OKC FRIDAY Vol. 58 No. 14 • One Section • 12 pages •August 9, 2024 $1 per copy
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving affluent far north Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills and The Village for 50 years
STATE OF THE CITY
Determined Editor’s Note: This is a second part in a series covering Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt’s State of the City address. By Rose Lane Editor
Our students intern for Stephanie Bice From left: Fridaylander Luke Chansolme, Congresswoman Stephanie Bice and Fridaylanders Tucker Jacobsen and Jack Naifeh. Luke, Tucker and Jack have been interning for Congresswoman Bice this summer in her Washington D.C. office. Luke is Jenny and Dr. David Chansolme's son, a Bishop McGuinness graduate and a rising senior at Texas Christian University. Tucker is Nicole and Jeff Jacobsen’s son, a Casady graduate and a rising junior at Washington & Lee University. Jack is Monique and Justin Naifeh's son, a Casady graduate and a rising junior at Boston College.
Fridayland’s Greg Treat gets perfect RIED score By Rose Lane Editor Fridayland Senator and Pro Tempore Greg Treat received a perfect score of 100 in the State Chamber Research Foundation’s RIED Program. RIED promotes economic growth through the evaluation
of business, job and economic growth issues considered by the Oklahoma Legislature. At the end of each session, RIED scores each legislator on their votes of various economic issues. Our other legislators scored as follows: • Senator Carri Hicks, D-40, 84.
• Senator Julia Kirt, D-30, 93. • Representative Nicole Miller R-82, 88. • Representative Cyndi Munson, D-85, 59. • Representative Eric Roberts, R-83, 91. State Chamber leaders said that 70 is considered a passing score.
In reiterating the determination of Oklahoma City during his State of the City address, Mayor David Holt pointed to residents’ strong commitment to working together. OKC’s citizens have been willing to invest in convenient DAVID HOLT and useful public OKC Mayor transit, he said. Seven months ago the city’s first bus rapid transit line, the Northwest Rapid, which goes up Classen and Northwest Expressway, was opened. “Our residents have asked for it, and though this is a service that takes a lot of planning, the improvements we have seen over the last 10 years are revolutionary,” Holt said. Through MAPS 4, rapid lines are also set to head to the northeast and the south. The next major decision point for the community is a regional transit system with rail-based elements, led by the long-awaited commuter rail line from Edmond to downtown OKC to Norman. A regional transit authority has been meeting for the last five years to develop this plan. “These systems take a long time to develop, fund and implement,” the mayor said. “But the RTA is closer than ever to a major step in the See OKC, Page 5
Lyric Theatre bringing back favorites, adding regional premieres during 2025 By Rose Lane Editor The Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma is bringing back some favorites, including “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Beautiful: The Carol King Musical” and “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!,”
as well as every-three-year production of “The Rocky Horror Show” and the annual “Lyric’s A Christmas Carol.” The season begins Feb. 12March 2, 2025 at Lyric at the Plaza with “Waitress, A Slice of Musical Heaven.” A playful and soulful score by sixtime Grammy nominee Sara
Bareilles inspires boundless joy in this Broadway smash hit. where Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, is stuck in a small town and an abusive marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop, until a baking contest
OKC FRIDAY: Fabulous at 50
Blending charm, humor, spirit Editor’s note: The following is a letter to OKC FRIDAY Publisher Vicki Gourley from Oklahoma Press Association Executive Vice President Mark Thomas. Dearest Vicki, Our hearty and unabashed congratulations to OKC FRIDAY on its colorful and creative 50 years covering Oklahoma City’s newspaper kingdom called Fridayland. From the beginning, the Gourley family and OKC FRIDAY have displayed a dazzling blend of charm, humor
and a crusading spirit. The paper’s early-day policy of 1,000 names and 100 pictures per issue established an unrivaled and influential publication reaching “more millionaires per subscriber than the Wall Street Journal” in their homes and offices. The editorial voice of OKC FRIDAY, established in 1974, announced the paper would “emphasize moderation and understanding in these times of excess See 50, Page 3
in a nearby county and the town’s handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. With a quirky crew of best friends and coworkers by her side, Jenna bakes a new life, one pound of butter, sugar, and flour at a time. Next is the regional premiere of a bold new play by
FRIDAY’s Dog of the Week This is Romeo. he is a 9-year-old French Bulldog. He suffers from tennis ball addiction. His dads are Gordon Gearn and Greg Gross.He loves to go to Costco and buy more tennis balls. He really is a good dog and loves anyone who will play ball with him. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.
Octavio Solis, “Mother Road,” April 2-19, 2025 also at Lyric at the Plaza. Acclaimed MexicanAmerican playwright Octavio Solis creates an unforgettable story for the 21st century and a timely, worthy successor to John See LYRIC, Page 5