Community members gathered last week for an Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) meeting to discuss homelessness. The community meeting included presentations from Homeless Alliance and the department’s Homeless Outreach Team. Homeless Alliance executive director Dan Straughan kicked off the meeting with a presentation on the various functions of his organization as well as statistics about […]
Metro
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Insufficient funds
Less than a year after opening a branch in Oklahoma City’s Midtown district and reporting state-leading growth, Farmers Bank of Carnegie quietly removed its president after a bank examination resulted in a corrective order from Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Oklahoma State Banking Department. In addition, the bank and its former CEO have been […]
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Charting education
Charter schools were envisioned as institutions of innovation where teachers could have freedom to test new ways of educating students. However, many contend that the vision was lost when charter school proponents started promoting them as competitors for traditional public schools. As of May 2019, more than 7,000 charter schools existed across 44 states and […]
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Trust discussions
Immigration advocates continue pushing for conversations on the roles law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) serve locally. Several community members attended the two most recent Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority (jail trust) meetings to request trustees kick ICE out of the county jail. Since 2015, two ICE agents have been stationed at the […]
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Northeast housing
The third phase of development in the Page Woodson area is set to begin soon. Local developer Ron Bradshaw already created more than 200 affordable and market-rate apartment units through new construction and redevelopment at the former Page Woodson school building, 600 N. High Ave. The newest phase of development will usher in more rental […]
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Jails on ICE
Oklahomans are tackling a national immigration issue at the local level. Activists are urging state and municipal law enforcement agencies to not assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid reports of immigration raids and detained asylum seekers. Last Saturday, immigration advocates gathered outside Fort Sill, a military base near Lawton set to house more than […]
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Chief enforcer
Oklahoma City Police Department’s (OKCPD) new police chief is a 30-year police veteran. Wade Gourley is the 50th police chief, succeeding former chief Bill Citty, who retired May 2 after 15 years on the job. City manager Craig Freeman announced the selection of Gourley at a July 8 press conference. He thanked Ward 7 councilwoman […]
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Project proposals
Members of Oklahoma City Council spent more than 10 hours hearing presentations on MAPS 4 proposals last week. On Tuesday, council heard presentations on Palomar Family Justice Center; parks; sidewalks, bike lanes, trails and streetlights; and Freedom Center. On Thursday, presentations were on youth centers, beautification, State Fair coliseum, senior wellness centers and an animal […]
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Zealous defender
Clay Curtis found law school much easier than high school or college. An aspiring attorney since third grade, Curtis felt that the law almost always made sense. Because of his understanding, practice and advocacy of law, he was given the Clarence Darrow Award last month and named Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year by his […]
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Cover: Paper cuts
The sound of folded copies of The Oklahoman slapping concrete in the pre-dawn hours was once familiar, but repeated cuts to the size, coverage, advertising and distribution have left many wondering not only if they will receive their newspaper that day but whether there soon will no longer be a daily newspaper at all. Mary […]