Credit: Shannon Cornman FBI figures show violent crime in the city increased 7 percent last year compared to 2011. OKC police reported 5,474 violent crimes in 2012 and 5,108 in 2011. “Obviously, you add officers to do a better job, and we need to eventually put the new officers in those areas where most of […]
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Quiet, please
City planners, property owners and business leaders in the area have been working on the project, commonly known as the “Quiet Zone,” since 2009. Discussion surrounding it has been ongoing for the last decade, noted City Manager Jim Couch. Four years ago, Oklahoma City Council approved a measure calling for a quiet zone east and […]
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Senior class
Mike Dover Credit: Mark Hancock An initial request for proposals attracted four applicants — Putnam City Baptist Church, the Oklahoma City-County Health Department, Valir Health and NorthCare — with different backgrounds related to their respective work with senior citizens. But none of the applicants was willing to take on all four centers. Each proposed to […]
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Lofty goal
Carnegie Centre Credit: Mark Hancock Many years later, Hatfield is working to redevelop the old downtown Oklahoma City library, which was abandoned in favor of a newer model in 2004. Her project, which began five years ago, aims to transform the 59-year-old library into the Carnegie Centre, a collection of 19 upscale residential lofts. Oklahoma […]
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Nettled neighbors
Jeff Carter is among the local businesspeople opposing the center location. Credit: Mark Hancock Prior to approving a special permit for The Referral Center’s new facility at 1401 N.W. First Street, the Oklahoma City Council heard objections from William McMichael, who has lived on the block for 30 years. He complained that the area already […]
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Not-so-easy rider
Faced with a set of recommendations from transportation planning experts, the Oklahoma City Council must soon decide if it wants to shrink its bus system coverage area, leaving some transit-dependent residents without a ride. On the other hand, such a move would allow Metro Transit officials to increase bus stop frequency and potentially attract more […]
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A fine idea
A measure introduced at today’s Oklahoma City Council meeting would allow for a progressive fine schedule. Currently, the fine is $167, but that could change in about two weeks when the council will consider final adoption of the proposal. The would-be penalties would require a $119 fine for a first-time offense, followed by fines of […]
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New faces
OKC city hall Credit: Mark Hancock With Marrs and Kelly no longer at the council chamber’s horseshoe, 14 combined years of council experience are being replaced by rookies James Greiner and John Pettis Jr., two men who now find themselves in the middle of critical decisions, including several MAPS 3 projects. The new council members […]
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Lucky 7
Ronald \”Skip\” Kelly Pettis and Kelly, the top two candidates to emerge from a crowded primary race early this month, will square off in Tuesday’s runoff election. Kelly received 31 percent of the primary vote while Pettis garnered 26 percent. The remaining votes were shared by five other candidates, four of whom have endorsed Pettis. […]
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Race to the finish
James Greiner Credit: Mark Hancock In fact, Marrs — seeking his third full term representing Ward 1 — won’t let his friends, family or other supporters forget about the election, either. “I had a number of people call and email me, assuming that I had it won and didn’t vote,” he said after the March […]