🌱 Volunteers Clean Up OKC Wetlands + Affordable Housing Investment

Hello all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Oklahoma City Patch newsletter — here to impart all the most important things happening in our community.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny, breezy and hot. High: 99 Low: 75.

From our sponsor:

Today’s Oklahoma City Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Oklahoma City Patch newsletter possible.

Here are the top three stories today in Oklahoma City:

1. Volunteers collected more than 1,000 pounds of litter from the Wheeler Park Wetlands last Friday. Oklahoma City is searching for more volunteers to help clean up waterways throughout the city. Interested residents can call (405) 297-1797 to register as a volunteer. (News On 6)
2. Oklahoma City law enforcement officials have released new information about a hostage situation that occurred at the Lincoln Inn Hotel this month. Police say 24-year-old Tyrese Wriley knocked an employee of the hotel unconscious with a wooden stick before taking a little girl who was playing outside as a hostage. Wriley faces charges of assault, kidnapping, and first-degree burglary. (KOCO Oklahoma City)
3. An initiative to invest in long-term, affordable housing for Oklahoma City has received a multi-million-dollar investment. The Oklahoma County Home Finance Authority awarded $2 million in ARPA funds to five local nonprofits and housing developers. The recipients include Rose Rock Development Partners, Progress OKC, and Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City. (KFOR Oklahoma City)

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Today in Oklahoma City:

Friday, June 30

• Movie Night At Oklahoma Historical Society (6:00 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Father's Day has come and gone, but that doesn't mean we have to stop celebrating rad dads, past and present. Patch partnered with T-Mobile to shine a light on exceptional fathers in communities like Oklahoma City. Click here to meet 13 awesome dads and learn more about the legacies they're leaving behind.

From my notebook:

• Plenty of cats and dogs are still waiting to be adopted from Oklahoma City Shelters. Click to meet Sheldon, Aspen, and the other pets searching for their forever homes. (Oklahoma City Patch)
• The Oklahoma City Police Department is searching for a suspect in a recent theft near Northwest 10th Street and Tulsa. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (405) 235-7300 or click here. (Oklahoma City Police Department via Facebook)
• According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, following another vehicle too closely is one of the top causes of crashes in Oklahoma highway work zones. Remember to give the car in front of you plenty of space and pay attention on the road! (Oklahoma Department of Transportation via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! See you soon for your next update.

— 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.