Update!

In case you are confused as to why there are short briefs below, this blog was used during a journalism class I took my sophomore spring '09 semester. Now, I'm using this blog for another journalism class; my internship credit class for my spring '10 semester at an Oklahoma City metro-area alternative weekly, the Oklahoma Gazette.

So I'm going to start with a little bit about me. My name is LeighAnne Manwarren, I'm a journalism student at the University of Oklahoma and as part of my spring internship credit, I was told to blog about my weekly doings. :)

Student videos informs of Oklahoma's high incarceration woman rate

OU sociology, criminology students' video won a state-wide contest. Their topic was about the high incarceration rate of women in Oklahoma. Photos by LeighAnne Manwarren.

In a recent report, Oklahoma was ranked number 1 with women incarceration in the country. Sociology and criminology students across the state were challenged to create a video detailing the numbers and the affects of the high incarceration rate of women. 

One of OU's criminology capstone class was one of the winning videos in the Social Innovation Challenge hosted by the University of Tulsa.

"We are fortunate to win the contest on last Friday afternoon. There is a $1000 prize associated with the honor," said Kelly Damphousse, sociology professor. 

Damphousse said his class plans on using the money through OU's criminology club to provide and develop programs at OU for children whose parents are incarcerated with the goal of encouraging them to attend college.

SIC is a program across the country, encouraging students to make a positive change in the community through creative and innovative ideas.

I-35 construction continues

Motorists see more construction on Interstate 35 in north Norman. Photos by LeighAnne Manwarren.

Motorists will be affected by two off-ramp and lane closures as construction continues on Interstate 35 in Norman.

The southbound I-35 off-ramp to eastbound Robinson Street closed Sunday, March 29 and is expected to reopen by the end of April, said David Meuser, Oklahoma Department of Transportation spokesman.

Meuser said motorists could still access eastbound and westbound Robinson using the westbound off-ramp.

The southbound I-35 off-ramp to US-77 closed Wednesday evening as workers replace the bridge over northbound I-35. The ramp is scheduled to reopen in four months.

Meuser said north and southbound I-35 will be narrowed to one lane as crews move barrier walls and repaint stripes on the pavement from around 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day. It will reopen to two lanes both directions during the day.

Phase One of the construction is scheduled for completion in summer 2010.

“We are on the target, time wise,” Meuser said. “Overall we have been very pleased at this point at how things are going.”

Big postponement for the Big Event

With a predicted snow storm headed for central Oklahoma, Big Event leaders postponed the event until mid-April. Snow began to fall Friday, March 27. Photos by LeighAnne Manwarren.

Due to the inclement of weather, OU's largest community service project, Big Event, was postponed to April 18.

Big Event Chair Amanda Holloway said the decision to postpone the Big Event from Saturday, March 28 until Saturday, April 18 was a joint decision between members of the Big Event executive committee, and personnel in Student Affairs, the President’s Office and at the National Weather Center.

While students were informed of the postponement, student leaders of the Nonprofit Leadership Student Association in association with the American Heart Association were disappointed by the change.

"That day is the American Heart Association's Heart Walk in Oklahoma City," Chelsea Mooneyham, biology sophomore and NLSA secretary, said. "With Big Event moved to that day, there is no way that the OU community can participate in that now."

Big Event leaders and university officials hope that students signed up for Big Event will still participate on its later date.

"We can’t please everyone, but we’re trying to do the best we can for the students and the organizations," Holloway said. "We’re getting everything ready to go on the 18th and looking forward to having a great day."

Economic hardships hit Norman Regional

Norman Regional laidoff 70 employee positions, hospital officials announced last Tuesday.

Hospital officials said in a statement due to current economic conditions affecting healthcare and other businesses both in the state and the nation, Norman Regional had to let go less than 200 employees within the year. Brenda Finkle, Norman Regional's public relations officer, said a majority of the layoffs were within the nursing staff, despite talk of a future nursing shortage.

Finkle said at this time, it would be inappropriate to speak to the staff over current nursing workplace obligations.

Hospital officials hope through the layoffs, it will finalize the actions of their economic recovery plan.

Hospital officials earlier this week cited lower patient revenue and higher accounts receivables affecting their budget. At the meeting, they have also identified an additional $5 million in non-salary savings for the remainder of the fiscal year, ending June 30, 2009.

**Norman Regional hospital. Photo by: LeighAnne Manwarren**

Norman proudly recogizes its black history

The first African American couple to purchase a home in Norman accepted the City of Norman's black history month proclamation.

George and Barbara Henderson were presented the official proclamation stating the month of February as Black History Month in Norman by Mayor Cindy Rosenthal at the Feb. 10 City Council meeting.

"We did not know that Norman was a 'sundown town;' if we did, we might have not gotten a house here," G. Henderson said. "The fact that we stayed here is a tribute to Norman; this is home."

The Hendersons have been residences of Norman since 1967, where B. Henderson became the first chair of the Norman Humans Rights Commission and G. Henderson became an esteemed faculty member of OU.

G. Henderson said as a community, Norman is better than it was yesterday and that he hopes it will continue to be so.

**Norman City Council prepares for its Feb. 10 meeting. Photo by: The Oklahoma Daily's Michelle Gray**

New trail connects north Norman to campus

A new bike and pedestrian trail is scheduled to be extended this summer along East Duffy Street near Campus Corner, connecting Campus Corner to north Norman.

More than 20 residents voiced their opinions about the extension that will be constructed practically in some of their front yards Thursday at the Norman City Hall Complex.

“Right now, I’m just trying to weigh out the pros and the cons of [the extension],” said Liz Jackson, a resident who’s property will be used in the project.

The trail, called the Legacy Trail, will replace old sidewalks from the intersection of Duffy Street and Jenkins Avenue with wider paths along the south side of Duffy Street and along the east side of Asp Avenue between Duffy Street and Campus Corner.

The second meeting was scheduled for March 2, but might be delayed because the first meeting was delayed during the ice storm, Norman Parks Planner James Briggs said. If it is rescheduled, it is still expected to be in early March, he said.

**Paul Stickley, CH Guernsey & Company engineer, talks about trail logistics to Norman residents. Photo by The Oklahoma Daily's Merrill Jones**