Oklahoma Gazette

Heading toward the 2025 Oklahoma legislative session, lawmakers can reflect on last year’s session, “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.” After seeing over 3,000 potential bills filed for consideration, the session boiled down to a handful of meaningful issues and scored few real points for Oklahoma.

Aeyvo (@aeyvomusic) Lots of people used their time at home during the pandemic to pick up new hobbies. After Abby Navarro used her first and last name to create “Aeyvo,” she found new passion in DJing and has quickly made big noises in the local house and electronic dance music scene.

Last year’s movie offerings included so many innovative stories that it was impossible to choose just 10. By Phil Bacharach

Sweeping down the plains along the Turner Turnpike (and other toll roads across the state) just got more expensive as Oklahoma Turnpike Authority recently imposed a rate increase. The trip from OKC to Tulsa was raised by 90 cents starting Jan. 1.

Vincent Orza’s new novel, Brothers, is a heart-pounding political thriller that hits close to home. By Daniel Bokemper

In 2023, an Oklahoma board approved the nation’s first religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. As a charter school, St. Isidore would have been entitled to public funding, but the state Supreme Court later called it unconstitutional. You know, the whole separation of church and state thing.

Hailey McDermid is widely known as the heart and soul of Uptown’s The Pump Bar, but she sees it quite differently. As we sat in the darkened pub on a dreary afternoon at the very end of the year, she explained the small bar is her heart and soul.

Resolution or no, the new year naturally brings a desire to eat a bit lighter after the bacchanal that is the period of time from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. There’s something here for everyone, and we’re happy to report that you need not sacrifice a single morsel of flavor in the name of eating better.

The state’s most illustrious arts program is nestled in the Wichita Mountains. For almost 50 years, the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute (OSAI) has offered a sanctuary for high school students to refine their respective art forms, freely explore their craft and experience an unforgettable educational opportunity.

While Raven has a few things to work on, its homestyle favorites and desserts are to die for. By Neese, Sarah