“We’re herding a lot of cats, but I think we’re making progress,” said Wichita City Councilman Pete Meitzner. His comments follow a letter signed in early May by Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer and Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James in support of a plan to extend the passenger rail line […]
Jerry Bohnen
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Gimme shelter
People packed the showrooms only days after the May 31 tornado — the widest recorded in U.S. history — ripped through El Reno, eager to learn about underground shelters or above-ground safe rooms. Many had one key concern: How soon could it be installed in their home? The answer, no doubt, startled them. Some would […]
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Good humor
Ty Tyler Credit: Mark Hancock “It’s great to be associated with some fun,” said Ty Tyler, president of Tyler Media, who oversaw the format change from Radio Disney to 24/7 Comedy. “It helps put people in a good mood, and there’s certainly nothing like it in Oklahoma City.” The brainchild of 24/7 Comedy is George […]
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Not business as usual
Warren Theatre credit: Marianne Bacharach The Orr Family Farm, a 106-acre site for children’s activities and agriculture education, sustained significant damage as well as the deaths of a number of horses. Some news reports initially put the figure at 100 horses, but Tony Vann, a spokesman for the farm, said most of those found dead […]
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No comment
Chesapeake Energy campus Credit: Mark Hancock Despite being a vocal critic in 2005 of China’s efforts to buy the American oil company Unocal, he has declined comment regarding Chesapeake Energy’s recent $1.02 billion joint venture with a Chinese oil company for part of Chesapeake’s holdings in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas — acreage in the […]
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KKNG of kings
Larru Sousa at KKNG radio Credit: Mark Hancock It’s not to be confused with the KKNG that became the current KJKE radio, 93.3. KJKE is the station with the big stick (industry jargon for a powerful signal); KKNG is so low-power, in fact, it has trouble covering the entire metro. Sousa, who spent 38 years […]
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From board to booked
District Attorney David Prater Photo: Mark Hancock Mack Martin, an attorney for the board members, called the charges unfair. “What they did is not a crime,” he said. “That’s my opinion, and my opinion is just as important as David Prater’s.” But the D.A. contends he had no choice after he offered not to pursue […]
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Prater files charges against the state’s Pardon and Parole Board
Prater announced the filings late today.?? “Every effort was made by me to resolve this matter in a fair and equitable manner before the filing of the criminal information,” he said in a written statement.?? He also indicated the board members were offered an opportunity to step down two at a time to allow the […]
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Zoning out
Residents of the targeted 20-block area had fought the rezoning application until the city’s turnabout late last week. Still, many residents in the predominantly African-American neighborhood believe the city will try again. J.J. Chambless, head of the city’s development services department, told Oklahoma Gazette that the rezoning application officially will be withdrawn when the Oklahoma […]
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The next move
Rep. Randy Grau To some, it’s a sad day. For others, it’s a celebration of a woman’s reproductive rights. Regardless, some state legislators are counting on another try at placing restrictions on the law in Oklahoma after suffering a legal defeat by the state Supreme Court. Rep. Randy Grau, R-Edmond, is one of those lawmakers. […]