🌱 AI License Plate Readers Installed + New Lawyers For OKC Jail Trust

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Oklahoma City Patch newsletter. Here are all the things you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Sunny; breezy, hot and humid. High: 101 Low: 80.

Here are the top three stories in Oklahoma City today:

1. Throughout the metro area of Oklahoma City, numerous intersections are introducing AI-powered license plate reading surveillance software. This kind of technology was approved by the Oklahoma City Council to be used as a way of solving a variety of crimes which includes automatically detecting when vehicles are stolen, associated with a wanted person, or associated with a mission person. According to the Oklahoma City Police, these cameras are already being used by their team, as well as about 30 other law enforcement agencies in the state. (OKCFox.com)
2. Oklahoma County’s jail trust confirms they will be using lawyers from the district attorney’s office to manage all of their future litigation cases and legal affairs. In a decision made earlier this week, members of the council voted to give District Attorney Vicki Behenna’s office permission to have full control over all pending litigation against the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority. As a result, Oklahoma County’s jail trust chose to terminate its contract with Williams, Box, Forshee & Bullard. (Oklahoman)
3. Officials say two boys have passed away after they were swept up by waters from an open dam in Oklahoma City. The incident occurred late in the afternoon on Monday when officials from the Oklahoma Fire Department were called for a water rescue near the backside of Lake Overholser Dam. According to authorities, four boys were originally swimming at the lake when the dam’s water gates opened and two of them were quickly pulled underwater. (KOCO)

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Today in Oklahoma City:

Wednesday, July 12

• Summer Drop-In Activities: Print Making At National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is welcoming all attendees to the American Association of Zoo Keepers annual fundraiser, Bowling for Rhinos. The event will take place at Bowlero Edmond on Friday, Jul. 28, with hopes of educating and inspiring community members to take action toward protecting rhinos and their habitats. (Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• Nearby in Edmond, workers at a local Goodwill made a historic discovery that dates all the way back to 1947. According to Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, a Navy sailor’s discharge papers, various medals, and a letter signed by President Truman were found in a locked box. (KFOR)
• The storms that rolled through Oklahoma City on Tuesday morning left many areas with major flooding and downed power lines. On Southwest 23rd Street and May Avenue, vehicles tried to drive through the high waters and ended up getting fully submerged in water. (KOCO)

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You're officially in the loop for today!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.