Oklahoma City Named One of the Safest Places to Start a Small Business – The Oklahoma 100 What makes Oklahoma City a great place for starting a small business? Forbes Advisor ranks it as the second least risky city in the U.S. because of lower costs for supplies and equipment, plus reduced cybercrime and retail crime rates. The city’s economic stability is boosted by its above-average GDP growth and positive population trends, making it an ideal environment for new businesses to flourish. Source: Oklahoma City ranked one of the least risky places to start a small business – The Oklahoma 100 Fi ..read more

Animated Mania Sweeps OKC Theaters in June Why does this summer’s movie lineup seem lackluster? Instead of thrilling blockbusters, theaters are filled with perplexing remakes and confusing horror flicks. However, local cinemas in Oklahoma City promise to bring excitement with a variety of animated films. One standout is indie animator Don Hertzfeldt’s double feature at Rodeo Cinema. Additionally, Pixar fans can look forward to “Inside Out 2,” while the iconic “South Park” film celebrates its 25th anniversary. For showtimes and more information, visit rodeocinema.org or okcmoa.com. Source: Anim ..read more

OKC Ranks 16th on Best Places to Live List Oklahoma City ranks No. 16 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 list of Best Places to Live, praised for its job opportunities, affordability, and quality of life. The city’s growing youthful population has brought a new vibrancy, while maintaining its cowboy heritage and tight-knit community feel. Mayor David Holt credits initiatives like MAPS 4 for the city’s continued growth and appeal to new residents from more expensive states. Source: OKC ranks No. 16 on list of best places to live University of Oklahoma Expands Computer Science Program to ..read more

New Census Data Show Oklahoma and OKC Grew in 2023 In 2023, Oklahoma’s population grew by about 1%, with Oklahoma City adding over 7,500 new residents and surpassing 700,000 people. OKC is now the 14th-fastest-growing city in the U.S., thanks to initiatives like MAPS 4. Tulsa saw minimal growth, but its suburbs are thriving. Bixby’s population increased by 3% and Owasso’s nearly by 5%. Lawton was the only major city in Oklahoma to lose residents. Source: New census data show Oklahoma, OKC grew in 2023 Oklahoma City Schools: New Superintendent Dr. Jamie Polk On May 11, 2024, Dr. Jamie C. Polk w ..read more

70,000 Oklahoma Children Without Health Insurance, Many Could Qualify for SoonerCare In Oklahoma, a recent Medicare expansion has made more children eligible for SoonerCare, aiming to address the issue of approximately 70,000 uninsured kids in the state. It’s estimated that about half of these could qualify for coverage. Many parents are unaware their children may be eligible even if they themselves are not due to different qualification thresholds based on household size and income. Efforts by health advocates and organizations like the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy have led to over 8 ..read more

Saturday’s Tornado Damage in Oklahoma: Photos Over the weekend, at least 17 tornadoes reportedly struck Oklahoma, leading to a state of emergency being declared for 12 counties. The severe weather resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals and injured around 100 others. Residents in affected areas, including Holdenville and Morris, worked tirelessly to salvage items from their storm-damaged homes. The aftermath images show extensive damage across various locations, highlighting the storms’ devastating impact on communities statewide. Source: Photos: Saturday’s tornado damage from Okla ..read more

Oklahoma City Thunder Surprises 12 Local Nonprofits On December 7th, 2023, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sprite launched the 12 Days of Giving event to surprise 12 local nonprofits with $1,000 donations each. Christine Burnie, Vice President of Community Engagement, discussed their initiative with News 9. This philanthropic effort aims to support community organizations in need during the holiday season and demonstrates a commitment to giving back by these two entities. Source: Oklahoma City Thunder Surprising 12 Local Nonprofits With Donations Oklahoma City VA Honored in Global Giving Program ..read more

Oklahoma City Remembers Bombing Victims 29 Years Later On Friday, Oklahomans will gather at the Oklahoma City National Memorial to mark 29 years since the Murrah Building bombing, an act of homegrown terrorism that claimed 168 lives, including 19 children. The “Ceremony on Sacred Soil” aims to honor those who perished, survivors, and all impacted by this tragic event in American history. Attendees will include families of the victims, first responders, and citizens united in remembrance. Kari Watkins of the Memorial emphasized the importance of recognizing this site as hallowed ground pivotal ..read more

Hope on Wheels: Oklahoma Non-Profit Aids Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parents Helping Parents, Inc., an Oklahoma non-profit, is spearheading the Hope on Wheels bus tour across northeast Oklahoma on April 18 and 19, in collaboration with organizations like Grand Mental Health and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Aimed at addressing the scarcity of mental health and substance abuse resources in rural areas, this initiative will visit seven towns to inform residents about available support services. This first-of-its-kind tour for the non-profit intends ..read more

Since the very beginning of America’s independence, strange and unusual laws have been crafted. From coast to coast you’ll find odd rules and regulations that exist in both local and state law books. For example, it was once illegal for women to marry the same man four or more times in Kentucky; Louisiana won’t let you send someone an unsolicited pizza; and in North Carolina you can’t play bingo for over five hours without breaking the law. You’ll be hard pressed to find any of these obscure laws still on the books, but at some point in our not too distant history, some folks thought they’d b ..read more