Feed aggregator
Norman taps headhunting firm for city manager search
By Josh Dulaney Staff Writer jdulaney@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — Officials here cleared an initial hurdle this week in their hunt for a new city manager.
In a 5-4 vote Tuesday, the city council approved a $24,500 contract with Minnesota-based executive recruitment firm Springsted Waters to search for a replacement for Steve Lewis, who left the post in September for a similar job in Texas.
Springsted Waters competed against SGR, a firm based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Ward 1 Councilwoman Kate Bierman voted for Springsted Waters based on their pitch to the city.
“What struck me the most is that they sent their A squad,” Bierman told the council.
Read more on NewsOK.com
I-35 northbound lanes shut down Wednesday north of Purcell
From Staff Reports
A jack-knifed tractor-trailer on Interstate 35 has shut down northbound lanes Wednesday north of Purcell in McClain County, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.
The wreck happened about 5 a.m.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Re-enactor shares life of a drover at genealogy meeting
FROM STAFF REPORTS
NORMAN — The public is invited to hear a drover's description of life on the Chisholm Trail presented by the Cleveland County Genealogical Society.
Mike Sheriff will don his drover's authentic period attire as he tells what it was like on the Chisholm Trail in the 1870s.
Read more on NewsOK.com
$68 million to help 12,000 Oklahoma students GEAR UP for college
By K.S. McNutt Staff Writer kmcnutt@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — Three federal grants to boost success beyond high school will target 12,000 pupils in 46 schools across the state, including every sixth- and seventh-grader in the Oklahoma City Public Schools.
The University of Oklahoma K20 Center announced Wednesday it was awarded GEAR UP grants totaling $68 million to work with three cohorts of middle-schoolers — one urban, one rural and one suburban.
"This is absolutely a game-changer," said Gregg Garn, dean of the OU College of Education and executive director of the K20 Center.
"The GEAR up program is focused on getting kids ready academically, financially and emotionally to get into college and successfully graduate," Garn said.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Holiday shopping to pop up in Norman
FROM STAFF REPORTS
NORMAN — STASH will be hosting its third annual holiday pop-up shopping party from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Read more on NewsOK.com
University of Oklahoma lays off 50 in first phase of staff reductions
By K.S. McNutt Staff Writer kmcnutt@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma cut approximately 50 staff positions Thursday in ongoing efforts to bring expenses in line with income.
A university spokeswoman said this is the first phase of layoffs and further layoffs may come next year as departmental efficiency plans are submitted and refined.
"Because this will be a constant process of evaluating efficiencies within the university, there is no timeline for layoffs," she said.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Now streaming: OU professor leads dry stream research across U.S.
By Josh Dulaney Staff Writer jdulaney@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — Cutting under a bridge along East Indian Hills Road near Norman, Elm Creek transforms from pool to riffle and teems with midges, detritivores and oligochaetes.
Big words for bugs and worms.
Listen long enough to Daniel C. Allen, a 38-year-old biology professor at the University of Oklahoma, and you will learn which bugs are predator or prey, the value of filter-feeder insects and why the tiger beetle, with its metallic blue armor, stops by the water on occasion.
“There's a lot of ways to make a living in the stream,” Allen said.
Even when the water disappears.
Allen is leading a $3 million research project across the United States to study what happens to streams when they dry.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Body found Tuesday near Norman homeless shelter
From Staff Reports
NORMAN -- The body of a man was found in Bishop's Creek Tuesday near a homeless shelter, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s office reported.
The man, who is described as white and in his 40s, was found on state property located just south of Food and Shelter For Friends, 201 Reed Avenue.
The sheriff’s office took over the investigation Tuesday afternoon, a spokeswoman said.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Norman native serves aboard floating airport at sea
By Bill Steele For The Oklahoman
BREMERTON, Wash. — A Norman native and 2016 Norman North High School graduate is serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, a floating airport at sea.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Galbraith is an electronics technician (nuclear) serving aboard the carrier.
A Navy electronics technician (nuclear) is responsible for operating the nuclear reactor that provides energy for the ship and maintaining reactor safety.
“I'm new to the ship and still in basic nuclear qualifications training,” said Galbraith.
About 3,200 men and women make up the crew of John C. Stennis, with an additional 2,000 sailors assigned to the ship's embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 9.
Named in honor of former Sen.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Norman proclaims November as Veterans Month; Veteran’s Day parade and memorial ceremony planned
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Norman Mayor Lynne Miller has proclaimed November as Veterans Month as the city plans the upcoming 2018 Veterans Day Parade and Memorial Ceremony.
The Nov.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Two people killed in Norman crash Saturday identified
From Staff Reports
NORMAN -- Two men died Saturday morning in a southeast Norman crash, police reported.
The men have been identified as Jeffery Muehring, 49, of Norman, and Gregory Higgins Jr., 41, of Mustang.
Muehring was the driver of a vehicle going south on 60th Avenue SE when he drove off the roadway and the vehicle hit a tree.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Texas woman in critical condition after being hit by pickup in Norman
From Staff Reports
NORMAN — A 27-year-old woman is in critical condition after she was struck Thursday by a pickup while crossing a street, police said.
Just after 7 p.m.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Funds will assist Cleveland County Drug Court with housing, transportation
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Cleveland County Commissioners recently accepted a $550,000 grant for Cleveland County Drug Court from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The grant will allow the program to hire a full-time case manager dedicated to drug court participants and will subsidize increased drug testing and lab confirmations.
“We are thrilled to have received the grant award,” said Judge Michael Tupper.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Norman educator receives award, $25,000 check
By Tim Willert Staff Writer twillert@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — Hailey Couch looked around the Madison Elementary School gymnasium Tuesday morning wondering who was about to receive a prestigious Milken Educator Award and a check for $25,000.
The fourth-year kindergarten teacher had no clue her name was about to be called.
"They started talking and I just had all these names in my head like, 'Ooh, it could be her, it could be her, it could be her,'" she said.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Achievers
Roger Harris, who is responsible for maintenance of the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, recently was recognized for going above and beyond to serve the residents of Cleveland County.
Cleveland County Commissioner Darry Stacy honored Harris during a Board of County Commissioners meeting.
On Sept.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Norman police seize meth worth millions
From Staff Reports
NORMAN — Police on Monday seized more than 1,260 pounds of liquid methamphetamine during a bust at a hotel.
Just after 9 a.m., Norman officers were conducting an investigation of a tractor-trailer in the parking lot of the hotel.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Norman’s NextThought connects the dots for online learners
By Jim Stafford For The Oklahoman
NORMAN — When my daughter enrolled in an online college class, I had an image of her being alone on an island, connected only to the course material by way of a computer, with little interaction from the instructor.
Read more on NewsOK.com
National Severe Storms Laboratory unveils weather radar research prototype
By Silas Allen Staff Writer sallen@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — Officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Severe Storms Laboratory unveiled a new system Thursday that they hope will give forecasters more accurate information more quickly as severe weather approaches.
The Advanced Technology Demonstrator is a $38 million research prototype for a system that, if successful, could be rolled out across the country within the next 20 years.
The system, located just east of Max Westheimer Airport, is the first to combine two weather prediction technologies: phased-array radar, which allows forecasters to look across a wide area more quickly than conventional radar allows, and dual polarization, which gives forecasters information about what type of precipitation is falling within a storm.
Now that the research prototype is up and running, researchers will begin looking at how to use the technology to improve weather forecasts, said Kurt Hondl, program manager at the severe storms lab.
Phased-array radar represents a substantial improvement over the conventional NEXRAD systems that are in place at National Weather Service forecast offices across the country, Hondl said.
Conventional radar systems use a dish to focus radar beams on a single area.
Read more on NewsOK.com
OHP trooper charged, accused of harassing women
By Josh Wallace Staff Writer jwallace@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — A former University of Oklahoma football player and current Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper was charged Wednesday, accused of abusing law enforcement technology to stalk and harass women he met at a local gym.
Rodney Lynn Rideaux, 40, was charged Wednesday in Cleveland County District Court on five counts of unauthorized use of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunication System.
Read more on NewsOK.com
Public invited to Oct. 24 open house on updated Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan
FROM STAFF REPORTS
NORMAN — The city of Norman is inviting community members to provide input on the city's updated Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan during an open house at 3 p.m.
Read more on NewsOK.com