Travel

Past, Present, Future -Travel + Leisure A new museum explores the diverse histories—and continuing contributions—of America’s original peoples

‘Outsiders’ house: Tiny Tulsa museum drawing big names – The Associated Press This summer, it was Leonardo DiCaprio. Then it was Green Day. A tiny museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, dedicated to a movie classic and run by an entertainer, is drawing big names in the Heartland.

Where to eat, stay and in play in Oklahoma City – Conde Nast Traveler Oklahoma’s capital has a thriving riverfront district and new boutique hotels.

This Remote Tahitian Village Is Nearly Untouched—Now the World Stage Is Calling – TripSavvy Locals are torn about the changes that come along with being a household name

Historic Preservation and Architecture

On Route 66, a family is restoring the only gas station build for Black travelers – Fast Company The Threatt Filling Station offered refuge for Black travelers driving through Oklahoma. Now, the Threatt family hopes to turn it into a historical center.

Four historic spots that showcase Nashville’s powerful women – Saving Places Nashville may be known today for country music, health care, and a budding food scene, but it also played a significant role in the women’s rights movement.

Solutions-Based

The Cherokee Nation infuses cash into language revitalization efforts – The Daily Yonder The Tribe offers a unique opportunity for its adult citizens to enroll in a full-time, paid language learning program. All in the name of language and heritage preservation.

Young people are digitally rebuilding Tulsa’s Black Wall Street – Next City A project geared toward youth and teens combines coding and history in Oklahoma’s second-largest city as a way to commemorate the Tulsa Race Massacre.

How one group is using artificial intelligence to replant coral reefs – Fast Company Coral Gardeners is just a few years old, but they have grand ambitions: to replant 1 million corals around the world. And they’re using technology to do it.

Criminal Justice Reform

Nearly 500 prisoners released on a single day – The New York Times Oklahoma held one of the largest single-day release of prisoners in history. I co-wrote this story from Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft, Oklahoma.

New computer coding class for women at Oklahoma prison – Ms. Magazine Oklahoma has for years led the nation for female incarceration. A new program is hoping to give women in prison a chance to learn job-readiness skills to help them transition back into society.

Love, courageous and strong – The Tulsa Voice The Girl Scouts offer a program in which the young girls can visit their mothers in prison. I traveled from Tulsa to Oklahoma City as a set of sisters visited their mom at a prison near Oklahoma’s largest city.

Gender 

Rural Indian girls get discrimination-fighting tool: soccer – The Associated Press A nonprofit in rural eastern India seeks to empower girls by showing them they have the right to focus on education instead of getting married and starting a family, and the right to choose their life path.

Health

Put your baby in a box? A Finnish tradition is winning converts here – The Washington Post Baby boxes, which were started in Finland decades ago and helped to substantially reduce the infant mortality rate, according to the government, are now coming to the United States through nonprofits, community health organizations and private entities.

Profile

Afghan teen leads family into new life in America – Youth Today TULSA, Okla. — During a recent visit to a large urban park a few miles from his home in Tulsa, 17-year-old Shahrukh Khalilbeak pushed his brothers and sisters on a swing and shimmied up a climbing structure, looking relaxed as he posed for photos while trying to maintain his balance.