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Metro

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Outdated hate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

Free speech?

Contrary to public perception, a mayor’s annual State of the City address is neither free nor hosted by the city.

Oklahoma City mayor David Holt is preparing for his State of the City address early.

By Nazarene Harris Dec 14, 2018

Oklahoma City David Holt State of the City address Walmart Devon Hobby Lobby Oklahoma City Thunder David McCollum Greater Oklahoma Chamber Ron Norick Mick Cornett Cox Convention Center

Drawing MAPS

Behind the grand projects of Oklahoma City’s MAPS initiatives lies a simple process of submitting ideas.

For the hefty price that it takes to fund a Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) plan and for the awe effect that such projects can have on Oklahoma City’s residents, mayor David Holt admits that the process behind choosing a project is fairly simple by comparison.

By Nazarene Harris Dec 5, 2018

politan Area Projects MAPS Oklahoma City David Holt Ron Norick MAPS for Kids Oklahoma City Energy Football Club Oklahoma City Council Craig Freeman Nathaniel Harding Meg Salyer Nikki Nice JoBeth Hamon Better Streets Safer City MAPS 4

City man

Oklahoma City Council unanimously votes to appoint finance director Craig Freeman as city manager.

Oklahoma City’s new city manager is receiving a welcome that is remarkably similar to the farewell given to his predecessor.

By Nazarene Harris Dec 4, 2018

Craig Freeman Oklahoma City Council Jim Couch David Holt city manager Dianna Berry Kristy Yager

Hero’s honor

The improved Manuel Perez Park could be open by late 2019.

Nearly 30 acres of riverfront parkland will get more than a million dollars in upgrades and be named after a local war hero.

By Miguel Rios Nov 29, 2018

Manuel Perez Park Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation Donna Cervantes Doug Kupper

Jail time

With a new county commissioner and the creation of a new criminal justice task force, a new county jail might be on the horizon.

In 1991, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the corner of Robert S. Kerr and Shartel avenues in downtown Oklahoma City.

By Nazarene Harris Nov 27, 2018

Oklahoma County Jail RGDC Inc. Oklahoma County Detention Center HTB Inc. U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Carrie Blumert Mark Opgrande Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s Criminal Justice Task Force Willa Johnson

Moving along

Seven streetcars will operate within Oklahoma City beginning Dec. 14.

A heavy nail will be driven into the tracks that lead to modernity and a new chapter of Oklahoma history will be written with the launch of Oklahoma City’s streetcars Dec. 14.

By Nazarene Harris Nov 6, 2018

streetcars Embark Michael Scroggins OU Institute for Quality Communities Shane Hampton MAPS 3 OKC Streetcar Storage and Maintenance Facility Bob Blackburn Oklahoma Historical Society downtown Midtown Bricktown Automobile Alley Arts District Token Transit OU’s Health Sciences Center

Help wanted

Oklahoma City begins its search to replace retiring city manager Jim Couch.

Since city manager Jim Couch announced his retirement on Sept. 17, Oklahoma City Council has addressed the issue of finding a replacement in each of its public meetings.

By Nazarene Harris Oct 19, 2018

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Manger Jim Couch Oklahoma City City Council City Manager Ed Shadid Dianna Berry James Greiner Lee E. Cooper Meg Slayer

Midtown move

Business leader Nathaniel Harding and mental health advocate JoBeth Hamon will face off in a February election for a seat on city council.

The liaison

By Nazarene Harris Oct 16, 2018

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Council Nathaniel Harding JoBeth Hamon Ward 6 Meg Salyer

House rules

Historic neighborhoods’ requests for home-sharing regulations shed light on past inequities.

Oklahoma City council members addressed issues of home-sharing Sept. 25 amid a crowd of advocates and adversaries.

By Nazarene Harris Oct 5, 2018

Oklahoma City Council Oklahoma City Heritage Hills Edgemere Park Airbnb David Box Cameron Spradling Eric Groves Jim Hopper Jeff Penner Putnam Heights Suzanne Broadbent Ed Shadid Meg Salyer home sharing

Blindsided

Capital Gazette reporter and Oklahoma native Chase Cook reflects upon the day five of his colleagues were killed by a mass shooter in Annapolis, Maryland.

Chase Cook admits to being your average 31-year-old American man. He went to college, fell in love, followed his career and still manages to play video games on his time off.

By Nazarene Harris Sep 28, 2018

Chase Cook Capital Gazette Phil Davis Rob Hiaasne Katie Rosman Ron Matz Jarrod Ramos Wendi Winters Gerald Fischman John McNamara Rebecca Smith

Money talks

Oklahoma City Council will vote on two resolutions to increase the transparency of city business deals.

Ward 2 Oklahoma City Council member Ed Shadid is optimistic about two resolutions he said the council will vote on during its next meeting on Tuesday.

By Nazarene Harris Sep 18, 2018

Ed Shadid Oklahoma City Council resolutions Jim Couch Alliance for Economic Development Cathy O'Connor economic proposals Kenneth Jordan property sales Oklahoma Open Meetings Act David Boren Economic Development Trust

Bricktown tech

Georgia-based tech company to bring 150 jobs to Bricktown's Plow Building.

An Atlanta-based technology service company is seeking financial incentives to aid in bringing up to 150 jobs to Oklahoma City.

By Peter Brzycki Sep 14, 2018

Auto Alley warehouses to be transformed <br>to restaurant and rooftop bar

Auto Alley warehouses to be transformed
to restaurant and rooftop bar

Work has started on yet another ambitious renovation project in Automobile Alley.

Twin warehouse buildings at 19 NE Sixth St. and 23 NE Sixth St. will be converted to restaurant and other lease space by an LLC headed by local developer Basil Rayan.

Sep 13, 2018

Money talks

Oklahoma City Council will vote on two resolutions to increase the transparency of city business deals.

Ward 2 Oklahoma City Council member Ed Shadid is optimistic about two resolutions he said the council will vote on during its next meeting on Sept. 25.

By Nazarene Harris Sep 12, 2018

Tensions overflow

Del City community members organized a press conference to address concerns of racial profiling, excessive force and misrepresentation.

Oklahoma City Black Lives Matter president Sheri Dickerson said it was ironic but not coincidental that she was pulled over by Del City Police while en route to protest the swearing in of the department’s chief, Steve Robinson, on Sept. 4.

By Nazarene Harris Sep 11, 2018

Oklahoma City Black Lives Matter Sheri Dickerson Del City Police Steve Robinson Garland Pruitt NAACP Sara Bana Ending Violence Everywhere racial discrimination excessive force Randy Harrison Dane Scott Jr. Oklahoma Democratic Party Mark Faulk

BancFirst buys city’s second-tallest building

Quietly last week, BancFirst closed on the purchase of the 36-story Cotter Ranch Tower in the heart of Oklahoma City's central business district.

By Peter Brzycki Sep 7, 2018

Risk management

The arrest of a former Paycom employee for threatening coworkers and police officers leaves employers and community leaders looking for answers.

Leadership at Paycom, a national human resource technology provider based in Oklahoma City and ranked a top employer by Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, has suspicions over how Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) handled the arrest of one of its officers’ family members earlier this year.

By Nazarene Harris Sep 6, 2018

Paycom Oklahoma City threats workplace threats David Holt OCPD OKCPD Oklahoma City Police Department Scott Wright Blake Wright Army National Guard Stacy Wright

Recycling woes

Nichols Hills residents cite cost as the main reason a recycling program has never been successfully established within the city.

The empty recycling bins that are on display in the fitness center at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club in Nichols Hills are indicative, residents said, of the city’s past reluctance to establish a recycling program due to cost concerns and the national pause placed on recycling due to China’s recent ban on recyclable imports.

By Nazarene Harris Aug 29, 2018

Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club Nichols Hills recycling Alyssa Lutz Shane Pate houseside trash pickup curbside trash pickup manual trash pickup Shelly Reynolds landfills plastic

Drury Hotels buys lot in heart of Bricktown

Drury Hotels has acquired a large surface parking lot at the southwest corner of Sheridan and Oklahoma Avenues in the center of Bricktown. The privately-owned company based near St. Louis bought the .8 acre lot from local developer Don Karchmer for $4.5 million.

By Peter Brzycki Aug 27, 2018