Metro

Night of movement

An annual fundraiser honors Ralph Ellison’s legacy while highlighting the accomplishments of a foundation in his name.

By Miguel Rios Feb 19, 2020

Ralph Ellison A Night with Ralph Ellison Michael Owens Oklahoma Historical Society Shadow and Act Award David Holt Don Katz Audible In the Light Bulb Room Flying Home Curriculum Oklahoma Humanities Council Ellison Hotel Invisible Man

MAPS board

Oklahoma City Council established the MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board despite some concern about the name.

Ward 2 councilwoman JoBeth Hamon sought to amend the MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board’s name in an attempt to be more inclusive.

By Miguel Rios Feb 14, 2020

News city news MAPS MAPS news City council city council news council news JoBeth Hamon David Holt Mark Stonecipher Todd Stone James Cooper Nikki Nice Citizens Advisory Board advisory board MAPS advisory board subcommittees citizen resident citizenship Oklahoma City inclusion inclusivity Innovation District Freedom Center neighborhoods connectivity venues community MAPS 3 ADG consultant MAPS implementation

More convenience

Casey’s General Stores expands into Oklahoma City with four stores and more expected by the end of 2020.

Three Casey’s convenience stores have already opened in Oklahoma City, and a fourth opens by the end of the week.

By Miguel Rios Feb 13, 2020

News commercial development business business news Casey’s General Store Casey’s convenience stores Katie Petru

Food Issue: Food yard

With a burger joint and a bar finishing up their respective build-outs, almost every food and drink tenant at Edmond Railyard is open.

Chris Anderson and Casey Massegee, Grant Group principals, got tired of having to travel south with their friends and families for unique, local eateries, so they decided to create a venue for those places at Edmond Railyard.

By Miguel Rios Feb 6, 2020

Wedding rainbows

A local photographer created a directory to help the LGBTQ+ community easily identify affirming vendors for any wedding needs.

By Miguel Rios Feb 6, 2020

News LGBTQ+ news LGBTQ+ Oklahoma Rainbow Collective Rainbow Collective AJ Stegall Irissa Baxter same-sex weddings weddings Verbode gala launch party wedding directory wedding planning photography catering wedding venue venue

Food Issue: Market move

The OSU-OKC Farmers Market is shutting down and being replaced by a market at Scissortail Park, a decision that surprised and upset some vendors.

Crows Farm Markets has been a vendor at OSU-OKC Farmers Market since before it was even known by that name.

By Miguel Rios Feb 5, 2020

News Food news Food Issue Farmers Market OSU-OKC OSU-OKC Farmers Market OKC Farmers Public Market Farmers Public Market Crows Farm Markets Claudia Crow Scissortail Park Chad Ward Ward Family Farms farmers food produce vegetables fruits Maureen Heffernan Nick Trougakos Lance Swearengin horticulture

Cover: People count

About 250 volunteers combed streets, shelters, libraries, meal sites and helped host a youth event for the city’s annual Point in Time Count of people experiencing homelessness.

When D’Metryus Lacopo, 24, got an apartment with his husband in December, it was a major triumph.

By Miguel Rios and Mollie Bryant Jan 29, 2020

Park support

Voters decide March 3 whether or not to pass a dedicated 1/8th cent sales tax for Parks & Recreation operational improvements.

Neighborhood parks across Oklahoma City could see improved facilities and programming if the measure is approved by voters.

By Miguel Rios Jan 23, 2020

Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation parks tax sales tax Ed Shadid MAPS Pete White Greater Oklahoma City Parks & Trails Foundation park maintenance Doug Kupper Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden

Cultural spirit

A new restaurant concept in northeast OKC aims to become a family-friendly hub for black culture.

After the closure of Urban Roots, which Quintin Hughes considered a centerpiece of black culture, a void was left to be filled.

By Miguel Rios Jan 17, 2020

News Business northeast Oklahoma City Kindred Spirits Urban Roots Quintin Hughes Kindred Octavia Butler black business black business owner black culture culture Southern cuisine African cuisine local economy EastPoint EastPoint development Intentional Fitness live music music art entertainment culture cultural hub unapologetically black black Oklahoma

Fresh brew

An Omaha-based coffee chain expands into the Oklahoma City metro.

The first Scooter’s Coffee in Oklahoma City opened last month in the far northwest part of the city.

By Miguel Rios Jan 15, 2020

News business Scooter’s Coffee coffee drive-thru coffee coffee shop Route 66 Nebraska Omaha Josi Orsi Day of Giving nonprofit charity Edmond The Hugs Project Caramelicious coffee drinks Linda Eckles

Better together

A 40-year-old coalition honoring the memory and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. amps up for what’s expected to be the biggest celebration yet.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Coalition has never done quite as much outreach as it’s doing this year.

By Miguel Rios Jan 14, 2020

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Coalition Martin Luther King Jr. Anthony Sherrod Martin Luther King Jr. Day Oklahoma City Thunder Nikki Nice Clara Luper Calvary Baptist Church 26th Annual Gospel Extravaganza Tabernacle Baptist Church BLAC Inc Presents: The Spoken Word — Community or Chaos: Are We There Yet? The Auditorium at The Douglass Annual MLK Celebration Program Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Annual Cross-Cultural Program Temple B’nai Israel Prayer Breakfast Sheraton Midwest City Hotel at Reed Conference Center MLK Coalition Job Fair Douglass High School Freedom Center Oklahoma History Center St. Paul’s Cathedral Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade

Sweet vision

OKC Sweets, a local baker’s home business, is set to expand into a brick-and-mortar location.

Stefanie Embree and her husband decided 2020 is the year they open up a dessert shop.

By Miguel Rios Jan 10, 2020

News Business bakery desserts gourmet desserts cakes macarons cookies OKC Sweets Stefanie Embree Steven Embree Peggy Porschen Cakes Jenna Rae Cakes baking shop dessert shop baking

Jail resolutions

A coalition of organizations is demanding better conditions for those incarcerated in the county jail.

A coalition working for human rights started the year off demanding better conditions for those in the Oklahoma County jail.

By Miguel Rios Jan 8, 2020

News Oklahoma County Oklahoma County jail New Year’s Day New Year’s resolution human rights civil rights Dream Action Oklahoma Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice Women’s March Oklahoma Oklahoma City Democratic Socialists Black Lives Matter OKC American Indian Movement Indian Territory Ending Violence Everywhere NAACP DAOK EVE OCRJ BLM AIM Cynthia Garcia United We Dream Edwin Ramirez D’Marria Monday Block Builderz

Cover: Winter contingency

Overnight shelters for people without a home rely on donations and volunteers to best serve their clients, especially in the cold months.

Sixteen people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City died during winter 2017.

By Miguel Rios Jan 1, 2020

winter shelters homelessness Dan Straughan Homeless Alliance National Weather Service Salvation Army City Rescue Mission Jesus House Grace Rescue Sisu Youth Services Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Erin Goodin Jamie Caves housing affordable housing Housing First donations volunteers

A-list comedy

A new downtown venue bringing national comic headliners is now open.

By Miguel Rios Dec 30, 2019

Bricktown Comedy Club comedy Bricktown BARK Entertainment Adam Norwest Gamers Arcade Bar Chris Presley D.C. Young Fly and Friends John Heffron

Final actions

Oklahoma City Council had its last meeting of 2019 on Dec. 17.

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.

By Miguel Rios Dec 24, 2019

Oklahoma City Council parks Parks & Recreation Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation sales tax Pete White David Holt busking JoBeth Hamon Bricktown Canal Aubrey McDermid street performers Healthy Neighborhood Overlay 73111 James Cooper nondiscrimination protections gender identity gender expression Equal Employment Opportunity Allie Shinn Freedom Oklahoma Alyssa Bryant David Greenwell Chris York Larry McAtee James Greiner Boathouse District David Todd MAPS politan Area Projects

Sunday liquor

Oklahoma County residents will get to vote on Sunday liquor store sales at a March 2020 special election.

Oklahoma County will decide whether or not to approve Sunday liquor store sales early next year.

By Miguel Rios Dec 23, 2019

Oklahoma County Sunday liquor sales Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners Tulsa County commissioners Carrie Blumert Kevin Calvey Brian Maughan Bryan Kerr Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma liquor beer wine State Question 792

Fresh Suites

After an extensive renovation, a hotel on Northwest Expressway reopens under new ownership.

After taking the building down to steel and concrete and undergoing a massive renovation, a former Marriott hotel is reopening as Embassy Suites.

By Miguel Rios Dec 19, 2019

Embassy Suites hotel Marriott renovation Alan Roberts Embassy Suites by Hilton Marriott Northwest Tammy McDaniel Russell’s Lounge McAlister’s Deli Northwest Expressway The Local Kitchen and Tap Northwest Expressway Business District Patrick Whyatt

Food inequality

Experts weighed in on what plays into food insecurity and better ways to address the topic.

The biggest health risk affecting certain communities is inequality.

By Miguel Rios Dec 18, 2019

health health risks inequality food security food desert Nikki Nice food insecurity Urban Land Institute Oklahoma Building Healthy Communities Healthy Neighborhood Overlay Homeland LaVonna Blair Lewis Bryce Lowery grocery stores Ashanté Reese

Protecting employees

Councilman James Cooper proposed an amendment to the city’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy.

Oklahoma City Council voted to update the city’s personnel policies to extend nondiscrimination protections for gender identity and expression.

By Miguel Rios Dec 17, 2019

Improving health

One of the city’s most unhealthy ZIP codes could receive a Healthy Neighborhood Overlay zoning.

A potential Healthy Neighborhood Overlay for the 73111 ZIP code is among the first things Oklahoma City Council will decide in 2020.

By Miguel Rios Dec 13, 2019

News community news Oklahoma City 73111 health outcomes healthy neighborhoods healthy neighborhood overlay district food insecurity food security zoning food conservation and energy act Nikki Nice Geoffrey Butler 18 year gap life expectancy small-box retail small-box store dollar stores Planning Commission Oklahoma City Council city council ordinance

Park milestone

City and community leaders broke ground last week on a park honoring a local Mexican American war hero.

The rebirth of Manuel Perez Park has officially begun.

By Miguel Rios Dec 12, 2019

News community news Oklahoma City Manuel Perez Jr. Manuel Perez Park Perez Park Donna Cervantes Cruz Cardenas David Holt Doug Kupper Parks & Recreation park community park Scissortail Park groundbreaking World War II Medal of Honor Calle Dos Cinco Historic Capitol Hill

Running the jail

Greg Williams, who has 36 years of experience at Oklahoma Department of Corrections, will be the new county jail administrator.

(This story was updated Dec. 11 to include new information on the sheriff's deadline and budget requests.)

By Miguel Rios Dec 11, 2019

News Oklahoma County county news oklahoma county jail oklahoma county detention center oklahoma county criminal justice authority criminal justice authority criminal justice criminal justice system jail jail trust Greg Williams Tricia Everest P.D. Taylor Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE

Luxury lanes

A motor coach company boasting first-class service is starting a route between Oklahoma City and Dallas.

Vonlane, a Dallas-based luxury motor coach company, is expanding outside its home state and launching a bus route between Oklahoma City and Dallas.

By Miguel Rios Dec 6, 2019

News Oklahoma City City News travel commute Dallas Texas OKC-DAL Oklahoma City-Dallas Dallas-Oklahoma City Vonlane Alex Danza Southwest Airlines Sheraton Downtown Sheraton Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel DoubleTree Love Field Hotel Red River Showdown OU/TX Texas Exes University of Oklahoma Austin Dallas Fort Worth Houston San Antonio motor coach bus

District improvement

The city council unanimously approved the Uptown 23rd Business Improvement District, helping establish financial sustainability for the district.

People visiting Uptown 23rd next year will notice cleaner sidewalks and a more vibrant and attractive district, officials say.

By Miguel Rios Nov 29, 2019

Uptown 23rd Oklahoma City Council Business Improvement District BID Uptown 23rd Business Improvement District Uptown 23rd District Association maintenance sanitation landscaping beautification security Riley Bailey Downtown Oklahoma City’s Adventure District Stockyards City Historic Capitol Hill Western Avenue Chelsea Banks Commercial District Revitalization Program The City of Oklahoma City Kim Cooper-Hart

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