After strong tornadoes tore through Moore, Bethel Acres, El Reno and other towns in May of 2013, federal aid started flowing into Oklahoma -- a deluge in some places, barely a trickle in others. Who benefited -- and who lost out?

KGOU's Oklahoma Tornado Project has partnered with Oklahoma Watch to dive into the statistics and present a two-week series of reports set to begin on Monday, July 14. Listen during the newsmagazines for Kate Carlton Greer's reports and check back online at tornado.kgou.org for web-exclusive resources. The Oklahoma Tornado Project is funded through a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

 

KGOU will broadcast special programming over the long 4th of July holiday weekend -- some humor and great music to go along with your fireworks and backyard barbecue.

What better way to exercise our freedom than with a roast of newsmakers -- the Capitol Steps' Politics Takes a Holiday. We'll have three opportunities to catch this musical romp through the headlines, on Friday the 4th, Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th.

We'll celebrate America's music with highlights of this year's Jazz in June festival on Friday evening, with some great blues and jazz. Hear sets from Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola Duo, Dirty Red & The Soul Shakers, Samantha Fish, Boyd Street Brass, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, and more. See what's on when, on our Special Programs page.

 

KGOU was honored with two second-place awards by the Public Radio News Directors Incorporated for coverage of the May 2013 tornado that ripped through Moore and the south side of the metro. PRNDI named its awards recipients last month in Washington, D.C. and KGOU General Manager Karen Holp accepted the honors on behalf of the News department. See photos on our Facebook page, and see more details on our Awards page.

 

What does it mean to be a man in America today? All summer long, All Things Considered is exploring that question and more: How do boys learn to be men? How are identity and masculinity defined for and by young men? How have work, homelife, and men's health issues changed or not changed for adult and senior men? The series airs through September on All Things Considered, with all stories found in one spot at NPR.org, plus opportunities for audience input on social media using the hashtag #menpr.

 

If barbecue isn't your idea of the perfect summer feast, these seafood dishes from Here & Now's resident chef Kathy Gunst might be just the thing. Try her recipes for Summer Clams with Chorizo, Tomatoes and Basil (pictured) or her other seafood concoctions perfect for a picnic and/or cookout.