Judith Murphy

I am a reasonable person. I wait patiently for the outcome of things I cannot control. I understand that major changes take time. That said, I have begun to see red at the sight of orange ” the orange rubber cones and barrels that mark yet more construction on roads and streets. I have Road […]

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. That’s the motto for Norman officials and residents who want a new and bigger public library. Last May, a $49.5 million bond issue for a new facility was defeated in municipal elections by a mere 280 votes. Just five months later, library supporters have unveiled a […]

The official motto for the Olympic Games is “Citius, Altius, Fortius” ” Latin for “Faster, Higher, Stronger.” After watching University of Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton compete in the men’s horizontal bar competition during the Beijing games, I think it’s time to add Horton’s motto to all the official paraphernalia:  “Go big or go home.” Horton […]

Will common sense prevail in state government? It seems we have a good start. Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, held a public hearing July 9 to discuss the possibility of flexible or compressed work schedules ” essentially a four-day workweek ” for state employees. Shelton noted that employees of state agencies could cut their commuting […]

Nothing is more beautiful than a miracle. I’ve been watching one take place. The night after Christmas, my gentle, beloved greyhound Annie got into a fight with or was attacked by another dog. Whatever sparked the rage is unknown. The aftermath is unforgettable: Annie was missing fur and flesh. She had wounds of varying severity […]

While recently working at my computer, I heard a faint rustling sound, so I turned to see what the puppy was chewing. Lizbit was asleep at my feet. Moving my desk chair woke her, and she suddenly jumped up and lunged past me. From beneath a TV stand not far from my bare feet, I […]

With the recent rash of flight cancellations by airlines suddenly inspecting planes, an increasing number of frustrated travelers may have been finding themselves with too many hours to kill. First, of course, they probably must stand in a long, slow-moving line to find out whatever it is that they’re supposed to do to get booked […]

A proposal to provide new license plates to Oklahoma drivers passed the state House in mid-March and is expected to gain Senate approval without significant opposition. The legislation will provide new metal license plates ” not just press-on renewal stickers ” for an estimated 3.1 million vehicles in the state.   Supporters of the bill […]

If you live in Oklahoma City, you owe Mick Cornett two pounds.   This isn’t a new MAPS tax in British currency. It’s more like a voluntary “FATS tax,” on behalf of the mayor’s “This City Is Going on a Diet” program, announced at the beginning of the year to make weight loss a consideration […]