Oklahoma

Oklahoma City marking 30 years since bombing killed 168 people

Published

9 months ago

April 18, 2025

Oklahoma City marking 30 years since bombing killed 168 people

A bomb with a force powerful enough to instantly destroy much of a nine-story building shattered a quiet Oklahoma City morning and sent a shock wave through America.

Saturday is the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, the deadliest homegrown attack in United States history that exposed a dark undercurrent of anti-government extremist anger.

A public ceremony to mark the anniversary at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum will include the reading of the names of the 168 people killed, remarks by victim family members and survivors, and a keynote address by former President Bill Clinton.

The victims

The dead ranged in age from three months to 73 years old. Nineteen of them were children. Hundreds more were injured.

The building that was bombed — the Alfred P. Murrah federal complex — included regional offices for several agencies, including the Social Security Administration, the FBI, the Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and a credit union. America’s Kids Daycare was on the second floor.

A woman comforts an injured child following an explosion at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. (DAVID LONGSTREATH / AP)

The bomb, a mixture of ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel packed into a rental truck, sheared off about a third of the building and caused floors to collapse on each other. Some victims not killed by the blast were crushed to death, buried by the falling structure.

The bombers

Authorities initially suspected the attack had been orchestrated by extremists outside the U.S., but the perpetrators turned out to be two former U.S. soldiers.

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols met while serving in the Army. The pair held a deep anger toward the American government that had been sharpened by the 1993 federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco that killed 76 people, and a standoff in the mountains of Ruby Ridge, Idaho, that left a 14-year-old boy, his mother and a federal agent dead.

The Oklahoma City bombing happened on the second anniversary of the fiery end to the 51-day Waco siege.

The front page of the Dallas Morning News on April 20, 1995, the day after the Oklahoma City... — The front page of the Dallas Morning News on April 20, 1995, the day after the Oklahoma City Bombing.(File image)

McVeigh drove the truck to the site and set the fuse to blow it up. He was convicted of 11 murder counts and executed by lethal injection in 2001. Nichols helped McVeigh plan and build the bomb. He was convicted of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter, and is serving life in prison.

Aren Almon poses for a portrait next to the memorial chair for her daughter, Baylee Almon,... — Aren Almon poses for a portrait next to the memorial chair for her daughter, Baylee Almon, at the Oklahoma City National Memorial on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nick Oxford)(Nick Oxford / AP)

Domestic extremism

The bombing exposed Americans to violent extremism and anti-government sentiment on home soil. McVeigh and Nichols sympathized with right-wing militia movements that sprang up in the early 1990s and continue to this day, often with ties to conspiracy theories, nationalism and white supremacist ideology.

How to tackle domestic political extremism has proved difficult and politically divisive in the 30 years since the bombing in Oklahoma.

In 1996, Clinton signed an “antiterrorism” law that toughened penalties for a wide range of crimes and made it a crime to target federal workers performing their duties. It also spent about $1 billion, most of it for the FBI, to expand counterterrorism efforts.

This aerial view shows the destroyed north side of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in... — This aerial view shows the destroyed north side of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City after a massive bomb blast, April 19, 1995. (Anonymous / AP)

Federal criminal law defines domestic terrorism as violence intended to coerce or intimidate a civilian population and to influence government policy, but there is no stand-alone domestic terrorism charge.

In 2022, the Justice Department created a specialized unit focused on what officials described as an “elevated” threat from violent extremists in the U.S. And some survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing have said they worry that anti-government rhetoric in modern-day politics could also lead to violence.

The memorial and ceremony

What was left of the federal building was torn down about a month after the bombing and a memorial complex was built in its place.

Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Scott Wilson watched as what was left of the Alfred P. Murrah... — Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Scott Wilson watched as what was left of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building was taken down on May 23, 1995. He painted ‘We Will Never Forget!!!’ on the back of his squad car. He was one of the first people inside the federal building after the bombing and helped the people still alive get out of the building. He went all the way to the top floor looking for people to help.(File Photo / The Dallas Morning News)

The memorial includes a museum, a reflecting pool and 168 empty chairs of glass, bronze and stone etched with the names of those killed. Nineteen of the chairs are smaller than the others to represent the children killed.

Gates to the memorial mark the times, 9:01 a.m. and 9:03 a.m., while the reflecting pond between them represents 9:02 a.m., the minute the bomb exploded. A “Survivor Tree,” a gnarled American elm that withstood the blast, now stands on a small hill and shades the memorial below.

The memorial site is among Oklahoma’s most popular destinations, typically drawing more than 500,000 visitors each year. School children arrive by the busload to learn about the dangers of political violence.

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Oklahoma

Former Oklahoma State QB Zane Flores announces transfer destination in the Big 12

Published

10 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Former Oklahoma State QB Zane Flores announces transfer destination in the Big 12

Former Oklahoma State quarterback Zane Flores has committed to Iowa State, via the NCAA Transfer Portal, per On3’s Pete Nakos. Flores spent three seasons with the Cowboys.

Flores began the 2025 campaign as Oklahoma State’s backup QB, but took over starting responsibilities in Week 2 after Hauss Hejny suffered an injury in the season-opener. Flores made nine appearances this past season.

He completed 59.8% of his pass attempts for 1,490 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions. Additionally, Flores recorded 117 yards and two scores in the ground game.

Zane Flores played high school football at Gretna (NE), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 467 overall player and No. 29 QB in the 2023 recruiting cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.

Flores is the 33rd player who has committed to Iowa State this offseason via the NCAA Transfer Portal. At the time of his commitment to the Cyclones, Flores was the No. 97 QB in On3’s 2026 Transfer Portal Player Rankings.

Iowa State is entering a new after longtime head coach Matt Campbell left the program to take over at Penn State. Campbell had been the head coach at Iowa State since 2016. In his 10 seasons at the helm of the program, he amassed a 72-55 overall record and a 50-40 mark in conference play.

In response to Campbell’s decision, Iowa State hired Jimmy Rogers to be its next head coach. Rogers was Washington State‘s HC in the 2025 campaign. He led the Cougars to a 6-6 overall record.

Prior to his time at the helm of WSU, Rogers was South Dakota State‘s head coach. In just two seasons with the Jackrabbits, he led the program to a 27-3 record and a 15-1 mark in conference play.

Moreover, in 2023, South Dakota State won the FCS National Championship. The team lost in the national semifinals in 2024, but won the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Now, he’ll look to lead Iowa State to similar heights.

“My family and I are excited to be joining the Iowa State University community and the Cyclone football program,” Rogers said. “Iowa State has been one of the nation’s top programs for the last decade and we look forward to building upon its upward trajectory. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity that Jamie Pollard has given me to lead the Cyclones.”

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Insurance Department offers guidance after Jan. 8 storms and tornado damage

Published

22 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma Insurance Department offers guidance after Jan. 8 storms and tornado damage

The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) offers support to residents affected by the severe storms that hit central and eastern Oklahoma on Jan. 8.

Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready emphasized the department’s commitment to helping those impacted.

“As we begin recovery after this severe weather, the Oklahoma Insurance Department is here to help,” Mulready said. “We want everyone affected to know that if you have questions about your policy, need assistance with the claims process, or just aren’t sure where to start, our Consumer Assistance Division is ready to support you every step of the way.”

Residents can reach out to OID’s Consumer Assistance division at 800-522-0071 or visit oid.ok.gov for support. Mulready also urged Oklahomans to report damage at damage.ok.gov.

The department provided several post-storm tips for victims, including documenting damage with photos or videos, making necessary temporary repairs, and consulting with trusted roofing contractors. Residents are advised to contact their insurance company after obtaining repair estimates and to save all receipts for any repairs made.

Additionally, the OID warned against contractor fraud, advising residents to get multiple bids, check references, and avoid paying upfront. Suspected fraud should be reported to the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit at 833-681-1895.

For more information on storm preparation and insurance coverage, visit oid.ok.gov/GetReady.

For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma storms bring widespread damage, tornadoes in Purcell and Shawnee

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma storms bring widespread damage, tornadoes in Purcell and Shawnee

8:45 p.m. Tornado Update from NWS Norman:

EF1 (high end) at Purcell
EF0 near Lake Thunderbird (south of Stella/northwest of Little Axe)
EF1 west and near the Shawnee Twin Lakes
EF1 in north Shawnee.
There are other areas of damage that we will continue to investigate.

Original story:

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Storms moved through parts of Oklahoma on Thursday morning, with at least five tornado warnings issued and two tornadoes that touched down in Purcell and Shawnee, leaving behind damage.

A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through central and eastern Oklahoma early Thursday that producing tornadoes, damaging winds, and power outages.

Preliminary information from the National Weather Service in Norman shows that at least EF-1 damage was found in Purcell. Survey teams are continuing to assess the damage that was left behind from the morning storms.

Officials also reported that widespread power outages occurred in the city, along with downed trees and powerlines, with nine homes having damaged roofs, and a semi-truck rollover accident on I-35 with one injury.

Shawnee also suffered some damage Thursday morning, which includes downed fences and partial roof loss at the Holiday Inn Express. As of Thursday evening, NWS officials confirm that a tornado did touch down in the northern portion of Shawnee; however, a preliminary rating hasn’t been given at this time.

According to Comanche County Emergency Management, damages related to the storms were reported across the City of Lawton, with roof damage at Sheridan and Lee, along with power pole and power line damage.

Lawton Fire Department responded to a rooftop fire at MacArthur High School on Thursday morning, caused by wind damage to AC units.

Lightning strikes in Edmond were reported to have caused a transformer fire near Covell and Kelly, with another lightning strike having caused a tree to fall on top of a vehicle near Covell and Broadway, resulting in one person being injured.

Straight-line winds were also reported to have destroyed a barn north of Guthrie, while structures were damaged in south Wynona, including a shop building that was devastated and a mobile home that was damaged.

Damage assessments are said to be ongoing at this time. News 4 will provide updates as we learn more.

According to NWS Norman officials, the last time the department issued a tornado warning in January was on January 10, 2020. However, Thursday’s reported tornado was not the earliest for a tornado to occur in Oklahoma. Tornadoes happened in Osage, Mayes, McIntosh, Ottawa, and Sequoyah Counties back on January 2, 2023.

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