Patrick Ryan Credit: Mark Hancock In August, the MAPS 3 Trails and Sidewalks Subcommittee sent a sidewalks master plan to the MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board. Out of 131 total alignments identified as in need of sidewalks, the plan prioritized around 31 of them. In the master plan, of the more than $9 million set […]
Clifton Adcock
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From movie to measure
Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal in \”Won\’t Back Down\” California, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana have already passed such laws. Groups that write model legislation, such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), have drafted model bills for legislators to introduce in their home states. Parent trigger laws allow for dramatic changes at a school if […]
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Staying the course
The recommendation to hire Populous and GSB to conduct a conceptual study for the convention center will go before the MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Committee tomorrow. If passed, it then will go before the Oklahoma City Council for approval. Populous and GSB were the firms responsible for weighing and narrowing down the prospective sites. Out […]
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Studying the cities
Roy Williams Credit: Mark Hancock Roy Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, spoke of insights gained from the Chamber’s visits since 2005 to five cities out of state: Charlotte, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; and Minneapolis. Williams described the cities in terms of seven areas — sports, […]
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Durant’s delayed
Jim Tolbert OCURA voted Sept. 19 to table a vote on plans by developer Randy Hogan for a restaurant along the Bricktown canal just west of Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill and east of Earl’s Rib Palace after board members expressed concern about the restaurant’s entrance not facing the canal. During the […]
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In the park
More than 130 people attended the first of three public meetings on the MAPS 3 park. Credit: Mark Hancock Mary Margaret Jones, senior principal at Hargreaves Associates, the city’s consultant on the project, said it is important to consider many elements when making decisions about the park, such as Oklahoma’s climate, existing and future development […]
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Countering contraception
David Green Filed Sept. 12 in federal court in Oklahoma City, the suit contends that it is unconstitutional for the ACA to require businesses to provide employees with health insurance plans that include contraception. David Green, CEO and founder of Hobby Lobby and Mardel Christian-themed bookstores, said the company’s health insurance already covers contraceptives for […]
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More for Core for Shore
The planned location for the $252 million convention center, the former Fred Jones automobile dealership property across Reno Avenue from Myriad Botanical Gardens, is north of the boundary that currently defines the Core to Shore Urban Renewal Plan area. In order to buy the property, however, the city must redraw the plan’s boundaries to include […]
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Hail the jail
Sheriff John Whetsel said the jail has been working to win accreditation from the ACA for several years. He said the Sept. 10 announcement was the culmination of years of work by jail staff, jail officials and county elected officials. The ACA accreditation makes the county jail the second facility in the state — Tulsa […]
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Nip and tuck
Cathy O’Connor Credit: Mark Hancock While few of the changes are major, they will update and better spell out what the city can do as part of its incentive program, said Cathy O’Connor, president of the nonprofit organization Alliance for Economic Development. The program funds come from the 2007 general obligation limited tax (GOLT) bond. […]