Local News
Candid discussion: Oklahoma students give advice to new teachers
By Tim Willert Staff Writer twillert@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — The students, most of them incoming high school seniors, didn't hold back when Oklahoma's top education official asked them what they'd like their teachers to know.
Their advice to new and less-experienced educators: Be yourself, engage your students and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
"There are going to be bad kids that talk crap on you and just yell at you in class and stuff like that," said Nini Wu, a senior at Norman North.
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Norman plans citywide garage sale
FROM STAFF REPORTS
NORMAN — The 14th annual Citywide Garage Sale is set for Aug. 3-5.
No city garage sale permit is required during the time of the citywide sale.
Registration for the event will begin Monday.
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When it's hot, water hits the spot
FROM STAFF REPORTS
When the temperatures soar into the 90s, the best refreshment can be turning to cool water.
Whether it's swimming, riding watercrafts, standing in a sprinkler — or just having a jug of water poured over the head — many beat the heat however they can.
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Community to help paint new mural
FROM STAFF REPORTS
NORMAN — STASH will host an EDO Block Party from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday to benefit improvements to the 400 block of E Main Street in downtown Norman.
In conjunction the Norman's 2nd Friday Art Walk, the block party is a family-friendly festival with yard games, a new community mural, music and more.
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UPDATE: Missing teens found safe in OKC Friday
From Staff Reports
NORMAN — Two teenagers reported missing since June 27 were found safe Friday afternoon in Oklahoma City.
Norman police said Jordan Ray Dean, 16, and Alexus Lori Smith, 15, were found about 2 p.m.
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Poetry reading set for Sunday
FROM STAFF REPORTS
NORMAN — J.D. Whitney will read from his works at the July 8 Second Sunday Poetry Reading at The Depot, 200 S Jones.
The free reading will begin at 2 p.m.
J.D. Whitney's poems have been published in such literary magazines as Poetry, Orion and Origin.
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Author to read short stories at The Depot
FROM STAFF REPORTS
NORMAN — Author Noah Milligan will present a special reading from his recently released series of short stories, "Five Hundred Poor.
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Camp ClapHans offers summer fun
By Sharla Bardin For The Oklahoman
Another summer session is in full swing for Camp ClapHans, a summer camp in Norman for children with disabilities.
The camp serves kids with special needs, ages 8 to 18, and is an outreach program of the J.D. McCarty Center for children with developmental disabilities.
Camp activities include horseback riding, canoeing, archery, swimming, talent shows, dance parties and special guests.
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Norman police release name of Saturday shooting victim
From Staff Reports
NORMAN — Police have released the name of a man shot and killed in Norman Saturday afternoon.
About 3:45 p.m.
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Saturday food truck festival at J.D. McCarty Center to celebrate ‘National Occupational Therapy Month’
FROM STAFF REPORTS
NORMAN — A food truck festival is set for Saturday at the J.D. McCarty Center for children with developmental disabilities.
The “Street Eats” festival will be from 11 a.m.
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The Salvation Army fan distribution program begins; fans available for community members in need
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command kicked off its fan distribution program this week for residents in Cleveland and Oklahoma counties.
The Salvation Army provides fans to qualified seniors age 62 and older, families with infants younger than 6 months, and the disabled with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, emphysema, and people taking psychotropic and other medications.
Individuals in need of a fan who are not in the above categories will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Fans are being distributed at the following locations:
• The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma, 1001 N Pennsylvania Ave.: 1 to 3 p.m.
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UCO Alumni Association to host Splash Bash on July 19
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The University of Central Oklahoma Alumni Association will host its third annual Splash Bash for UCO alumni and friends from 7 to 9 p.m.
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3-year-old boy drowns in Norman
From Staff Reports
NORMAN — A 3-year-old boy died Wednesday evening after submerging in a neighborhood pool, police said.
His name was not released.
About 5:30 p.m., the boy was swimming with family members in a pool in the 3700 block of Brownwood Lane when he submerged.
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University of Oklahoma personnel changes include vice president of student affairs
By K.S. McNutt Staff Writer kmcnutt@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — Incoming President Jim Gallogly said Wednesday he will appoint an interim vice president for student affairs after discussing the job with potential candidates and the University of Oklahoma regents.
Clarke Stroud is leaving the office to become director of football operations in the OU athletics department July 1.
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University of Oklahoma President David Boren says OU debt is large, but comparable to similar public universities
By K.S. McNutt Staff Writer kmcnutt@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — University of Oklahoma President David Boren issued a statement Wednesday about OU's financial status.
"Some recent reports about the university's financial position deserve to be clarified and put in context," Boren's said.
The statement followed remarks his successor made Tuesday during a meeting of the OU Board of Regents.
Jim Gallogly, who becomes OU president July 1, said he spent months sorting out the financials of the university "and frankly I'm not pleased with what I have found.” Gallogly said expenses are outpacing income by $36 million each year and the Norman campus is nearly $1 billion in debt.
"While true that OU's indebtedness is large, it is bonded indebtedness for physical facilities," Boren said Wednesday.
"Bonds are used very carefully to finance facilities that are needed for our core mission and to avoid deferred maintenance on aging facilities.
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Lecture series continues Saturday in Norman
FROM STAFF REPORTS
NORMAN — As part of Norman Cultural Connection's lecture series, Jocelyn McGee will share stories of resilience she received from elders living in rural villages in Malawi, Africa, during her lecture at 7 p.m.
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Oklahoma students participate in summer academy
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Seventeen high school students from across the state of Oklahoma attended the Summer Science & Mathematics Academy hosted by Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
The academy was funded by SWOSU and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
Students participated in lecture classes and worked in laboratories across the Weatherford campus.
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University of Oklahoma facing $1 billion debt, inadequate operating cash
By K.S. McNutt Staff Writer kmcnutt@oklahoman.com
The University of Oklahoma is losing $36 million a year as expenses continue to outpace revenues, the incoming president said Tuesday.
"Total debt is almost $1 billion at our Norman campus,” said Jim Gallogly, who becomes OU's 14th president July 1.
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Restaurant to host fan drive to benefit The Salvation Army of Cleveland County
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Salvation Army of Cleveland County will benefit from a fan drive scheduled to continue through Saturday at Tiffany's Restaurant, 101 W Main St., in Noble.
“We have been successful in the past helping people and have the greatest customers, friends, and community who believe in what we believe in,” said Gary Hicks, co-owner of Tiffany's Restaurant.
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University of Oklahoma not seeking tuition hike
By K.S. McNutt Staff Writer kmcnutt@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — Tuition at the University of Oklahoma won't go up this fall under a proposed $2.12 billion budget to be voted on Tuesday by the OU Board of Regents.
The administration has requested no tuition increases in its fiscal year 2019 budget, which is slightly larger than the university's $2.06 billion budget for the current fiscal year.
The FY19 budget includes $1.02 billion for the Norman campus and $1.10 billion for the Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City.
Regents will vote on the budget and tuition rates in a meeting Tuesday morning on the Oklahoma City campus.
One year ago, OU raised tuition and mandatory fees 5 percent for resident students.
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