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 […]
Metro
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, […]
Final actions
Councilmembers set a date on a new sales tax vote, amended policies and approved more spending, among other actions at Oklahoma City Council’s final meeting of the year. Park tax Three weeks ago, former councilman Ed Shadid submitted a petition with enough signatures to allow residents to decide whether or not they want to implement […]
Sunday liquor
Oklahoma County will decide whether or not to approve Sunday liquor store sales early next year. The Board of County Commissioners voted 2-1 to let residents decide at a special election March 3, which will coincide with the state’s presidential primary. Tulsa County commissioners decided in November to let residents vote on the issue. After […]
Fresh Suites
After taking the building down to steel and concrete and undergoing a massive renovation, a former Marriott hotel is reopening as Embassy Suites. New signage went up last week, and the hotel is set to open Thursday or Friday at 3233 Northwest Expressway. “Oklahoma City’s growing economy provides the perfect opportunity to expand our already-strong […]
Food inequality
The biggest health risk affecting certain communities is inequality. That’s what experts said last week during a symposium on northeast Oklahoma City’s lack of food security. Ward 7 councilwoman Nikki Nice, along with a panel of three experts, discussed the various components that play into food insecurity at the event hosted by Urban Land Institute […]
Protecting employees
Oklahoma City Council voted to update the city’s personnel policies to extend nondiscrimination protections for gender identity and expression. Ward 2 councilman James Cooper introduced the amendment at Tuesday’s Oklahoma City Council meeting where it passed 7-2. “What this resolution does is it shows where The City of Oklahoma City recognizes and supports policy of […]
Improving health
A potential Healthy Neighborhood Overlay for the 73111 ZIP code is among the first things Oklahoma City Council will decide in 2020. The ordinance to establish the zoning overlay has made its way through the Planning Commission and is set for public hearing Dec. 17 and final hearing Jan. 7. The new zoning would provide […]
Park milestone
The rebirth of Manuel Perez Park has officially begun. Last week, city leaders hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the 27-acre park, which will span several blocks east from S. Robinson Avenue along the Oklahoma River. “The community has been behind this to get this recognition but also to work with the city to get funding, […]
Running the jail
(This story was updated Dec. 11 to include new information on the sheriff’s deadline and budget requests.) A jail administrator has been selected to run the Oklahoma County jail. Greg Williams, who has worked at Department of Corrections for nearly four decades, was selected unanimously by the jail trust in early November. However, he has […]
