Metro

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

Suite perks

A member of the city council says using its Oklahoma City Thunder suite at Chesapeake Energy Arena for free is against the law.

Oklahoma City adopted a complimentary ticket policy in 2002 that allows the mayor and members of Oklahoma City Council two free tickets per event at Chesapeake Energy Arena, Civic Center Music Hall and other venues.

By Miguel Rios Feb 8, 2019

City Council mayor David Holt Larry McAtee John Pettis Jr. Meg Salyer James Greiner Mark Stonecipher Pete White Ed Shadid Todd Stone Lee Cooper Jr. David Greenwell Nikki Nice Chesapeake Energy Arena Thunder games Thunder suite OKC Thunder Thunder William Burkett ethics commission Civic Center Music Hall Mick Cornett Thunder tickets

Bitter pills

New guidelines are pushing doctors to curtail opioid prescriptions, even for patients who benefit from them.

After moving back to Oklahoma to care for his ailing mother, Dave became an unlikely victim of circumstance when he suffered an injury from which he would never fully recover.

By Joshua Blanco Feb 7, 2019

opioid epidemic opioid crisis opioids State Question 788 SQ 788 CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA QVIA Institute for Human Data Science Study Drug Enforcement Agency DEA fentanyl prescription drugs prescription opioids Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality CBHSQ Lawrence Pasternack Oklahoma State University heroin S. Blake Kelly Oklahoma Pain Society OPS MME Senate Bill 1446

Taking a seat

With Ward 2 councilman Ed Shadid deciding not to run for reelection, five candidates aim to fill his seat on the city council.

Oklahoma City Ward 2 councilman Ed Shadid has held his position since 2011 but decided last year he would not seek a third term. Five candidates are vying to fill his spot.

By Miguel Rios Feb 1, 2019

Suzanne Broadbent James Cooper Marilyn Davidson Mike Dover Tracey Halley-Terrell ward 2 city council city council election ed shadid Mick Cornett Oklahoma City Historic Preservation Commission MAPS 3 MAPS 4 Putnam heights Jefferson Middle School Oklahoma City University Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority COTPA transit sidewalks public transportation buses streets infrastructure safety education MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board OKC Bond Advisory Committee bus shelters bail bondsman Oklahoma Bondsman Association neighborhoods Oklahoma City Council

Tunnel out

The city punts on the new tunnel between Bricktown and Santa Fe Station in favor of enhancing current routes.

The downtown Oklahoma City transportation hub will not feature a tunnel connecting Santa Fe Station to Bricktown, but the city will still enhance the existing connections for pedestrians.

By Miguel Rios Jan 24, 2019

Santa Fe Station Bricktown Canal transportation Eric Wenger construction

Cash on hand

Surplus funds from MAPS 3 will be allocated to multiple civic projects, including Oklahoma City Streetcar.

The MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board will meet Thursday to vote on how to distribute more than $20 million in surplus funding.

By Miguel Rios Jan 23, 2019

TV reality

After ongoing disputes in 2018, OETA and OETA Foundation are now fighting in court.

Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) and OETA Foundation have been partners for more than 30 years, but mounting disputes have led to a legal battle between the two entities.

By Miguel Rios Jan 23, 2019

Oklahoma Educational Television Authority OETA OETA Foundation Daphne Dowdy Friends of OETA

Brewing district

With three new breweries opening soon and three already established, Film Row District is quickly becoming a craft beer destination.

Film Row was once home to major Hollywood film studio offices like Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., but it has since been reborn into a mix of artistic businesses, restaurants and, of course, breweries and taprooms.

By Miguel Rios Jan 21, 2019

Film Row Film Row District 21c Museum Hotel The Jones Assembly Core4 Brewing OK Cider Co. Lively Beerworks Buck Buchanan Marty Simon Tim King Luke Hadsall Anthem Brewing Company Patrick Lively Craft Brewers Association of Oklahoma COOP Ale Works Stonecloud Brewing Co. Angry Scotsman Brewing Anthem Brewing Company Ross Harper Joel Irby Derek Duty FlashBack RetroPub The Sanctuary Barsilica Jose Rodriguez

Jail suits

County commissioner Carrie Blumert would like to find a way to build a new jail to relieve serious ongoing issues.

Recently elected Oklahoma County’s District 1 commissioner, Carrie Blumert ran for office after learning about the number of deaths in the county jail.

By Miguel Rios Jan 18, 2019

Carrie Blumert Mark Opgrande Oklahoma County Jail county commissioner Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office MAPS 4 sales tax Oklahoma County

Omni present

The city’s future convention center hotel will open in 2021, but officials have already hit the ground running.

Oklahoma City and Omni Hotels & Resorts negotiated the convention hotel deal in 2017, though plans for the hotel stem back to 2008.

By Miguel Rios Jan 17, 2019

Omni Hotels & Resorts Omni Oklahoma City Hotel Omni MAPS 3 convention center MAPS 3 convention center scissor tail park Mark Wykes Dan Boyer Mike Carrier Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau Convention & Visitors Bureau CVB

Fresh start

Oklahoma City-based nonprofit organization Pivot — A Turning Point for Youth encourages mentorship with its new name and a new event called Girl Talk.

When Shantel Farrow was 6 years old, she learned that nothing could be done about the sexual molestation she had endured that year.

By Nazarene Harris Jan 10, 2019

Shantel Farrow Pivot – A Turning Point for Youth Pivot American Institute for Research Melanie Anthony Kami Kuykendall Girl Talk

Criminal X

Oklahoma law enforcement officers shed light on a crime they say too often remains in the dark.

Six years ago, retired Oklahoma City Police officer Edward Stupka took his car to his local tag agency for renewal and got the shock of a lifetime.

By Nazarene Harris Jan 9, 2019

consumer fraud identify theft Edward Stupka Federal Trade Commission Gary Knight Oklahoma City Police Department Mike Hunter Consumer Protection Unit Identity Theft Resource Center Child Identity Fraud Study Javelin Strategy & Research Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI

Community investments

Jim Holman has announced his candidacy for Ward 6’s Oklahoma City Council seat.

After living in Oklahoma City’s sixth ward for about 20 years, Jim Holman said his name is a familiar one among neighbors.

By Nazarene Harris Jan 4, 2019

Jim Holman Meg Salyer Oklahoma City City Council Ward 6 Nathaniel Harding Jo Beth Hamon

Center staged

Construction will resume on The American Indian Cultural Center and Museum this spring.

A long-delayed museum will resume construction this year.

By Miguel Rios Jan 2, 2019

Outdated hate

A group of Del City students joins two lawmakers in their efforts to remove LGBTQ+ discrimination from classrooms.

Students from Del Crest Middle School in Del City told Oklahoma Legislature members on Dec. 7 that the state’s laws concerning AIDS prevention need a makeover.

By Nazarene Harris Dec 19, 2018

Del Crest Middle School Aaron Baker Justuce Wright David Scott Angel Bushey Emily Virgin The Trevor Project Oklahoma Aids Education Mandate

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