Scott Cooper

NASA officials are only halfway confirming a story that the federal agency is terminating its contract with Rocketplane Kistler. Melissa Mathews, NASA spokeswoman, told Oklahoma Gazette the agency is taking the first steps toward terminating the contract with the Oklahoma City-based company. “On Friday, NASA’s associate administrator for exploration systems, Scott Horowitz, notified Rocketplane Kistler […]

In 1923, John Calloway “Jack” Walton became the first Oklahoma governor to be impeached. His less-than-a-year tenure was dominated by two forces: corruption and the Ku Klux Klan. Corruption ultimately led to his downfall, but his dealings with the latter may be his lasting legacy. Walton spent most of his days as governor waging war […]

The man convicted of murdering an Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer is off of death row after a ruling today from the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Ricky Ray Malone was convicted of first-degree murder for the December 2003 killing of Officer Nik Green. Malone received the death sentence from Comanche County Judge Mark Smith. A […]

Should President George Bush approve federal assistance for the state’s latest weather-related disaster, it will set a new high-water mark. Since the federal government began helping states when disasters struck, Oklahoma has been a common customer. At least 51 times, the Sooner State has called for federal help, the first in June of 1955 due […]

The troubles with Oklahoma’s space tourism and transportation company continue to mount.   The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Rocketplane Kistler began laying off several employees, and has sent word to some subcontractors helping Rocketplane Kistler with its NASA project to halt work.   Company chief executive officer George French told the paper […]

A recent standoff at the Oklahoma County Juvenile Detention Center may be the spark for reform within the state’s juvenile justice system, which is facing its most serious crisis in years. On Aug. 10, five juveniles acted out inside the facility, resulting in a massive force of city and county law enforcement officers arriving on […]

An Oklahoma City trailer park was flooded today after water was released from the Lake Overholser dam.   “I understand they had to open the flood gates at Overholser in anticipation of numerous tributaries flowing into the lake from around the state as a result of the weekend’s flooding,” said Kristy Yager, Oklahoma City director […]

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry announced today he has issued a disaster declaration for 24 counties —  including Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, Logan and McClain “? hit hard by the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin which passed through the state late Saturday and early Sunday. “It was called the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin but it looked […]

Time may be running out on the state’s space tourism and cargo-carrying company to fulfill its mission with NASA. Oklahoma City-based Rocketplane Kistler was awarded a $207 million contract with NASA a year ago to come up with a reusable launch vehicle that could transport cargo to and from the International Space Station. The contract […]

A city council member and a former state legislator will face off to see who fills the vacant Oklahoma County Commission board seat. After all precincts reported in tonight, Oklahoma City Councilwoman Willa Johnson held off a crowded field to win the Democratic nomination, while Forrest Claunch easily took the Republican nomination. Claunch, the former member […]