Protecting Athletes

By

-

May 26, 2026

Athletic Training FC Tulsa — Students in Oklahoma State University’s athletic training program gain hands-on clinical experience, preparing them for careers that support athlete safety at schools, sporting events and healthcare facilities. Photos courtesy OSU Medicine

As sports tourism continues to grow across Oklahoma, athletic trainers remain a critical part of keeping athletes healthy, safe and performing at their peak. From college football Saturdays to youth tournaments that draw thousands of visitors into local communities, certified athletic trainers are often the first medical professionals on the scene when injuries occur.

According to Matthew O’Brien, Ph.D., director of clinical education in the School of Allied Health at Oklahoma State University, the profession has expanded significantly in recent decades, both in visibility and in responsibility.

O’Brien also mentions that athletic training is now recognized as a full healthcare profession by the American Medical Association. While many people associate athletic trainers strictly with sports teams, he explained that they also work in military settings, industrial workplaces, performing arts and public safety environments.

For students interested in entering the profession, the pathway has evolved substantially. Since 2020, all accredited athletic training programs in the United States have transitioned to master’s level education. Students must now graduate from an accredited master’s program before becoming eligible to sit for the Board of Certification exam.

At OSU, students gain hands-on experience through immersive clinical rotations that place them with collegiate athletic programs and medical sites across the country. O’Brien says the structure allows students to experience the full day-to-day responsibilities of an athletic trainer while working alongside teams and healthcare professionals in real-world environments. Those rotations often lead directly to employment opportunities after graduation.

“We joke that the word ‘adapt’ doesn’t start with the letter ‘A’ and end with the letter ‘T’ by coincidence,” O’Brien says, while describing the qualities students need to succeed in the profession. “Athletic trainers adapt on the fly consistently, day in and day out.”

Time management, versatility and communication are among the most important skills students develop during clinical education.

Injury prevention is one of the profession’s primary responsibilities. Athletic trainers evaluate injury trends, identify physical weaknesses and create individualized prevention plans. Those plans may include flexibility work, strengthening exercises, taping, bracing and workload management designed to reduce the risk of injuries.

“[Injury prevention] is proactive,” O’Brien says. “I think some of the best injury prevention specialists out there are athletic trainers, and they identify where the underlying cause of injury is.”

When injuries do happen, athletic trainers oversee the recovery process from initial evaluation through rehabilitation and return-to-play progression. O’Brien explains that athletic trainers often coordinate with physicians, coaches and strength staff to balance an athlete’s immediate recovery with long-term health and safety.

Their importance becomes even more visible on game day. Athletic trainers prepare emergency action plans, monitor athlete health, apply protective equipment and respond immediately to injuries. O’Brien notes that many high schools, particularly in rural Oklahoma, still lack full-time athletic trainers, leaving coaches or administrators to manage medical situations without training.

“Regardless of your sport or age, you want to make sure you have the most well prepared, the most medically responsible individual to be able to be on site at the time an injury occurs,” O’Brien says. “Here in Oklahoma, we have less than 20 percent of secondary schools that have access to a full-time athletic trainer.”

As Oklahoma continues attracting athletes and sporting events from around the region, athletic trainers remain essential to both athlete safety and the overall success of sports tourism statewide.

Low-To-No Cost Adventures

By

Sonya Colberg

-

May 26, 2026

This summer, you can enjoy time off with the kiddos and keep them entertained – without dropping a dime. After all, there are plenty of free, high-energy and low-cost summer adventures waiting just around the corner.

Gathering Place

This award-winning 70-acre Tulsa park along the Arkansas River offers free admission, parking and 100-plus activities. Explore art exhibits, splashpads, a high-octane BMX pump track, sports courts and 16 acres of wildflowers.

“There’s really something for everybody,” says Sydney Brown, the park’s marketing and communications manager. “People can come early and stay late. Or they can kind of pick and choose what sounds the most fun to them.”

Crowd favorites include free kayak and paddle boat rides, Friday to Monday.

“But this Route 66 Festival will be the biggest event we have all year,” says Brown.

Indeed, you don’t have to drive 400 miles to get your Route 66 nostalgia fix. Just putter over to Gathering Place and fill ‘er up. You’ll find on-stage performances, hands-on activities, food trucks, special demonstrations, plus these additional complimentary activities:

Sand sculpture showcase (June 25-28): Watch a world-class sand sculptor creating a gigantic masterpiece at Willow Beach.

“It’s like one of those quirky roadside attractions you might see along Route 66,” Brown says. “People can actually watch it come together.”

Sneaker art (through July): View “Get Your Kicks!” sneaker art at the ONEOK Boathouse. Vote for your favorite, then see the winner announced during the Route 66 Festival on July 18.

Check Gathering Place social media for more information.

The Home Depot Workshops

While you may be skeptical about taking your toddler to a home improvement store, the Home Depot offers free kids’ workshops monthly, teaching kids helpful, hands-on skills that are also highly entertaining.

“The workshops happen on the first Saturday of every month starting at 9 a.m., while supplies last,” says Madison Stevens, the company’s senior specialist of brand communications. Summer workshops include:

• Goalie Game On (June 6): “This is going to be themed for the FIFA World Cup,” shares Stevens. “You won’t want to miss this one.”

• Go Kart (July 4): Kids build and decorate a wooden go kart model.

• Rocket Game Workshop (August 1): Participants construct a rocket game, an in-demand wooden project.

Workshops teach children, ages 5-12, to follow instructions, build creativity and use tools, says Stevens.

Local Libraries

Children lose about two months of reading achievement if they skip reading during the summer. So, Oklahoma’s libraries are sweetening reading by offering prizes like Pizza Hut coupons or free books via the Summer Reading Challenge through August.

Kids can also explore 3D-printed skull mystery challenges,100-plus gardening workshops and countless reading readiness activities at library systems statewide.

The exciting “Experience Pass” – offered by Metropolitan Library System and Pioneer Library System in central Oklahoma – offers free access to local museums including the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and Skeletons: Museum of Osteology.

The Tulsa City-County Library also offers free, all-ages activities, performances and prize-filled reading challenges at all 24 locations.

More Budget-Friendly Ideas This Summer:

State parks, including Spring River Canoe State Park (free day trips) and Tenkiller State Park (low daily entry fees)
Free museums, including Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City, and Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center
Free tribal nation activities include the Indian Hills Powwow (July 22-26, OKC) and Oklahoma Indian Nation Powwow (July 31-August 2, Concho)

Rebuilding Greenwood’s Future

By

Carol Mowdy Bond

-

May 26, 2026

download (5) — After the violence of 1921, smoldering debris and shattered buildings mark what was once known as Black Wall Street in Tulsa’s Greenwood District. Photos courtesy the Oklahoma Historical Society

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre which took place between May 1 and June 1, 1921, in Tulsa’s Greenwood District.

As a way to look towards the future while commemorating the past, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols IV announced the formation of The Greenwood Trust in June 2025, as part of the city’s Road to Repair – a civic commitment that translates into structured, independent action.

“The Greenwood Trust is a private, charitable trust dedicated to economic growth and making sure the massacre survivors and descendants thrive,” Nichols says. “The trust was designed to invest in things like housing, cultural preservation, education and entrepreneurship.”

Nichols recounts that 1,300 houses and businesses were burned to the ground during the massacre.

“So, the idea that we would invest ourselves back into these things makes a lot of sense, and in a way that we can engage with folks in this conversation,” he shares.

Thus far, the trust has been well received by local groups as well as high-profile national foundations.

“We think of this as reparative economic development, and taking areas that once were thriving but now are not thriving, and we’re doing it so that the area would be much better if this disaster never happened,” Nichols says.

He describes how the event stole pride and opportunity from victims and their descendants.

“This is a city where people came here and beat the odds when it was very difficult for Black folks in the early 1900s,” he explains. “We have a really special story and that story cannot end in a massacre.”

The Greenwood Trust has three focus areas. The Housing Fund centers on housing and homeownership benefits for the massacre survivors and descendants. The Cultural Preservation Fund targets improving buildings, reducing blight and helping implement the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan. The Legacy Fund allows for development of trust-owned land, acquisition of land to benefit survivors and descendants, scholarship funding and economic development.

As well, the 1921 Graves Investigation continues, with excavation and exhumation of Oaklawn Cemetery graves where victims were buried. Nichols says 91 graves have been found thus far. Tulsa is implementing a Department of Justice grant involving DNA and genealogical analysis of those exhumed. Then a process begins to find and notify descendants who may choose to have the victims reinterred or choose to inter them someplace else.

“We’ve taken the darkest day and a half in our city’s history and we’ve determined that we’re going to lean into it in a way that is not divisive, but that repairs harm,” Nichols says. “What a great contribution on the victims’ behalf that it was Tulsa that came back, providing a pathway to the future.”

Educating the Youth

Tulsa Public Schools’ (TPS) public relations director Kyle Boone says the district has integrated relevant, age-appropriate instructional materials on Greenwood history, Black Wall Street and the 1921 massacre into grades 3-12 curriculum.

TPS is also partnering with Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center, which hosts students for interactive tours, and TPS supports the center through the 2021 bond.

“TPS is committed to embracing our past, reflecting on the present and preparing students for the future,” says Boone.

Oklahoma’s Best-Kept Resource

By

Lisa Perry

-

May 26, 2026

Tanglefoot Farms — OSU Extension educators and volunteers provide hands-on guidance, research-based resources and community programming to Oklahomans in all 77 counties. Photos courtesy the OSU Extension

With its extensive, impressive spectrum of programs and services available to residents of all ages in all 77 counties, you’d think Oklahomans would have their nearby OSU Extension office on speed dial. But only 40% of residents know what it is and what it does.

Damona Doye, Ph.D., OSU Extension’s associate vice president, manages the daily operations of 500 staff and a multitude of additional volunteers who are the educators, administrators and researchers that drive the organization. They work out of and alongside county offices strategically located around the state that serve both rural and urban residents.

“We want to be accessible to everybody and provide research-based information for youth, individuals, families and businesses,” she says. “We are a long-standing service that aims to help people make informed decisions with respect to agriculture and natural resources, family consumer sciences and youth development through our county personnel and our digital presence.”

Add OETV programming (“Oklahoma Gardening” and “Sunup TV”) to Extension offerings that continue to help, educate and impact Oklahomans year-round.

Rural residents rely on the Extension’s agricultural resources, such as a first-time farming program and education in soil and water testing, pesticide safety and a rapid response team for crops, livestock and economic issues. Local disaster assistance is available as well. About 1,300 certified volunteers lead student 4-H groups in rural areas, towns and cities, plus a myriad of school presentations. Adult workshops on an array of educational topics are offered, too. Little-known services include an undergrad scholar program, a student project featuring collaboration with faculty and a county educator. OSU Extension can even certify county officials on purchasing practices.

Horticulture education is the most popular resource of Oklahoma City residents, and they are among many who utilize OSU Extension’s robust roster of 300 Master Gardeners.

“The Master Gardener volunteer program again expands our capacity,” says Doye. “Two million educational engagements via consultations and booths and school enrichment programs. Our Oklahoma Gardening YouTube channel has 132,000 views.”

But what, exactly, happens inside Extension offices?

“They respond daily to calls, emails and walk-ins on an interesting array of questions,” Doye says. “‘Why are my tomato plants turning this color?’ ‘What educational or engagement opportunities do you have for my youth?’”

With the organization’s insect diagnostic lab, staff even have information that can help answer consumer questions about annoying bugs they may be dealing with.

“We could write books about just the range of questions that come in to us, either as specialists or in the county offices,” says Doye.

Working as a staff member or volunteer is a labor of love.

“The thing that drives and motivates people is what we describe as an ‘Extension heart,’” Doye says. “They want to serve people. It’s not like they’re getting rich in this role or job, and they often have long work weeks and long days. I certainly appreciate all the work that they do. We all live to do those things because we’ve seen the value and recognize its importance in terms of building up our communities.”

An Impresario’s Enduring Impact

By

John Wooley

-

May 26, 2026

In my 20 years of writing this column, I’ve naturally spotlighted some people more than once. But I suspect I’ve devoted more words here to Tulsa’s music impresario, Jim Halsey, than I have to anyone else.

Of course, there are good reasons for that. When I joined the entertainment section of the Tulsa World, back in 1983, the Tulsa-based Jim Halsey Company had been the No. 1 country-music booking agency in the world for some time, with his organization representing a huge percentage of country stars – along with some big names from other genres as well. At the time, Halsey himself was personally guiding the careers of such superstars as Roy Clark, Hank Thompson and the Oak Ridge Boys. Jim Halsey and his clients were consistent newsmakers then – for a long time, it seemed like we were running at least a story a week related to the Halsey Company in some way or another.

Forty years later, Jim Halsey – at age 95 – is still a luminary, not only continuing as the manager of the Oak Ridge Boys and working with other acts but also looking ahead to a number of projects, including exhibitions of the immense and invaluable music business memorabilia he’s collected during his nearly eight decades as a promoter and manager – some of which is now seeing the light of day at the Museum of Tulsa History. More about that shortly.

On June 2, Halsey is scheduled to be awarded the Country Music Association’s Touring Lifetime Achievement Award, given, according to the CMA website, to “an individual who has accomplished the highest level in the Country Music field of touring.” The presentation will be done via a video linkup between Nashville, where the award is officially being presented, and Tulsa, where Halsey and his career are set to be celebrated at an event called “An Evening with Impresario Jim Halsey,” taking place at the Oral Roberts University Global Learning Center and benefiting Oklahoma students pursuing careers in the music industry. I’m proud to say that I’ve been asked to emcee that celebration, where I’ll join not only Jim and his artist wife, Minisa Crumbo Halsey, but also a number of entertainers from various genres who’ve worked with Halsey through the years. Although rosters can change, as I write this the artists scheduled to perform include Jana Jae, Don White, Rodney Lay, Shelby Eicher, Alaska and Madi, Barron Ryan, Leona Mitchell and Kyle Dillingham.

Jim Halsey was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2000 by country music star Roy Clark, recognizing his lasting impact on the industry.
Photo by John Southern

While not having anything like that kind of space, MOTH has already begun exhibiting some of Halsey’s major pieces, including the piano that Tulsa legend Leon Russell played on his 2010 Union Tour with Elton John.

“Our relationship with Jim began by being centered mainly around Leon Russell,” says MOTH CEO David Goldenberg. “People just love seeing that piano and knowing that the two of them played it.

“Elton John said, ‘There would be no Elton John if there were not a Leon Russell.’ And add to that the impact Jim Halsey had on Leon Russell, and on so many other artists. It’s phenomenal. Jim Halsey really represents the music of the 20th century; he’s probably the most prominent promoter of that century. So we’re thrilled to have that for our first, if you’ll excuse my calling it this, eye-candy exhibit. It also includes an autographed guitar from Leon and a jacket of his. We have his hat. So that first piece is very much Leon Russell.

“Now,” he adds, “the second piece we’re developing is not yet in its full form. We keep adding to it. But it’s got Roy Clark’s guitar, signed, and his boots and overalls from Hee Haw. We have Wanda Jackson’s guitar and one of her dresses. We’re building this place, if you will, in the museum that’s going to be devoted to music.”

“There’s probably a million dollars worth of stuff in there already,” Halsey says of MOTH, “including a Hank Thompson suit made by [the famous tailor] Nudie that’s just fantastic. It’s worth $85,000, and it’s on display.”

Jim Halsey poses with the The Oak Ridge Boys, one of the many acts he has guided throughout his decades-long career in the music industry. Photo by Libba Gillum/Country Weekly

For all of that, however, Halsey knows that no matter how enthusiastic and cooperative Goldenberg and the MOTH staff are, space limitations will ultimately prohibit exhibiting all, or even a major part, of his collection. He’s grateful to MOTH and its people, as well as the folks who run the Independence Historical Museum and Art Center. At the same time, he longs for something even bigger, and his words give an idea of the incredible scope and depth of his collection as well as his desire to see all, or at least most, of it on public display.

“You know,” he says, “the largest tourist attraction in the state of Tennessee is the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Tulsa needs something like that – a major exhibition of music-business awards, citations, memorabilia, instruments, stage wear, gold and platinum albums, and photos. We have over a million photos. No one in America has a collection like ours, with Annie Leibovitz, Dezo Hoffmann, Bruno Barnard of Hollywood, David Montgomery. These are the top photographers in the world, and we have an exhibition of their work that goes out. Recently, it was up at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas.

“We have over 126 gold and platinum album awards from the various artists we’ve represented over the years; twenty-some of them are from Oklahoma,” he adds. “We have tons of eye candy that’s still in storage and in boxes. Nobody other than the Country Music Hall of Fame has the extent, or the magnitude, of what we have. It just needs to be displayed in Tulsa, and MOTH has given us an opportunity.

“People need to see this type of thing,” Halsey concludes. “They’re not only entertained and stimulated by it, but it’s educational. It creates inspiration. What we’re trying to do with it is not only get it out there where people can get some entertainment and enjoyment out of it, but they can also say, ‘How did this happen? Did this happen in Tulsa?’”

And, certainly, it did.

Living with Drought

By

Jennifer Lee

-

May 26, 2026

Drought is not new to Oklahoma – in fact, it has always been a regular part of life in the state. Oklahoma sits in a transition zone between the humid eastern U.S. and the semi-arid High Plains climate, thus, rainfall naturally swings a lot from year to year and decade to decade.

The good news is that in the long-term, Oklahoma is not getting steadily drier – it has always been prone to dramatic swings with wet reversals mixed in.

“However, there has been a stronger drought signal over roughly the last 25 to 30 years,” says Gary McManus, Oklahoma’s state climatologist.

When the rains dwindle, the atmosphere pulls moisture out of the ground and vegetation, which intensifies the drought faster and raises the risk of flash drought when low rainfall combines with heat and wind.

After years of drought conditions, June 2025 brought some relief for the first time in nearly six years, but the drought expanded rapidly late last year. Oklahoma experienced a historically warm period, with the warmest winter on record.

“That kind of heat, especially when paired with wind and spotty rainfall, can accelerate drought development in a hurry,” McManus says.

With a few well-timed storm systems, Oklahoma can improve quickly, but true recovery usually takes longer than one wet stretch.

In the meantime, for farmers, dry weather means less water availability and more water needed for irrigation. Lack of adequate water can lower crop yields, increase costs and decrease profits. Drought stress can also impact livestock production when water supplies are scarce. For fishing and recreation, dry weather means lower lake levels that affect fish habitats and water quality. Sedimentation and warming waters can reduce fish populations and recreational value. Adequate water levels are also critical for boating and other water-related recreation, which is a key economic driver for many areas of the state, particularly in the east.

Drinking water is affected as well. Cities and rural water systems depend heavily on reservoirs for water supply – when supplies shrink, water restrictions become more common, treatment costs increase and systems can suffer economic loss due to the lack of adequate water for businesses; smaller systems are especially vulnerable.

Oklahoma’s water supplies are not necessarily shrinking, but the state does run the risk of having less reliable and usable supplies due to drought, aging infrastructure, sedimentation in lakes and reservoirs and rising demand.

Oklahoma leadership is asking citizens to adopt conservation measures and has implemented mandatory odd/even watering schedules to manage water use effectiveness. The use of rain barrels is also encouraged.

“State leaders recognize that reliable water supplies are foundational to public health, public safety, local economic prosperity and Oklahoma’s competitiveness,” says Julie Cunningham, executive director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB).

To help the state through the current drought, Oklahoma is being proactive in ensuring that water supplies adequately meet the needs of citizens and industries – both now and in the future.

The 2025 Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan (OCWP) is the state’s roadmap for ensuring reliable water supplies for Oklahoma’s future.

“It identifies long-term water needs across 13 regions, assessing supply, demand and infrastructure to support economic growth and environmental stability through science-based, collaborative planning,” says Darla Whitley, OWRB’s communications director.

As always, Oklahoma will get through this dry spell with collaboration, innovation and shared commitment to protect the state’s most critical natural resource: water.

Oklahoma’s Recycling Reality

By

Drew Joseph Allen

-

May 26, 2026

2018 PIO Media MRF Tour (26) — Oklahoma City officials say proper sorting and clean recyclables can significantly reduce contamination and keep more materials out of landfills. Photos courtesy the City of OKC

Recycling is a complex system throughout Oklahoma. Thousands of citizens participate in one way or another, but what exactly is getting recycled?

“The City of Oklahoma City accepts six specific types of recyclables in its residential curbside recycling program,” says Jennifer McClintock, spokesperson for the Oklahoma City Utilities Department. “These include paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, milk, juice, and frozen food cartons as well as basic household plastics such as plastic bottles, containers and tubes – mostly those found in the kitchen, bathroom or utility room.”

To keep it simple, OKC citizens place all items in the Big Green recycling carts and make sure everything is empty, clean and dry.

“We don’t want customers to bag their items or put any plastic bags in their carts,” says McClintock. “For a complete list of acceptable items, we encourage customers to visit our website at recycleokc.com and look at our Do’s and Don’ts page,” she continues.

Even with all those instructions, human error can, and does, occur.

“What we can say is that of the total tonnage of items collected in customers’ Big Green recycling carts, about thirty percent is considered contamination and must be sent to a landfill, because the items in those carts are either not recyclable at all – we’ve seen everything from dirt, rocks, landscape waste, toilets, garden hoses, metal cooking utensils and car parts – or they are recyclable but not accepted in Oklahoma City’s curbside recycling program,” says McClintock.

The items that can be recycled are taken to a Materials Recovery Facility, or MRF.

“Those items are then sorted by material type, baled and then bundled for transport within the state and surrounding region, where they are accepted by various recycling manufacturers,” continues McClintock.

Items not accepted or contaminated are pulled and sent to a landfill.

“Unfortunately, this can include good, recyclable items that are put in plastic bags before being put in carts – another reason we don’t want plastic bags in our carts,” she says.

While plastic bags are technically recyclable items, OKC does not accept them because they often get caught in the MRF equipment.

OKC continues to make efforts to reach out to customers to better keep them informed.

“In November 2025 we launched our new ‘What Goes Where’ online sorting tool, an interactive database that helps customers sort items by whether those items belong in their regular household trash, recycling carts, bulky waste, or be taken to the city’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility,” says McClintock.

Simple ways to make a difference include not putting food or liquid in the carts, setting up a centralized location in the home to collect recyclables and signing up for the city’s recycling blog.

For any items not accepted, you can always try to repurpose them.

“For example, take plastic bags to big box stores or grocers that accept them,” says McClintock. “For other items, post about them in Buy Nothing or other online groups – you never know what folks may be looking for.”

Strait Outta Istanbul

By

Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

-

May 26, 2026

Where do you go when you want to experience a menagerie of senses? Or awaken to the aroma of Turkish espresso while viewing splendid architecture outside your hotel window? Do you desire to walk lively streets and bazaars of exotic spices, huge figs and roasted chestnuts? Or turn a corner to enter the Grand Bazaar, where thousands of shops shimmer and shine with their baubles and bags? Perhaps it’s massive monuments, mosques and minarets you seek … or simple kebabs, kokorec and pomegranate juices. Maybe it’s “Turkish Delight on a moonlit night”?

From sparkling lanterns and glamorous garb to locals in subdued dress and head covers, the contrasting visuals are part of Istanbul’s intrigue. Like the song says, “Istanbul was Constantinople. Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople,” but for many, it still is Constantinople, the city of Byzantium.

Remnants of Greek essence and origins exist from corners of Hagia Sophia, where original iconography peeks out of the plaster to mythological features found elsewhere in the city. The name “Constantinas” is a reference to people who have roots dating back to Constantinople’s era. Constantinople translates to “the city of Constantine” (the emperor) and Istanbul means “to the city.” Whichever way it’s referenced, it’s a spectacle that spans two continents, Europe and Asia. Even the Bosphorus is also spelled Bosporus! Being located on the coast of the picturesque Bosporus Strait absolutely enhances Istanbul’s mesmerizing vistas.

Day One: Stay in the heartbeat of the city-center with packed streets, usually safe with undercover security. Stroll avenues of enticing restaurants and rotisseries. Attend a Whirling Dervishes show and learn about their ritualistic journey to enlightenment. Savor an elaborate Turkish dinner.

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar dazzles visitors with thousands of shops filled with spices, textiles and treasures. Photo by Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

Day Two: Accomplish your sightseeing all on foot! The walkability of the city-center is a perk. Descend into the Basilica Cistern, the ancient underground water storage system. The once functional system resembles an elegant ballroom. The glow of lights creates an intimate atmosphere as you follow the maze-like paths. The height prevents it from feeling claustrophobic or underground. Ornate details decorate the structure as Medusa statue heads seem to “hold court” as well as a shadowy visage of the mythological creature projected onto a wall. Ascend into the street to wander shops or taverns where rich textiles and comfy cushions invite you to sit and recharge with refreshments. Next, get in line for the astounding Hagia Sophia, the pinnacle of Byzantine architecture later converted into a mosque. Skip long lines by hiring a private guide with immediate access. The nearby Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace are crowded, so plan for a guide.

Day Three: Bazaar Day! The Grand Bazaar is overwhelming but worth it. There are thousands of stores, and if mini-showrooms don’t have the exact product you want, vendors may usher you to larger showrooms in back alleys for the hard sell. The Spice Bazaar, this travel writer’s favorite, is more laid back and charming. Take a sunset cruise on the Bosporus Strait which outdoes many famous European rivers. The illuminated boats and buildings along the shores give a magical touch to the night’s dark sky. Performances range from spiritual Whirling Dervish solos to sensual belly dancers and lively folk dancers.

Day Four: A unique adventure to accomplish today involves long walks; one to Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate where the Patriarch resides and where holy relics are displayed. Walking back to the city-center, cross the Bosphorus Bridge for the experience of connecting Europe to Asia over the Bosporus Strait. End each night atop a rooftop bar overlooking an incandescent city.

Days 5 and on: Explore the other regions of Turkey now that you’ve experienced the delights strait ‘outta Istanbul!

Hotter Than It Looks

By

Henry Dolive

-

May 26, 2026

thermometer shows a high temperature during heat wave

While Oklahomans cope with the warmth – and oftentimes nastiness – of late spring weather, the clock has already pushed ahead to the inevitable onset of summer and its accompanying searing heat.

In Oklahoma, that heat, which can skyrocket to 100 degrees or higher, is exacerbated much of the time by an unwelcome accomplice: humidity. Higher levels of humidity can make the actual temperature feel hotter than it is. When that happens, the real, in-the-shade temperature reading doesn’t matter all that much.

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service (NWS) have devised a way to measure just how hot it feels outdoors: the Heat Index.

Rick Smith, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS’s forecast office in Norman, explains that the Heat Index is a way to measure the relative comfort level for folks who want or need to spend time outdoors. when it’s hot. He also passed on some common-sense safety tips for making the best of a sticky situation.

The Heat Index, Smith says, is derived from a mathematical formula. The result “is a way to measure how hot it feels to the human body. The higher the humidity, the hotter it feels during the summer.”

Smith pointed out that official temperatures are taken in the shade.

“So the Heat Index doesn’t take into account that you might be in the sun and not in the shade,” he says. “If you’re in the sun, you’re going to feel much hotter.”

The NWS website explains in detail how the Heat Index is determined, and charts the “feels like” temperature for each degree of relative humidity at any given temperature. When the relative humidity is high, there is lower evaporation from the body; less heat is removed from the body, and the more uncomfortable you feel. Conversely, when the relative humidity is lower, evaporation is higher and more heat is removed from the body and the more comfortable you feel. Smith says the Heat Index formula is a lengthy, complex calculation, and its formula is available on the NWS website.

The standard advice for dealing with intense heat, Smith says, is just to be aware of the weather. People who need to be doing something outside should do it in the morning or evening, rather than in the middle of the day, he adds.

“If you have to be outside, take frequent breaks,” he says, and take advantage of any available air conditioning. “Drink plenty of water – the basic things we talk about for the middle of summer.”

The NWS points out that heat is the leading weather-related killer in the U.S., resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year. Heat can be taxing and can lead to illness, or make existing health conditions worse for older adults, young children and infants, and people with chronic medical conditions.

The good news for Oklahomans, Smith says, is that the state isn’t situated near the Texas coast or anyplace else that deals constantly with intense humidity, along with the expected summer heat. He says long-range predictions for Oklahoma’s upcoming summer of 2026 show an average or slightly above average temperatures.

In reality, he says, there is one given: “It’s gonna be hot.”

For More Information

The National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office
405-325-3816
weather.gov/oun

Heat Safety
weather.gov/safety/heat

Heat Index Overview
noaa.gov/jetstream/synoptic/heat-index

Living & Aging Well

By

Carol Mowdy Bond

-

May 26, 2026

Senior people enjoying bingo game in nursing home — Group of four cheerful senior people, two men and two women, having fun sitting at table and playing bingo game in nursing home

For anyone thinking about heading towards or currently in their golden years, a myriad of evolving opportunities are available for this stage of life. Aging in place in one’s own home, with in-home support when needed, may not always be an option. However, everything from amenity-rich communities to traditional nursing care is available in Oklahoma. It’s important to understand the options when choosing the living preferences that are right for you or your loved ones.

One alternative to traditional options includes active adult communities for those 55+ who want to stay healthy, social and independent with maintenance-free living. However, some communities have no age restrictions. Similar to residential neighborhoods, residents usually rent or buy their homes, with some having options for luxury homes. These neighborhoods often have fees and may not offer housekeeping, laundry service or meals. However, some offer everything from daily-chef-prepared meals to lawn care and security. These colonies are often amenity-rich, with endless possibilities for active residents, ranging from golf courses to fitness centers.

Seniors must enter continuing care retirement communities when they are still relatively healthy and independent, but a contractual agreement guarantees their future needs will be met. An entrance fee is involved, and there are possible added fees for upkeep of one’s living quarters. But there are often many amenities, and the entrance fees cover advanced healthcare when needed. The advantage is that seniors may stay in the community as they age, even though they move within the campus to facilities for changing levels of health/medical care.

Independent living is for those who can still take care of themselves, but want to remove the stress of home ownership and home maintenance. These folks perhaps want to do less cooking, or may be lonely, or worried about driving or future health issues. Independent living communities usually rent out apartments or houses, with numerous options and amenities to make life easier while offering ample social engagement.

Assisted living communities help residents with daily activities including dressing, hygiene, meals and transportation. They may offer some limited medical services including access to nurses and therapies, but not always advanced or skilled medical care. Those who are mismanaging their medications, feel isolated, or their health, well being or homes are compromised, or whose family caregivers are burned out, are good candidates for these facilities.

Memory care communities are designed specifically for those with Alzheimer’s or other dementia-related illness, and have features that meet cognitive impairment challenges. These communities are sometimes included in other types of living communities.

Nursing homes, or 24-hour-a-day skilled nursing facilities (SNF) provide medical care from trained and certified staff and professionals. As well, residents receive assistance with all needs including hygiene, dressing, feeding and other daily living activities. Usually meant as long-term solutions, these facilities can also function short-term following injury, surgery or illness.

Gathering Place

The Home Depot Workshops

Local Libraries

More Budget-Friendly Ideas This Summer:

Educating the Youth

For More Information

Most popular

Editor's choice

918.744.6205