Connect with us

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City area shelters ready to house people through freezing temperatures, snow

Published

on

Oklahoma City area shelters ready to house people through freezing temperatures, snow


play

A local winter shelter has hundreds of beds for people experiencing homelessness, but the number of people seeking overnight shelter quickly swelled as freezing temperatures descended, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Taylor Self, communications director for the Homeless Alliance said the organization’s winter shelter, which opened in 2023, offers overnight shelter from November through March 31. Self said the Homeless Alliance leaders anticipated more people would seek safety and warmth at the shelter, 1601 NW 4, as temperatures plummeted in recent days, and their expectations were borne out.

Advertisement

“The great thing about it is it’s open nightly, and it’s open seven nights a week, so no matter the temperature, we’ve got space for up to 300 adults, and we also have space for pets and personal belonging storage,” she said.

“We’ve got space for up to 300, and when it was warmer in November and December, we were still seeing about 200 roughly, each night. Once the temperatures really started to drop, we’ve been seeing over 350 folks, especially since Monday, and I expect we’ll see it again, especially with the possible snow in the forecast tomorrow.”

Leaders at several other shelters also said they were meeting the need as people began seeking respite from temperatures dipping below freezing.

Advertisement

Annie Perkins, development and marketing manager for The Salvation Army Arkansas and Oklahoma Division Central Oklahoma Area Command, said the overnight shelter at The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 1001 N Pennsylvania, offers 120 beds for men, women and families, and it consistently stays full throughout the year.

Perkins said shelter guests check in about 3 p.m. each evening and are typically required to leave about 7 a.m., but they are allowed to remain at the shelter during the day during freezing weather.

“We are incredibly blessed to be able to offer emergency shelter and know that it’s of dire importance during this time of the year, and so we’re grateful for the community support,” she said.

Advertisement

Alex McGowan Rayburn, community engagement director at Sisu Youth Services, said the organization offers five emergency weather beds at its drop-in center for young people seeking shelter when the weather dips below freezing. She said the drop-in center has been full each night this week.

A single mother with an infant and two other young children was among families welcomed to an emergency shelter set up at a downtown Oklahoma City church this week.

The Rev. Katie Churchwell, dean of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, said the church opened on Sunday as an overflow shelter for families like the mom and her young trio. The church at 127 NW 7 began offering emergency shelter during freezing temperatures two years ago and, in April, the Oklahoma City Council gave its official approval for the house of worship to serve as a temporary cold weather shelter.

Advertisement

Churchwell praised the church volunteers, particularly Stephanie Jensen, a staff member serving as shelter coordinator, who had worked to get the shelter open on Sunday and continue to help in the ensuing days.

“We’ve got our outreach center to equip our families with items that they need, like shoes and things like that, and then, of course, space to sleep, to eat,” she said.

“It’s just been beautiful to see how many people have just given themselves to care for people in these really extreme moments.”

Churchwell said she was happy to report that the single mom was at the church for only a short time before more permanent shelter was found for them at City Rescue Mission. She said there were many partnering agencies working together to meet the needs of such families, offering things like housing and education for the children.



Source link

Advertisement

Oklahoma

Every Oklahoma State Cowboys’ College Football 27 Preseason Player Rating

Published

on

Every Oklahoma State Cowboys’ College Football 27 Preseason Player Rating


Since the return of EA Sports’ iconic college football game, its release has become a summer rite of passage.

It’s not just because gamers like the game or because players like the game. Since its return post-NIL, players can be themselves in the game. They get a small cut through an NIL agreement, and they can play the game with them and their teammates in it. Plus, EA Sports has made a commitment to making its player ratings as realistic as possible.

For those reasons and a host of others, the game’s popularity has soared far beyond an initial surge over pent-up demand when the game was shelved.

Advertisement

But it isn’t just the stars that get player ratings. Yes, those players get plenty of attention. But now every player that agrees to be in the game is in the game and gets a player rating. For Oklahoma State, that’s more than 70 players that are in the game and have player ratings.

Advertisement

With the game in wide release on Thursday, let’s dive into how each player is ranked.

Every OSU Player’s CFB 27 Player Rating

Advertisement

Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

EA Sports gives every player that is in the game an overall score, which is from 0 to 100. Those scores are based in part on six separate categories that also receive scores — speed, strength, agility, awareness, change of direction, injury and awareness. Those individual scores don’t add up to 100 and other factors go into the overall scores.

Going into the season just two Oklahoma State players have overall player ratings of 90 or better — running back Caleb Hawkins (91) and wide receiver Wyatt Young (90). Quarterback Drew Mestemaker is just outside that percentile at 89. Those scores can change during the season based on a variety of factors, including actual game play.

For now, here is the rating for every OSU player in the College Football 27 game:

Advertisement

RB Caleb Hawkins: 91

Advertisement

WR Wyatt Young: 90

QB Drew Mestemaker: 89

LB Ethan Wesloski: 87

CB Mo Horn: 86

Advertisement

EDGE James Williams: 84

Advertisement

WR Justin Bowick: 83

RB Ayo Adeyi: 82

WR Chris Barnes: 82

WR Miles Coleman: 82

Advertisement

OG Johnny Dickson III: 81

Advertisement

OT Braydon Nelson: 80

TE Donovan Green: 80

LB Isaiah Chisom: 80

WR Israel Polk: 80

Advertisement

FS Christian Bodnar: 79

Advertisement

OG Jacob Sexton: 79

SS Evan Jackson: 78

DT Jerry Lawson: 78

WR Rodney Harris II: 78

Advertisement

EDGE Braylon Rigsby: 77

Advertisement

DT Enai White: 77

DT Fatafehi Vailea II: 77

EDGE Jaleel Johnson: 77

TE Oscar Hammond: 77

Advertisement

DT Saadiq Clements: 77

Advertisement

OT Joseph Hanson: 76

WR Kam Powell: 76

CB LaDainian Fields: 76

EDGE Landon Dean: 76

Advertisement

OG Louie Canepa: 76

Advertisement

FS Mose Phillips III: 76

SS Cameron Epps: 75

RB KD Jones: 75

RB Tre Page III: 75

Advertisement

FS Vincent Holmes: 75

Advertisement

OT Ashton Lepo: 74

EDGE DeSean Brown: 74

DT Dominic Macon: 74

CB Kollin Lewis: 74

Advertisement

EDGE Malik Charles: 74

Advertisement

EDGE Rashod Bradley: 74

EDGE Billy Walton III: 73

EDGE Keviyan Huddleston: 73

SS Quinton Hammonds: 73

Advertisement

K Sam Keltner: 73

Advertisement

CB Trudell Berry: 73

RB William Mason: 73

LB Carl’veon Young: 72

CB Kobi Foreman: 72

Advertisement

LB Tate Romney: 72

Advertisement

LT Shaun Torgeson: 71

WR Terrence Lewis: 71

TE Bodie Boydstun: 70

LB Jack Puckett: 70

Advertisement

LB Trip White: 70

Advertisement

LB Dallas Winner-Johnson: 69

OG Desmond Magiya: 69

WR Jabarie Thornton: 69

P Lachie Pozzobon: 69

Advertisement

CB Marrel Davis III: 69

Advertisement

OG Miguel Chavez: 69

C Tyler Mercer: 69

QB Grant Jordan: 68

C Jakobe Sanders: 68

Advertisement

OT Kai Holec: 68

Advertisement

LB Taurean Davis: 68

SS Braeden Presley: 67

QB Broderick Vehrs: 66

EDGE DJ Jackson Jr.:65

Advertisement

TE Caden Yates: 64

Advertisement

LB Gunnar Wilson: 64

C Isaiah Bowman: 56

Advertisement
Add us as a preferred source on Google



Source link

Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s Brent Venables named to 2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason watch list

Published

on

Oklahoma’s Brent Venables named to 2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason watch list


The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. have announced the preseason watch list for the 2026 Dodd Trophy, recognizing 20 college football head coaches from across the Power Four conferences, the Pac-12 and one independent program.

The annual award honors the head coach whose program exemplifies success on the field while promoting scholarship, leadership and integrity, the three principles that defined legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s philosophy.

Oklahoma’s Brent Venables among nominees

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is one of six Southeastern Conference coaches included on this year’s watch list. Coaches became eligible after leading their current programs for at least two seasons and maintaining an Academic Progress Rate (APR) above the national average of 971.

Advertisement

The selection committee also considered each program’s Graduation Success Rate, community service efforts and projected performance during the 2026 season.

Coach School Conference APR (2024-25)
Bret Bielema Illinois Big Ten 988
Jeff Brohm Louisville ACC 972
Curt Cignetti Indiana Big Ten 989
Mario Cristobal Miami (FL) ACC 993
Spencer Danielson Boise State Pac-12 985
Ryan Day Ohio State Big Ten 1000
Kalen DeBoer Alabama SEC 1000
Sonny Dykes TCU Big 12 987
Mike Elko Texas A&M SEC 1000
Kirk Ferentz Iowa Big Ten 997
Jedd Fisch Washington Big Ten 991
Marcus Freeman Notre Dame Independent 1000
Willie Fritz Houston Big 12 989
Josh Heupel Tennessee SEC 993
Brent Key Georgia Tech ACC 997
Dan Lanning Oregon Big Ten 988
Lincoln Riley USC Big Ten 993
Steve Sarkisian Texas SEC 990
Kirby Smart Georgia SEC 981
Brent Venables Oklahoma SEC 997

Key facts

  • Twenty coaches were named to the preseason watch list.
  • Oklahoma’s Brent Venables included with a program APR of 997.
  • The Big Ten leads all conferences with seven coaches on the list.
  • Four previous Dodd Trophy winners are included.
  • Watch list coaches have combined for four national championships, 31 conference titles and 1,841 career victories.

What’s next for the award?

A midseason watch list will be released this fall and could expand or narrow the field. Finalists will be selected after the 2026 regular season by a panel that includes previous winners, national media members, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame representative.

The 2026 Dodd Trophy winner will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

We used AI tools to help with editing and formatting this story. A human journalist reviewed everything before publication.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Kip Lewis reveals why he returned to Oklahoma for senior season

Published

on

Kip Lewis reveals why he returned to Oklahoma for senior season


Kip Lewis returning for his redshirt senior season with the Oklahoma Sooners was one of the biggest wins of the offseason. Lewis has built an impressive career in Norman, racking up 209 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and five sacks with two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns.

Beyond his production, Lewis has become one of the emotional leaders of the Oklahoma locker room. Although the NFL was an option, Lewis believed another season learning under Brent Venables would put him in the best position for long-term success.

In a video shared by Oklahoma, Lewis explained the factors that led him to return to Norman for another season.

“I talked to a lot of people,” Lewis said. “Mostly, my family and then my dad. He was just giving me key points that he felt like I should have come back… Mostly talked to a couple of my teammates like John (Mateer) and Isaiah (Sategna), getting their thoughts on what their plan was. I asked Danny (Stutsman) for advice. Talked to him for a little bit. Advice from Danny really stood out to me.”

Advertisement

Getting advice from Stutsman likely played a significant role in Lewis’ decision. Stutsman was in a similar position following a strong 2023 season. Stutsman elected to return to Norman in 2024 and had another strong individual season. That resulted in him being taken in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Lewis’ decision to return gives Oklahoma one of the most experienced and talented linebackers in the country for another season. By following the same path as Stutsman, Lewis is betting on development and another opportunity to improve his draft stock.

If he continues to lead at the level he has throughout his career, his final season in Norman could be the one that cements him as one of the top defensive players in college football.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending