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LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - A production crew is in Lawton this weekend, shooting a short film called “Rescue.”
Alexius Nate’ wrote the movie, inspired by people who have been taken into sex trafficking and the families who suffer because of the industry.
It follows two teenage sisters whose lives take different paths after they run away from home.
The main character continues to search for a sibling bond.
On Saturday afternoon, the crew filmed a scene at the Public Safety Facility.
“When I heard they were a film friendly city, I was like, yes. It’s a community, it’s small, it’s close knit. It has beautiful scenery and locations, for example, this police station, just built, so I just wanted to take advantage of that and really we have a lot of Lawton actors that are phenomenal,” Nate’ said.
Her company, Trinitie Productions, is based in Oklahoma City.
They started filming yesterday at Carnegie Library Town Hall.
Nate’ said sex trafficking is an important topic in our society right now.
“Statistically speaking, sex trafficking, especially here in Lawton, is one of the highest in the United States because of the access to the freeway. Because of that, I thought this would be a phenomenal place to actually break ground and speak volumes and I believe this film will do that,” Nate’ said.
The film will be released in late next month and premiere in July according to Nate.
You can buy tickets to watch it on our.show/rescue-film. | 2022-05-29T03:55:49Z | www.kswo.com | Production crew shooting short film in Lawton | https://www.kswo.com/2022/05/29/production-crew-shooting-short-film-lawton/ | https://www.kswo.com/2022/05/29/production-crew-shooting-short-film-lawton/ |
Erika Lee
Wednesday, July 21st 2021, 8:51 am
Erika Lee joined the News 9 team in August 2021 as a multi-media journalist.
Originally from Southern California, Erika grew up in the suburbs of Diamond Bar and studied journalism at University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She was most recently in Idaho, where she reported for CBS affiliate KBOI in Boise.
Prior to that, she has worked as a web producer for CBS/KCAL 9 in and as a news assistant at KABC in Los Angeles. During college, Erika worked as a reporter and editor for the Daily Trojan and as a multimedia journalist for USC Annenberg Media.
In her spare time, Erika loves trying new restaurants and food, creative writing and watching movies. She is super excited to explore what Oklahoma City has to offer and tell the stories of this amazing community.
You can watch Erika weekdays on News 9.
Griffin Communications Erika Lee joined the News 9 team in August 2021 as a multi-media journalist. | 2022-01-13T19:18:03Z | www.news9.com | Erika Lee News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/60f826e64e5f2f0c0d0215f7/erika-lee | https://www.news9.com/story/60f826e64e5f2f0c0d0215f7/erika-lee |
Equal Employment Opportunities At Griffin Communications
Friday, December 21st 2007, 7:15 pm
In accordance with the equal employment opportunity (EEO) rules of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Griffin Communications is required to provide notification of each job vacancy to any organization that distributes information about employment opportunities to job seekers or refers job seekers to employers upon request by such organization. To be entitled to notice of vacancies, the requesting organization must provide Griffin Communications with its name, mailing address, e-mail address (if applicable), telephone number, and contact person.
It is the policy of Griffin Communications to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law, in all personnel
Griffin Communications provides required notification in accordance with the equal employment opportunity rules of the Federal Communications Commission.
Ask Sassy: Teacher Appreciation
News 9 On this week's Ask Sassy, Sassy Mama joins us with a look at some ways we can show our appreciation for teachers.
News 9 Due to Thursday's bitter cold, the Oklahoma City County Health Department is making changes at their vaccine centers.
Lacey's 9 a.m. Thursday Forecast
What Caught My Eye: January 20 | 2022-01-20T17:49:23Z | www.news9.com | Equal Employment Opportunities At Griffin Communications News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/5e345cda3196993fcfd04f14/equal-employment-opportunities-at-griffin-communications | https://www.news9.com/story/5e345cda3196993fcfd04f14/equal-employment-opportunities-at-griffin-communications |
Erica Rankin
Thursday, October 17th 2019, 10:47 am
News 9 Erica Rankin joined News 9 as a multi-media journalist in June of 2019. Erica is originally from Edmond. She went to the University of Arkansas where she graduated with a bachelors in broadcast journalism. After that she went to Des Moines. Erica was ther | 2022-01-20T17:49:30Z | www.news9.com | Erica Rankin News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/5e346f00527dcf49dad6e541/erica-rankin | https://www.news9.com/story/5e346f00527dcf49dad6e541/erica-rankin |
HASKELL, Oklahoma -
The Harrah Police Department said that an officer died Friday night due to a medical incident that he could not recover from.
The Harrah PD confirmed on Facebook Saturday that Officer Eric Haskins had died.
The department said Haskins had over 15 years of experience in law enforcement and that he joined the Harrah PD on August 17, 2020. Haskins previously worked for the Choctaw Police Department and the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office.
Haskins is survived by his wife and three children. | 2022-01-30T16:32:26Z | www.news9.com | Harrah Police Department Confirms Officer Death Due To Medical Issue News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f5bb26b53dd1072e2c5264/harrah-police-department-confirms-officer-death-due-to-medical-issue | https://www.news9.com/story/61f5bb26b53dd1072e2c5264/harrah-police-department-confirms-officer-death-due-to-medical-issue |
Plan For Navy To Filter Water From Contaminated Navy Tanks In Hawaii Gets Approval
OAHU, Hawaii -
RELATED STORY: Hawaii: Petroleum Detected In Tap Water Near Pearl Harbor
CBS News The Hawaii Department of Health has approved a plan for the U.S. Navy to start removing up to five million gallons of treated water each day from a now-closed well on Oahu that is contaminated with petroleum products. The well, which supplies almost 20% of Honolulu's drinking water, was shut down in November following reports from families that the water smelled of fuel was making them sick. | 2022-01-30T16:32:37Z | www.news9.com | Plan For Navy To Filter Water From Contaminated Navy Tanks In Hawaii Gets Approval News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f5d9cc04c835071fac8553/plan-for-navy-to-filter-water-from-contaminated-navy-tanks-in-hawaii-gets-approval | https://www.news9.com/story/61f5d9cc04c835071fac8553/plan-for-navy-to-filter-water-from-contaminated-navy-tanks-in-hawaii-gets-approval |
A Stuart High School student is addressing the importance of internet access in rural communities
The Student Advisory Council just had its first meeting. Several issues were addressed, one being internet access in rural communities.
About 75 to 100 students from all over Oklahoma signed on for their meeting with State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. Geralyn Haney is a junior at Stuart High School. This is her first year in the program.
“I'm from a really small school down in southeast Oklahoma. We don't have very good access to the internet,” Haney said.
Haney said the pandemic has exposed the lack of resources in rural communities.
“It's terrible at my house here it's terrible. I had trouble getting on to the Zoom meeting today. It's just a problem that really needs to be fixed,” Haney said.
Haney said her family spends a pretty penny on the internet. She's done at-home learning several times during the pandemic. She said it's challenging for her and her little sister.
“Me and her (sister) cannot do assignments at the same time it shuts both of our computers down. I'll go to the public library and I’ll sit there and I’ll either go in the library or I’ll sit in my car and connect to the internet,” Haney said.
Hofmeister agrees with Haney and said this continues to be an issue and something needs to be done.
“It should be as common as a basic utility like electricity and running water. This is helpful for students but it's also helpful for Oklahoma families,” Hofmeister said.
Hofmeister said there are some options to help students.
“Either a hotspot or some of our school districts have a bus with Wi-Fi that they even park in areas in metro communities where there is an apartment complex where there's usually no connectivity available,” Hofmeister said.
Several cable companies are also offering affordable internet service.
To learn more about how to get access to affordable internet, CLICK HERE. | 2022-01-30T16:32:55Z | www.news9.com | Rural Students Concerned Over Resources For Virtual Learning News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f61cc30787ba07341c045a/rural-students-concerned-over-resources-for-virtual-learning | https://www.news9.com/story/61f61cc30787ba07341c045a/rural-students-concerned-over-resources-for-virtual-learning |
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church said they prepare up to 500 meals a day to keep up with the demand of seniors in need of food here in Oklahoma County.
Meals on Wheels Oklahoma City said since the start of the pandemic, they have served thousands of meals and the requests aren't slowing down.
Every Friday, Wade Gray and his wife pick up meals to be delivered to seniors. The Grays are volunteers with St. Luke United Methodist Church, which is one of over 40 churches that delivers meals to seniors in Oklahoma County.
“You may be the only face they see that day. Sometimes we don't know if it's the meal they want or if it's the conversation they want more. They probably want both, but sometimes it's hard to tell which one means more to them,” Gray said.
Chris Lambert with St. Luke's said for many of them this is the only meal they're guaranteed to get that day.
“A lot of seniors don't have ready access to food. Senior food insecurity in Oklahoma county is a major issue,” Lambert said.
This is an issue he said has been around way before the pandemic, COVID-19 is just exposing the problem even more. Lambert said many of the seniors using their services are homebound. He believes the pandemic is encouraging more people to look into what resources are available and ask for help.
“Prior to the pandemic, our churches all together were delivering between 8500 and 9000 meals a month now we're delivering over 19,000 meals a month,” Lambert said.
Lambert said keeping up with the demand is not a problem. Several volunteers have jumped on board, and they've even remodeled their kitchen, but they are calling on other groups to sign up.
“We need additional churches and organizations to join with us so that we can do more. If a church is only able to deliver 30 meals one day a week that just gives us the capacity to serve 30 more individuals in another place,” Lambert said.
Meals on Wheels is also launching a program to help brighten a senior’s day and give them something to look forward to. It’s called the Friendly Visitors program.
For more information about the program, you can call Candice Hillenbrand at (405)609-1016 or chillenbrand@stlukesokc.org. | 2022-01-31T16:32:06Z | www.news9.com | Calls Are Flooding In From Seniors Requesting Meals On Wheels Oklahoma City Services News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f72f93b2c64c07118fa6ce/calls-are-flooding-in-from-seniors-requesting-meals-on-wheels-oklahoma-city-services | https://www.news9.com/story/61f72f93b2c64c07118fa6ce/calls-are-flooding-in-from-seniors-requesting-meals-on-wheels-oklahoma-city-services |
It is our policy when reporting about a situation involving suicide or a suicide attempt to provide resources for anybody considering self-harm.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for people in crisis or for those looking to help someone. To speak with a certified listener, call 800-273-8255.
The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 (Press 1) connect veterans and service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat or text.
Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7 and confidential.
Associated Press Cheslie Kryst, the 2019 winner of the Miss USA pageant and a correspondent for the entertainment news program “Extra,” has died at age 30. | 2022-02-01T12:08:55Z | www.news9.com | Cheslie Kryst, Former Miss USA, Dies At 30 News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f7cc0485241e770115110e/cheslie-kryst-former-miss-usa-dies-at-30 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f7cc0485241e770115110e/cheslie-kryst-former-miss-usa-dies-at-30 |
Head Coach Of The Cincinnati Bengals Has Norman Roots
Head Coach Of The Bengals Has Norman Roots
For the first time in 33 years, the Bengals are heading to the Super Bowl, led by head coach Zac Taylor of Oklahoma roots.
"I don't know that will ever be as special as the moment we just had, but it was pretty cool to be a part of," said Cincinnati Head Coach Zac Taylor.
But before his time as an NFL head coach, he was just a Norman kid.
"They're a tight-knit family, and that's what makes Norman great. We have these close families and close family connections, and we feel like we are rooting for him because we are rooting for Norman," said Shannon Pawley.
Norman High Teacher Shannon Pawley grew up with Zac swimming, hanging out as families and knowing something special was in the works.
"To see him at this level is unsurprising. He is a dedicated person with a great work ethic," said Pawley.
Zac was the starting QB at Norman High, throwing for 1,950 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior year.
"It is so cool to see guys like Zac, George Kittle, Trae Young, and Jordan Evans, the great kids come out of this community and see them on this stage being competitive. And to see their character and see how great of men they are," said Pawley.
News 9’s Sports Director Dean Blevins, who once played with Zac's father, said his Norman upbringing is what made this Super Bowl-bound coach who he is.
"He is brilliant. He is calm. There's no show, and there's no flashiness. There is just winning. That is what I respect," said Dean Blevins.
The Super Bowl matchup between the Bengals and Rams is set for Feb. 13.
Tevis Hillis For the first time in 33 years, the Bengals are heading to the Super Bowl, led by head coach Zac Taylor of Oklahoma roots. | 2022-02-01T12:10:28Z | www.news9.com | Head Coach Of The Cincinnati Bengals Has Norman Roots News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f80aedcee875072cae1de0/head-coach-of-the-cincinnati-bengals-has-norman-roots | https://www.news9.com/story/61f80aedcee875072cae1de0/head-coach-of-the-cincinnati-bengals-has-norman-roots |
Oklahoma Sheriff’s deputies confiscated a large amount of fentanyl pills Thursday during a traffic stop.
The stop happened on I-40 near Douglas Avenue in the Oklahoma City metro.
Deputies found 32,000 fentanyl pills under the front seat of the vehicle that was pulled over for speeding.
But these aren’t pain meds you would get at a pharmacy.
“These are poison, these are about as dangerous as dangerous can get,” said Aaron Brilbeck, OCSD information officer.
Each pill contains a different amount of Fentanyl, a power narcotic.
“When these pills are produced, they’re produced in some shoddy little lab someplace by cartel members who don’t really care if you live or die. So, each pill oftentimes will have more amounts or lesser amounts of fentanyl, so what you think you might be taking in terms of fentanyl, may be enough to kill you,” he said.
A drug task force involving Oklahoma City Police and Oklahoma County worked together on the bust.
Deputies arrested 26-year-old Daud Jabril and 25-year-old Warsame Ali. Both were booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center for felony aggravated trafficking of illegal drugs and possession of a controlled substance.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics reports seeing increasing numbers of overdoses due to fentanyl over the past decade, as traffickers take advantage of the opioid crisis.
“That is why we’ve seen a lot of these counterfeit oxycodone move to the streets…and being sold, because again side by side, an addict is not going to be able to tell the difference,” said Mark Woodward, OBN spokesman.
Fentanyl is mixed with other drugs that a user might not expect to contain the narcotic.
“We’ve seen such an alarming rate of overdoses all across the United States including here in Oklahoma, from people who bought or were given oxycodone and it ended up being one of these counterfeit pills that was laced with fentanyl,” he said.
If you or a loved one are struggling with drug addiction, there is hope.
Call the Drug and Alcohol Abuse 24-hour action helpline at 800-522-9054.
If you want to report illegal drug use, you can confidentially message the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics on their Facebook page. | 2022-02-01T12:11:17Z | www.news9.com | County Deputies Confiscate Over 32,000 Fentanyl Pills In Drug Bust News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f836cc51c59c072587260e/county-deputies-confiscate-over-32000-fentanyl-pills-in-drug-bust | https://www.news9.com/story/61f836cc51c59c072587260e/county-deputies-confiscate-over-32000-fentanyl-pills-in-drug-bust |
UNITED NATIONS -
The harsh exchanges in the Security Council came as Moscow lost an attempt to block the meeting and reflected the gulf between the two nuclear powers.
It was the first open session where all protagonists in the Ukraine crisis spoke publicly even though the U.N.’s most powerful body took no action.
Associated Press Russia accused the West of “whipping up tensions” over Ukraine and said the U.S. had brought “pure Nazis” to power in Kyiv as the U.N. Security Council held a stormy and bellicose debate on Moscow’s troop buildup near its southern neighbor. | 2022-02-01T12:11:37Z | www.news9.com | Russia, US Exchange Harsh Words Over Ukraine At UN News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f853e965aa3b787a3b615a/russia-us-exchange-harsh-words-over-ukraine-at-un | https://www.news9.com/story/61f853e965aa3b787a3b615a/russia-us-exchange-harsh-words-over-ukraine-at-un |
MEDFORD, Oklahoma -
A 4.5 magnitude earthquake near Blackwell triggers a series of aftershocks in the state of Oklahoma.
Jake Walter, the state Seismologist, said they are currently tracking the aftershock pattern across the State and will be for the next few weeks.
“Last year we had a series of earthquakes that were greater than 4.0 or right on the cusp of 4.0 but last time there was a 4.5 you have to go back to May of 2019 in a similar area to this,” he said.
Ponca City, Enid, Oklahoma City and Medford all experienced an aftershock within hours of the earthquake reported at 11:10 a.m. Monday morning.
Medford High School saw some damage, thankfully no one was injured.
“During the aftershock sequence sometimes, you can have a larger event than the main shock so you can still have damage if there is a larger event that is coming after this particular main shock,” said Walter.
He said this area is no stranger to earthquakes caused by the oil and gas industry.
“This is in the same region as some of that wastewater disposal and so we are looking closely at the disposal volumes near this particular earthquake,” said Walter.
The state corporation commission, who regulates the states oil and gas, is ordering wastewater disposal wells within 6 miles of the earthquake’s epicenter to shut in.
“When they require a well to shut in that means that no more disposals will occur at those particular wells and we will continue to monitor the activity and hopefully the seismic activity will subside,” he said.
Walter said as more time passes it is unlikely we will feel shaking from another aftershock. However, if we do the best thing is to take cover and don’t move until it’s over. | 2022-02-01T12:12:03Z | www.news9.com | 'Did You Feel It?': State Seismologist Breaks Down 4.5 Magnitude Earthquake Near Medford News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f8726865d0bf0725186a63/did-you-feel-it:-state-seismologist-breaks-down-45-magnitude-earthquake-near-medford | https://www.news9.com/story/61f8726865d0bf0725186a63/did-you-feel-it:-state-seismologist-breaks-down-45-magnitude-earthquake-near-medford |
HARRAH, Oklahoma -
The Harrah community is mourning the loss of police officer Eric Haskins.
Haskins was a law enforcement officer for more than 15 years in Oklahoma.
He died unexpectedly last week due to an illness.
Harrah Police Chief Gary Morgan said he and his fellow officers are leaning on each other during this tough time.
"You know, being in a smaller department, all of us officers are like family," Morgan said. "We are leaning on each other during this tough time."
Morgan spoke highly of Haskins work ethic at the department.
"He worked well with the public," Morgan said. "It's tremendous loss for our department and our community."
Susan Toth, an assistant manager at EZ mart in Harrah says Haskins would stop by every day before and after shifts
Toth says she will remember his friendly and straightforward personality.
"He was a good guy, very much family man" Toth said. "Loved his wife and kids, his wife worked with us for a little while."
While the Haskins family declined to go on camera, they wanted to say thank you for the overwhelming love and support.
His son, Christian said, "My father was an amazing man, and it is apparent that he lived a life of love and honor. It is clear he had a large impact on everyone around him." | 2022-02-01T12:12:34Z | www.news9.com | Harrah Community Mourns As Officer Unexpectedly Dies News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f87b74f9ea39071e1c1bac/harrah-community-mourns-as-officer-unexpectedly-dies | https://www.news9.com/story/61f87b74f9ea39071e1c1bac/harrah-community-mourns-as-officer-unexpectedly-dies |
Two parents of current and former students of Mount St. Mary Catholic High School in Oklahoma City said their children were criticized by administrators after reporting incidents of assault by other students.
One parent, Kristi Darrow, said her daughter graduated from the school in 2017. Another parent of a current student spoke anonymously to News 9 in fear of retaliation.
The school is amid an internal investigation into alleged incidents on campus, and the administration’s response.
Related: Mount St. Mary’s Catholic High School Looks Into Sexual Assault Allegations | 2022-02-01T12:13:07Z | www.news9.com | Parents Of Mount St. Mary Students Describe Administration Response To Assaults As School Continues Internal Investigation News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f8b4af59162e0727830969/parents-of-mount-st-mary-students-describe-administration-response-to-assaults-as-school-continues-internal-investigation | https://www.news9.com/story/61f8b4af59162e0727830969/parents-of-mount-st-mary-students-describe-administration-response-to-assaults-as-school-continues-internal-investigation |
OU Falls To TCU In Norman
Damion Baugh scored 20 points and Texas Christian won at Norman for the first time in program history, beating Oklahoma 72-63.
Oklahoma trailed by 14 points, 60-46 after an Emanuel Miller layup with just under eight minutes to play, but Duke transfer Jordan Goldwire sparked a comeback, scoring nine points as the Sooners got within five, 68-63 with 38 seconds left.
Baugh grabbed a clutch rebound, then knocked down two free throws and Micah Peavy added two more from the line with 16 seconds left.
Thunder Lose In Away Game Against Milwaukee Bucks, 133-86
Associated Press Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 13 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks surged to a 24-point lead in the second quarter in a 133-86 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. The 47-point loss was the Thunder’s worst of the season. | 2022-02-01T12:13:45Z | www.news9.com | TCU Earns First Win At Oklahoma, Hold Off Sooners 72-63 News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f8bea32d0460072469af4d/tcu-earns-first-win-at-oklahoma-hold-off-sooners-7263 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f8bea32d0460072469af4d/tcu-earns-first-win-at-oklahoma-hold-off-sooners-7263 |
The Internal Revenue Service is reconsidering alternatives to ID.me, the controversial identity-checking system already used by states and other federal agencies, after public pushback at the notion that taxpayers will need to take selfies to access their IRS.gov accounts.
A Treasury official told CBS MoneyWatch that the agency was looking into alternatives to the software.
The IRS in November announced its partnership with ID.me, under which taxpayers would need to register with the company to access their IRS.gov accounts to see their history of tax payments or access their tax transcripts. The deal received little scrutiny until this month, when security researcher Brian Krebs documented the process of verifying his identity by uploading documents, trying to take a selfie and connecting to an agent via videochat.
"Big Brother tactic"
Lawmakers and civil-liberties groups slammed the process as invasive.
"This is a very, very bad idea by the IRS. It will further weaken Americans' privacy," Representative Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, said on Twitter. "The IRS needs to reverse this Big Brother tactic, NOW."
Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat representing Oregon, said he was "very disturbed" by the development.
In a statement, a Treasury spokesperson reiterated that ID.me accounts would not be required to file tax returns and said the agency was trying to balance ease of access with defending the agency against criminals.
"The lack of funding for IRS IT modernization has made it impossible for the IRS to invest in state-of-the-art technology. The IRS today uses third-party service providers to validate the identification of individuals attempting to improperly gain access to taxpayer accounts. This includes ID.me, which is compliant with the National Institute of Security Technology standards and used by multiple agencies across the government," the spokesperson said.
Unregonizable
Civil rights advocates have long pointed out that facial recognition is less accurate for people with darker skin tones than for those with lighter skin. Face-match technology led to the wrongful arrest of a man for shoplifting, and to members of Congress being mistakenly matched to a mugshot database.
"Regardless of whether the IRS needs a new way to verify identity, they shouldn't be using facial recognition, particularly when there is a lack of regulation regarding the use of face images and other biometrics," said Jeramie Scott, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "Particularly when ... they're planning to outsource that identification to a third party company that is now also going to be collecting personal information, thus creating another target for your information to be lost," he said.
Once a user has registered with ID.me, the company will be required to share their information with law enforcement if asked, according to the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, or STOP. While users can revoke ID.me's access to their data, the software is required to keep it for years to guard against fraud, potentially putting people at risk of identity theft.
EPIC, STOP, Fight For The Future and three other civil rights groups have launched a petition asking the IRS to revoke the contract. The petition has already received more than 1,000 signatures, according to Fight For The Future.
ID.me's founder and CEO, Blake Hall, maintains that ID.me has high security standards that make online access both more secure and more accessible to taxpayers than previous methods used by the IRS, which typically required users to have a credit report. Hall said that ID.me has stopped "tens of thousands" of would-be attacks on the IRS that could have resulted in taxpayers' identities being stolen.
A spokesperson for the company said that 9 in 10 users can successfully self-verify with ID.me and that the process takes 5 minutes on average.
However, because of ID.me's ubiquity, that unsuccessful 10% adds up to a large number of people. Since last year, when ID.me contracted with more than half of U.S. states to administer unemployment benefits, there have been innumerable complaints from people whose funds were put on hold incorrectly or who weren't able to get verified because they didn't have the right documents, couldn't access the internet or for other reasons. | 2022-02-02T04:05:13Z | www.news9.com | IRS Exploring Alternatives To Selfie Verification With ID.me News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61f91aa6da525f07253ef273/irs-exploring-alternatives-to-selfie-verification-with-idme | https://www.news9.com/story/61f91aa6da525f07253ef273/irs-exploring-alternatives-to-selfie-verification-with-idme |
Friends of a man killed in Shawnee are left heartbroken as police investigate his murder.
Those who knew Brandon Kaseca said he was killed in his sleep.
“It sounded like there was yelling at first, but I didn’t think nothing about it so it went back to sleep,” said Shawnee resident Chris Daniel.
But minutes later he heard something else.
“I woke up it sounded like a paintball guns, it wasn’t that loud,” said Daniel.
“We saw a guy underneath a blanket getting into the coroner's car,” said neighbor Nora Askins.
Best friend Shalonda McCurtain said she was left in shock when she heard the news.
“I thought it was just a joke at first, but when my daughter text me that’s when it knew it had really happened,” said Shalonda McCurtain.
According to McCurtain, her childhood friend Brandon Kaseca was sleeping inside the house when someone with a gun rushed in, and startled her uncle, who was also inside, awake.
“He said he woke up to a guy hitting him with a gun,” said McCurtain.
According to McCurtain, the gunman then turned their attention to Kaseca who was in another bedroom.
“Why would you come into someone’s house and shoot someone when they’re asleep?” said McCurtain.
She said her uncle ran.
“He ran to the neighbors to call the cops and he hears pow, pow, I don’t know how many times Brandon got hit,” said McCurtain.
She said if Kaseca had enemies they weren’t known to his close circle.
“He never mentioned anything about being in trouble with anybody,” said McCurtain.
McCurtain said Kaseca leaves behind a girlfriend, children, and a long list of people who loved him.
“Justice needs to be served. He didn’t deserve that, especially while he was asleep? It’s not right, just turn yourself in,” said McCurtain.
No arrests have been made. If you know anything about this case, contact police. | 2022-02-02T17:06:48Z | www.news9.com | Friends Shocked After Shawnee Man Killed While Sleeping News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61fa074707b0d80e04c94808/friends-shocked-after-shawnee-man-killed-while-sleeping | https://www.news9.com/story/61fa074707b0d80e04c94808/friends-shocked-after-shawnee-man-killed-while-sleeping |
Giddey Named To Rising Star Roster
CLEVELAND, Ohio -
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey has been selected for the 2022 Rising Stars game.
Giddey has played in 44 games (all starts) this season and is averaging 11.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 31.0 minutes per game. His assists lead all rookies, and rank 19th overall, while his scoring ranks seventh among rookies and his rebounds third. He is the only rookie this season, and one of eight players overall, averaging at least 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
On Jan. 2 against the Mavericks, Giddey became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double and only the sixth rookie in history to post at least 17 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists in a game. He has recorded 11 double-doubles this season, which leads all rookies, and sets the record for most double-doubles by a Thunder rookie.
In Oklahoma City’s win at Brooklyn on Jan. 13, the Australian native became the fastest rookie in NBA history to reach at least 400 points, 250 rebounds and 200 assists, doing so in his 36th career game. He has 75 offensive rebounds this season, which is the most among all guards.
Giddey becomes the 12th player in Thunder history to be named to a Rising Stars team.
The 2022 Clorox Rising Stars game will be played on Friday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. CT at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. | 2022-02-02T17:07:07Z | www.news9.com | Thunder Rookie Josh Giddey Selected For 2022 Rising Star Game News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61fa09e607b0d80e04c98a53/thunder-rookie-josh-giddey-selected-for%C2%A02022-rising-star-game | https://www.news9.com/story/61fa09e607b0d80e04c98a53/thunder-rookie-josh-giddey-selected-for%C2%A02022-rising-star-game |
OG&E Says Thousands Are Now Without Power Statewide
Due to wintry conditions, Oklahoma Gas and Electric said power outages have crept into the thousands statewide.
As of 9 p.m., more than 6,300 (6,325) of the 6,913 OG&E customers without power reside in Yukon.
The company said it does not have an estimate when Yukon customers will have electricity again.
There are more than 350 Oklahoma City customers (366) who are currently without service. OG&E said OKC customers are estimated to have their power restored by 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. | 2022-02-03T03:53:14Z | www.news9.com | OG&E Says Thousands Are Now Without Power Statewide News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61fa5bbbb014590725e8fe41/oge-says-thousands-are-now-without-power-statewide- | https://www.news9.com/story/61fa5bbbb014590725e8fe41/oge-says-thousands-are-now-without-power-statewide- |
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is partnering with the Oklahoma National Guard to assemble Stranded Motorist Assistance Recovery Teams (SMART) that are ready to assist motorists during this winter storm.
The four SMART teams are currently assembling in Miami, Claremore, McAlester and Durant, but will be mobile and able to adapt to the changing weather conditions.
Each team consists of two Humvees, one wrecker, ten national guardsmen and one trooper.
SMART teams will be out Wednesday through Friday and their primary goal is to recover motorists who may become stranded in the potential storm.
In addition, they can remove stalled or stuck vehicles from the roadway. | 2022-02-03T03:55:23Z | www.news9.com | OHP Partners With Oklahoma National Guard For Winter Weather News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61fae48524f56b0f50a9ed41/ohp-partners-with-oklahoma-national-guard-for-winter-weather | https://www.news9.com/story/61fae48524f56b0f50a9ed41/ohp-partners-with-oklahoma-national-guard-for-winter-weather |
Bobbie Miller
Tuesday, January 24th 2012, 5:09 pm
Bobbie Miller is an Oklahoma native who has enjoyed reporting & anchoring the news to Oklahoma viewers for most of her tv news career. Miller began her time at News9 anchoring News9 This Morning until she decided to take some time to be a full-time stay-at-home mom. She has now rejoined the team as an anchor of the 4 p.m. show.
Bobbie has three children with her husband. And while she loves telling stories on tv, her favorite audience are three little ones when they pile in her lap to read a book. She continues to spend her days as a homeroom mom at their school, teaching kids Bible classes at church & cheering on her children in all of their events. She also keeps them outside as much as possible riding bikes, chalking the sidewalk and digging in the vegetable garden. “I’m determined to instill a love of the outdoors & all of creation in them!” said Miller.
Bobbie is still passionate about news and grateful for this opportunity to return to a news room. “I’m so happy to be back in the chair at News 9,” said Miller. “This place has always been like my second home and I’m excited to spend the afternoons with my work family and our viewers.”
Bobbie Miller is an Oklahoma native with more than a decade of experience as a journalist. Miller joined the News 9 team in January 2012 and is the morning co-host with Stan Miller.
News 9 6 A.M. Newscast (August 31)
News 9 News 9 6 A.M. Newscast (August 31)
What Caught My Eye: August 13
News 9 See what caught the News 9 at 9 a.m. team's eye on August 13.
Southbound Lanes Of Council Closed After Crash
News 9 The southbound lanes of Council are closed at 34th Street after a crash this morning.
News 9 10 p.m. Newscast (May 29)
News 9 Watch News 9's May 29, 2021 10 p.m. newscast now.
AOTS part 4 test
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CBS News Millions of low-income Americans are eligible for a one-time tax break this year that could save them big bucks. The federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which is aimed at people in the lowest-paid jobs, is being tripled for a group of workers who typically don't benefit much from it: Childless adults.
CBS News Tesla is recalling more than 817,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the seat belt reminder chimes may not sound when the vehicles are started and the driver hasn't buckled up. | 2022-02-03T18:22:43Z | www.news9.com | Bobbie Miller News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/5e34f104e0c96e774b3629b7/bobbie-miller | https://www.news9.com/story/5e34f104e0c96e774b3629b7/bobbie-miller |
News 9 Keeps You Safe, Informed For Day 2 Of The Winter Storm
A winter storm warning is still in effect for the Oklahoma City metro and parts of western Oklahoma through Thursday evening as snow continues to blanket the state.
As of 12:30 p.m. Thursday, much of the metro has seen anywhere between four and seven inches of snow on the ground since it began Wednesday afternoon.
The first wave of snow has left Oklahoma, but a second wave of snow is making its way through western and central Oklahoma this afternoon.
According to News 9 Chief Meteorologist David Payne, the snow will be light and moderate throughout portions of Oklahoma City, Edmond and Guthrie.
High temperatures will hover in the teens, but wind chill temperatures are expected to remain below zero throughout the day.
The additional snow is leading to hazardous driving conditions across Oklahoma City. If you are in an accident in Oklahoma City, police said Wednesday that they are only responding to injury accidents. | 2022-02-03T20:03:02Z | www.news9.com | News 9 Keeps You Safe, Informed For Day 2 Of The Winter Storm News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61fbadd41b8fa70721230351/team-coverage:-the-news-9-team-keeps-you-informed-for-day-2-of-the-winter-storm | https://www.news9.com/story/61fbadd41b8fa70721230351/team-coverage:-the-news-9-team-keeps-you-informed-for-day-2-of-the-winter-storm |
We've now had back-to-back days of record snowfall recorded in Oklahoma City, but the snow is not done with us just yet.
Oklahoma City recorded three inches of snow Wednesday, which broke the previous record of 2.5 inches on that day in 1913. Thursday's 2.9 inches snowfall in the city shattered the old record of one inch of snow, which also fell on this day in 1913. | 2022-02-04T02:19:05Z | www.news9.com | Record Snowfall Continues On Second Day Of Winter Storm News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61fbadd41b8fa70721230351/record-snowfall-continues-on-second-day-of-winter-storm | https://www.news9.com/story/61fbadd41b8fa70721230351/record-snowfall-continues-on-second-day-of-winter-storm |
The Bridge Impact Center, located at 1915 Northeast Martin Luther King Avenue, is doing exactly what the name says, bridging the gap for youth to have an impact in their community.
“We started off with I’d say about eight kids, now we a little over seventy-five,” said Marcus Jackson, founder and owner of the center.
The community center is a lifelong dream for Jackson. It’s a place where kids from the community could learn valuable skills.
“We don’t charge, we don’t put flyers out, we don’t have a bus, all of our students walk, so they are all from this neighborhood and this community,” said Jackson.
The walls are full of positive messages, as kids come in each day and pick what class they want to participate in.
“We have culinary classes, we have financial literacy, we have mental health groups, we have a music studio for audio and production, we have a media room,” said Jackson.
There's art and dance classes and an athletic space, where kids learn boxing, weightlifting and other physical activities. All the classes are supervised by volunteers with a background in those areas.
"It’s a cool place, the teachers are cool, the people are cool, there’s no drama, it’s a place where you can get away, be free, have fun chill,” said 11-year-old Houston Harris.
The kids consider this a second home.
“The staff members are kinda like family. And if you need something or you need help, they’ll provide that for you,” said 13-year-old Isreal Blankenship.
The center is available for junior and senior high students Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and most kids come every day.
“The future of Oklahoma City is bright, the future of the east side of Oklahoma City is bright because we have bright young people in this building everyday.
The center recently had coats donated for every kid that attends, they also have a matching donation sponsor for up to one hundred fifty dollars.
For more information about the Bridge Impact Center visit their website www.urbanbridge.org | 2022-02-05T00:39:01Z | www.news9.com | The Bridge Impact Center Impacting Kids To Impact Their Community News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61fd9a5e00a0a80f7296a7ec/the-bridge-impact-center-impacting-kids-to-impact-their-community | https://www.news9.com/story/61fd9a5e00a0a80f7296a7ec/the-bridge-impact-center-impacting-kids-to-impact-their-community |
The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office announced Friday it will turn over its Epic Charter Schools investigation back to the desk of Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater.
The change now means that it will be up to Prater as to whether or not charges will be filed against Epic.
According to the state attorney general's office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation had been looking into Epic Charter Schools for several years. Prater, who worked with OSBI at the time, began the inquiry into Epic back in 2013.
While the investigation was in the AG office's purview, they continued working with the OSBI on the case through a special counsel.
Epic Charter Schools have gone through several internal and external issues in recent months. Back in Dec. 2021, the State Board of Education voted to withhold more than $9 million in funding from Epic after a state audit found the district improperly spent public funds.
Related: Oklahoma To Withhold $9.1 Million From Epic Charter Schools For Improper Spending
A month earlier, in Nov. 2021, Epic announced it would be making cuts to its staff as more students were leaving the district in favor of more traditional classroom environments.
Related: Epic Charter Schools Announces Major Staff Cuts Due To Students Transferring Back To Traditional School Districts | 2022-02-05T05:29:06Z | www.news9.com | Oklahoma County DA Takes On Epic Charter Schools Investigation News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61fdc5a17a073806af1c8258/oklahoma-county-da-takes-on-epic-charter-schools-investigation | https://www.news9.com/story/61fdc5a17a073806af1c8258/oklahoma-county-da-takes-on-epic-charter-schools-investigation |
The owner of an Oklahoma City nonprofit, Second Chances Thrift Store, booked hotel rooms for about 90 people in the past few days to help the homeless get out of dangerously cold weather.
Delisa Jones said donations poured in from various groups and individuals throughout the city as Wednesday’s winter storm moved into the metro.
She said she has around $10,000 on hotel rooms for individuals and families during recent storms.
Mike Peterson, his wife, and father-in-law ran into Jones in the lobby of a nearby hotel as the storm closed in on Oklahoma City. They had slept in their car for two nights in the parking lot of a local hospital while their mother is treated for a brain bleed.
“We couldn’t get that motel room,” Peterson said. “We don’t have much money and (Jones) just kinda was there.”
“We told her our story and she just turned around to the desk clerk and said, "Give them a room for 3 days."
Peterson and his wife, Judy, said they were overcome with emotion at the gesture.
“It’s like she was sent there to us or we were sent there,” he said.
Peterson’s family started an online fundraiser to help pay for their mother’s medical treatment.
Click here to visit their GoFundMe page.
Oklahoma City homeless shelters were pushed to capacity during the winter storms.
Related: (post link to one of Feliz’ stories on homeless alliance from this week)
Jones said she’s been determined to help the city’s homeless population since she opened Second Chances almost five years ago.
“Our homeless community is my heart, but people who come out of prison end up homeless. People coming out of addiction are homeless. So really homelessness is huge in our community right now,” Jones said.
“It’s our goal every day to let people know how much we love them and we want them to know that we see them and that they have a safe place to come.”
Click here to visit the website for Second Chances Thrift Store. | 2022-02-05T05:29:18Z | www.news9.com | Oklahoma City Thrift Store Rented Dozens Of Hotel Rooms For Homeless During Winter Storm News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61fdec9872bcdc0724fe958c/oklahoma-city-thrift-store-rented-dozens-of-hotel-rooms-for-homeless-during-winter-storm | https://www.news9.com/story/61fdec9872bcdc0724fe958c/oklahoma-city-thrift-store-rented-dozens-of-hotel-rooms-for-homeless-during-winter-storm |
Driver Crashes Into Post Office In SW OKC
The windows and walls of an OKC post office were damaged Saturday morning by a car that drove into the lobby on accident.
Becky Hernandez, Strategic Communications Specialist with the United States Postal Service (USPS) said a customer drove their vehicle into the lobby of the Oklahoma City Penn 89 Station at 9201 S. Pennsylvania Ave. at about 10:30 a.m.
Hernandez said no injuries were reported, but the front windows were damaged as well as the front wall near the P.O. Boxes.
The responding officer on the scene confirmed to News 9 that a red Toyota Corolla was to blame for the accident.
No names were released and nobody was arrested.
Hernandez said the safety and well-being of both customers and employees are of the utmost importance to the USPS and that customers will be informed of any disruptions in operations. | 2022-02-06T01:51:58Z | www.news9.com | Car Crashes Into OKC Post Office Causing Damage, No Injuries News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61ff0c83c997b7072cfbd527/car-crashes-into-okc-post-office-causing-damage-no-injuries | https://www.news9.com/story/61ff0c83c997b7072cfbd527/car-crashes-into-okc-post-office-causing-damage-no-injuries |
The Oklahoman said the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is dedicating the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine on November 4th, 2022.
It will honor Blessed Father Stanley Rother, who was murdered in a Guatemalan parish back in 1981.
The shrine located along Southeast 89th between I-35 and Shields will be Oklahoma's largest catholic church. | 2022-02-06T11:38:21Z | www.news9.com | Archdiocese Of Oklahoma City Dedicating Rother Shrine This Year News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61ff33e09ba4850727c53efe/archdiocese-of-oklahoma-city-dedicating-rother-shrine-this-year | https://www.news9.com/story/61ff33e09ba4850727c53efe/archdiocese-of-oklahoma-city-dedicating-rother-shrine-this-year |
The No. 18 ranked Oklahoma Sooners (20-3) took down the West Virginia Mountaineers (11-9) 101-99 in double-overtime thanks to stellar shooting from star player Taylor Robertson and company.
Robertson led the Sooners in scoring with 26 points and also tallied a rebound and 2 assists while shooting 50 percent from behind the arc (7-14). Robertson also logged 50 minutes on the court as the game stretched into overtime, highlighting her importance to the Sooners' success.
Guard Madi Williams was a rebound away from putting up a double-double, finishing with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists on Saturday.
On the West Virginia side of the court, the duo of Kari Niblack and Ari Gray kept the Mountaineers on par with the Sooners. Niblack finished the game with 22 points and 12 rebounds as Gray scored 25 with 8 rebounds.
Oklahoma Finds The Range In 2nd Half, Downs Houston Baptist
Associated Press Tanner Groves buried a 3-pointer for the lead early in the second half and Oklahoma found the range and roared past Houston Baptist 57-40 on Wednesday night. Elijah Harkless scored 13 points with nine rebounds and Jordan Goldwire scored 11 for Oklahoma. | 2022-02-06T11:38:33Z | www.news9.com | Robertson, Williams Lead Sooners To 2OT Victory Over West Virginia News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/61ff45dbc2f9e907257c29f3/robertson-williams-lead-sooners-to-2ot-victory-over-west-virginia | https://www.news9.com/story/61ff45dbc2f9e907257c29f3/robertson-williams-lead-sooners-to-2ot-victory-over-west-virginia |
Police said a boy was stabbed to death in SE OKC on Sunday. Investigators believe a family member may be responsible.
"It's sad," said Tyler Risenhoover, a neighbor. "For the last 20 years, the block hasn't been like this down here, you don't see much of this."
Police first got the call around 4:45 Sunday afternoon. Neighbors say they blocked off the street, trying to get someone to come out of one of the homes. One man who lives just across the street says he watched officers bust down the front door to get inside and what they found was the boy.
"It changes everything because it's kids," said Risenhoover. "You got to take care of them, and you're supposed to protect them and lead them the right way and stuff."
Investigators on scene said they arrested one person who could be related to the victim. Other children were inside the home as well, but fortunately they were not injured.
Police are now trying to piece together what led up to the stabbing. The neighbors I spoke with say they didn't know the victim or his family, but never suspected anything out of the ordinary.
"Typically, you don't see a lot of this," said Risenhoover. "Down here, we don't really see it so it's kind of nerve wracking."
Police have not named the person who was arrested yet. They expect to have more information later this week.
Hunter McKee Police said a boy was stabbed to death in SE OKC on Sunday. Investigators believe a family member may be responsible. | 2022-02-07T11:50:41Z | www.news9.com | Police Say 11-Year-Old Boy Stabbed To Death In SE OKC News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62009c53321dd90729053862/police-say-11yearold-boy-stabbed-to-death-in-se-okc | https://www.news9.com/story/62009c53321dd90729053862/police-say-11yearold-boy-stabbed-to-death-in-se-okc |
The owner of the Bryant Recreation Center said it was the go-to place for people in the black community.
The entertainment venue closed in the 80s, but it’s building still stands.
If the walls of the center could talk Dr. Phillips said they would tell you stories of how much joy it brought to people.
Dr. Robert Phillips addressed City Council in January regarding plans to preserve the Bryant Recreation Center.
H.T. Greenshaw and Ferrill Martin opened the center in the Northeast community in 1960. Celebrities performed in the music center. The Bryant Rec. Center also featured a disco club a restaurant and a bowling alley.
“All the big celebrities, etc. Would come to Oklahoma they came here. We saw Bobby "Blue" Bland, we saw Tina Turner, we saw Nancy Wilson, Sam Cooke,” Dr. Phillips said.
It closed it the 80s. Dr. Phillips said he found out when he retired from the military and knew he wanted to help.
“I said, 'Well that doesn't look good. I think I’ll buy that. Honestly, that's the honest truth because it was so important to the black community because I remember going downtown to those big places for entertainment and it just wasn't the same,” Dr. Phillips said.
The building no longer serves as an entertainment spot. but Dr. Phillips plans to bring it back to life.
“I want it to be a place for learning number one. I want it to be a place for learning. I would like for it to be a place for children to come. I want to put up something that people would love coming to, be proud of, tell other folks about,” Dr. Phillips said.
Dr. Phillips and his family have already laid the groundwork for renovations. He plans to present the improvements made to the city on March 1st. | 2022-02-07T11:50:47Z | www.news9.com | Owner Reflects On Old Bryant Recreation Center As Renovations Begin News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6200a0111007da070d1870ec/owner-reflects-on-old-bryant-recreation-center-as-renovations-begin- | https://www.news9.com/story/6200a0111007da070d1870ec/owner-reflects-on-old-bryant-recreation-center-as-renovations-begin- |
Oklahoma voters will head to the polls Feb. 8 to cast their votes in special elections.
That includes voting on school boards, city councils and the next Oklahoma City mayor.
Incumbent David Holt is running again, with Jimmy Lawson, Carol Hefner and Frank Urbanic challenging him.
If no one gets more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will compete in a runoff election on April 5. | 2022-02-07T23:15:17Z | www.news9.com | OKC Mayoral Voting Set For Feb. 8 Ballot News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62013cabb3fb300728fb04aa/okc-mayoral-voting-set-for-feb-8-ballot | https://www.news9.com/story/62013cabb3fb300728fb04aa/okc-mayoral-voting-set-for-feb-8-ballot |
A lineman from North Carolina responding to help here with the winter storm, tragically passes away in an accident.
Family told News 9 the lineman, 31-year-old Samuel Jim, just moved east from Oklahoma.
Samuel wasn't an OG&E employee but was a subcontractor lineman working for River City Construction.
According to OHP he was driving on I-35 in Carter County when he lost control on ice and his truck rolled.
"She said I'm sorry to inform you, and I don't even know what happened," said Samuel's wife Mya Jim. "After that all I know is I was calling my husband over and over."
Mya is in North Carolina still in disbelief.
"What does anyone say to me," said Mya. "I don't even believe it still. I'm kind of thinking he's going to walk through the door,"
She found out he died when police and her husband's employer showed up at her door.
The couple met at high school in Henreyetta, Oklahoma.
The pair and their kids had moved east from the Sooner State not even a year ago.
"He enjoys the brotherhood that the lineman have," said Mya. "I called them a storm soldier."
He was helping Oklahomans when his truck rolled off the interstate.
According to troopers Samuel wasn't wearing his seatbelt. He was partially ejected and ended up pinned under the truck for hours.
"I don't remember much because I was unconscious after the first time I hit my head," said Samuel's partner Billy Wilson.
Wilson, also a lineman, was riding in the truck with Samuel when it crashed last Thursday.
He ended up with a broken humerus but said overall he's very lucky.
Wilson said he has been riding with Samuel for about a month, and they often swapped stories about their families. Now, he just wants to make sure Mya and the kids are taken care of.
"He was a really big family man," said Wilson. "He is a smart guy. He's a fun guy to be around. He is just a gret person all round."
Mya said she's received support from Wilson, dozens of linemen and people here in Oklahoma.
A celebration of life is being planned for this weekend on the east coast.
If you want to help the family, there are numerous GoFundMe's set up to help Samuel's family.
Even though Samuel was not employed by OG&E, the company still gave News 9 a statement.
"Last week’s traffic accident was a terrible tragedy. As the subcontractor linemen involved in the accident are not OG&E employees, nor are they employees of the contracting firm OG&E used to source additional personnel to respond to Winter Storm Landon, we do not have any direct information about the accident, or the linemen involved as that information would only be known by the linemen’s employer.
The electrical utility industry is a close one, and we know this fatal accident impacted our employees. Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the lineman who died last week." | 2022-02-07T23:16:06Z | www.news9.com | Family Remembers North Carolina Man Who Died After Helping In Winter Storm News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62015bed452eff0726e49f67/family-remembers-north-carolina-man-who-died-after-helping-in-winter-storm | https://www.news9.com/story/62015bed452eff0726e49f67/family-remembers-north-carolina-man-who-died-after-helping-in-winter-storm |
One week ago, the pageant community lost one of their own after former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst took her own life.
Kryst was also part of a historic year, where the Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss USA, Miss America and Miss Teen USA were all women of color.
The current Miss Oklahoma USA, Albreuna Gonzaque, shares how she is leaning on others in the community and the importance of mental health.
News 9's Brittany Toolis will have a full story on News 9 at 5 p.m.
It is our policy to provide resources for anybody considering self-harm when reporting about a situation involving suicide or a suicide attempt.
The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) connect veterans and service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. | 2022-02-07T23:16:19Z | www.news9.com | Miss Oklahoma Albreuna Gonzaque Reflects On Passing of Cheslie Kryst News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6201698683a727072ac2d4e8/miss-oklahoma-albreuna-gonzaque-reflects-on-passing-of-cheslie-kryst | https://www.news9.com/story/6201698683a727072ac2d4e8/miss-oklahoma-albreuna-gonzaque-reflects-on-passing-of-cheslie-kryst |
A White House review has found credible evidence that top scientist Dr. Eric Lander violated its “Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy,” but the administration plans to keep him on the job after giving him counseling.
Lander is the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and science adviser to President Joe Biden. | 2022-02-07T23:16:37Z | www.news9.com | White House: Top Scientist Mistreated Staff, Apologizes News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6201827fca2913071fef3461/white-house:-top-scientist-mistreated-staff-apologizes | https://www.news9.com/story/6201827fca2913071fef3461/white-house:-top-scientist-mistreated-staff-apologizes |
Police release new details after a child was found stabbed to death in southeast Oklahoma City over the weekend.
Investigators have now arrested a woman, believed to be related to the child.
"I never expected it to be in my neighborhood," said Sarah Brown, a neighbor. "Especially two doors down, like you just don't expect that."
Just after 4:30 Sunday afternoon, police got a call for a disturbance from a house near SE 50th and Shields.
"When they arrived, they found a very strange scene there," said Msgt. Gary Knight, with OKC Police. "A woman met them in front of the residence, in the front yard she had a two-year-old child. She had blood on her, and she indicated there was a diseased child inside the residence."
According to an affidavit, 27-year-old Carina Romero was armed with a knife, telling officers her husband killed one of her children. It goes on to say Romero then went inside the house and closed the front door, refusing to come out.
"Given the totality of the circumstances with their possibly being a deceased child inside, her having blood on her, and her carrying a two-year-old child, officers forced entry into the residence," said Knight.
Officers recovered the two-year-old unharmed and Romero was taken into custody. Reports say as they were clearing the home, police found a child lying on the kitchen floor, who appeared to have suffered several stab wounds.
"I got a three-year-old myself," said Brown. "I just can't imagine like what was going on down there."
"Very sad, very tragic story for everyone involved," said Knight.
Police say it's still unclear what led up to Romero wanting to harm this child, but she was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail. | 2022-02-08T13:39:36Z | www.news9.com | Police Release More Information After Child Found Stabbed To Death In SE OKC News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6201a9703a0c940724612a99/police-release-more-information-after-child-found-stabbed-to-death-in-se-okc | https://www.news9.com/story/6201a9703a0c940724612a99/police-release-more-information-after-child-found-stabbed-to-death-in-se-okc |
Paden and Mason are bitter rivals in every sport and have been for years. So, when their last basketball game went into double overtime, things really got heated.
“We’re both very athletic and we love the game of basketball and when it comes down to it, we’re ready to play and we just both want to win,” said Marquade Tharps, Paden basketball player.
About twenty miles separate the two schools.
“Paden and mason have been rivals ever since I’ve been in high school, it’s always been that way, and even today these guys have come up as seventh and eighth graders playing against each other,” said Paden coach Curtis Lee.
Their last game didn’t disappoint the county rivalry.
“It was pretty competitive, they had us up at half time, we came back out, dug back in it, came to the fourth quarter, tied it up went into overtime,” said Tharp.
But in the second overtime, the rivalry took a turn for the better.
“We were going down on a fastbreak and I like lost the ball or threw it out of bounds or something and then caught a cramp and he ran over there and helped me,” said Justin Gill Mason basketball player.
“I watched him go up and I watched him throw it back in, and he hit the wall and I see him grab his leg and I just figured it was a cramp because I’ve been there, done that,” said Tharp.
And with all of this going on Coach Lee was still coaching.
“I had a chance to talk to my kids so I’m yelling at my kids to come over so I could talk to them, and I look over here and my postman has got a kid stretched out on the floor. So, I decided to be a good sport myself, I guess,” said coach Lee.
Mason did win the game but after the game fans of both teams complemented the coaches on the sportsmanship of both the teams.
“That’s what’s right with high school athletics in our state is kids helping each other out,” said coach Lee. | 2022-02-08T13:40:19Z | www.news9.com | Paden V. Mason Rivalry Basketball Game Takes A Turn For The Better News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6201bb2e60e5cd072a3d629f/paden-v-mason-rivalry-basketball-game-takes-a-turn-for-the-better | https://www.news9.com/story/6201bb2e60e5cd072a3d629f/paden-v-mason-rivalry-basketball-game-takes-a-turn-for-the-better |
Several school districts are hoping residents in their districts will approve hundreds of millions of dollars to improve schools Tuesday.
This money will come from Bond Initiatives. Administrators at Deer Creek said that their district is growing at a rate of 300 to 500 students a year.
If today's bond proposal is approved, it'll help pay for a new elementary school and a new middle school in addition to plans for other upgrades.
There is a second part of the proposal that goes towards transportation needs.
Altogether, the two bonds total more than $138 million.
Right now, kids go to as many as 6 different campuses throughout their K-12 experience.
The district wants to cut down on that movement by adding onto campuses.
Superintendent Jason Perez said they also want to help cut down on the distance students are traveling to get to class,
"Being that we just have one middle school, and all of our kids go there... For some of our kids it is a really long bus route by adding another middle school. We will cut that down for some of our kids," says Perez.
Perez said another goal of this bond proposal is to make sure each school is just as desirable as the next.
"You've got to be able to look at these bond issues as opportunities to continually to incrementally grow our district in a way where we can be proud of every one of our buildings and create equity across the district. We never want someone to feel like they are going to the bad school."
District leaders believe this initiative will help all Deer Creek area homeowners, not just those with students.
"At the same time, I really think it helps with the evaluation of their homes too, now when you are close to a school, when you have beautiful schools around you, when you are a community that supports schools and people want to come there," Perez said.
Edmond Public Schools is also holding a $120 million bond election Tuesday to fund school upgrades, classroom additions and land purchases for new schools.
Residents in the Choctaw Nicoma Park school district are voting Tuesday on a bond proposal worth $282 million that will pay for a long list of additions and renovations.
For all three school districts, taxes will not go up if the bonds are approved.
To read more on the Deer Creek Bond Proposal visit:
https://www.deercreekschools.org/district/bond_2022
To read more on the Edmond Schools Bond Proposal visit:
https://edmondschools.net/district/2017-bond-issue/
To read more on the Choctaw-Nicoma Park Schools Bond Proposal visit:
https://www.cnpschools.org/information/cnp-bond-2021 | 2022-02-08T20:54:25Z | www.news9.com | Metro School Districts Seek Bond Approvals In Tuesday Election News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620277a23628477d6b68f74c/metro-school-districts-seek-bond-approvals-in-tuesday-election | https://www.news9.com/story/620277a23628477d6b68f74c/metro-school-districts-seek-bond-approvals-in-tuesday-election |
Extreme Temperatures May Affect Accuracy of At-Home COVID Tests
At-home COVID tests are made easy for Oklahomans to determine if they have the virus or not, but after the winter storm many of these tests could be inaccurate.
"The test should be stored at room temperature. Try and avoid any heat or light, just like any other medication. Also, avoid freezing temperatures and keep them at temperatures between 36- and 86-degrees Fahrenheit," said Beth Walton, the Pharmacy Manager at OU Health.
As the winter storm swept through our state, many people are concerned their tests might have gone bad.
According to a study done by the National Institute of Health, it says that antigen tests exposed for extended periods of time to temperatures below 36 degrees or above 86 degrees can deliver inaccurate results.
According to the FDA, test performance may be impacted if the test is used while it is still cold.
It also says you can use this test once it comes up to room temperature for 2 hours.
For OU Health Pharmacy Manager Beth Walton, she finds it important that you know how to use these tests properly.
She is using the iHealth antigen test being delivered by the federal government.
"Each of these tests comes with a nasal swab, a test card and a prefilled tube," said Walton.
"With this swab, we are going to make sure it is inserted in the nostril at half to three-quarters of an inch. Swab both sides for 10 seconds," said Walton.
Once you do that, you will complete putting the swab in the liquid and then put the liquid on the test card. Once you wait for 15 minutes, you'll have your result.
If you do test positive with an at-home test, you are still encouraged to go get a PCR test. | 2022-02-08T20:54:50Z | www.news9.com | Changing Temperatures May Affect Accuracy of At-Home COVID Tests News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620291b6ec70b9072ee97baa/changing-temperatures-may-affect-accuracy-of-athome-covid-tests | https://www.news9.com/story/620291b6ec70b9072ee97baa/changing-temperatures-may-affect-accuracy-of-athome-covid-tests |
A 2-year-old boy is doing fine after falling four stories out of a hotel window. The boy just moved to Oklahoma from Afghanistan.
According to Catholic Charities, the non-profit involved in the resettlement of the Afghan refugees in Oklahoma, the incident occurred last Wednesday at a Fairfield Inn location in Oklahoma City.
Carly Akard, director of communications of Catholic Charities, said the child was originally thought to be three years old, but has confirmed that he is two.
According to an Oklahoma City Police report, the child fell from the fourth story and was bleeding from his head.
The child had a laceration to his left cheek and scratches all over the front of his body.
He was then transported to a local hospital, where he did not suffer any life-threatening injuries, had no broken bones and did not have a head injury.
News 9's Erika Lee will have more from Catholic Charities, as well as the Fairfield Inn with specifics about the incident, and how the boy and his family are doing on News 9 at 6 p.m. | 2022-02-08T20:55:27Z | www.news9.com | 2-Year-Old Boy In Recovery After Falling 4 Stories News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6202a6a79c0584072d544c3d/2yearold-boy-in-recovery-after-falling-4-stories | https://www.news9.com/story/6202a6a79c0584072d544c3d/2yearold-boy-in-recovery-after-falling-4-stories |
Texas Crash Kills 4 From Edmond
A crash in Texas Monday afternoon killed four people from Edmond.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a tractor-trailer was in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 in Oldham County, when a car started traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.
The two vehicles collided in a head-on crash, leaving four people dead.
Sabrina Watson was identified as the driver of the car, and was pronounced dead from the collision.
The other three victims included a seven-year-old, a three-year-old and an eight-month-year-old.
The driver of the semi sustained non-life threatening injuries in the accident.
News 9 A crash in Texas Monday afternoon left four people from Edmond dead. | 2022-02-08T20:55:33Z | www.news9.com | Texas Crash Kills 4 From Edmond News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6202b24f9c0584072d55ab09/texas-crash-kills-4-from-edmond | https://www.news9.com/story/6202b24f9c0584072d55ab09/texas-crash-kills-4-from-edmond |
There's a new pizza place coming to the Northeast Side, and it's being brought to life by a local artist.
It's the latest project for musician Jabee Williams, who grew up in the neighborhood.
He and his partners are hoping this concept, the Eastside Pizza House, plays a role in new growth for the northeast side.
News 9's Ashley Holden has more on how Jabee and his team hope to help deliver more than just pizza, on News 9 at 4:30 p.m. | 2022-02-08T20:55:46Z | www.news9.com | OKC Artist Jabee Williams To Open Pizza Shop In NE OKC News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6202b5cb35353007274904b2/okc-artist-jabee-williams-to-open-pizza-shop-in-ne-okc | https://www.news9.com/story/6202b5cb35353007274904b2/okc-artist-jabee-williams-to-open-pizza-shop-in-ne-okc |
House Of Representative To Vote On Temporary Measure To Keep Government Funded
The United States House of Representatives is expected to vote on a stopgap measure today to keep the government funded beyond the end of next week, when funding is currently set to expire.
The measure, known as a continuing resolution or CR, would extend current funding levels through March 11, giving negotiators additional time to work out a longer-term agreement that incorporates priorities of the Biden administration and of this Congress.
The CR in place right now is a second extension of funding levels approved by the previous Congress under the Trump administration.
The Democratic Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), introduced the stopgap bill Monday and in a statement said,
In an interview Tuesday morning, Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK4), Vice Ranking Member of House Appropriations, said he would support the bill, calling it a ‘clean’ CR other than a few riders that are needed for national security.
The bill will also need approval in the Senate before it can go to President Biden for his signature. | 2022-02-08T20:55:52Z | www.news9.com | House Of Representative To Vote On Temporary Measure To Keep Government Funded News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6202b9653535300727496f7d/house-of-representative-to-vote-on-temporary-measure-to-keep-government-funded | https://www.news9.com/story/6202b9653535300727496f7d/house-of-representative-to-vote-on-temporary-measure-to-keep-government-funded |
The United States House of Representatives approved another stopgap spending measure Tuesday to keep the government funded beyond the end of next week when the current stopgap measure is set to expire.
The measure, known as a continuing resolution or CR, would extend current funding levels through March 11, giving negotiators additional time to work out a longer-term agreement that incorporates priorities of the Biden administration and of this Congress. The CR in place right now is a second extension of funding levels approved by the previous Congress under the Trump administration.
The Democratic Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), introduced the stopgap bill Monday and, in a statement, said: “We are close to reaching a framework government funding agreement, but we will need additional time to complete the legislation in full.”
In an interview Tuesday morning, Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK4), Vice Ranking Member of House Appropriations, said he would support the bill, calling it a ‘clean’ CR with just a few 'riders' that he says are needed for national security.
Cole says a lot of work has been done on that 'total' bill and, assuming the latest CR is also approved in the Senate and signed by President Biden, he believes there will ultimately be an agreement that represents a compromise between what Democrats want and what Republicans want.
"That bill will need to increase defense spending above what the Biden administration proposed," said Cole, "you’ll need to probably lower the amount of money [Democrats] want to spend domestically, it’ll need to restore the Hyde [Amendment] protections, which are pro-life provisions in appropriations legislation."
Cole says, as tight as the margins are in both the House and especially the Senate, the bill must be bipartisan. He says getting it done by the new March 11 deadline is possible.
"It’ll be a sprint," said Cole. "I mean, appropriating $1.4 to $1.5 trillion is not an easy thing to do, but that’s the discretionary budget of United States."
Oklahoma Delegation Criticizes Biden Administration For Reaching Out To OPEC To Keep Gas Prices From Going Higher
Alex Cameron U.S oil and gas producers and their advocates, including Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, are harshly criticizing the Biden administration for reaching out to OPEC to help keep gasoline prices from going any higher. | 2022-02-09T02:59:17Z | www.news9.com | House Of Representatives To Vote On Temporary Measure To Keep Government Funded News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6202b9653535300727496f7d/house-of-representatives-to-vote-on-temporary-measure-to-keep-government-funded | https://www.news9.com/story/6202b9653535300727496f7d/house-of-representatives-to-vote-on-temporary-measure-to-keep-government-funded |
A man is behind bars Tuesday after firing several gunshots inside a woman's home. Police say the man claims the woman owed him money.
Officers were called to a home in northwest Oklahoma City last week, that's where they found a 23-year-old woman saying 29-year-old Casey Adair fired a weapon inside her home.
"This is somebody she had known for a long time," said Msgt. Gary Knight, with Oklahoma City Police. "It's somebody she had been romantically involved with at one point."
Police reports say Adair had done mechanical work on her vehicle last October. However, on Wednesday is when she started receiving messages from him saying he wanted his money now. She left her house, but when she got back, she noticed Adair's truck pulling into her driveway.
"He came in armed with a gun, fired several rounds inside of the residents, not at her but into the floor," said Knight.
One of the victims' dogs was running by and was grazed in the neck by one of the bullets. Adair then got into his truck and drove off.
Reports go onto say the victim's mother met Adair near NW 50th and MacArthur where she paid him to settle the debt, but shortly after that they called police.
"Police were able to locate the man, ultimately was able to place him under arrest," Knight said. "It's important to note that nobody was injured and again the dog that was grazed by the gunfire it was not a serious injury on the dog."
Officers found four bullet holes in the living room floor of the home and the casings looked like rifle rounds.
Adair has been booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on a robbery complaint. | 2022-02-09T03:00:06Z | www.news9.com | Man Arrested After Police Say He Shot A Gun In A Woman's Home News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6202f9b2fa0b0e071e2ef103/man-arrested-after-police-say-he-shot-a-gun-in-a-womans-home | https://www.news9.com/story/6202f9b2fa0b0e071e2ef103/man-arrested-after-police-say-he-shot-a-gun-in-a-womans-home |
Anti-abortion activists gathered for a rally at the Oklahoma State Capitol Tuesday calling for a complete ban on abortion.
The focus of the abortion abolitionists was primarily pro-life lawmakers.
"They are authoring laws that murder babies inside this building," one speaker told the crowd assembled on the South steps of the capital.
Many in the abortion abolition group traveled to Oklahoma from out of state.
"People from Texas, from Kansas, I'm from Alaksa," event organizer Maddie York said.
Oklahoma lawmakers have already passed measures to repeal all abortion regulations should Row v. Wade be overturned. Another law passed last session included an abortion ban after a fetal heartbeat is detection, but that law and others have been held up by state courts.
"They're not going far enough," Scott Watson from Idaho said.
"Those laws are not saving babies, not treating it as murder," York said. "If they view the un-born as humans, which they claim to from conception, then we should be treating it as murder from conception."
A small group of pro-choice protestors also showed up to the capitol on Tuesday.
"What a lot of people think about abortion is that women just get it as 'oh I’m pregnant, let me just get an abortion' like it’s birth control and it’s not. It’s a very difficult decision that should be between a woman and her doctor," Anna Artz said.
There are more than a dozen anti-abortion bills still able to be considered at the capitol, including one that would ban all abortions. | 2022-02-09T03:00:12Z | www.news9.com | Anti-Abortion Activists Rally At State Capitol, Call For Complete Abortion Ban News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6202fb70c469a4072273c1a8/antiabortion-activists-rally-at-state-capitol-call-for-complete-abortion-ban | https://www.news9.com/story/6202fb70c469a4072273c1a8/antiabortion-activists-rally-at-state-capitol-call-for-complete-abortion-ban |
Oklahoma City Police say a woman is dead after she was hit by a car on Tuesday night.
Police say the crash happened along Southwest 59th Street just west of South Pennsylvania Ave.
The driver stayed on the scene after the crash and police say they did cooperate with officers. | 2022-02-09T22:18:21Z | www.news9.com | Woman Hit, Killed By Driver In SW Oklahoma City, Police Say News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6203a034d1a4560726ef3252/woman-hit-killed-by-driver-in-sw-oklahoma-city-police-say- | https://www.news9.com/story/6203a034d1a4560726ef3252/woman-hit-killed-by-driver-in-sw-oklahoma-city-police-say- |
The Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector released its audit of the Oklahoma State Department of Health Wednesday afternoon.
In the report, which we have linked to here, auditors looked into expenditures at the department from Sept. 1, 2019, to February 28, 2021. We have also embedded the report at the bottom of this story.
The report is divided into three sections. The first section examines $5.4 million paid by the state of Oklahoma for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that has never been received.
"OSDH did not have a comprehensive emergency procurement policy or procedure in place prior to the COVID-19 emergency, greatly increasing the state’s risk for fraud, waste, and loss of funds. As a result, prepayments were made in violation of the Oklahoma Constitution and goods have still not been received for over $5.4 million paid by the state. "
The second section of the audit report is focused on Oklahoma's purchasing process and purchasing laws.
"OSDH experienced numerous personnel changes within the administrative and finance divisions during the audit period. In addition to the two Interim Commissioners, the agency also had three different Chief Financial Officers during the audit period and a new Chief of Staff. With these significant changes, it is possible some of these individuals may have been unfamiliar with state purchasing laws. Purchases specifically in question were related to furniture, communication support, and OU Health Science Center Contracts, Saxum and Shyft Partners LLC.
We performed an analysis of the agency’s miscellaneous expenditures for FY 18, FY 19, and FY 20 using the combining trial balance. For accounts with total expenditures exceeding $3 million and a 50% or more increase (see blue highlights below), we analyzed the details of account and followed up on outlying activities from year to year."
The third and final section of the audit report examines salaries, in particular the salary of then-OSDH Commissioner Gary Cox, whose salary was raised from $215,188 to $335,160 on Jan. 1, 2021. The higher salary, according to the report, exceeded the state's maximum salary at the time, $322,782.
Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a statement Wednesday afternoon about the audit:
News 9 will have more on this story tonight at 4, 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
Ryan Welton State auditors specifically looked into expenditures at OSDH from Sept. 1, 2019, to February 28, 2021. | 2022-02-09T22:20:37Z | www.news9.com | State Auditor Releases Report On Oklahoma State Department Of Health News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620417cbfa4d480727e8f5a6/state-auditor-releases-report-on-oklahoma-state-department-of-health | https://www.news9.com/story/620417cbfa4d480727e8f5a6/state-auditor-releases-report-on-oklahoma-state-department-of-health |
After more than 80 firefighters used at least 4.5 million gallons of water, a northwest OKC apartment complex set to open in March is being demolished following a five-alarm fire.
"That's a lot of resources," Oklahoma City Fire Department battalion chief Benny Fulkerson said. "That's over 80 firefighters and a bunch of fire equipment on scene. And so what happened, at that point, it continued to develop. It became very dangerous very quickly."
Those on scene were initially able to attack parts of the fire from the inside. Due to the damage inside the structure, they're having to work from the outside which has been more difficult for crews to handle.
Fortunately, no one was inside the complex and no firefighters were hurt.
"Thankfully, something this big doesn't happen often," Fulkerson said. "We respond to a handful of calls, but very seldom does it go as far as a 5-alarm fire, so this is a large incident."
Hines, the owner and developer of the complex, released a statement in coordination with Oklahoma City-based real estate investment company Humphreys Capital late Wednesday morning. | 2022-02-10T03:47:17Z | www.news9.com | Crews Begin Demolition Efforts Following 5-Alarm Apartment Fire News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6203b76cfb3564072b511a17/crews-begin-demolition-efforts-following-5alarm-apartment-fire | https://www.news9.com/story/6203b76cfb3564072b511a17/crews-begin-demolition-efforts-following-5alarm-apartment-fire |
The adult animated series, created by Matt Groening, has been given a greenlight for a new 20-episode season at Hulu, it was announced Wednesday by 20th Television Animation and Hulu.
The revival, which reunites the original voice cast, will go into production this month and is being eyed for a 2023 premiere.
This is the second time "Futurama" has been resurrected. After a five-season run from 1993 to 2002 on Fox, the series was brought back in 2007 with four made-for DVD movies that later aired as 30-minute episodes on Comedy Central.
The cable network subsequently greenlit two seasons, which ran from 2010 to 2013.
“It’s a true honor to announce the triumphant return of "Futurama" one more time before we get canceled abruptly again,” quipped Groening in a statement.
"Futurama" centers around Philip Fry (West), a 25-year-old pizza delivery boy who accidentally freezes himself on Dec. 31, 1999 and wakes up 1,000 years later with a fresh start at life and a "diverse" new group of friends including Leela (Sagal), a tough but lovely one-eyed alien and Bender, a robot who possesses human characteristics and flaws. | 2022-02-10T03:48:00Z | www.news9.com | 'Futurama' Revival Heads to Hulu With Original Cast News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62042ea2e1c28207220a01d1/futurama-revival-heads-to-hulu-with-original-cast | https://www.news9.com/story/62042ea2e1c28207220a01d1/futurama-revival-heads-to-hulu-with-original-cast |
Family and friends of Sam Jim, 31, describe him as a hard worker, a family man, a goofball, and dedicated to helping others.
The lineman was subcontracting with OG&E last week to help restore power during the winter storm. Jim died after his truck flipped on I-35.
Related: Family Remembers North Carolina Man Who Died After Helping In Winter Storm
Jim lived in Henryetta for more than 10 years and was a volunteer firefighter at the Dewar Fire Department and was a regular at Main Street Bowling. He moved to North Carolina last year with his family.
“He loved being able to help. No matter what it was,” said Jimmy Baker, a Dewar firefighter who worked alongside Jim for several years.
Friends of Jim held a fundraiser at Main Street Bowling Tuesday night to help his family pay for a trip to the east coast to attend his memorial service.
Ryan Sanford, the manager of the bowling alley, said they raised more than $1,000 in just two days.
Sanford said he was on a team with Jim in their local bowling league.
“He was a good bowler, Sanford said. “He was a very exciting and outgoing person. He always made everybody laugh.”
“He could turn a bad situation into a funny situation. Whether cracking a joke or doing something goofy. He was always fun to be around,” Baker said.
Jim’s family also started an online fundraiser for travel expenses. Click here to visit their GoFundMe page. The funds will go towards gas, hotels, and other travel expenses.
Relatives of Jim said they plan to start the drive east on Wednesday to attend the service on Saturday. | 2022-02-10T03:48:18Z | www.news9.com | Oklahoma Community Holds Fundraiser For Family of Lineman Who Died During Winter Storm News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62043ce4e1c28207220bf311/oklahoma-community-holds-fundraiser-for-family-of-lineman-who-died-during-winter-storm | https://www.news9.com/story/62043ce4e1c28207220bf311/oklahoma-community-holds-fundraiser-for-family-of-lineman-who-died-during-winter-storm |
Investment firm Blackstone announced Wednesday that the rapper-mogul acquired the Death Row Records brand from MNRK Music Group.
The group is controlled by a private equity fund managed by Blackstone. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Associated Press Snoop Dogg has taken over a popular record label that launched his stellar career. | 2022-02-10T03:48:55Z | www.news9.com | Snoop Dogg Takes Over Death Row Records Brand As Owner News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6204547c2f6686071fe7a9f5/snoop-dogg-takes-over-death-row-records-brand-as-owner | https://www.news9.com/story/6204547c2f6686071fe7a9f5/snoop-dogg-takes-over-death-row-records-brand-as-owner |
A newly released investigatory audit found the Oklahoma State Department of Health lost millions from bad PPE purchases and violated the state constitution by paying up-front for supplies.
Auditor Cindy Byrd released the audit report on Tuesday despite Attorney General John O’Connor’s office claiming the report was closed.
Last week Rachel Roberts, a spokesperson for O’Connor’s office told News 9 that the report, which was finished in May 2021, would not be released because it “is kept confidential as it is part of litigation and investigatory files of the Attorney General’s office.”
“We have multiple cases ongoing that were referred to in the audit,” Roberts said in an email on Wednesday. “These cases are all at different stages in litigation, to ensure the State’s interests are protected.”
Byrd said in a statement that her office received an open records request for the report and has no reason to keep its findings confidential.
“I have concluded there is no Oklahoma statute that gives any state official the authority to withhold this information,” Byrd said.
The report investigated the spending of the OSDH between Sept. 2019 and February 2021, when there was widespread demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and limited supply. Gov. Kevin Stitt eased purchasing requirements to allow state departments to more quickly buy the supplies.
“With an already strained environment, the staff of OSDH were about to experience the unimaginable,” the audit report said.
The report found OSDH purchased $5.4 million worth of PPE that the state has never received.
Limited supply led to quick purchases with new companies and up-front payments by the state, according to the audit, including a $2 million order made to a bar owner in Tulsa who promised more than one million masks to the state.
Related: Oklahoma Business Suing International Companies After Losing Nearly $2 Million In Botched PPE Order
The audit also found the OSDH sending advance payments, without securing the supplies first, violated the Oklahoma Constitution.
“It appears that advancing payments for PPE violates Article 10 § 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution which prohibits the credit of the State from being ‘given, pledged, or loaned to any individual, company, corporation, or association.’”
The state is still pursuing reimbursements from the companies who failed to follow through on PPE orders through civil lawsuits.
The audit also examined contracts with companies and health providers, as well as raises to the salaries of health officials.
In the final days of 2020, Stitt and members of his cabinet approved of a more-than 40% increase to the salary of former Health Commissioner Lance Frye, who started in the position in May 2020.
Frye’s salary rose from $215,188 in July 2020 to $335,160 in January 2021. Kevin Corbett, Secretary of Health and Mental Health, signed off on the increase, according to the audit.
This article will be updated. Watch News 9 tonight at 10 for the full story. | 2022-02-10T03:49:02Z | www.news9.com | Audit: Oklahoma Health Dept. Spending Violated State Constitution News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62045690e1c28207220f1b1d/audit:-oklahoma-health-dept-spending-violated-state-constitution | https://www.news9.com/story/62045690e1c28207220f1b1d/audit:-oklahoma-health-dept-spending-violated-state-constitution |
HOLDENVILLE, Oklahoma -
Relationships between the tribes and law enforcement have been strained since the McGirt ruling transformed the state's judicial system.
Now, Hughes County Sheriff Marcia Maxwell said her department’s relationship with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Lighthorse Police is at a breaking point.
Hughes sent a two-page open letter notifying the tribe and local law enforcement her agency would no longer honor their cross commission with Muscogee Nation. She said the separation is due to “the tribe’s inability or refusal to assist on tribal calls.”
“It’s not right what’s going on here,” Maxwell said.
A spokesman for the tribe said they hadn’t receive the letter. "We’re reviewing these serious allegations the Sheriff outlines in the letter received by you, but not by us," Muscogee Nation Director of Communications Jason Salsman said.
Among the allegations, Maxwell said in one case she personally arrested a suspect accused of a beating an elderly man during a winter storm only to have the suspect walk free once turned over to tribal police.
Just this week, Maxwell said her deputies found a Native American man passed out drunk behind the wheel and an intersection. “They refused to come down here. They said to call him a ride because ‘if we come it’s going to be a public intoxication (charge) only,” she said.
"I feel that the (Muscogee Creek Nation) has done a great disservice to the people of Hughes County," Maxwell said.
She said some tribal citizens mock and heckle her deputies, knowing they cannot take action against the natives.
“We’re starting to have kind of a vigilante kind of thing going on here in Hughes County,” Maxwell said. “People know lighthorse isn’t going to do anything and now they’re kind of taking matters into their own hands and that scares me.”
The Tribe’s spokesman said, “the Sheriff’s letter seems straightforward, the motives and the underlying issues are more complicated.”
Salsman said dropping cross-deputization doesn’t mean the County “suddenly regains jurisdiction” over Indians. “In fact, without a cross-deputization agreement, the Sheriff has created a great risk for civil liability if they make an error in arresting an Indian,” he said.
District Attorney Paul Smith said the Sheriff’s letter expresses real life frustration and anxiety among law enforcement on the ground.
“It’s very disheartening when your best efforts to enforce the law and try to fulfill the Constitutional pledge to establish Justice in our communities and obtain a redress of the grievances for crime victims cannot be realized because of resource restraints, geographical obstacles, and the exercise of poor discretion by other entities with Jurisdiction that was once capably left to the State’s well-established infrastructure and system of mutual support and accountability,” Smith said.
Hughes County is split between two tribal jurisdictions with the Muscogee Nation in the northern portion of the county and the Choctaw Nation in the southern portion.
“On the south half of Hughes County, we have never had an issue with a Choctaw Nation. If we have a tribal call we go on it and they show up and take care of business. It’s the Creek Nation, the north half the county that were having issue, not the entire county,” Maxwell said.
Read the Sheriff’s full letter:
Read the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Response: | 2022-02-10T03:49:08Z | www.news9.com | Hughes Co. Sheriff Says Law Enforcement With Muscogee Nation Is Failing, Withdraws Cross Deputization News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62045ac72f6686071fe86c9c/hughes-co-sheriff-says-law-enforcement-with-muscogee-nation-is-failing-withdraws-cross-deputization | https://www.news9.com/story/62045ac72f6686071fe86c9c/hughes-co-sheriff-says-law-enforcement-with-muscogee-nation-is-failing-withdraws-cross-deputization |
DEER CREEK, Oklahoma -
Being a Girl Scout is so much more than selling cookies and the ladies of Troop 40 have proved just that.
Most of the girls in Troop 40 at Deer Creek Jr. High have been together since they were in kindergarten, now that they are in seventh grade and the troop is disbanding.
“We just have different interests now, but we’re always going to like talk to each other of course,” said Alexis Benn of the Girl Scout Troop.
“We’re always going to have each other and have a safe place to talk to but we all have gone our separate paths and to different interests,” said Ari Cothran of Girl Scout Troop 40.
And with years of funding raising, donations and cookie sales, the troop had to figure out what to do with their savings.
“We all wanted to make a change for our community and just help our friends and we just decided as a group to do this,” said Ari Cothran.
The troop decided to donate their remaining savings of over $2,800 to the Transition Center, a place for students with disabilities at Deer Creek High School.
“It’s a house setting, you know 4,000 square feet that we get to teach our students just a little bit more of what it means to have independent living skills, transitional skills in hopes of finding a job,” said Nick Petit, Deer Creek coach and special education teacher.
The center is expected to be complete by the end of the school year, and they were blown away by the generous donation.
“Reading through it and then seeing the size of the donation and I’m sitting here going, hold on who gave this?” said Petit.
The troop worked really hard for the money and could have used it for anything they wanted to.
“I think the transition home is a really big thing at Deer Creek, especially when you get older, so I think we made a good choice,” said Katelynn Bateman with Girl Scout Troop 40.
“I think giving to others is one of the best things that you can do,” said Alexis Benn.
The Transition Center is working on a way to commemorate the donation either with a special brick or plaque with their name on it. | 2022-02-10T03:49:14Z | www.news9.com | Girl Scout Troop Donates Over $2,800 To Transition Center At Deer Creek High School News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620461d79dbccd072676fb90/girl-scout-troop-donates-over-2800-to-transition-center%C2%A0at-deer-creek-high-school | https://www.news9.com/story/620461d79dbccd072676fb90/girl-scout-troop-donates-over-2800-to-transition-center%C2%A0at-deer-creek-high-school |
All eyes were on the roof of the Canton Apartments Tuesday night.
It raised questions about whether the roofing material was fueling the flames.
News 9 reached out to CMS Willowbrook, the construction company for Canton Apartments, and they confirmed with News 9 the roofing material is TPO, which stands for Thermoplastic Polyolefin. It is comprised of multiple materials but is largely plastic.
Some have confused it with EPDM roofing, which is a synthetic rubber roofing membrane.
Matt Morgan, president of Scissortail Roofing and a local expert in construction management, explains the material.
"The TPO Material is a rolled single ply membrane, and it is hot welded," Morgan said. "The seams are hot welded at 1100 degrees; it is used to high heat, but it's not used to high heat with a flame."
Morgan says the material on the roof of the Canton is just as flammable as what's on other roofs.
"Anything that gets that hot is going to burn," Morgan said. "It's a matter of how hot the fire gets when it hits the system."
He says any material would have had a similar result.
"It doesn't really matter what roofing system it is on a building of that type.
Morgan also said the apartment complex was a wood structure, which is very common.
"Once the wood underneath catches fire," Morgan said. "There's nothing to stop the entire roofing system from catching on fire as well."
Morgan says he's not sure what could've been done to prevent the fire in this specific case.
Generally, he recommends installing an additional fire proofing.
"They would need to put some kind of Durock system underneath the wood decking and then the Durock over the top of the insulation board," Morgan said. "It would slow the spread of the fire over to the roof."
The Oklahoma City Fire Department says a second roofing material, a foam-like substance, may have also contributed to the spread of the fire.
The company developing the Canton Apartments issued a statement about the fire, saying it'll cooperate with all investigations into the fire and thanked first responders.
Hines is the owner and developer of The Canton at Classen Curve, which was developed in a joint venture partnership with Oklahoma City’s Humphreys Capital. Hines and Humphreys Capital issued the following statement regarding a fire which took place the evening of Feb. 8, 2022. | 2022-02-10T03:49:20Z | www.news9.com | Local Roofing Expert Weighs In On How The NW OKC Fire Spread Across The Building News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620465410c5bd407247eb862/local-roofing-expert-weighs-in-on-how-the-nw-okc-fire-spread-across-the-building | https://www.news9.com/story/620465410c5bd407247eb862/local-roofing-expert-weighs-in-on-how-the-nw-okc-fire-spread-across-the-building |
Citing authorities, the family says that Saget struck the back of his head on an unknown surface and then went to sleep.
He was found unresponsive in his hotel room on Jan. 9 and declared dead by paramedics.
The family says there were no drugs or alcohol involved.
Details from the Florida medical examiner's office handling the case were unavailable Tuesday night. | 2022-02-10T03:49:32Z | www.news9.com | Family: Bob Saget Died After Accidental Blow To The Head News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62046e1c9dbccd0726785e31/family:-bob-saget-died-after-accidental-blow-to-the-head | https://www.news9.com/story/62046e1c9dbccd0726785e31/family:-bob-saget-died-after-accidental-blow-to-the-head |
The Canton apartments came with a hefty price tag, according to its website the monthly rent ranges from $1,200 to $4,000.
According to the leasing company the building was set to open March 1. They said while they had received 12 applications, they did not have any signed leases for the 325 units.
“It's just has spread from the left to the right,” said Chuck Riley.
“What we have now is considered to be a fifth alarm fire,” said Oklahoma City Fire Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson.
“We saw the smoke in the sky,” said one witness.
Not even a full day after flames shot through the roof, it was a hazy day in one of the poshest parts of the metro.
“I stepped outside, and I could see the smoke in the distance,” said witness Monty Garmon.
Last night's commotion drew Monty Garmon out of his home.
“I was like omg that's just right down the street from where I live,” said Garmon.
He returned Wednesday.
“I’m just curious as to what caused the fire,” said Garmon.
The building is now unrecognizable.
Chuck Riley snapped photos Tuesday night.
“This is just sad that this has happened because it was going to bring lots of people to the neighborhood,” said Riley.
The complex hoped to offer luxury living.
According to the building's website the building offered a pet spa, and even a golf simulator--with an impressive skyline view pictured by one of the contract workers.
Video of the interior taken just days before the fire.
Now, with damage so extensive, crews are now just taking it all apart.
“It started getting really crazy and the building collapsed,” said Garmon.
According to the fire department the building was estimated at $65 million and has been deemed a toral loss. Demolition Wednesday focused on the wall near the parking garage---an effort to minimize damage to the garage that services both the hotel and apartments. | 2022-02-10T15:25:09Z | www.news9.com | Canton Apartments Were Set To Be Luxury Living News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620490da3bd2af072a63122b/canton-apartments-were-set-to-be-luxury-living | https://www.news9.com/story/620490da3bd2af072a63122b/canton-apartments-were-set-to-be-luxury-living |
From flames shooting from the roof to demolition what a difference a day makes at the Canton Apartments. The scene, still active more than a day later.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department Captain said there really is no better training than a 5-alarm fire. The cadets, who graduate next week, have been on a rotation since the fire broke out last night.
“This is a great experience they may never see a fire like this again in their career, so we’ve got them out here getting some rea job experience,” said Scott Douglas, the Oklahoma City Fire Department Captain.
Cadets with the Oklahoma City Fire Department now have firsthand knowledge on what it takes to fight a 5-alarm fire.
“Most of our tack lines are 200-ft. When we are up against a 400,000 sq. Ft. Building, we have to be mobile. So, we carry high-rise packs, mobile hose, we stretch hose lines through different parts of the building so access is a little bit tougher with a structure this big,” said Douglas.
“It’s a lot more detailed a lot more steps to follow, a lot more things happening at one time,” said Matt Gibson, a Lt. with the Oklahoma City Fire Department.
A fire so rare, even veterans haven’t seen one like this in years.
“I’ve been on the job a little over 14 years now and I have never seen a structure fire this big, so it is definitely a rare occasion,” said the Captain.
“It’s the only high-rise fire I have been a part of since I’ve been with Oklahoma City, yes,” said Gibson.
The fire broke out just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Ten ladder companies, several special operation vehicles and 5 engine companies assisting in getting it contained.
“It got everybody’s attention very quickly and then when we started seeing aerial shots and the size of the building, how much fire we had. We knew we were up against a fire fight,” said Douglas.
“The building is bigger than I thought…it’s massive,” said Gibson.
Defensive operations underway with the demolition crew onsite and the fire under control.
The captains said firefighters will be on scene throughout the night and into Thursday morning. | 2022-02-10T15:25:15Z | www.news9.com | New OKC Firefighters Gain Firsthand Experience Battling 5-Alarm Fire News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6204927ddc95c507295145d6/new-okc-firefighters-gain-firsthand-experience-battling-5alarm-fire | https://www.news9.com/story/6204927ddc95c507295145d6/new-okc-firefighters-gain-firsthand-experience-battling-5alarm-fire |
Firefighters were called to the scene of a house fire in northwest Oklahoma City on Thursday morning.
Crews say the fire was due to smoking in a back room of the home.
According to fire officials, everyone inside the home was able to make it out uninjured.
There is currently no word on the extent of the damage. | 2022-02-10T21:19:57Z | www.news9.com | Firefighters Battle Early Morning House Fire In NW Oklahoma City News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6204f76a7759b17de0abdeba/firefighters-battle-early-morning-house-fire-in-nw-oklahoma-city- | https://www.news9.com/story/6204f76a7759b17de0abdeba/firefighters-battle-early-morning-house-fire-in-nw-oklahoma-city- |
OKC's 1st Dual-Language School Looks To Add More Students
Oklahoma City's first dual-language school is preparing to open enrollment to more students later this year.
Western Gateway Elementary teaches both Spanish and English in the same setting.
Western Gateway is taking a different approach to learning, as the first cross-cultural elementary school in Oklahoma City.
The elementary school is finishing up its first year right now with only pre-k through first graders and now they're looking to grow every year.
Superintendent Heather Zacarias said teaching these children two languages at their young age will make it so they are fully bilingual as they get older.
"Being bilingual opens doors for our students and their futures, career-wise and college-wise," she said. "Being able to communicate in multiple ways, as well as learning about the multiple cultures across our globe. That is what we are all about here at Western Gateway."
Next year, Western Gateway is looking to add second graders.
Parents who want to enroll their kids need to fill out an application for the school's lottery first, the deadline is next Friday, Feb.18th.
Interested parents can find more information here. | 2022-02-10T21:20:46Z | www.news9.com | OKC's 1st Dual-Language School Looks To Expand Enrollment News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62051b7b44371d0720df939d/okcs-1st-duallanguage-school-looks-to-expand-enrollment | https://www.news9.com/story/62051b7b44371d0720df939d/okcs-1st-duallanguage-school-looks-to-expand-enrollment |
The Oklahoma City Fire Department Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson gave an update on the situation surrounding the Canton Apartments.
He said in a statement that his teams will be on scene through the demolition of the structure to help with any still burning remains of the building.
He also said that the cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time due to the structure being too compromised for investigators to enter safely.
You can read his full update below.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department is continuing to maintain resources on scene to assist with fire extinguishment as the building is being demolished. This is still slated to be a multi-day process, and we are working closely with project developers, a building engineer, and the demolition company to facilitate the process. Fire department equipment and personnel will be on scene and rotated at scheduled intervals until the demolition is completed. Oklahoma City Fire Department Fire Investigators have been on scene since the evening the fire began. Just as the building quickly became too structurally compromised for firefighters to enter the building for fire extinguishment, it was also unsafe to allow fire investigators inside the building to investigate. The extent of fire damage coupled with the inability to make entry and now the demolition has altered the way investigators conduct their investigation. Fire Investigators are on scene as demolition continues to examine building components as they become accessible. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.
News 9 The Oklahoma City Fire Department Battalion Chief, Benny Fulkerson gave an update on the situation surrounding the Canton Apartments. | 2022-02-11T02:21:27Z | www.news9.com | OKCFD Battalion Chief Benny Fulkerson Gives Update On NW OKC Fire News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6205758447b71e0b42fb2e16/okcfd-battalion-chief-benny-fulkerson-gives-update-on-nw-okc-fire | https://www.news9.com/story/6205758447b71e0b42fb2e16/okcfd-battalion-chief-benny-fulkerson-gives-update-on-nw-okc-fire |
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) Thursday issued an order approving a plan for paying the natural gas costs incurred by CenterPoint Energy during the February 2021 winter storm. However, the Commission said “No” to a proposal that would have imposed a fee on CenterPoint customers who terminate their natural gas service to switch to a different fuel source.
Murphy said the order was the result of an exhaustive review of the evidence, testimony, and proposals in the case, and will allow the unprecedented costs from the storm to be recovered over a longer period of time, rather than being billed all at once.
Murphy noted the February winter storm caused an unprecedented increase in natural gas prices in a market outside of the OCC’s control. | 2022-02-11T02:21:33Z | www.news9.com | OCC Issues Order Approving Plan To Pay For Natural Gas Costs Incurred By CenterPoint Energy News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62057e12a199fe781452fe2d/occ-issues-order-approving-plan-to-pay-for-natural-gas-costs-incurred-by-centerpoint-energy | https://www.news9.com/story/62057e12a199fe781452fe2d/occ-issues-order-approving-plan-to-pay-for-natural-gas-costs-incurred-by-centerpoint-energy |
The state of Oklahoma, along with 38 other states have missed the deadline to submit their pollution reduction plan to the EPA.
Under the Clean Air Act the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is required to submit the plan every 5 years on how they plan to reduce air pollutants that threaten wildlife and national parks.
The Sierra Club along with other environmental organizations are taking legal action against the EPA to hold states accountable.
News 9’s Feliz Romero spoke to the Oklahoma Chairman of the Sierra Club about why the plan is important reached out to the DEQ on why the report is delayed. Stay tuned for the full report tonight at 10 p.m. | 2022-02-11T02:21:58Z | www.news9.com | Oklahoma Fails To Submit Pollution Reduction Plan To EPA News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620591a647b71e0b42fe7204/oklahoma-fails-to-submit-pollution-reduction-plan-to-epa | https://www.news9.com/story/620591a647b71e0b42fe7204/oklahoma-fails-to-submit-pollution-reduction-plan-to-epa |
Oklahoma City police and fire departments have responded to the scene of a rollover accident Thursday afternoon in west OKC.
The accident happened just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon on North Council Road near West Reno Avenue.
So far, authorities believe this to be a one-vehicle rollover accident. One person was injured and taken to a local hospital.
Their condition is not yet known. | 2022-02-11T06:38:24Z | www.news9.com | First Responders On Scene Of Rollover Accident In West OKC News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62059c38e427bf0728ca0037/first-responders-on-scene-of-rollover-accident-in-west-okc | https://www.news9.com/story/62059c38e427bf0728ca0037/first-responders-on-scene-of-rollover-accident-in-west-okc |
OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Oklahoma -
The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Thursday unveiled a new tool to help citizens in mental health crisis.
The agency described the iPads that connect directly to mental health professionals as “lifesavers.”
Something as simple as an iPad is changing the way Oklahoma County deputies interact with citizens. Lieutenant Gene Bradley said the devices have been used about a dozen times in the two weeks deputies have had them, most recently with a suicidal man.
“I asked if he wanted to talk to a therapist right on the spot,” Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Gene Bradley said. “He said, ‘Absolutely.’”
On the other end is a mental health counselor from one of three providers. The therapist can help de-escalate a situation and then link the person to services and medication. They said it doesn’t matter the time of day or night.
“Twenty-four-seven,” said Beth Combs of NorthCare. “Someone is always available to answer the iPad.”
However, the mental health providers are not there to take the officer's job.
“We’re able to stay in our role and police stay in their role,” Combs said. “But help each other do what we do best.”
Sometimes, a person in crisis needs more than a virtual chat. That is when officers have to step in to take the citizen to the hospital or a crisis center.
Bradley said the follow-up is also important to make sure a patient is getting the help they need. He goes back out to check on them.
Bradley added that the initiative will ultimately keep the community safer.
“That’s what is truly changing the crisis,” Bradley said.
Deputies can also benefit from the iPads. If a deputy is at a murder scene or witnessed something traumatic while on duty, county officials said they can call a therapist to talk through what they have gone through. | 2022-02-11T06:38:43Z | www.news9.com | Oklahoma Co. Sheriff’s Office Unveils New Tool To Help Citizens In Mental Health Crises News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6205a7eb47b71e0b4200fee6/oklahoma-co-sheriffs-office-unveils-new-tool-to-help-citizens-in-mental-health-crises- | https://www.news9.com/story/6205a7eb47b71e0b4200fee6/oklahoma-co-sheriffs-office-unveils-new-tool-to-help-citizens-in-mental-health-crises- |
Oklahoma City police say that a 12-year-old took his mom's car for a joyride, crashing it into a mailbox and fence.
It happened on Mustang Rd. Thursday evening.
Police say they got a call of a car driving erratic. When police located the vehicle they gave a short chase, where the boy eventually crashed.
Speeds reached as high as 60 miles per hour.
The boy was take to the police department and his parents have been contacted. | 2022-02-11T06:39:13Z | www.news9.com | 12-Year-Old Leads Police On Chase After Taking Mom's Car For 'Joyride' News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6205d005e427bf0728cfc4fa/12yearold-leads-police-on-chase-after-taking-moms-car-for-joyride | https://www.news9.com/story/6205d005e427bf0728cfc4fa/12yearold-leads-police-on-chase-after-taking-moms-car-for-joyride |
Nancy Randolph Davis helped change the face of education here in Oklahoma when she was admitted into Oklahoma State University.
After graduation she continued to be a driving force in Oklahoma's public education and her legacy still lives on today.
After receiving her bachelors from Langston University, Nancy Randolph Davis wanted to further her education.
She was denied admission into the then Oklahoma A&M College twice, but in 1949, she became the first Black student admitted.
“When she entered OSU (Oklahoma State University) she was not allowed to sit in the classroom with her White classmates.
She had to sit on the outside of the classroom to listen to the professor where she could barely hear.
Eventually they let her come in and sit at an enclosed office nook still separated from her white classmates,” Nancy Lynn Davis said.
Randolph Davis graduated with her masters in home economics. From there she went to work.
“Through the years she taught home economics, she taught family relations, she taught childcare,” Lynn Davis said.
She started teaching in 1944 and continued serving Oklahoma students for more than 40 years. Nancy Lynn Davis said she too dedicated her career to a life of service. She not only served Oklahomans as a News 9 reporter, but as a teacher just like her mother.
“One of the things that my mom especially imparted to us is that you can get your education, you can attain but you must be able to reach back and help another fellow human being,” Lynn Davis said.
Nancy Lynn Davis believes if her mom were here now, she would have compassion for teachers and students as they deal with the challenges of COVID-19. | 2022-02-11T15:58:04Z | www.news9.com | Black History Month: Civil Rights Icon Paved The Way For Black Students In Oklahoma News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206570f9cf36d0725c8abb3/black-history-month:-civil-rights-icon-paved-the-way-for-black-students-in-oklahoma- | https://www.news9.com/story/6206570f9cf36d0725c8abb3/black-history-month:-civil-rights-icon-paved-the-way-for-black-students-in-oklahoma- |
Guthrie Intersection Remains Closed Following Deadly Head-On Collision
Emergency crews responded to a fatal, head-on collision on State Highway 33 Friday morning in Guthrie.
Two cars, in addition to a semi truck, were involved in the accident.
One person was confirmed dead on the scene, authorities said.
Another person was trapped in their car following the accident. They were transported to a nearby hospital.
Both State Highway 33 and Pennsylvania Avenue remain closed at this time. | 2022-02-11T20:39:07Z | www.news9.com | 1 Person Dead, 1 Trapped In Vehicle Following Head-On Collision In Guthrie News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620679c76f662307236db1d0/1-person-dead-1-trapped-in-vehicle-following-headon-collision-in-guthrie | https://www.news9.com/story/620679c76f662307236db1d0/1-person-dead-1-trapped-in-vehicle-following-headon-collision-in-guthrie |
Now that they are in the process of demolishing the building, the Oklahoma City Fire Department said it's going to be much more difficult to investigate why this fire started in the first place.
Fire investigators will be taking parts of the building when they are available to look at and inspect.
They'll also be using notes taken during the initial firefight to try their best and reconstruct this complex fire.
Estimated at nearly $65,000,000 and 325 total apartments, fire investigators said there is so much of the building they couldn't or have yet to access.
The other question is who is taking all the rubble away from the area away.
The fire department said the developer will clear the rubble once the fire is completely out. | 2022-02-11T20:39:13Z | www.news9.com | Fire Investigators To Look Into What Caused Canton Apartments Fire News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620685ee51cdda072639a02f/fire-investigators-to-look-into-what-caused-canton-apartments-fire | https://www.news9.com/story/620685ee51cdda072639a02f/fire-investigators-to-look-into-what-caused-canton-apartments-fire |
Super Bowl weekend is here, and the Bengals and Rams go head-to-head Sunday for the 56th game, a big moment for Oklahoma native and Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor.
“This is it. This is their big chance,” said Julie Taylor, Zac Taylor’s mom. “Zac fell into coaching and I wasn’t expecting that.”
But the Bengals fanbase can thank the Taylor’s for raising him to be the coach he is today, taking the Bengals to its first Superbowl in more than 30 years.
But Zac would only be the second person in the family to get the bling.
Press Taylor, Zac’s Brother, helped the Eagles secure a wild win in Super Bowl 52.
Just four years later, Zac will get the chance to get a Super Bowl win of his own.
While Miss Julie has two competitive boys, she wants them to have fun at the end of the day.
“I called him a couple of days ago, and I said honey I just want you to enjoy it,” said Taylor.
The Rams and Bengals Super Bowl matchup is set for Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
Those in Norman and Oklahoma will be seen changing their crimson for some Bengals burnt orange. | 2022-02-11T20:39:31Z | www.news9.com | Mother Of Bengals’ Zac Taylor Talks About Son’s Journey From Oklahoma To Coaching The Super Bowl News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206884f9cf36d0725cf2757/mother-of-bengals-zac-taylor-talks-about-sons-journey-from-oklahoma-to-coaching-the-super-bowl | https://www.news9.com/story/6206884f9cf36d0725cf2757/mother-of-bengals-zac-taylor-talks-about-sons-journey-from-oklahoma-to-coaching-the-super-bowl |
Public Service Company Of Oklahoma Customers To Pay More In Recovery Costs
Public Service Company of Oklahoma customers are now going to pay more for their monthly utilities due to Feb. 2021's winter storm.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission said the Public Service Company of Oklahoma can recover fuel costs from the winter storm by applying that cost directly to consumers.
According to a release from the state corporation commission, the cost would have been around $476 per customer, but the state has a securitization law.
That law makes it so that they cannot make consumers pay that much money all at once.
What they plan to do is to spread that bill out over 20 years, meaning customers are going to be paying an extra $4.06 every month.
In a statement, Commission Chairman Dana Murphy spoke on how they may prevent this from happening again.
“It is vitally important that every step possible be taken to reduce the chances of a repeat of the natural gas market turmoil last February. It is a market that is outside the authority of the OCC.” Murphy continued,
“Federal authorities and the Oklahoma Attorney General are investigating that market, and the OCC will continue to work with regulated utilities on steps that could be taken to improve their fuel supply planning.”
The Public Service company said the total amount owed by consumers for 2021's winter storm is more than $675 million. | 2022-02-11T20:40:27Z | www.news9.com | Public Service Company Of Oklahoma Customers To Pay More Due To 2021 Winter Storm News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206a0b8ff9662072add42fe/public-service-company-of-oklahoma-customers-to-pay-more-due-to-2021-winter-storm | https://www.news9.com/story/6206a0b8ff9662072add42fe/public-service-company-of-oklahoma-customers-to-pay-more-due-to-2021-winter-storm |
Scientists at a lab in the United Kingdom have made a major breakthrough in creating electricity through nuclear fusion.
The development has put them on course, they say, to tapping an unlimited source of clean power — with no greenhouse gas emissions — in a matter of decades.
Nuclear fusion is the opposite of nuclear fission, the technology used today in nuclear power plants around the world.
Fission breaks particles apart to create energy. Fusion forces particles together, and can be done, the scientists say, much more safely, with much less radioactive material and much lower risk of accidents.
ITER is a multi-decade international project run by 35 countries, including the United States, China, Russia, and European Union nations.
When finished, scientists believe it will provide a blueprint for the sustainable, global commercialization of fusion power. | 2022-02-11T20:40:52Z | www.news9.com | Manmade Mini-Star A 'Fantastic Achievement' In Quest For Unlimited Clean Energy To Tackle Climate Change News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206b117bf4974071f049cb9/manmade-ministar-a-fantastic-achievement-in-quest-for-unlimited-clean-energy-to-tackle-climate-change | https://www.news9.com/story/6206b117bf4974071f049cb9/manmade-ministar-a-fantastic-achievement-in-quest-for-unlimited-clean-energy-to-tackle-climate-change |
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol released more information on what led to a deadly head-on collision Friday morning.
A semi truck and a commercial vehicle were traveling westbound on State Highway 33 near Pennsylvania Avenue in Logan County. A second commercial vehicle was traveling eastbound on the highway.
OHP said the first commercial vehicle was set to make a legal southbound turn onto Pennsylvania Avenue when it was struck by the semi truck next to it.
The movement of the collision moved the first commercial vehicle into OK-33's eastbound lanes, where caused it to collide with the second commercial vehicle.
The driver of the first commercial vehicle, identified as 45-year-old Gayle Lynn Lanoy of Piedmont, was transported to a Guthrie hospital and then life flighted to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. She was later pronounced dead.
The driver of the second commercial vehicle was also life flighted to Oklahoma City in critical condition.
The driver of the semi truck was not injured.
Troopers said they are still investigating the cause of the collision. | 2022-02-12T07:01:38Z | www.news9.com | Driver Identified In Deadly Logan County Collision News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620679c76f662307236db1d0/driver-identified-in-deadly-logan-county-collision | https://www.news9.com/story/620679c76f662307236db1d0/driver-identified-in-deadly-logan-county-collision |
Oklahoma City police say that a 12-year-old took his mom's car for a joyride, leading police on a chase on Mustang Road Thursday night.
The child behind the wheel crashed into a neighbor's brick entryway.
Police reports say he continued through a small field separating the homes and drove through fences surrounding the properties before coming to a stop.
Annah Lance and Mekayla Ralls, witnesses, were eating dinner near the window when they saw a car crash through the entrance of their home.
https://twitter.com/erikaleetv/status/1492189507600453645
"I thought my mom was getting pulled over," Lance said. "We ran out, but we didn't see the car light, so we were like 'where did it go,' and then we saw him getting pulled over in our neighbor's backyard."
Oklahoma Police officials say they attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, but it kept going, though speeds never got above 60 miles per hour.
"The van became engulfed in flames," Dillon Quirk, public information officer of OKCPD said. "The fire department arrived and put out the fire."
Police say the juvenile exited the vehicle and was put in the back of the patrol car. Luckily, no one was injured.
Neighbors say the 12-year-old's family came home shortly after the incident and apologized on the child's behalf.
"The family expressed that they're pretty shocked and sorry that this happened," Ralls said. "We are definitely praying for that family right now."
The 12-year-old's name hasn't been released, but he was booked into a juvenile facility on multiple complaints including eluding police. | 2022-02-12T07:01:50Z | www.news9.com | 12-Year-Old Took His Mom's Car For A Joyride, Crashing It Into A Neighbor's Brick Entrance News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206ca97f7f1bf0732f08e77/12yearold-took-his-moms-car-for-a-joyride-crashing-it-into-a-neighbors-brick-entrance | https://www.news9.com/story/6206ca97f7f1bf0732f08e77/12yearold-took-his-moms-car-for-a-joyride-crashing-it-into-a-neighbors-brick-entrance |
The first week of the 2022 legislative session is in the books, and things are already heating up under the dome.
The session began Monday with the Governor Kevin Stitt’s State of the State address. Then, it was off to the races with some of his proposals quickly embraced while others were put on ice.
"Pro. Tem (Greg) Treat filed a bill called the Oklahoma Empowerment Act. It makes sure that money follows the student, and it would make us a national leader in school choice," Gov. Kevin Stitt told lawmakers.
However, by Thursday, the Republican Speaker of the House said the bill would be dead on arrival.
"I don't plan to hear that bill this year, and I've communicated that," Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, said.
Stitt also endorsed eliminating the state's sales tax on groceries. The proposal has been pushed by Democrats for years and has received a warmer reception this legislative session. One of three proposals to eliminate the tax passed out of committee Wednesday nine-to-zero.
"Whatever the reason that they decided to jump on board with this, we'll take it," House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, said.
Democrats expressed concern over what they call “extreme” bills being authored by some of their Republican colleagues during a Thursday press conference.
Bills allowing parents to request the removal of library books, making over-the-counter COVID-19 remedies more available, dictating which bathrooms a transgender person can use and a bill supporting the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol rioters all are still live proposals that could be considered this session. | 2022-02-12T07:02:09Z | www.news9.com | Capitol Week In Review: Grocery Sales Tax Repeal, Early Setback For School Choice Proposal News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206d6edbf4974071f08e05a/capitol-week-in-review:-grocery-sales-tax-repeal-early-setback-for-school-choice-proposal | https://www.news9.com/story/6206d6edbf4974071f08e05a/capitol-week-in-review:-grocery-sales-tax-repeal-early-setback-for-school-choice-proposal |
A new report highlights the lack of regulation throughout Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry.
The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), an agency that reviews the performances of various state functions, released a “rapid-response” report on Thursday into the government's lack of handling of the marijuana industry.
The report, available here, is posted on the LOFT website.
When voters approved SQ 788 at the polls in 2018, it created the “most accessible medical marijuana industry in the nation.” The report points to the lack of a limit for marijuana business licenses and a regulatory agency that is unequipped to match the scale of growth in the industry.
There are 12,021 licensed marijuana businesses as of Feb. 11, according to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, a more than 400% increase from the licensees in 2018. Business licenses are divided among growers, dispensaries, and processors.
OMMA Director Adria Berry told lawmakers on Thursday that the agency is hiring more inspectors to reach their goal of inspecting every licensed business.
“When we have our seed-to-sale program up and running, along with our analytics program, and compliance inspectors out in the field—there’s no question we can get our arms around this and actually regulate the industry,” Berry said.
Collaboration between the OMMA and other state agencies could be improved, according to the report.
“Currently, the agencies regulation Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry does not have a standard system for sharing data,” the report stated. “These issues were cited as the greatest barriers to agencies in performing their duties.”
Related: Wild West Of Weed: Oklahoma Struggles To Regulate Booming Medical Marijuana Industry
Staffing at the state marijuana authority remains an issue. The OMMA has filled fewer than 50% of compliance inspector positions, as of January 12, according to the report.
State officials are considering a number of changes related to marijuana regulation.
Multiple lawmakers have proposed bills that would temporarily pause the issuance of new licenses, while some proposed establishing a cap on the number of business licenses the OMMA can award.
Rep. John West of Grove has proposed both ideas in separate bills.
“I am all for the Oklahoma business and the Oklahoma patient-- that's not my concern. It's the crime rings,” West said. “I think if you talk to the Bureau of narcotics they'll tell you that pretty much every major crime ring in the world is operating in the state of Oklahoma right now.” | 2022-02-12T07:02:15Z | www.news9.com | Report: Oklahoma Has ‘Most Accessible’ Medical Marijuana Industry In U.S. News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206e815bf4974071f0aad36/report:-oklahoma-has-most-accessible-medical-marijuana-industry-in-us- | https://www.news9.com/story/6206e815bf4974071f0aad36/report:-oklahoma-has-most-accessible-medical-marijuana-industry-in-us- |
“I grabbed a duty rifle out of my patrol car and I walked to the backside of my place, and I stuck it in my mouth. I was bottomed out, there was no further down that I could go,” said Long.
Long now travels around the state to different agencies telling his story with a team of other first responders.
“We can go anywhere in the state and walk into any group, Fire, EMS, or Police, and immediately have credibility just based on our past,” he said.
The group gives them resources on where they can get help if they are struggling.
“Give them some options, kind of like a roadmap, for help when they do reach out to us,” he said.
The goal is to make it accessible to anyone. First responders can reach out for help on the ‘Oklahoma First Responder Wellness Division’ Facebook page.
“Having every first responder know it is okay not to be okay. Now we have a solution for it, we have a safe space for you to reach out to,” said Long.
First responders reach out for tips on counseling and peer activities to help each other work through their trauma.
“I just told you I stuck a riffle in my mouth, and I survived. I had to make some intentional changes in my life but if I could do this, I can assure you anybody can. It is survivable,” he said.
He and his team are working on opening a one-stop-shop where first responders can go for counseling and other wholistic forms of healing. | 2022-02-12T07:02:21Z | www.news9.com | OHP Trooper Launches Statewide First Responder Wellness Division News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206eba339527b0732a9ece8/ohp-trooper-launches-statewide-first-responder-wellness-division | https://www.news9.com/story/6206eba339527b0732a9ece8/ohp-trooper-launches-statewide-first-responder-wellness-division |
Supporters Show Up For Man Charged With Second Degree Murder After Killing Burglar
Oklahoma County prosecutors on Friday lowered an Oklahoma City man’s first-degree murder charge to second-degree murder. Larue Bratcher was charged for the 2020 shooting death of a man police said was breaking into his business.
The man’s defenders showed up to his hearing and vocalized their disagreement to charge, calling it an injustice. “We will rally the community in support against this injustice that has taken place,” said Derrick Scobey, pastor.
The rally started Friday at the Oklahoma County courthouse. A judge moved Bratcher’s trial for the shooting death of Daniel Hardwick from this month to June 6th. Bratcher told investigators Hardwick was attempting to break into his southwest Oklahoma City marijuana grow warehouse.
“He didn’t do anything that I wouldn’t have done, anybody would have done,” said Jabee Williams, supporter. “He was protecting himself, protecting his business, protecting his family.”
In an unusual turn of events, the author of Oklahoma's Stand Your Ground law was called to Bratcher's hearing. Oklahoma County Commissioner Kevin Calvey said the law allows residents to defend their property.
“In this case it’s not about right versus left,” said Kevin Calvey, Oklahoma County Commissioner District 3. “It’s right versus wrong and we can agree that this man should not be charged for exercising his self-defense rights.”
Prosecutors also charged Bratcher for not having a proper license to grow marijuana. The group of supporters said that was the only felony charge they could agree Bratcher should face.
“I have a lot of white brothers and sisters, I don’t think we would find many of them who would say this is OK,” said Scobey. “That you cannot protect your home, you cannot protect your property and the reason this law doesn’t apply to you is because you have an expired license.”
Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater sent a statement to News 9 saying, “The false narrative being pushed by the defendant's supporters is completely inconsistent with the facts of the case. The true facts will be presented in open court at trial. I welcome anyone interested in the truth to observe the trial. They can make their own determination as to what happened.” | 2022-02-12T07:02:45Z | www.news9.com | Supporters Show Up For Man Charged With Second-Degree Murder After Killing Burglar News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206fbc8bf2f630181ce251c/supporters-show-up-for-man-charged-with-seconddegree-murder-after-killing-burglar | https://www.news9.com/story/6206fbc8bf2f630181ce251c/supporters-show-up-for-man-charged-with-seconddegree-murder-after-killing-burglar |
For Black History Month, the Paseo Arts and Creativity Center is featuring some of Oklahoma City’s most talented African American artists.
“The artwork that’s in here is so beautiful, the Black local artists are definitely expressing themselves and how they see the world,” said curator Tavie Blakely.
This is year two for the exhibit and artists are really excited about the opportunity.
“Just having an open door, where you will be received, and you can bring your different types of art,” said artist Detra Bruner.
The exhibit is a collaboration effort of Poetic City and the Paseo arts association giving exposure to even the youngest artists, like 13-year-old Kaleah Hines
“I just like to do cartoon characters. If I look on the web, I’ll find something I like to draw, and I’ll draw it,” said artist Keleah Hines.
The art is amazing but for the organizers it’s also about supporting the artist
“This is why we definitely want to show and inspire them to keep going and show them the rewards of when you put in the hard work and you put in the time and effort, we have to support that,” said Blakely.
“All of these artists are amazing, so we’ve all worked really hard to put together a show that’s worthy of the community coming out, viewing it having a good time,” said Curator and artist Sunee Rice.
Thirteen different artists have work displayed in the show all centered around this year’s theme of perception.
“How the world looks to us today, whether it’s technology, whether it’s love, human engagement, you know when you wake up in the morning how do you feel when you see the world today,” said Blakely.
Appreciating the opportunity for self-expression
“I used to dream about having my work displayed in a paseo gallery,” said Rice.
The exhibit is through the month of February everyone is invited out. The is no cost to enter. | 2022-02-12T07:02:52Z | www.news9.com | Paseo Arts District Celebrates Black History Month With Pieces By Local Artists News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6206fdc9bf2f630181ce6843/paseo-arts-district-celebrates-black-history-month-with-pieces-by-local-artists | https://www.news9.com/story/6206fdc9bf2f630181ce6843/paseo-arts-district-celebrates-black-history-month-with-pieces-by-local-artists |
Rebecca Hogue Sentenced To 13 Months
A Norman woman has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for the death of her child.
Rebecca Hogue will only serve 13 months, because of time already served.
A Cleveland County judge initially suspended part of the sentence.
Two-year-old Ryder Johnson died in the care of Christoper Trent back in 2020.
Trent was dating Hogue at the time. Prosecutors say Hogue enabled the abuse.
Trent took his own life while police were searching for him in the Wichita Mountains. | 2022-02-12T07:02:58Z | www.news9.com | Norman Woman Sentenced By Cleveland County Judge For Death Of Her 2-Year-Old Son News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6207010865d3ba0726be92a7/norman-woman-sentenced-by-cleveland-county-judge-for-death-of-her-2yearold-son | https://www.news9.com/story/6207010865d3ba0726be92a7/norman-woman-sentenced-by-cleveland-county-judge-for-death-of-her-2yearold-son |
Thanks to a cold front, the warmer temperatures we enjoyed for much of this week are gone Saturday.
The front brought along chilly north winds, making our wind chill temperatures below 15 degrees for much of central Oklahoma.
We’re expecting highs in the lower 40s in Oklahoma City.
By Sunday, the arctic air will move out of the state and we’ll begin a seasonal warmup to start Valentine’s Day week. | 2022-02-13T02:22:18Z | www.news9.com | Chillier Conditions To Start The Weekend, But They Won’t End It News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6207d95ae9c5f207288c430e/chillier-conditions-to-start-the-weekend-but-they-wont-end-it | https://www.news9.com/story/6207d95ae9c5f207288c430e/chillier-conditions-to-start-the-weekend-but-they-wont-end-it |
A house fire left three family pets dead in Southwest Oklahoma City.
Fire officials said they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the home near Southwest 40th and Walker.
The fire was put out with no further incidents.
The people living in the home were able to get out in time. | 2022-02-13T07:19:06Z | www.news9.com | House Fire In SW OKC Kills 3 Pets News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62086201b203657f7cef7484/house-fire-in-sw-okc-kills-3-pets | https://www.news9.com/story/62086201b203657f7cef7484/house-fire-in-sw-okc-kills-3-pets |
The Oklahoma City Police Department hosted the 2022 Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics at Hurricane Harbor on Saturday.
Officers from across the metro plunged into 30-to-50 degree waters.
"They have over 350 jumpers out here today, the goal was to raise over $50,000 and currently they're at $52,000," said Mike Klehm, a Special Olympics Board Member.
They say all the money raised will go to the 1,200 athletes participating in the Special Olympics. | 2022-02-13T07:19:13Z | www.news9.com | Oklahoma City Police Host Polar Plunge For Special Olympians News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62086354e71baf0724c9982d/oklahoma-city-police-host-polar-plunge-for-special-olympians | https://www.news9.com/story/62086354e71baf0724c9982d/oklahoma-city-police-host-polar-plunge-for-special-olympians |
The Biden administration is footing much of the bill for a cross-country network of electronic vehicle charging stations.. and Oklahoma energy officials want in.
The administration announced that $7.5 billion will go to installing almost 500,000 charging stations in the next five years. Oklahoma's energy secretary was in DC this week and says Oklahoma is well-positioned to play a major role in the build-out.
We still have the number one per capita in level three, or super-charging, infrastructure, so the fast chargers," Ken Wagner with Oklahoma Secretary of Energy & Environment said.
There are currently about 100,000 EV charging stations nationwide. | 2022-02-13T07:19:19Z | www.news9.com | Oklahoma Secretary Of Energy Talks Future Opportunities In D.C. Visit News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620864d091e2cd07295377a4/oklahoma-secretary-of-energy-talks-future-opportunities-in-dc-visit | https://www.news9.com/story/620864d091e2cd07295377a4/oklahoma-secretary-of-energy-talks-future-opportunities-in-dc-visit |
Norman Mother Suspended For Toddler's Death
Family and supporters of Rebecca Hogue spoke out after she was sentenced on Friday for the death of her two-year-old child.
Her sentence included 16 months in prison by a Cleveland County judge. Hogue was convicted this past November for the 2020 death of her 2-year-old son, Ryder Johnson.
"She's reliving that reliving that trauma every single day," said Andrew Casey, Hogue's Attorney. "Not just before trial, but through trial."
Investigators say Ryder was beaten to death by her then-boyfriend, Christopher Trent, who took his own life days later after a search team found him in the Wichita Mountains. Prosecutors said Hogue didn't do enough to protect Ryder and that's why she was convicted for murder under the state's failure-to-protect law.
However, supporters of Hogue tell News 9 they don't believe this was a fair trial and want the law changed moving forward.
"That law's wrong," said Laney Hogue Edwards, Hogue's Aunt. "It doesn't save children from getting abused, it actually stops mothers from talking about children being abused because they might end up in this courthouse."
According to DHS, Hogue knew about Trent's past violence, as he had been arrested for assault before. A judge says the sentence represents the remaining years that her son would have been in her care.
"Unmitigated tragedy, about what she went through and what her child went through," said Casey. "There's parts of it where I would wake up vomiting in this trial just knowing what happened to that poor soul."
Hogue will be released in 13 months due to time served. | 2022-02-13T07:19:31Z | www.news9.com | Family Of Rebecca Hogue Speak Out After Sentencing For 2-Year-Old's Death News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620869c591e2cd0729540e0b/family-of-rebecca-hogue-speak-out-after-sentencing-for-2yearolds-death | https://www.news9.com/story/620869c591e2cd0729540e0b/family-of-rebecca-hogue-speak-out-after-sentencing-for-2yearolds-death |
Your commute could change this week because of multiple construction projects on Oklahoma City's northwest side.
First, the city will be building a protected turnaround at Memorial Road and the east side of Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation said it will be identical to what's already on the west side. The project is expected to last around four months.
Officials also said Lake Hefner Drive north of the lake will be closed starting Monday.
The dam road entrance at Britton Road and the road near the northeast parking lot will be blocked off.
Oklahoma City officials said workers will be repairing cracks.
The road is expected to reopen March 31. | 2022-02-14T03:24:40Z | www.news9.com | Oklahoma City, ODOT Crews To Work On Multiple NW OKC Roads This Week News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6209438a9441100729750778/oklahoma-city-odot-crews-to-work-on-multiple-nw-okc-roads-this-week | https://www.news9.com/story/6209438a9441100729750778/oklahoma-city-odot-crews-to-work-on-multiple-nw-okc-roads-this-week |
The Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD), along with the Spencer Police Department and the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, are investigating a shooting that happened in Oklahoma County on Sunday.
The OCPD said a woman was shot in the hand and three black males in an old brown pickup are the suspects.
Police said the victim has been giving conflicting reports of the shooting so the details are not clear at this time.
Police were seen investigating near Spencer-Jones Road and NE 63rd in Spencer, OK.
The victim is being treated at Presbyterian Hospital in OKC. | 2022-02-14T03:25:35Z | www.news9.com | Authorities Investigating Oklahoma County Shooting, 1 Woman Shot In Hand News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/62098997776836072780dc61/authorities-investigating-oklahoma-county-shooting-1-woman-shot-in-hand | https://www.news9.com/story/62098997776836072780dc61/authorities-investigating-oklahoma-county-shooting-1-woman-shot-in-hand |
Elk City Fire Department Remembers Firefighter Killed In Crash
ELK CITY, Oklahoma -
The Elk City community is mourning the loss of a local firefighter who died in a car crash Thursday night.
29-year-old Jacob Wing was driving along I-40 just west of Clinton. According to an OHP report, he was in the westbound lane and slowed down as he came up to traffic, that's when another driver hit him from behind.
The impact forced both vehicles off the road and into a construction zone. Wing died at the scene.
"That makes it so much more difficult," said Brian Pierce, with the Elk City Fire Department. "When somebody with such a big heart passes away it's, it's incredibly difficult."
The department says Wing was driving home from work the night of the crash. Pierce got the tragic news the next day. He says Wing had been with the department a little over a year.
"He was that humble fireman and friends and family, they referred to him as the gentle giant," said Pierce. "That was just so incredibly true for Jacob."
There was an outpouring of support from neighboring fire departments, including Clinton, who had fire trucks on the overpasses going through town.
Outside of work, Wing was also an instructor at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in their medical laboratory technician program. Pierce tells me the school will now hold a memorial scholarship for Wing in his honor.
A service for Wing is planned for this Tuesday, February 15th. | 2022-02-14T11:20:08Z | www.news9.com | Elk City Community Mourns After Local Firefighter Dies In Car Crash News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6209b7e43ab067072670e7e0/elk-city-community-mourns-after-local-firefighter-dies-in-car-crash | https://www.news9.com/story/6209b7e43ab067072670e7e0/elk-city-community-mourns-after-local-firefighter-dies-in-car-crash |
Sunday's Super Bowl LVI saw a major showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals. But while players retreated after the 2nd quarter with the Rams leading, the show only got more spectacular — with '90's legends like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre and Mary J Blige taking the stage during the halftime performance.
These stars weren't the only musical act Sunday night, with Jhene Aiko opening the game with her rendition of "America the Beautiful," followed by a country star Mickey Guyton's soulful version of "The Star Spangled Banner."
The Pepsi-sponsored halftime show began with the iconic hit from Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, "The Next Episode." The artists danced across nondescript all-white set built to resemble a strip mall. | 2022-02-14T11:20:14Z | www.news9.com | Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Features Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mary J Blige News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/6209c4b93ab0670726729978/super-bowl-lvi-halftime-show-features-snoop-dogg-eminem-dr-dre-mary-j-blige | https://www.news9.com/story/6209c4b93ab0670726729978/super-bowl-lvi-halftime-show-features-snoop-dogg-eminem-dr-dre-mary-j-blige |
Major Construction Prjoect Begins At Penn & Memorial
Starting Monday, crews will begin moving construction signs and equipment to add protective, or "Texas" turnarounds, on the east side of Penn at the intersection of Memorial road.
The left lanes on westbound and eastbound Memorial will be closed periodically, as well as the right lane on northbound Pennsylvania.
Road crews hope to have no possible lane closures until Tuesday morning.
When the project is complete, it will be identical to what's already on the western side of Penn, which is a protective road that goes underneath the Kilpatrick Turnpike bridge.
The project will make it so that people exiting the Turnpike or trying to make a left turn on Memorial will be able to bypass the traffic signal.
Crews are hoping to avoid lane closures during the morning and evening commutes.
This project is expected to be completed in around four months.
It's important to note, while portions of Penn and Memorial will be closed during the project, the on and off ramps to the Kilpatrick turnpike will remain open. | 2022-02-14T17:56:15Z | www.news9.com | Construction Project Begins Work on East Side Of Penn And Memorial News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620a5f577dec9b0722638655/construction-project-begins-work-on-east-side-of-penn-and-memorial | https://www.news9.com/story/620a5f577dec9b0722638655/construction-project-begins-work-on-east-side-of-penn-and-memorial |
HENRYETTA, Oklahoma -
The first ever 'Highway To Henryetta' summer concert is set for June, as Troy Aikman's hometown is ready for this grand celebration.
"They could use some help in a lot of areas," said Troy Aikman.
The hall of fame football player is giving back to the school that gave so much to him.
"It was very impactful years. I feel like a lot of who I am and what my values are come from my time spent in Oklahoma," said Aikman.
The music festival idea came to Aikman to give his high school friends an easier way to relive some of the best times in their town.
"So, people still in that area wouldn't have to travel, and one thing led to another," said Aikman.
That's when Highway to Henryetta came to fruition. This festival will headline several Oklahoma artists, including Mikayla Lane and country star Blake Shelton.
"He was awesome. He immediately said he was in, and he is the one who really put this over the top," said Aikman.
Funds from the day-long concert will go to community initiatives and will benefit Henryetta Schools.
Attendance is expected to see over 10,000 people at the event.
Tickets are on sale now for fans who want to go to the concert in Henryetta. | 2022-02-14T23:30:03Z | www.news9.com | Troy Aikman's 'Highway To Henryetta' Concert Set For June News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620a71f47dec9b072264f5f9/troy-aikmans-highway-to-henryetta-concert-set-for-june | https://www.news9.com/story/620a71f47dec9b072264f5f9/troy-aikmans-highway-to-henryetta-concert-set-for-june |
A detainee at the Oklahoma County Detention Center was found unresponsive in their cell and later pronounced dead on Sunday.
The inmate was identified as Kyle Shaw, who had been booked into the detention center in May of 2021.
Shaw's family was notified of his death.
At this time, the cause of death is unknown and an investigation is underway.
The State Medical Examiner's Office will look into the reason of the death and announce the cause at a later date.
Biden Aims To Enlist Allies In Tackling Climate, COVID, More
Associated Press President Joe Biden plans to use his first address before the U.N. General Assembly to reassure the international community of American leadership on the global stage. | 2022-02-14T23:30:40Z | www.news9.com | Detainee Found Dead In Cell At Oklahoma County Detention Center News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620a8def8a37a9072851e4d7/detainee-found-dead-in-cell-at-oklahoma-county-detention-center | https://www.news9.com/story/620a8def8a37a9072851e4d7/detainee-found-dead-in-cell-at-oklahoma-county-detention-center |
Proposed Bill Seeks To Help Women Battling Cancer Receive Fertility Preservation Options
A proposal that could help women facing cancer treatment preserve their chance to have children is up for debate at the State Capitol this session.
Back in September, News 9 told you about Corinne Dinges and the legacy that lives on after she passed away.
At this time, Corrine's Law is officially Senate Bill 1599 and supporters are hoping it will get passed and help women who are battling cancer.
Corrine Dinges fought Ewing's Sarcoma for three years, all while showing compassion for others and advocating for women.
On August 17th of 2021, she passed away, but her mission to help women battling cancer continues.
Corinne's law has two main goals, to educate women on their fertility preservation options and ensure that fertility treatment is accessible to everyone battling cancer.
Cancer survivor Carly Kirkland is one of the women behind the push for legislation.
"…This ability to make sure that her legacy and her passion for this cause lives on… I think that she would be thrilled to know that no one else even has to think about this decision if this legislation were to pass. I just think there is no better way to honor her and her legacy and her heart for others."
Because of Corinne, she knew her options for having a family and now she is fighting for other women to have that same chance.
"Insurance did not cover it. That is something that we are still working on...I am just hoping that Corrine's Law would render it possible for women to not even have to think twice about preserving their eggs."
If you are interested in being a part of getting Corrine's Law passed, here are some of the ways you can help.
1. Go to https://oksenate.gov/senators
2. Enter OK Zip (use 73105 if you’re out of State)
3. Call and email the senators that populate based on your zip
The group has made an email + phone call script to do this.
For the full bill's details, click here.
Jordan Dafnis A proposal that could help women facing cancer treatment preserve their chance to have children is up for debate at the State Capitol this session. | 2022-02-14T23:30:46Z | www.news9.com | Proposed Bill Seeks To Help Women Battling Cancer Receive Fertility Preservation Options News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620a9fa07dec9b07226ab1cf/proposed-bill-seeks-to-help-women-battling-cancer-receive-fertility-preservation-options | https://www.news9.com/story/620a9fa07dec9b07226ab1cf/proposed-bill-seeks-to-help-women-battling-cancer-receive-fertility-preservation-options |
An Oklahoma senate panel advanced legislation Monday changing the laws when it comes to how people can carry firearms.
The legislation would require open carried rifles to be on a sling, pointed at the ground or the sky. The bill's author said it's common-sense safety that sometimes isn't so common.
"This is one of those deals where the 10-year-olds in hunter safety classes are taught how to carry a rifle, but unfortunately not everybody follows that," Sen. Lonnie Paxton. R-Tuttle said.
"Is it illegal with this bill or without this bill to aim a rifle at an individual and not pull the trigger?" Sen. Kevin Matthews. D- Tulsa, asked.
"Yes, that’s illegal," Paxton said. "The issue is not aiming for the intent, it’s just poor caring of a weapon. That’s the issue that’s concerning, you've seen some at the protest or the rally’s where that's happened in the past."
The State's Second Amendment Association originally took issue with language that would have required rifles to be carried solely on a person's back. That provision was removed from the bill.
"You cannot carry a gun in your bare hands," Don Spencer with the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association said, "So, if the strap is up on your shoulder, it's more likely to be in a position and not look what we call a 'ready position' to where a person can just swing and shoot."
Violators could be slapped with a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine.
The bill now is now eligible to be heard before the full Senate.
Storme Jones An Oklahoma senate panel advanced legislation Monday changing the laws when it comes to how people can carry firearms. | 2022-02-15T11:28:06Z | www.news9.com | Senate Committee Advances Bill Clarifying Open Carry Rifle Handling News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620af081067c6d07297b6435/senate-committee-advances-bill-clarifying-open-carry-rifle-handling | https://www.news9.com/story/620af081067c6d07297b6435/senate-committee-advances-bill-clarifying-open-carry-rifle-handling |
Two people were found dead in a car in northwest Oklahoma City. Investigators are now working to find out how the two people died.
"This is not a good way to start the day off on valentine's day," said Christine Allen, a resident.
Police say they first got the call just after shortly after 10 Monday morning, at a mobile home park near NW 10th and Portland. Officers say it was a check the welfare call, possibly related to a shooting.
"They located two deceased persons inside a vehicle here," said Sgt. Dillon Quirk, with Oklahoma City Police. "We don't know much more than that at this time, that's really all we have to go off of."
The car was parked just outside one of the homes and one of the front windows was broken.
"We're processing the exterior scene right now," said Quirk. "We're waiting for the ME (Medical Examiner) to arrive, and we'll know more as the investigation unfolds from that point."
Police say no arrests have been made yet, but they talked to several possible witnesses at the scene.
News 9 spoke to those who were inside a dentist office nearby, who say they were shocked to see police scattered through the area because they didn't hear anything out of the ordinary.
"It was quite scary," said Allen. "I was afraid to get out of my car, because I didn't know what was going on."
Investigators are still looking over what they gathered from the scene right now. If you have any other information on this case, you're asked to call the Homicide Tip Line 405-297-1200. | 2022-02-15T11:28:12Z | www.news9.com | Police Investigating After 2 People Found Dead In A Car News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620af123067c6d07297b789b/police-investigating-after-2-people-found-dead-in-a-car | https://www.news9.com/story/620af123067c6d07297b789b/police-investigating-after-2-people-found-dead-in-a-car |
One person is in critical condition after a hit-and-run in northwest Oklahoma City, police said.
A red truck backed out of Duo Liquor Store at Northwest 10th Street and Virginia Avenue, and ran over a pedestrian, police said. Police are not yet sure of the make or model of the truck.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital. | 2022-02-15T11:28:43Z | www.news9.com | 1 Hurt In NW Oklahoma City Hit-And-Run, Police Say News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620b0e21016535072b7d54d3/1-hurt-in-nw-oklahoma-city-hitandrun-police-say | https://www.news9.com/story/620b0e21016535072b7d54d3/1-hurt-in-nw-oklahoma-city-hitandrun-police-say |
Tuesday's report by seven federal agencies predicts about a foot on average of sea level rise in the next 30 years.
That's the same amount as in the past 100 years. The Gulf coast, especially Texas and Louisiana, will get hit hardest.
The Atlantic coast will also see higher than average sea level rise. It will be less on the Pacific coast. | 2022-02-16T06:14:36Z | www.news9.com | Report: US Could See A Century's Worth Of Sea Rise In Just 30 Years News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620c0ed551ab770724f3826a/report:-us-could-see-a-centurys-worth-of-sea-rise-in-just-30-years | https://www.news9.com/story/620c0ed551ab770724f3826a/report:-us-could-see-a-centurys-worth-of-sea-rise-in-just-30-years |
A metro church is so outraged at a metro hospital it has prompted extra security and even a restraining order. It's after online threats escalated to protests in Northwest Oklahoma City.
This all started when a member of the Ekklesia Church was being treated for COVID-19 at Mercy. Upset with the treatment, the church ended up protesting outside of the hospital.
“They actually are currently giving him budesonide, but they are giving him such a small dosage it has no effect on his body,” said Daniel Navejas, the Pastor at Ekklesia Oklahoma.
“I don’t see it yet as a standard treatment. Again, it’s one of those things that until it is fully studied in a randomized trial to see if it is inferior to or superior to treatment, we now know it is a difficult clinical statement to make,” said Stan Schwartz, M.D., with the Healthier Oklahoma Coalition.
Ekklesia sent out a letter to their congregation saying that one of their members passed away. The letter also called the doctor who treated him a “murderer.”
“For anyone to criticize the integrity of those whose sole purpose is saving lives, let alone accuse them of murder is patently false,” said Jean Hausheer, M.D., another member of the Healthier Oklahoma Coalition.
The church also called hospitals death camps. “Many of the hospitals are using ‘Fauci protocol’ and the protocol is literally killing people,” said the Pastor.
Mercy hospital responded in a letter sent to staff saying, “there is no such thing as a Fauci protocol…our co-workers are not murderers.”
On Facebook Navejas said “Dr. Fauci a mass murderer and Mercy in OKC is complicit to assist.”
The Hospital filed an emergency restraining order saying the “risk of harm to Mercy is imminent.”
“These events, whether physical or mental abuse of healthcare workers, does not help the workforce,” said Dr. David Kendrick with the Healthier Oklahoma Coalition.
The Mercy ICU is on lock down and security is posted at the ER entrance 24/7.
A spokesperson for Mercy said additional security and police officers will be on campus for the foreseeable future. | 2022-02-16T06:14:55Z | www.news9.com | Mercy Takes Legal Action In Response To Online Attacks News 9 | https://www.news9.com/story/620c216651ab770724f6057d/mercy-takes-legal-action-in-response-to-online-attacks | https://www.news9.com/story/620c216651ab770724f6057d/mercy-takes-legal-action-in-response-to-online-attacks |
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