Achievers

September 12, 2018, 9:40 pm

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University of Oklahoma professor Jizhong Zhou is the recipient of the 2019 American Society for Microbiology Award for Environmental Research for significant accomplishments in the field of microbiology.

The award will be presented at the American Society for Microbiology Microbe meeting in San Francisco, California, in June 2019.

“Professor Zhou's pathbreaking research in ecological genomics, metagenomics and microbial ecology, and related fields, redounds to the benefit of the Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, the College and the University,” said Dean David Wrobel, OU College of Arts and Sciences.

Zhou is a George Lynn Cross Research professor in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, OU College of Arts and Sciences, and director of the Institute for Environmental Genomics.

He is an adjunct senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and an adjunct professor at Tsinghua University.

Read more on NewsOK.com

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Oklahoma youth introduced to BMX sport

September 13, 2018, 10:56 am

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

YUKON — With helmets buckled and bikes tagged with racing numbers, participants in a recent BMX Racing League session rode their bikes on the Yukon BMX track.

The six-week, coach-guided league sessions offer new families and riders an opportunity to learn how the sport works and advance their skills gradually by only riding with other beginners.

Along with the introduction to the sport, the focus is on the fun of riding, developing bike handling skills, spending quality family time and meeting new friends.

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OKC Central Commentary: Autonomous vehicles, MAPS and more

September 14, 2018, 1:28 pm

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The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer fielded questions during his weekly OKC Central chat on Friday. This is an abridged transcript of that conversation.

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State Health Board green-lights bonds for health lab

September 14, 2018, 2:42 pm

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By Dale Denwalt Capitol Bureau ddenwalt@oklahoman.com

A plan to issue bonds to pay for a new state public health lab moved a step forward Friday.

The Oklahoma State Board of Health approved a resolution to facilitate raising funds for the project.

The new lab would replace Oklahoma's current facility, which is in danger of losing its accreditation from the College of American Pathologists.

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Oklahoma River to get a tree makeover

September 14, 2018, 3:07 pm

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BY STEVE LACKMEYER Business Writer slackmeyer@oklahoman.com

A mostly barren 3.5-mile stretch of the Oklahoma River south of downtown is set to get an influx of 1,000 trees, patches of wildflowers and natural grasses, and about 50 natural stone benches as part of a 50th anniversary celebration next year by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

The Oklahoma River was lined with trees when it was a prairie river in the city's earliest years, but flooding prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to straighten and widen the waterway, strip out all the trees and line it with rocks.

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Oklahoma business briefs for Sept. 15

September 14, 2018, 3:20 pm

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Paycom employees donate to Goodwill

Employees of Paycom Software Inc.

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OKC mayor's gift kick-starts MAPS 3 park endowment drive

September 14, 2018, 4:32 pm

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By William Crum Staff Writer wcrum@oklahoman.com

Dropping for a moment his persona as a public figure, Mayor David Holt on Friday created a living legacy to his parents with the first private gift to the MAPS 3 downtown park.

A space designed for open-air gatherings will be known as the Mary Ann and Stroud Holt Garden.

"The real headline today is that the efforts have begun to create a private endowment to fund the operations and maintenance and further improvements to this amazing park," Holt said.

Holt's gift is to the Scissortail Park Foundation Endowment Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

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Former Oklahoma senator a predator who gave victim nightmares, prosecutors allege

September 14, 2018, 5:57 pm

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By Nolan Clay Staff Writer nclay@oklahoman.com

A judge is being asked to reject former state Sen. Ralph Shortey's complaint that he was selectively prosecuted "for spectacle" because of his position.

U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti is to sentence Shortey on Monday in Oklahoma City federal court.

Shortey, 36, faces at least 10 years in federal prison for a child sex trafficking offense involving a naked encounter with a teenager last year at a Moore hotel.

In a strongly worded and detailed legal filing, prosecutors on Thursday took issue with Shortey's attempt to downplay his wrongdoing.

"This case involves conduct ranging from 2012 through 2017, when defendant sought out and exploited 'John Doe' and other children," prosecutors told the judge.

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Family affair: For many, Disney on Ice is an Oklahoma State Fair tradition

September 14, 2018, 6:09 pm

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By Brandy McDonnell Features Writer bmcdonnell@oklahoman.com

Prettily posed between statues of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, cousins Tatum Richey and Hunter Mathena happily compared gloves.

After all, it isn't every day that a couple of 3-year-olds get to wear the chic elbow-length accessories.

“They check out each other a lot, anyway, even without costumes,” said Nichole Mathena, of Yukon, smiling as she watched as her daughter, Hunter, dressed as Minnie House, admired the yellow skirt of her niece's Belle costume Thursday night at Jim Norick State Fair Arena.

“She's just excited to come and experience it because … she loves Disney.

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Oklahoma Ethics Commission adopts rule barring legislators from becoming paid lobbyists for two years

September 14, 2018, 7:01 pm

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By Nolan Clay Staff Writer nclay@oklahoman.com

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission on Friday adopted for the second time rules that bar legislators and other elected officials from becoming state lobbyists during their first two years out of office.

The vote also puts the restriction on departing state agency heads.

The watchdog agency adopted the same rules in February but they never went into effect because of legislative opposition.

The House voted 64-27 to reject the rules and the Senate voted 34-8 against them.

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Man arrested in Friday El Reno slaying

September 15, 2018, 7:17 am

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

EL RENO — A 35-year-old man was arrested early Saturday, accused in the death of a man found wounded at an El Reno convenience store Friday.

About 6:50 p.m.

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Eufaula woman dead after Friday collision

September 15, 2018, 7:30 am

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FROM STAFF REPORTS

CANADIAN — A 67-year-old woman died Friday after striking a utility pole, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.

Just after 3:30 p.m.

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Three Oklahoma women underwent lobotomies: What happened to them?

September 12, 2018, 8:42 pm

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By Meg Wingerter Staff Writer mwingerter@oklahoman.com

Oklahoma City — More than 60 years ago, doctors in Oklahoma City tried out what they thought could be a new standard of care for patients who were nearing death from uncontrolled diarrhea.

They drilled holes in their heads and used an ice pick to cut into their brains.

Five patients underwent lobotomies to treat ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease that causes severe diarrhea, at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine between 1950 and 1954.

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Students in Oklahoma City 'do the right thing' after finding cash

September 13, 2018, 3:34 pm

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By Tim Willert Staff Writer twillert@oklahoman.com

Jabaree Williamson couldn't believe his eyes.

There, on the Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School playground, underneath an empty orange juice carton the seventh-grader had just kicked, appeared to be a folded-up $100 bill.

Only it wasn't one Benjamin.

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Feast Mode: Flavors fly high at Oklahoma State Fair

September 13, 2018, 5:34 pm

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By Dave Cathey Food Editor dcathey@oklahoman.com

Sights and sounds, color and pageantry? Sure, the Oklahoma State Fair has plenty, but flavor is what pays the bills in the olfactory industry.

With that in mind, the Great Taste of a Fair contest took place Wednesday to determine which food vendors brought their A-game to the State Fairgrounds this year.

Not every vendor enters the contest.

Read more on NewsOK.com

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Oklahoma Capitol Boxscore for Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018

September 13, 2018, 7:11 pm

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By Dale Denwalt Capitol Bureau ddenwalt@oklahoman.com

Comments sought concerning disability services

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services' Developmental Disabilities Services division will hold a series of listening sessions in September and October to hear from families about how the department can improve services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

More than 5,000 individuals receive Medicaid home and community-based services through a waiver program while more than 7,600 persons remain on a waiting list for that program.

DHS will hold two meetings in each of the following cities over the next six weeks: Altus, Tulsa, Enid, Wilburton, Ardmore, Woodward and Oklahoma City.

The meetings will be noon-2 p.m.

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When it comes to eye doctors in big box retailers, where does Oklahoma stand?

September 13, 2018, 7:15 pm

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By Dale Denwalt Capitol Bureau ddenwalt@oklahoman.com

The political discussion swirling around State Question 793 has turned to wordplay, as supporters have been accused of being deceptive about whether Oklahoma's current laws are rare or more commonplace.

If the state question is adopted in November, Oklahoma eye doctors and opticians could set up shop inside big box retailers like Walmart, Target and Costco.

In Oklahoma, an optometrist cannot "render optometric care in any retail, mercantile establishment which sells merchandise to the general public.

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Education notes for Sept. 16

September 13, 2018, 7:29 pm

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USAO gets an 'A' for academic core quality

The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha is one of 23 institutions out of 1,100 four-year public and private institutions studied nationally by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni to receive an "A" rating for the quality of the required academic core.

The 10th edition of the ACTA's What Will They Learn?

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Healthy Schools Oklahoma seeks to improve results in classroom

September 13, 2018, 7:38 pm

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By Tim Willert Staff Writer twillert @oklahoma

Stanley Hupfeld Academy students are constantly in motion. They even move when they review spelling words and math problems.

And that's a good thing as far as Principal Ruthie Rayner is concerned.

Rayner credits the Action Based Learning Lab provided by Healthy School Oklahoma for a drop in discipline referrals at the Oklahoma City charter school.

"The first year we saw a huge decline from the previous year, up to about 90 percent depending on the month," she said.

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Executive Q&A with Timothy Pehrson: Integris Health welcomes new president, chief

September 13, 2018, 8:10 pm

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By Paula Burkes Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com

Since Tim Pehrson took the helm of Integris Health Aug. 1, he likes to tell his new neighbors, church friends and others that he works for Integris — without mentioning he's president and CEO.

Pehrson has been more than pleased with their responses.

“Universally, they've said Integris is great, that the culture is excellent here, and our quality care is woven into the fabric of our Oklahoma communities,” he said.

“I already knew Integris had a reputation for transplants and other medical firsts,“ he said, “but all the people I've met have told me how we've done things to save lives and impact people.”

Pehrson comes to Oklahoma after 18 years with Intermountain Healthcare in Utah, where he most recently served as regional vice president/CEO for the North Region and vice president of continuous improvement.

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