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Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs

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Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs


Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and her team are back to paint Thunder-inspired designs on windows across Oklahoma City, spreading excitement for the NBA playoffs

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Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs

Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and her team are back to paint Thunder-inspired designs on windows across Oklahoma City, spreading excitement for the NBA playoffs

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WELL, OKLAHOMA CITY, IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR THE NBA PLAYOFFS AND WE ARE READY TO THUNDER UP. I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, OUR CITY SURE KNOWS HOW TO SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT. FROM WATCH PARTIES TO HOUSE DECORATIONS, OKC HAS GOT IT GOING ON AND THAT INCLUDES A LOCAL PAINTER. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER FROM LAST SEASON. OUR KOCO EVAN ONSTOT JOINING US LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM. WE HAVE THIS IN OUR NEWSROOM. EVAN, WE’RE ABOUT TO SEE BLUE AND ORANGE ALL OVER OKC. RIGHT. AND A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BE THANKS TO ARTIST MELISSA GRIGGS HENDRICKS. WE WATCHED MELISSA AND HER TEAM CREATE THUNDER MAGIC ALL OVER OKLAHOMA LAST YEAR, AND NOW SHE IS BACK. AND MAYBE EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE. MELISSA AND HER ASSISTANT CANDACE PAINT THUNDER IMAGES ON WINDOWS. ABBY, YOU MENTIONED WE HAD ONE RIGHT HERE IN THE KOCO NEWSROOM. AND SO THIS YEAR, THESE LADIES ARE BACK TO SPREAD SOME THUNDER EXCITEMENT. THEY SAY THEY’VE GOT EVEN MORE DESIGNS THIS YEAR AND THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN DOUBLE THE ART THIS SEASON. THEY JUST CAN’T WAIT FOR THE PLAYOFFS TO START. LAST YEAR FOR THE PLAYOFFS, WITHIN A TWO AND A HALF MONTH SPAN, WE PAINTED 157 LOCATIONS. SOME OF THOSE WERE HUGE AND SOME WERE SMALL. AS ONE WINDOW, WE HAVE A GUESS OF ABOUT 25 GALLONS. WE MAY HAVE MISSED A FEW. IT DOESN’T TAKE A TON OF PAPER FOR DESIGN TYPICALLY, BUT YEAH, ABOUT 25 GALLONS LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR I THINK WE’RE GOING TO DO A WHOLE LOT MORE. IT FEELS AMAZING TO BE BACK. I’M SO EXCITED. WE JUST HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME LAST YEAR AND I’VE REALLY MISSED THIS COMMUNITY OF JUST GETTING TO SEE EVERYBODY AND JUST BE A HUGE PART OF ALL THE EXCITEMENT FOR THE PLAYOFFS. YEAH, THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK. NOW. MELISSA SAYS THAT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING ANY OF YOUR WINDOWS PAINTED, YOU JUST GOT TO CONTACT HER THROUGH EMAIL. WE’RE GOING TO POST A

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Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs

Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and her team are back to paint Thunder-inspired designs on windows across Oklahoma City, spreading excitement for the NBA playoffs

Updated: 7:52 PM CDT Apr 10, 2026

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Oklahoma City is preparing for the NBA playoffs, and artist Melissa Griggs-Hendricks is bringing Thunder spirit to life with her signature window art. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterGriggs-Hendricks, along with her assistant Candace, is painting Thunder-themed images on windows throughout the city, including one at the KOCO newsroom. “Last year for the playoffs, within a two-and-a-half-month span, we painted 157 locations. Some of those were huge and some were small as one window,” Griggs-Hendricks said. “We have a guess of about 25 gallons. We may have missed it. It doesn’t take a ton of paint for a design. Typically, they get about 25 this year. I think we’re going to do a whole lot more.” She expressed her enthusiasm for returning this season. “It feels amazing to be back. I’m so excited. We just had such a great time last year, and I really miss this community of just getting to see everybody and just be a huge part of all the excitement for the playoffs,” Griggs-Hendricks said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Griggs-Hendricks and her team say they have even more designs planned this year and believe they can double their output from last season. Top HeadlinesWoman dies after being hit by a train in Pauls Valley, OHP saysOut-of-this-world playlist: Here’s what the Artemis II astronauts have been listening in spaceOHP releases details of deadly crash involving Oklahoma State softball team’s busRollover crash involving multiple vehicles causes significant traffic on SB I-35 near GoldsbyPennsylvania woman’s Ring camera captures machete-wielding neighbor

Oklahoma City is preparing for the NBA playoffs, and artist Melissa Griggs-Hendricks is bringing Thunder spirit to life with her signature window art.

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>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter

Griggs-Hendricks, along with her assistant Candace, is painting Thunder-themed images on windows throughout the city, including one at the KOCO newsroom.

“Last year for the playoffs, within a two-and-a-half-month span, we painted 157 locations. Some of those were huge and some were small as one window,” Griggs-Hendricks said. “We have a guess of about 25 gallons. We may have missed it. It doesn’t take a ton of paint for a design. Typically, they get about 25 this year. I think we’re going to do a whole lot more.”

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She expressed her enthusiasm for returning this season.

“It feels amazing to be back. I’m so excited. We just had such a great time last year, and I really miss this community of just getting to see everybody and just be a huge part of all the excitement for the playoffs,” Griggs-Hendricks said.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

Griggs-Hendricks and her team say they have even more designs planned this year and believe they can double their output from last season.


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Oklahoma

New task force to inspect Oklahoma’s early childhood programs

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New task force to inspect Oklahoma’s early childhood programs


OKLAHOMA –

Starting Nov. 1, a new task force will study how Oklahoma delivers early childhood services and look for solutions to improve Oklahoma children’s care, health and education rankings.

Governor Kevin Stitt signed HB 1979 into law on May 11.

The task force will also look at how early childcare, health, and education agencies can work collaboratively so families can navigate these services more easily.

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After two years, the task force could recommend a new governance structure to existing agencies into an agency that solely focuses on early childhood care, health, and education services.

Currently, 26 other states have implemented similar measures and are seeing positive results.

“Other states have found when they consolidate government services for early childhood, they are able to make targeted investments that actually improve outcomes for children,” said bill author Rep. Trish Ranson. “Right now, Oklahoma families have to navigate through 19 different programs through six different agencies to get the help they need. This taskforce looks at ways to better streamline this process so families are able to easily navigate the system and get the care they need. We will look at ways to fix the child care crisis long term, better prepare our children for school, and promote healthy living for families so Oklahoma children can grow strong and have the best opportunities for success.”





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Oklahoma

San Antonio at Oklahoma City, Final Score: Spurs’ late comeback falls short, 122-113

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San Antonio at Oklahoma City, Final Score: Spurs’ late comeback falls short, 122-113


The Western Conference Finals are at a stalemate thanks to chronic turnovers by the San Antonio Spurs. On top of that, Chet Holmgren finally showed up to the series, and OKC’s bench scored an abundance of relief points, which included Alex Caruso shooting like prime Klay Thompson. The series will now shift to San Antonio.

The Spurs never fell into a big crater (only 13 points), yet that deficit might as well be twice that with how desperate and physical the Thunder were playing. Victor Wembanyama was not the leading scorer this time (21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists) but his rim protection had opposing players seeing ghosts, rushing shots and trying to sell calls. But despite valiant efforts and multiple moments in which the deficit was cut to one possession, there wasn’t enough enough disruption at the arc, and the offense wasn’t flowing the same after Dylan Harper left with a leg injury in the third quarter.



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Oklahoma

OSDE launches teacher mentorship program in Oklahoma

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OSDE launches teacher mentorship program in Oklahoma


The Oklahoma State Department of Education has launched the Oklahoma Educator Launch & Mentorship Initiative, a statewide effort aimed at improving teacher recruitment and retention through training, mentorship and financial support for educators.

Oklahoma Teacher Initiative

The program includes a five-day Summer Launch Institute scheduled for July 27–31, 2026, followed by year-long mentorship support for first-year teachers.

OSDE said new teachers will be paired with experienced educators throughout the school year to help strengthen classroom readiness and long-term retention.

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“Participating first-year teachers may earn up to $2,000 in stipends, while mentors may receive up to $10,000 for supporting new educators,” said Autumn Kouba, OSDE’s senior director of teacher recruitment and retention.

Focus On Teacher Recruitment and Retention

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lindel Fields said the initiative is designed to support teachers early in their careers while recognizing experienced educators who serve as mentors.

“Recruiting great teachers is only part of the equation,” Fields said in a release. “We also have to ensure they feel supported, prepared, and encouraged to remain in the profession.”

Program Details

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  • Summer Launch Institute runs July 27–31, 2026
  • First-year teachers can receive up to $2,000 in stipends
  • Mentors may earn up to $10,000
  • Retired educators and experienced teachers can apply as mentors

What happens next?

Applications are open now, and the Summer Launch Institute begins July 27, 2026.





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