Episode 68-Owasso quarry fight, Cherokee Nation elder nutrition, & more

In Owasso, two quarries are seeking special exceptions to allow limestone mining in land currently zoned for agriculture. It is proposed to be located only 425 feet away from some residents' homes. A group of locals has banded together to fight against the encroaching quarries and push for policy change to protect others in the future. Their current success, however, lies in the hands of former mayor of Tulsa, William Lafortune, now a district judge, who is overseeing one quarry company's appeal to overturn a ruling made in favor of residents. Aristotle Orsini spoke with some of those impacted. In North Tulsa, a new elder nutrition program is bringing more than meals to Cherokee Freedmen elders, it’s creating an opportunity for connection, community, and care. Deon Osborne explores the launch of this new initiative, the needs it hopes to address, and the people working to make sure Cherokee Freedmen elders in North Tulsa have access to both nutritious food and a stronger sense of community. What does it mean to live in a place that was never meant to feel like home? Across the country, extended stay hotels have become a last resort for individuals and families navigating housing instability. Behind those doors are stories often overlooked: of stress, isolation, resilience, and the quiet toll that instability takes on mental health. For those living on the margins, where access to care is limited and community can feel out of reach, how do people cope—and what support truly exists? FBO's Nick Alexandrov reports from East Tulsa. The world’s biggest sporting event arrived in Texas, bringing the excitement and energy of the FIFA World Cup to Dallas. For Texans, this was more than a series of football / soccer matches, it was a chance to experience a truly global event in their own backyard, bringing together fans, cultures, and communities from around the world. Phil Childs explores how the FIFA World Cup created a sense of celebration across North Texas. A new anthology published by OK Stamp Press asks what the future might look like through Indigenous eyes. Each short story in the compilation From the Heart of Our Nations is set 250 years in the future and written by Indigenous writers in their teens to early thirties. FBO spoke with editor Kashonah Notah and project creator Rebecca Nagle, both are Tulsa Artist Fellows, about the origins of the collection, which can be purchased at Magic City Books in Tulsa. Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music. Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew. Our production interns are Roma Carter, Jess Grimes, & Anna Wilson. You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK. You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK. You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts. https://linktr.ee/focusblackok