Oklahoma City Times / Downtown OKC
Oklahoma County officials confident in jury trial safety plan
Jury trials in Oklahoma County resume Aug. 17, and court officials say they are confident in the effectiveness of their...
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Quail Springs Mall reinvention tests chances at turning retail into entertainment
The 24-screen AMC theater at Quail Springs Mall is still closed due to the pandemic and J.C. Penney, one of three remaining...
Quail Springs Mall then and now
When construction started on Quail Springs Mall in January 1979, the area was on the edge of town, surrounded by hundreds of...
Shot in the arm: Tech jobs hold much of the post-pandemic future in Oklahoma City, Tulsa
Technological innovation alone can't save Oklahoma City from the economic ravages of the coronavirus, but the growing...
Recap: OKC Central Live Chat with Steve Lackmeyer
Today's chat kicks off at 9:30 a.m. but feel free to submit questions now!
Board reviews plans for center to honor local civil rights icon
MAPS 4's Clara Luper Civil Rights Center is envisioned as a campus dedicated to the legacy of the Oklahoma City civil rights...
Video
'Still in shock': Beirut explosion hits home for OKC restaurateur
Richard Moorad's family has lived through a lot in Beirut, but Tuesday's explosion that killed at least 137 and wounded 5,000...
Scooters Coffee set for NW 13 and Classen
When OnCue successfully sought zoning to build a new station at NW 13 and Classen last year, those opposing it included Safdar...
Applications open for second phase of small business assistance
The second phase of Oklahoma City’s Small Business Continuity Program is accepting applications for assistance from small...
Deal could deepen Tinker-OKC ties
Aging water and sewer systems at Tinker Air Force Base would be modernized under an agreement Oklahoma City officials believe...
Red Andrews Dinner organizer Betty McCord dies from COVID-19
For more than 30 years, Betty McCord spent her Christmas holidays making sure thousands of Oklahoma City’s less fortunate got a...
Lackmeyer: Community rallies during tough times
Relationships matter, and we’re reminded of the importance of such ties as we all continue to struggle to survive in the worst...
OKC Civic Life for Monday, Aug. 3, 2020
Rafting park bids exceed estimate The low bid to finish the second floor of the MAPS 3 whitewater rafting park's main building...
City assistance sends millions to small businesses hit hard by pandemic
In just three months after being launched, the first phase of allocations from Oklahoma City’s Small Business Continuity...
East Side, Capitol Hill scarce on applications for city small business assistance
The pandemic economic crash came quickly for Demetra Bailey’s catering business and event center. For the past 18 years Bailey...
Video
Coronavirus surging in Oklahoma City’s Hispanic community
Jess Olivo survived cancer twice. But it still didn’t prepare her for her family’s struggle with COVID-19. Olivo, 34, and...
Deadline is Aug. 13 for OKC nonprofits to apply for grants
Reviews begin Aug. 13 of applications for federally funded COVID-19 relief for nonprofits that serve low- to moderate-income...
Bank and restaurant latest additions to former downtown car dealership development
Stride Bank and a Hal Smith restaurant are set to join a mix of financial services, high tech and creative firms moving to the...
Recap: OKC Central Live Chat with Steve Lackmeyer
Today's live chat kicks off at 9:30 a.m. but feel free to submit questions now!
Concert business "at risk of total collapse" without help
After struggling through four months of canceled concert tours, banquets, weddings and other festivities, the Bricktown Event...
By land and air, weather researchers track tornadic storms
SALINA, Kan. — For the first time in almost a decade, meteorologists from across the Midwest will track and intercept tornado birthing grounds as part of a large-scale collaborative research project. The TORUS Project, or Targeted Observation...
Exclusively from The Oklahoman 
Myriad Gardens showing works by Oklahoma artists Jason Wilson and Sarah Atlee in Crystal Bridge Visitors Lobby
The exhibit is free to view during Crystal Bridge hours from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Weekend carnival in Bricktown canceled
Plans for a carnival in Bricktown this weekend are being dropped following concerns voiced by the community over the risk of...
OKC Civic Life for Monday, July 27, 2020
Northeast senior center advances Architects expect the MAPS 3 senior health and wellness center at NE 36 and Lincoln Boulevard,...
Ferry to museum receives grant
A ferry landing linking the First Americans Museum to other Oklahoma River attractions earned federal funding Friday. A $4...
Recap: OKC Central Chat with Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer answered questions from readers this morning.
Video
Airport OnCue to open
OnCue will open a new store near the Amazon warehouses in Lariat Landing at Will Rogers World Airport. The Oklahoma City...
Amazon set to expand with 1 million square foot facility, estimated to employ 1,000
Newly filed building permits show the developer tasked with building many of Amazon’s large warehouse and industrial centers is...
Council approves police contract
The Oklahoma City Council on Tuesday ratified a new one-year contract with the Fraternal Order of Police, despite objections of...
OKC Civic Life for Monday, July 20, 2020
OKCFD COVID-19 alert eased The Oklahoma City Fire Department's pandemic alert is now at Level Yellow, down from Level Red and...
Ackerman McQueen CEO sued by ex-employee
A former employee at advertising agency Ackerman McQueen is accusing the CEO of hostile and abusive behavior toward her because...
Video
OKC police earned nearly $900,000 in overtime during George Floyd protests
Overtime paid to Oklahoma City law enforcement ballooned in late May and early June when thousands of people took to the...
Vacancy signs: Oklahoma City dodges the worst perils of 2020, so far
The first half of the year could have been worse for the battered Oklahoma City office market, and the second half surely will...
Video
OKC Council: Masks required for indoor public spaces
The Oklahoma City Council on Friday approved a mask ordinance to fight a COVID-19 surge. The council voted 6-3 for the...
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Grants announced for Black landmarks in OKC and Tulsa
Two endangered Black landmarks in Oklahoma City and the only surviving structure from the 1921 massacre of “Black Wall Street”...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Downtown Oklahoma City Initiatives awards micro-grants to artists for uplifting public projects
In June, the organization partnered with Urban Land Institute of Oklahoma to release a call for applications. In total, 42...
Recap: OKC Central Live Chat with Steve Lackmeyer
The chat kicks off at 9:30 a.m. but feel free to submit questions now!
Video
OKC mask ordinance hanging by a thread
Prospects for an Oklahoma City mask ordinance to turn back surging COVID-19 numbers were unclear after a four-hour city council...
Video
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Vote set on OKC mask ordinance
The Oklahoma City Council will meet at 1 p.m. Friday to vote on a mask ordinance to fight COVID-19. The decision came as new...
Food Dude: McNellie's founder responds to claims against company's transparency
Back in March, the coronavirus pandemic hit the local restaurant community so hard the foundation of the industry began to...
Opinion: Downtown's grandest avenue tainted by the racist history of the man it's named for
Oklahoma City was never the hotbed of Confederacy historical revisionism that is now being challenged and torn down across the...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: COVID-19 summit to be virtual
The city council and public health board backtracked Monday on holding a COVID-19 summit in person, announcing instead that...
OKC Civic Life for Monday, July 13, 2020
OKC water future muddy Eastern Oklahoma's water resources are vital to Oklahoma City's prospects for growth and prosperity....
Video
Is Oklahoma City under-policed?
Is Oklahoma City underpoliced? By some measures, the answer is yes, despite critics’ calls for the city council to defund...
New school could bridge gap between south OKC neighborhoods
Western Gateway Elementary comes out of the original vision for the Wheeler development being built at the former Downtown...
Video
Emails show police on high alert before Oklahoma City's May protests
It was after 11 p.m. Friday, May 29, when Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley emailed his staff, preparing them for a...
Video
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Oklahoma City sales tax surprises
Reopening in Oklahoma City appears to have gone better than some expected. COVID-19 emergency orders first took effect in...
Video
Fresh ink: second annual Oklahoma Tattoo Arts Convention in OKC
Ink is flowing this weekend at the downtown Cox Convention Center where artists, tattoo enthusiasts and entertainers have...
Video
More Black Lives Matter protesters released after $1.4 million bond paid
Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City posted $1.4 million more in cash bonds Thursday to get four more protesters out of jail while...
Week Ahead
TROUBLE AHEAD The Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, will host in-theater screenings of “John Lewis: Good Trouble,”...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Oklahoma City sales tax surprises
Budget director says hiring freeze will continue amid pandemic uncertainty.
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center lets artists take on current events with virtual Studio-in-Place residencies
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, Oklahoma Contemporary launched last month Studio-in-Place, an online summer residency...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Myriad Gardens' popular Sonic Summer Movies canceled for the season
The series is expected to resume in 2021.
Amended Costco deal approved by city council
A deal that expands potential hiring at a Costco operations center while dropping average pay was approved by the Oklahoma City...
Video
Millions raised to bail out Black Lives Matter protesters
Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City has posted $2.1 million in cash bonds to get eight protesters out of jail while their criminal...
Video
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: OKC resource center to help with bills, rent, food
Residents behind on bills and rent will be able to seek assistance by early next week from a $12.5 million fund authorized by...
Good news still to be found amidst bleak economy and pandemic
In the year of 2020, perhaps the craziest we’ve seen since the “Dancing Plague of 1518,” not only are we dealing with a...
OKC Civic Life for Monday, July 6, 2020
Firefighters union President Cameron Weems was optimistic Sunday the Oklahoma City Fire Department would see progress this week...
Chesapeake Energy transformation of OKC came with a price
The future for Chesapeake Energy may be uncertain, but the company’s impact on Oklahoma City, much of it shaped by founder...
Costco adding 459 jobs to future operations center, but average salary is dropping
Costco is pulling back on its promised wages for a new operations center in northwest Oklahoma City, but as part of a requested...
MAPS 4 board goes to work
The MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board met for the first time Thursday, kicking off a decade or more of oversight of the $988...
Opinion: Reopenings may collapse as infections spread
A decision by Mayor David Holt to require restaurant and bar workers to wear masks the next two weeks follows an alarming...
Video
OKC reinstating some restrictions in response to spike
Mayor David Holt is issuing emergency orders, purposely ahead of the July Fourth holiday, in an attempt to short-circuit a...
Video
Progressive candidate unseats Democratic incumbent for OKC House seat
A progressive community organizer in the heart of Oklahoma City defeated a top Democrat in Oklahoma's House. Mauree Turner...
Downtown OKC's Midtown Walkabout returns for month of July
Midtown Walkabout Month will take place all day on Saturdays in July and will feature summertime promotions and activities for...
Entrepreneur faces charges in claimed $1.4B hospital lab-billing scheme
A Miami entrepreneur who led a rural hospital empire that included communities in Oklahoma is facing charges in what federal...
Oklahoma City lays off eight employees
The city of Oklahoma City laid off eight employees as measures took effect to counter the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on city...
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- Coronavirus:Tracking the outbreak
- Coronavirus:Alert system
- Unemployment:FAQ
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Black Lives Matter OKC leader criticizes DA for protest charges
The executive director of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City on Monday called the filing of criminal charges against protesters...
Oklahoma County Jail Trust talks contracts, COVID-19 before July 1 takeover
Two days before officially taking over management of the county jail on July 1, the Oklahoma County Jail Trust shored up...
OKC Civic Life for Monday, June 29, 2020
'Level Red' effects worsen at Fire Department Some Oklahoma City fire rigs are being idled due to staffing shortages as...
Video
'Better prepared': OU medical students work to improve LGBTQ health care
Students and educators at the OU College of Medicine are marking Pride month by helping future health care providers better...
Myriad Gardens planting 'Seeds & Stories' for first Member Appreciation Weekend
The theme for the Members Appreciation Weekend will be "Seeds & Stories," and the decorations will pay homage to classic...
'Seeds & Stories': Myriad Gardens plants first Membership Appreciation Weekend
A coconut tree is springing up right in downtown Oklahoma City. The iconic palm from the classic children's book "Chicka Chicka...
Video
In Oklahoma City, new street murals support Black Lives Matter
With several new paintings finished this week, Oklahoma City has joined the national trend of street murals honoring minority...
Video
Four involved in street murals arrested after trying to make police report
Oklahoma City police arrested four individuals involved with painting street murals near police headquarters on disorderly...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Sonic Summer Movie Nights move to Scissortail Park
The Sonic Summer Movie Nights are 8 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays.
Construction continues on new downtown OKC structures
Cranes and lifts signal continuing work on a new parking garage in downtown Oklahoma City, which will complement the Omni Hotel...
OKC's Scissortail Park announces lineup for 'Live from the Lawn' summer concert series
Guests are encouraged to bring picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs to enjoy an evening of quality music in the park.
OKC Civic Life for Monday, June 22, 2020
OKCFD at 'Level Red' The Oklahoma City Fire Department has instituted "Level Red" measures as pressure on manpower escalates...
Renovations on tap for BancFirst Tower interior, exterior
The early 1970s facade of the rechristened BancFirst Tower is fading from the downtown skyline as the addition of a new...
Smaller Heartland Flyer to continue to run despite 'dramatically' down ticket sales
Amtrak’s passenger train operating between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas, will continue to offer daily train service, but...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: OKC testing, tracing plan advances
Oklahoma City is about to embark on an aggressive coronavirus testing and tracing program devised to keep COVID-19 in check...
OKC's Myriad Botanical Gardens planning first Member Appreciation Weekend
The event will include story times, seed growing lessons and seed kits to take home, vendors and unlimited rides on Mo’s Carousel.
Recap: OKC Central Live Chat with Steve Lackmeyer
This week's OKC Central Live Chat with Steve Lackmeyer kicks off at 9:30 a.m. but feel free to submit questions now!
UPDATED: Downtown OKC's Scissortail Park to launch 'Live from the Lawn' concert series, feature 'Okie All Stars' show
The debut concert in the "Live from the Lawn" series will feature several of the artists who performed on "Scissortail Streams"...
City budget approved by OKC council
The Oklahoma City Council approved a $1.66 billion budget for fiscal 2021 on Tuesday, ending an emotional chapter in city...
June brings another double-digit decline in Oklahoma City sales tax revenue
Spending reductions projected for the new budget year beginning July 1.
OKC Civic Life for June 15, 2020
Councilman seeks to study police violence Oklahoma City Councilman James Cooper will seek the city council's approval Tuesday...
Judge rules in OKC's favor in lawsuit over Kiamichi Basin water
The city of Oklahoma City's claim on "generational water" to sustain economic growth was strengthened by a judge who...
Recap: OKC Central Live Chat with Steve Lackmeyer
The chat kicks off at 9:30 a.m. but feel free to submit questions now!
Oklahoma City Convention Visitors Bureau president to retire this fall
Mike Carrier, who as president of the Oklahoma City Convention Visitors Bureau oversaw its transformation into a Tier 2 market...
Task force to study human rights commission
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said Thursday that Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice would co-chair a task force to develop a...
OKC Human Rights Commission dissolved over LGBT issues
An Oklahoma City human rights commission helped guide the city on matters of civil rights and discrimination between 1963 and...
Featured Links
- Special Coverage:El Paso shooting remembrance
- Election 2020:Ongoing coverage
- Rebuilding America:From The Oklahoman and USA Today network
- Coronavirus:Latest updates, helpful resources
- Coronavirus:Tracking the outbreak
- Coronavirus:Alert system
- Unemployment:FAQ
- Podcast:From The Newsroom - daily news
- Podcast:The Source - weekly in-depth recap
- OKC protests:See the latest
- U.S. protests:See the latest
- News tips:Submit a tip to The Oklahoman
- The Oklahoman:E-Edition
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- Contests:See The Oklahoman's Contests page
Featured Links
- Special Coverage:El Paso shooting remembrance
- Election 2020:Ongoing coverage
- Rebuilding America:From The Oklahoman and USA Today network
- Coronavirus:Latest updates, helpful resources
- Coronavirus:Tracking the outbreak
- Coronavirus:Alert system
- Unemployment:FAQ
- Podcast:From The Newsroom - daily news
- Podcast:The Source - weekly in-depth recap
- OKC protests:See the latest
- U.S. protests:See the latest
- News tips:Submit a tip to The Oklahoman
- The Oklahoman:E-Edition
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for iOS
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for Android
- Contests:See The Oklahoman's Contests page
Featured Links
- Special Coverage:El Paso shooting remembrance
- Election 2020:Ongoing coverage
- Rebuilding America:From The Oklahoman and USA Today network
- Coronavirus:Latest updates, helpful resources
- Coronavirus:Tracking the outbreak
- Coronavirus:Alert system
- Unemployment:FAQ
- Podcast:From The Newsroom - daily news
- Podcast:The Source - weekly in-depth recap
- OKC protests:See the latest
- U.S. protests:See the latest
- News tips:Submit a tip to The Oklahoman
- The Oklahoman:E-Edition
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for iOS
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for Android
- Contests:See The Oklahoman's Contests page
Featured Links
- Special Coverage:El Paso shooting remembrance
- Election 2020:Ongoing coverage
- Rebuilding America:From The Oklahoman and USA Today network
- Coronavirus:Latest updates, helpful resources
- Coronavirus:Tracking the outbreak
- Coronavirus:Alert system
- Unemployment:FAQ
- Podcast:From The Newsroom - daily news
- Podcast:The Source - weekly in-depth recap
- OKC protests:See the latest
- U.S. protests:See the latest
- News tips:Submit a tip to The Oklahoman
- The Oklahoman:E-Edition
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for iOS
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for Android
- Contests:See The Oklahoman's Contests page
Featured Links
- Special Coverage:El Paso shooting remembrance
- Election 2020:Ongoing coverage
- Rebuilding America:From The Oklahoman and USA Today network
- Coronavirus:Latest updates, helpful resources
- Coronavirus:Tracking the outbreak
- Coronavirus:Alert system
- Unemployment:FAQ
- Podcast:From The Newsroom - daily news
- Podcast:The Source - weekly in-depth recap
- OKC protests:See the latest
- U.S. protests:See the latest
- News tips:Submit a tip to The Oklahoman
- The Oklahoman:E-Edition
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for iOS
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for Android
- Contests:See The Oklahoman's Contests page
Featured Links
- Special Coverage:El Paso shooting remembrance
- Election 2020:Ongoing coverage
- Rebuilding America:From The Oklahoman and USA Today network
- Coronavirus:Latest updates, helpful resources
- Coronavirus:Tracking the outbreak
- Coronavirus:Alert system
- Unemployment:FAQ
- Podcast:From The Newsroom - daily news
- Podcast:The Source - weekly in-depth recap
- OKC protests:See the latest
- U.S. protests:See the latest
- News tips:Submit a tip to The Oklahoman
- The Oklahoman:E-Edition
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for iOS
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for Android
- Contests:See The Oklahoman's Contests page
Featured Links
- Special Coverage:El Paso shooting remembrance
- Election 2020:Ongoing coverage
- Rebuilding America:From The Oklahoman and USA Today network
- Coronavirus:Latest updates, helpful resources
- Coronavirus:Tracking the outbreak
- Coronavirus:Alert system
- Unemployment:FAQ
- Podcast:From The Newsroom - daily news
- Podcast:The Source - weekly in-depth recap
- OKC protests:See the latest
- U.S. protests:See the latest
- News tips:Submit a tip to The Oklahoman
- The Oklahoman:E-Edition
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for iOS
- Download:The Oklahoman's app for Android
- Contests:See The Oklahoman's Contests page