Metro

Youth crisis

Sisu Youth Services is now the only emergency youth shelter not requiring documents in Oklahoma City.

Sisu Youth Services has seen the number of drop-in clients nearly double since the closure of another nonprofit organization.

By Miguel Rios May 24, 2019

Sisu Youth Services Jamie Caves Be the Change youth shelter emergency youth shelter Sisu Youth Sisu case managers Oklahoma City Planning Department Homeless youth homelessness unaccompanied youth Department of Human Services Office of Juvenile Affairs DHS Homeless Alliance Catholic Charities Pivot volunteer donation

Road MAPS

Presentations and discussions on proposed MAPS 4 projects are set to begin this summer with a finalized package expected in early September.

Oklahoma City Council will soon start hearing presentations and discussing MAPS 4 project ideas, which Oklahomans have been submitting since October.

By Miguel Rios May 23, 2019

David Holt Oklahoma City Council City council mayor MAPS MAPS 1 MAPS 3 MAPS 4 SoonerPoll Ed Shadid Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce

Presidential rebound

OU regents named an interim president, but community members continue to demand transparency when choosing the next permanent leader.

University of Oklahoma Board of Regents named an interim president less than a week after James Gallogly announced his retirement.

By Miguel Rios May 22, 2019

University of Oklahoma board of regents James gallingly Joseph Harroz jr. Joe Harroz OU College of Law OU Jess Eddy David Boren Suzette Grillot university president

Deadly force

The recent shooting of a teenager by Edmond police elicits outrage.

Isaiah Lewis, an unarmed 17-year-old, was shot and killed by police on April 29 following an on-foot chase through a residential neighborhood.

By Nikita Lewchuk May 17, 2019

Isaiah Lewis Camille Landry T. Sheri Dickerson Black Lives Matter Sgt. Milo Box Milo Box Denton Scherman Jenny Wagnon Edmond Police Department police body cameras Nappy Roots Books police killing Jabee Oklahoma City Police Department Lorenzo Clerkley Michael Elijah Walker Boulevard High School Edmond Public Schools

Polling projects

A third-party poll gauges Oklahoma City residents’ opinions on some MAPS 4 ideas.

Oklahoma City officials are nearly ready to hear presentations and have in-depth discussions about suggestions for MAPS 4 projects.

By Miguel Rios May 16, 2019

MAPS 4 Oklahoma City Council David Holt Ed Shadid SoonerPoll Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce soccer stadium State Fair coliseum Chesapeake Energy Arena parks homelessness public transit State of the City

Boom town

John F. Kennedy neighborhood residents are looking at any and all options to help ease the explosions at nearby recycling centers.

For years, residents of the John F. Kennedy neighborhood have dealt with loud explosions that cause their houses to shake and crack.

By Miguel Rios May 16, 2019

John F. Kennedy Neighborhood JFK Neighborhood JFK Neighborhood Association JFKNA Oklahoma City Action Center Action Center Oklahoma City Council city council fire marshal Department for Environmental Quality DEQ recycling car crusher explosion explosions boom booms smokestacks petroleum construction Cresha Redus Rodney Redus Denyvetta Davis Lee E. Cooper Jr. Ward 7 quality of life

Northeast development

Efforts to create a commercial district along NE 23rd Street continue with a focus on ethical development.

By Miguel Rios May 8, 2019

Anthony Crawford Northeast Oklahoma City NEOKC NEOKCR Northeast Oklahoma City Renaissance oNE OKC Greg Jones Ashley Chatman commercial district ethical development Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce merchant association Building Tomorrow Adam & Kizzie

Action item

Four councilmen want to reverse a decision taken by Historic Preservation Commission to protect First Christian Church.

On Friday, a resolution was added to the Oklahoma City Council agenda for May 7’s meeting but was then deferred to May 21.

By Miguel Rios May 6, 2019

First Christian Church historic preservation Historic Preservation Commission Oklahoma City Council Crossings Community Church James Cooper Ward 2 James Greiner Todd Stone David Greenwell Mark Stonecipher Ed Shadid

Cover: Finding identity

For trans or nonbinary people, explaining the fluidity of gender can be complicated.

Whether you think Facebook is a useful tool to keep up with your friends and current events or despise it as a data-mining tool of big corporations, you have to admit they got one thing right: the “it’s complicated” relationship status.

By Nikita Lewchuk May 3, 2019

Nikita Lewchuk transgender Caitlyn Jenner Laverne Cox nonbinary gender She/He/They/Me: For the Sisters Misters and Binary Resisters Robin Ryle sexual orientation

Blocked signals

A lawsuit involving OETA ends with an agreement to dissolve OETA Foundation and transfer all assets to a new fundraising nonprofit.

The former charitable organization tasked with funding Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) since 1983, OETA Foundation, has dissolved.

By Miguel Rios May 2, 2019

Oklahoma Educational Television Authority OETA OETA Foundation Friends of OETA Garrett King Daphne Dowdy lawsuit settlement agreement nonprofit fundraiser Polly Anderson Glenn Coffee Jennifer Eve Kenneth Fergeson Robert Spinks Sharon Neuwald Rick Allen Lippert

Proud community

Oklahoma City’s Pride parade and festival will be led by a newly formed nonprofit.

Oklahoma City Pride Alliance was formed by former 39th Street District director Lauren Zuniga to take the reins of Pride festivities.

By Miguel Rios Apr 26, 2019

Oklahoma City Pride Alliance 39th Street District Association Lauren Zuniga Pride OKC Pride Inc. Lori Honeycutt Pride Advisory Council Brandon Odom OKC Pride Alliance Alex Bliss Nonprofit Solutions Jeri Holmes Natalie Kent Nominee Faces of Pride LGBTQ+ queer Pride Week

Hate history

Oklahomans have witnessed racism, bigotry and its consequences, but more education is needed to prevent future hate crimes.

Oklahoma residents woke up to find racist, neo-Nazi, white nationalist graffiti twice in the last month.

By Miguel Rios Apr 19, 2019

neo-Nazi graffiti white nationalist graffiti Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Oklahoma City bombing Norman Police Department white separatist threats Cleveland County Democratic headquarters Allison Johnson Oklahoma Democratic Party headquarters Chickasaw Nation Oklahoma County Anna Langthorn Dennis Purifoy Timothy McVeigh Terry Nichols William Pierce Andrew Mcdonald Southern Poverty Law Center SPLC The Turner Diaries Kathleen Belew Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America Arie Kruglanski Oklahoma City Memorial & Museum

One OKC

Ward 2’s newest councilman is breaking barriers, making history and representing those who have not felt represented in the past.

One of the newest city council members is making history and giving a voice to people who have gone without representation at the city level.

By Miguel Rios Apr 17, 2019

James Cooper David Holt Carrie Blumert Ward 2 Oklahoma City Council Freedom Oklahoma Aaron Wilder Allie Shin Richard Ogden Kay Floyd Jim Roth LGBTQ African American

Shoulders of giants

Oklahoma City Council’s two outgoing members are encouraged by the next generation of city leaders who will take their seats next week.

James Cooper and JoBeth Hamon are anxious and excited to take their city council seats April 9.

By Miguel Rios Apr 3, 2019

Ward 2 Ward 6 Ed Shadid James Cooper Meg Salyer JoBeth Hamon Ward 7 Nikki Nice Oklahoma City Council city council city hall city government

Building history

Oklahoma City Council is making decisions on the historic and cultural significance of two properties with long histories.

City council members brought forth resolutions to acknowledge the historic and cultural significance of two properties.

By Miguel Rios Mar 20, 2019

Nikki Nice Stacy McNeiland Jackie Gates Sandra Finney Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Center CARE Center Brockway Center National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs Ed Shadid First christian Church egg church Okie Mod Squad Crown Heights-Edgemere Heights Neighborhood Association Preservation Oklahoma John Malget David Box Pam Holt Mark Stonecipher Meg Salyer David Greenwell OK City Council City Council Oklahoma City Council Historic Preservation Commission James Cooper JoBeth Hamon Jewel Box Theatre

Split vote

A recent vote to preserve and enforce anti-LGBTQ+ provisions in the United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline has the fate of the church up in the air.

United Methodist Church (UMC) could split following a recent vote to double down on its stance against homosexuality.

By Miguel Rios Mar 14, 2019

United Methodist Church Oklahoma Conference Bishop James Nunn Scott Spencer Rev. Scott Spencer Rev. Jen Logsdon-Kellog Jen Logsdon-Kellog Mosaic United Methodist church Quail Springs United Methodist Church General Conference LGBTQ+ same-sex weddings church religion methodist Book of Discipline Traditional Plan One Church Plan

ALCOHOLMANAC Bottles rocked

Oklahoma’s new alcohol law improved convenience for consumers but is hurting local liquor store sales.

State Question 792 passed in 2016 and changed laws regarding alcohol sales and distribution in the state.

By Miguel Rios Mar 13, 2019

State Question 792 beer wine alcohol liquor liquor laws Bryan Kerr Ashley Skinnell Freeman’s Liquor Mart Moore Liquor liquor stores alcoholmanac 7-eleven Alcoholmanac

Hotel potential

Hotel Habana’s new owners are undertaking a major renovation to help fulfill the resort’s potential as a city centerpiece.

The self-proclaimed “largest gay resort in the Southwest” is under new ownership and ready for a complete makeover.

By Miguel Rios Mar 8, 2019

Hotel Habana Habana Inn Arnold Greenspan Thomas Lagatta Alternative Resorts The Copa Finish Line hotel renovation 39th Street District gayborhood LGBTQ+ Alice in Wonderland

CARE for history

Two organizations are working to find the best solution for a historic house’s potential demolition.

Two nonprofit, pro-social organizations are working to find compromise when it comes to the demolition of a historic home.

By Miguel Rios Mar 7, 2019

National Association of Colored Women’s Club NACWC Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Center CARE Center CARE Stacy McNeiland Brockway Center Jackie Gates Nikki Nice historic building Arvest Bank Communities Foundation of Oklahoma Oklahoma City Federation of Negro Women’s Clubs resolution Oklahoma City Council city council David Holt Mayor Holt Mayor David Holt

Cover: Music gamble

Concert promotion is more of a risky business than most live music lovers realize.

They were warned about the heat, but in the end, that wasn’t the problem.

By Jeremy Martin Mar 1, 2019

Scott Marsh The Jones Assembly music venues David Fitzgerald DCF Concerts The Flaming Lips Manchester Orchestra Delta Spirit Levelland Productions Warrant Max Baker Jr. Diamond Ballroom Little Wing Productions Larry Shaeffer music promotion Tower Theatre The Criterion Jeff Tweedy Vampire Weekend Death Cab for Cutie Live Nation

Church of yesterday

If First Christian Church is not declared a historic landmark, the building could face demolition upon sale.

The 32-acre property owned by First Christian Church is under contract to a buyer who will only complete the purchase on the condition that it be demolished.

By Miguel Rios Feb 25, 2019

First Christian Church Lynne Rostochil Church of Tomorrow Ed Shadid National Register of Historic Places Katie McLaughlin Friddle Crown Heights Edgemere Park David Holt James Greiner

Capitol CAIR

Council on American-Islamic Relations is hosting its fifth annual Oklahoma Muslim Day at the Capitol to encourage civic engagement within the community.

The Oklahoma chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has seen its annual Muslim Day at the Capitol event grow exponentially since 2015.

By Miguel Rios Feb 22, 2019

Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR Muslim Day at the Capitol Lani Habrock interfaith community Muslim community Muslim bullying firearms Jason Dunnington Imad Enchassi Oklahoma Capitol Legislature Daniel Pae Jon Echols Gov. Kevin Stitt Kevin Stitt House Bill 1068 House Bill 2597 Senate Bill 38

Voices heard

Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office is forming a citizens advisory board to better engage with the community and promote transparency.

Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office recently announced its intent to form a citizens advisory board (CAB).

By Miguel Rios Feb 21, 2019

Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office citizens advisory board CAB Voices Organized in Civic Engagement VOICE Carrie Blumert Mark Opgrande Sheriff Taylor P.D. Taylor Sundra Flansburg Oklahoma County Jail

Take Pride

39th Street District Association hosts this year’s Pride parade and festival as OKC Pride Inc. continues dealing with the aftermath of embezzlement charges.

For the first time in decades, OKC Pride Inc. will not host the annual Pride festivities.

By Miguel Rios Feb 15, 2019

39th Street District Association OKC Pride 39th Street Pride Pride parade Pride festival Lori Honeycutt Brandon Odom Lauren Zuniga The Gayly David Holt Stonewall Stonewall riots OKC Pride Inc.

Park place

With an opening date set for later this year, the upper park of Scissortail Park is getting its finishing touches.

MAPS 3-funded Scissortail Park is nearing completion, with the upper park set to open with a four-day celebration in late September if construction goes smoothly.

By Miguel Rios Feb 14, 2019

Maureen Heffernan Scissortail Park Scissortail Park Foundation MAPS 3 downtown park Skydance Bridge Oklahoma City Boulevard Omni Oklahoma City Hotel convention center Chesapeake Energy Arena Streetcar Taking Flight Social Order Dining Collective Social Order Fuzzy’s Taco Shop The Jones Assembly Spark cafe boathouse lake grand lawn Courtney Mankin

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