Neighborhood parks across Oklahoma City could see improved facilities and programming if the measure is approved by voters. Former councilman Ed Shadid spearheaded the initiative to get the proposal on a city ballot. It came in response to the MAPS program, which focuses on capital improvements over maintenance and operations. Former councilman Pete White, a […]
Miguel Rios
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Oklahoma justice
Oklahomans continue pushing for legislation to lower the state’s prison population and prevent people from entering into the criminal system in the first place. Last year, Oklahoma saw the largest mass commutation in the nation’s history with nearly 500 people being released early from prisons in November. Damion Shade, Oklahoma Policy Institute criminal justice policy […]
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Cultural spirit
After the closure of Urban Roots, which Quintin Hughes considered a centerpiece of black culture, a void was left to be filled. “It was a place where art and food intersected. It was just a place where you would see a lot of creatives and movers and shakers from within the community,” he said. “There […]
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Fresh brew
The first Scooter’s Coffee in Oklahoma City opened last month in the far northwest part of the city. Two more are expected to open soon along Route 66, and a total of about 10 will be open by the end of the year. Scooter’s Coffee was founded in Nebraska in 1998 as a drive-thru coffee […]
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Better together
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Coalition has never done quite as much outreach as it’s doing this year. The coalition is going the extra mile as it readies to celebrate four decades honoring the late civil rights icon with the theme “40 Years — Better Together.” Anthony Sherrod, the group’s volunteer coordinator, has […]
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Sweet vision
Stefanie Embree and her husband decided 2020 is the year they open up a dessert shop. They recently submitted a building permit for a 1,831 square-foot shop at 7306 N. Western Ave. and hope to be open for business around April. Embree, who has been running OKC Sweets out of her home for two years, […]
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Sentencing reform
Criminal justice reform advocates want to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to prohibit sentence enhancements based on previous felonies for nonviolent offenders. The measure would also allow nonviolent offenders serving enhanced sentences to seek a modification in court. “A former conviction for one or more felonies shall not be used to enhance the statutorily allowable range […]
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Jail resolutions
A coalition working for human rights started the year off demanding better conditions for those in the Oklahoma County jail. Various organizations came together to host a noise demonstration across the street from the jail on New Year’s Day. Dream Action Oklahoma, Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice, Women’s March Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Democratic Socialists, Black […]
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Cover: Winter contingency
Sixteen people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City died during winter 2017. Some froze to death on the streets while others died trying to stay warm in fires that got out of control. Having somewhat of a cold weather plan in place to shelter people experiencing homelessness was not enough to save those lives. That was […]
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A-list comedy
NYE w/John Heffron 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Tuesday Bricktown Comedy Club 401 E. California Ave. bricktowncomedy.com 405-594-0505 $20-$30 A new comedy club bringing national headliners to downtown OKC is now open. Bricktown Comedy Club had two shows last weekend and already has comedians booked through July. Bricktown Comedy Club, operated by family-owned BARK Entertainment, […]