KGOU - Your NPR Source
KGOU e-Newsletter
July 23, 2015
Contents: Delta Dental, Benefits for Individuals and Families
  • Recovering from Katrina
  • Oklahoma DAs and Seized Assets
  • One-Question News Poll
  • NPR Reporters Pie-Fueled?
  • Capitol Steps Ticket Giveaway

NPR News: 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
submerged highways and houses Ten years ago next month, Hurricane Katrina roared ashore on the Gulf Coast, wiping out miles of the Mississippi coast and leading to levee breeches that submerged 80 percent of New Orleans for weeks. More than 1,800 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, bearing out the National Weather Service's prediction of "human suffering incredible by modern standards".

Throughout the month of August, NPR News and regional Member station reporters will examine Katrina's legacy in south Louisiana, coastal Mississippi, and cities such as Houston that absorbed large numbers of evacuees in the months and years after the storm. Listen for these stories across all NPR news programs, and watch for additions to the Katrina & Beyond section of NPR.org.

Here Come the 'Steps' -- Balcony Seats Now Available
The Capitol Steps' Mock the Vote Good seats are still available for the Capitol Steps as they arrive in Oklahoma City on Saturday, Aug. 22. They'll be bringing their special kind of parody to the events and people making headlines this election cycle, performing songs from their new CD release, Mock the Vote, at OCCC's Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater. Seats in the balcony section are now available as the lower sections fill up. Purchase tickets now, or if you're feeling lucky, enter our drawing for your chance to win a pair.
Seized Assets Misused by Oklahoma Criminal Justice System
tape printed with Evidence, Do Not Open Oklahoma state auditors have uncovered misuses of funds and property obtained through the state's civil asset forfeiture program, in which law enforcement can seize property believed to have been used in crimes. Auditors point to one district in northeast Oklahoma as an example, in which seized funds paid an assistant district attorney's student loans. Lawmakers have proposed new regulations for seizing property, but are getting pushback from law enforcement and district attorneys. KGOU's Kate Carlton Greer is working on a report for Weekend Edition -- check KGOU.org later for listening on-demand.
Public Media Partners Expand Collaborative Coverage
OPMX KGOU leads a consortium of public media organizations named the Oklahoma Public Media Exchange (OPMX), which operates the StateImpact Oklahoma project. The OPMX collaboration has expanded to coordinate the sharing of news content among the participating stations; you might have noticed those reports on KGOU.

One recent OPMX report apparently struck a chord -- Emily Wendler's report on some rural Oklahoma school districts moving to a four-day school week. It's been trending on the KGOU website since it aired July 7, and continues to gain attention. Listen to or read her report, feel free to share it, and take a quick, one-question poll to let us know what you think.
NPR Team Bikes Across Iowa, Powered By Pie
bicycle riders It's become something of a tradition at election time -- NPR is again fielding a team at this year's Register's Annual Great Bike Race Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). Taking part in the journey are White House correspondents Tamara Keith and Scott Horsley, science correspondent Joe Palca, and business editor Les Cook. They've named their team No Pie Refused, and you can ride along through the NPR On the Road Tumblr, where you can see the route they're taking and some of the local color -- without even breaking a sweat.
Ticket Giveaway ~ Capitol Steps "Mock the Vote" Aug. 22 in OKC
Capitol Steps Campaign season is just getting started, but the Capitol Steps already have plenty of material for their comedy send-up in show tunes! The Steps are bringing their hilarious show to the  OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater on Saturday, Aug. 22 -- enter our drawing for your chance to win a pair of tickets!
Congratulations to Our Winners
We gave away CDs of the Capitol Steps' latest recording effort, Mock the Vote, to some lucky folks who like to laugh: Joe, Barbara, Kent, Mark, John and Brian. Congratulations!