Marshall Stewart

To keep Tulsa vital, organizers of a summit on the city’s future say there must be more of an effort to keep and attract young people. Members of Tulsa’s Young Professionals took part in today’s EnVision Summit to kick around ideas on how to make the region a better place to live, work, and play. One of those young professionals is Janae Castell, who says she’d like to see the city use its’ positives to become a draw for young families.

Castell mentions the Arkansas River as an asset that should be more fully developed in order to help make Tulsa shine.

There is a month left in the legislative session and Tulsa leaders go to the state capitol to lobby for regional priorities.

There are six items on the list for action wanted by business, education and civic leaders in the area. At the top, education funding, health care expansion and transportation infrastructure dollars.

It is hoped the regional approach will work in directing more money for needs in the Tulsa area.

The Tulsa delegation heard from Governor Fallin and other state leaders.

(Tulsa, Ok)-The grandmother of a Bixby teenager meets and thanks the EMSA dispatcher who helped save her grandson’s life. Monday, Trent Morris received a 9-1-1 call from Bixby High School. A 15-year-old was in cardiac arrest. He guided a teacher through CPR and use of a defibrillator and the boy was revived. The grandmother,  Barbara Smart, says it’s critical to have those devices available in public places.

The boy has been transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital and will be placed on the heart transplant list.

Tulsa County’s second-in-command law enforcement officer is leaving. It’s been announced that Tulsa Undersheriff Brian Edwards will become the chief law enforcement officer at the Grand River Dam Authority in northeastern Oklahoma. His official title will be Assistant General Manager for Law Enforcement and Homeland Security. The official announcement came at the GRDA’s board meeting in Vinita. Edwards will retire April 27th. He’s been with the Tulsa Sheriff’s Office 31 years.

After citizen complaints and pressure from city councilors, the Tulsa trash board decides to allow you to choose your refuse cart size after all. The original plan was for everyone to start with the largest size and wait three months before making a change. Not a popular plan with residents or councilors like Phil Lakin, who doesn’t understand why small trash generators would have to use the large carts, even for a short amount of time.

(Tulsa, OK)-Charges have now been filed against the two suspects in the Good Friday shooting spree in North Tulsa. District Attorney Tim Harris’ office announced today that Jake England and Alvin Watts were each charged with three counts of 1st degree murder, two counts of shooting with intent to kill, and five counts of malicious harassment. Both men are being held in the Tulsa jail on bonds of more than 9-million dollars each. A judge is expected to set a preliminary hearing date Monday.

At times, Tulsa is still trying to overcome that image of ‘neglected stepchild’ to Oklahoma City, where the seat of state government is located. Tulsa city councilors and Tulsa area lawmakers hold an informal summit to talk about state legislation and its’ possible affect on citizens here. One of those in attendance at today’s meeting is Representative Jabar Shumate. He says Tulsa doesn’t want to lose out on opportunities, and the get together is a good start to improving collaboration.

Protestors want bond denied for the two suspects in the Northside shootings. Outside the Tulsa Courthouse, they also call for the case to be prosecuted as a ‘hate crime’. About a dozen sign carrying demonstrators gather in the courthouse plaza to demand those arrested in the shooting spree be held without bond. Protestor Andrew Burkes also says it’s a hate crime and should be treated as such.

Suspects Jake England and Alvin Watts are being held on bonds of more than nine million dollars each. It’s not been decided whether the case will be prosecuted as a hate crime.

Pastors in North Tulsa and city leaders call on people of faith to meet and discuss ways to keep young people on the right path. The pilot project will begin with a focus on the northside. At a city hall news conference, citizens are urged to attend a May 1st meeting at Greenwood Cultural Center. The effort is not specifically a response to the tragic shootings and manhunt over Easter Weekend, but Reverend Weldon Tisdale with Friendship Church says it shows how the city can come together.

A plan to adopt zoning changes in an older area near downtown Tulsa creates controversy. A lot of people turn out to debate a proposed form-based code for the Pearl District. The code focuses on developing dense urban areas into pedestrian and mass transit friendly neighborhoods, discouraging the use of cars. Jamie Jamieson, chairman of the Pearl’s urban design committee, says change is needed to revitalize the district.

Planning Commissioners will hold a May 16th work session to discuss the issue further.