🌱 COVID Cases Rise Over Weekend + OKC Offers Sign-On Bonuses

Hey, neighbors! It's me again, Helen Eckhard, your host of the Oklahoma City Daily.

First, today's weather:

Windy with plenty of sunshine. High: 77 Low: 60.

Here are the top stories in Oklahoma City today:

1. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 3,571 new COVID-19 cases since Friday. The additional cases raised the total cumulative number of the state’s positive cases to 635,443. The health department recently changed the way they report COVID-19 deaths in an effort to show a more complete picture of the disease’s impact. (KOCO Oklahoma City)
2. An unprecedented number of job openings has led Oklahoma City to offer sign-on bonuses for hard-to-fill positions. Jobs that qualify range from entry-level positions to highly skilled jobs. New employees hired into positions that qualify for the incentive will receive their bonus upfront. (Press Release Desk)
3. A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed Friday by a stray bullet in southwest Oklahoma City. (KFOR Oklahoma City)
4. A new youth-led initiative will partner with Oklahoma City schools and organizations to teach teens how to address tobacco and vape use in their communities. (Tahlequah Daily Press)
5. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority issued a new warning about a potentially dangerous chemical mixture containing THC-O-acetate. (KFOR Oklahoma City)

Today's Oklahoma City Daily is brought to you by GoodRx, a Patch Brand Partner. Recognizing the early signs of the common cold is important in helping prevent yourself and others from getting sick. Here's what you need to know about the causes of the common cold, its symptoms and how you can combat this seasonal malady.

Today in Oklahoma City:

• NWOKC Community Coffee + Ribbon Cutting (8:00 AM)
• Pumpkin Decorating - Mustang City Calendar (9:30 AM)
• State of the Schools - Moore Chamber of Commerce (11:45 AM)
• Gatz Homestead Realty Grand Opening - El Reno Chamber of Commerce (2:00 PM)
• Pop & Palette [Teens] - Mustang City Calendar (4:30 PM)
• Spousal Support Group - Moore Chamber of Commerce (6:00 PM)
• Warr Acres City Council Meeting - Northwest Oklahoma City Chamber (6:00 PM)
• City Council pre-meeting - Choctaw City Council/CUA (6:30 PM)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you soon! If you're feeling these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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.