis visited the work site and offers this report.

On today's show, the Lake Wedington National Recreation Area is finally being upgraded thanks to the help of HistoriCorps and Job Corps. Additionally, a University of Arkansas professor shares her story of moving to northwest Arkansas from India. Plus, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals are hosting a free youth baseball clinic later this month.

Arkansas Medicaid recipients and advocates are concerned about the state’s plan to reinstate work reporting requirements. The state has asked the federal government for permission to require some Arkansans to work a certain number of hours or meet exemptions to stay enrolled in the state’s Medicaid expansion program.

Gov. Sarah Sanders is promoting a program designed to help high school students in Arkansas develop plans for their futures. The governor says the rootEd Arkansas program is an example of the state’s education investment.

Tyson Foods is facing increased scrutiny around alleged workers rights violations both from activists and some of their own investors.