For journalists, angry calls, thinly veiled threats, even outright threats, are a perverse kind of compliment. It’s not that we want to receive vitriolic, often drunken, screeds or threats. And, FYI — threatening people is illegal. But, when someone is opposed enough to the free expression of a free press to get hammered and leave … Continue reading The great honor of being a threat to this president
Journalism
‘Second Chance Month’ highlights need to help inmates successfully reintegrate to society
ENID, Okla. — For men and women coming out of prison, release from custody can be the beginning of a new set of hurdles in life. For many of them, those hurdles end in a return to crime, and to a jail cell. In an effort to highlight the need for more initiatives to help … Continue reading ‘Second Chance Month’ highlights need to help inmates successfully reintegrate to society
‘Everyone deserves a chance’ — Open adoption expanding as an option
ENID, Okla. — A local pregnancy resource center is partnering with Crisis Pregnancy Outreach of Tulsa to make open adoption available to both expectant mothers and adoptive families in the Enid area. Journey House, a faith-based resource center in Enid, opened in spring 2018 to provide ultrasounds, pregnancy testing, coaching and mentoring, educational resources and … Continue reading ‘Everyone deserves a chance’ — Open adoption expanding as an option
Opioid addiction treatment services expanding
ENID, Okla. — A new treatment soon will be offered, with no out-of-pocket expense, for opioid addiction treatment in North-central and Northwest Oklahoma. Northwest Center for Behavioral Health (NCBH), a division of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), is finalizing plans to offer Suboxone in all five of its regional … Continue reading Opioid addiction treatment services expanding
Living at the intersection of faith and science
Astronomy instructor lives out his faith through teaching the astronomical signs of the Nativity ENID, Okla. — For many Americans, faith and science seem incompatible. According to a 2015 Pew Research Study, almost one-third of Americans say science and their personal religious beliefs are in conflict, while 59% say “science and religion often conflict.” But, … Continue reading Living at the intersection of faith and science
‘Good to know your enemy’ — Alzheimer’s caregiver urges others to seek education, support
ENID, Okla. — This Thanksgiving, Sheila Gilbert, of Enid, will be making a drive few would want to make. She'll be driving almost three hours to the Claremore Veterans Center, where her husband, David, is one of 5.7 million Americans living with dementia — a number expected to double over the next two decades. The … Continue reading ‘Good to know your enemy’ — Alzheimer’s caregiver urges others to seek education, support
The extraordinary beauty of our ordinary stories
One of the most satisfying aspects of my work is retelling people’s extraordinary stories. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to hear and share a little bit of Ernest Leierer’s story. He participated in the D-Day invasion, which just happened to be his birthday, and had a wealth of stories from the war. He came to … Continue reading The extraordinary beauty of our ordinary stories
Martyred nuns continue to leave a legacy of faith, courage
Before Sister Kathleen McGuire left for Liberia in 1992, she had a professional portrait made of herself, to make sure her loved ones would have a good photo of her in case she didn’t return home alive. That portrait is now one of the few mementos Fred McGuire has of his older sister. She was one … Continue reading Martyred nuns continue to leave a legacy of faith, courage
Know your breast density
New law, new technology aim to improve breast cancer detection Enid, Okla. -- One in eight American women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, according to American Cancer Society (ACS). Almost 42,000 American women are expected to die of breast cancer this year, according to ACS, making it the second-leading cause of cancer deaths … Continue reading Know your breast density
White privilege curriculum goes international
Regional faith leaders in Oklahoma and Kansas have been working for more than three years to foster community conversations around white privilege, and how it plays into issues of racial justice in America. Now, that work is crossing international borders, with a United Church of Christ minister taking the training program to Germany. The Rev. … Continue reading White privilege curriculum goes international
James R. Neal 