Culture & Society

ONR moves to Fridays

Written by Dick Pryor Thursday, 07 July 2011 19:08

OKLAHOMA CITY - For 31 years the Oklahoma News Report has been your trusted source for statewide news and information, weeknights at 6:30. Beginning on July 15th, ONR is going prime time.  ONR is moving to Fridays at 7:00 p.m. in a new, hour-long format.  ONR will also be seen on Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.  The new weeknight public affairs block has BBC World News America at 5:00, with the Nightly Business Report at 5:30 and the PBS NewsHour at 6:00.   The restructured Sunday schedule is Washington Week at 12:00 p.m., Oklahoma Forum at 12:30, The McLaughlin Group at 1:00, Religion and Ethics Newsweekly at 1:30 and ONR at 2:00.

State funding cuts totalling more than 26% over the past three years have forced OETA to restructure its operations and change its program schedule.  Cuts in state funding hit local productions such as ONR the hardest.  We appreciate the many supportive messages sent to us by loyal viewers who rely on ONR for nightly news and public affairs and who are disappointed in the move that was necessitated by funding problems.  Thank you for your comments; elected officials may want to hear from you, as well.  As we go forward, we are re-dedicating ourselves to maintaining a statewide focus and providing meaningful reporting about the people and issues of Oklahoma. 

Smithsonian to hold festival of Choctaw food, arts

Written by Dick Pryor Monday, 20 June 2011 19:46

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian is holding a four-day festival to feature the music, dance, food and art of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma on the National Mall. The festival runs Wednesday through Saturday.

Each day begins with traditional dancing, followed by presentations by artisans and storytellers in the museum's atrium. Short films will be screened each day, featuring Choctaw code talkers of World War I and other stories. Activities for children will include grinding corn, weaving baskets, making clay pots and stringing beads for a necklace. Food demonstrations will be held Wednesday and Saturday. The museum's Mitsitam CafDe will feature items such as fried rabbit, braised venison and fried salt pork. On Saturday, there will be a theatrical reenactment of a traditional Choctaw wedding.

British Royal Wedding Broadcast Exclusively on OETA

Written by Dick Pryor Thursday, 28 April 2011 00:13

OKLAHOMA CITY - OETA has made special arrangements with the BBC to provide live, uninterrupted British coverage of the Royal Wedding from London on Friday, April 29. The OETA broadcast will begin early Friday morning at 2:00 and will continue until the event's conclusion at 7:30.

We will repeat the BBC coverage of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on OETA Okla from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The approximate schedule of events for the live broadcast will see guests to begin arriving at 2:00 a.m., VIP's and foreign heads of state will begin arriving from 3:00 to 3:30 a.m., and senior members of the Royal family will depart for the Abbey followed by William and Kate at 3:30 a.m.  The wedding ceremony will be held from 4:00 to 5:30 a.m., the carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace will last from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. and the couple will make an appearance from the Buckingham Palace balcony between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. The BBC broadcast is expected to conclude at 7:30 a.m. (all times Central Daylight Time)

Oklahoma House approves state gospel song

Written by Dick Pryor Monday, 25 April 2011 19:59

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma House has named "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" as the official gospel song of the state. The House voted 89-0 Monday to approve the bill by Rep. Jabar Shumate of Tulsa designating the song. It now goes to Gov. Mary Fallin to be signed into law. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was written in Indian Territory in 1862 by a Choctaw Freedman named Wallis Willis. The Red River reminded Willis of the Jordan River and the song was loosely based
on the passage in the Bible that speaks of the Prophet Elijah being taken to heaven in a chariot. The song was adopted by England Rugby Union fans during the last
match of the 1988 season and recorded by the band UB40 for the team's performance at the World Cup.