Opinion
Japanese girl group Babymetal revolutionizing gruff, macho world of metal
It’s about the only sunny part of the Download festival weekend in Leicestershire, England, and we’re sitting in the media garden. Suddenly there’s a hurried and excited scramble as Babymetal walk through the gate. Instantly recognizable, the elusive trio of Japanese teens have been winning over crowds with their brand of cutesy, brutal, metal J-pop…
Director’s Desk: With no housing and another trip to the E.R. How will Simon’s story end?
Standing in line waiting for dinner after a long day, a day after returning from vacation, I checked my email. It was a hospital social worker. Simon was in the emergency room again. The fourth time this week. It was at least the seventh time Simon had been admitted to the emergency room in the…
News
Homeless puppeteer builds character(s)
At Northwest 23rd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City’s very own puppeteer, Jack Howell, is likely busking on the sidewalk with his handmade marionettes. Often out with his eccentric puppets, Jack performs for anyone willing to spare a minute to enjoy the show. Jack started making puppets a year ago after he and his wife…
Migrant forest workers win back pay
The U.S. Department of Labor announced in June that its investigators found two reforestation companies owed more than $103,500 in back wages and damages to their employees for work performed under government contracts in national forests. As a result, contractor Alpha Services LLC was fined $59,500 in civil penalties, and its subcontractor, Tualatin-based Eco Group…
No place to go: Beds in demand for youths with mental illness
It’s been six months since an Oregon Judicial Department task force quietly released a report outlining troubling shortfalls in the state’s placement and treatment of children with mental health needs in its custody. Most pressing, it was revealed, is that some juveniles with severe mental health needs are being warehoused in correctional facilities when there…
Vendor Profiles
Street Roots vendor profile: Committed to sobriety to ‘end the cycle’
Mike Dusek remembers clearly the date his sobriety began. “I’m coming up on five months on (July) 20, so I’m almost at my half-year mark. Then I’ll have only 18 months to go before I can become an alcohol and drug counselor.” He points to initials on his T-shirt and describes the first step toward…
