🌱 OK County Detainee Dies + Edmond Schools Close COVID Test Site

Happy Thursday, Oklahoma City! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Mild with plenty of sunshine. High: 64 Low: 37.

Here are the top 3 stories in Oklahoma City today:

1. Officials are investigating a death at the Oklahoma County Detention Center after a detention officer serving breakfast was alerted to an unresponsive detainee inside a cell on Wednesday morning. The detention officer immediately began CPR until medical personnel could take over but was not able to save 30-year-old Austin Bishop. Bishop's cause of death is not known at this time and is under investigation by the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office. (KFOR Oklahoma City)
2. Edmond Public Schools sent a message to parents Tuesday that announced the closure of the district's COVID-19 testing site. According to the message, the third-party provider the district works with to operate the testing site has not been able to acquire more COVID-19 test kits. The hub will be closed until more kits can be secured, which the district admits could be some time next week. (KOKH FOX25)
3. Payne Education Center, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit teacher training and dyslexia advocacy center, will be the charity recipient of the upcoming Oklahoma Speaker’s Ball. Donations will enable the nonprofit to train more teachers in Structured Literacy-based programs, which prepare students to read. The 2022 Oklahoma Speaker’s Ball will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. (KFOR Oklahoma City)

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Today in Oklahoma City:

• Oklahoma Capitol Restoration Project At Oklahoma Historical Society (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Oklahoma City Fire Department firefighters responded to a house fire in south Oklahoma City today. The call originally came in as a grass fire, but first arriving crews quickly updated the incident to a house fire response. (Facebook)
• Did you know that you can view Facebook updates from Oklahoma City Public Schools entirely in Spanish? Follow Oklahoma City Public Schools en Español! (Facebook)
• The Auto Alley OKC annual fundraiser, Chocolate Decadence, returns on April 7 at Leadership Square. Join the district and enjoy good food, great wine, and lots of chocolate! (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. 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.