🌱 Council Approves Water Rate Hike + Lottery Ticket Thieves Wanted

Hello again, Oklahoma City! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Oklahoma City Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Oklahoma City Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Oklahoma City long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

First, today's weather:

Breezy with a stray t-storm. High: 78 Low: 65.

Here are the top 3 stories in Oklahoma City today:

1. Oklahoma City Council has voted in favor of a water rate hike to help replace old infrastructure for drinking water. The increased rate will require Oklahoma City residents to pay four percent more for water utilities over the next five years. The new rates will go into effect on Jun. 1. (news9.com KWTV)
2. Oklahoma City police are seeking the public's help identifying a pair of suspects who stole lottery tickets from a local convenience store. Surveillance cameras captured several images of the suspects inside the store, and authorities have also shared an image of their vehicle captured by the store's clerk as the suspects fled the scene. Anyone who recognizes the suspects is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (405) 235-7300 or submit an anonymous tip online. (KFOR Oklahoma City)
3. Three Oklahoma City community leaders will be recognized during the 35th annual Dean A. McGee Awards in June. Rand Elliott, Debi Martin, and Marva Ellard will all receive awards for their contributions to downtown Oklahoma City during the black-tie event on Jun. 1. Tickets for the ceremony are on sale now for $300 per seat. (Journal Record)

Today in Oklahoma City:

• Streetcar Beer Crawl At Social Capital (5:30 PM)
• Open Mic Night At Core4 Brewing (10:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Dell is teaming up with the Oklahoma City Thunder to host a free computer recycling event this weekend. Head to the Dell Technologies facility parking lot between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to donate your retired electronic equipment. (KFOR Oklahoma City)
• MEMORIA touches down at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art's Noble Theater this weekend! Reserve your seat now for this critic's pick on the museum website. (Facebook)
• The Oklahoma City Pride Alliance will host its annual festival from Jun. 24-26 at Scissortail Park. Don't miss this three-day festival filled with love, art, music, drag, vendors, and more! (Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Helen Eckhard

About me: Helen Eckhard is a marketing assistant at Lightning Media Partners. She is a self-professed logophile who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in library science. Outside of work, you can find Helen constructing crossword puzzles, knitting, or devising increasingly crafty ways to kill off characters in her mystery novels.