Good morning, Norman.

This weekend, Norman and Oklahoma City have a busy lineup including the Norman Music Festival + Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon featuring a 168 second silence in honor of bombing victims, along with Venardos Circus and the Festival of the Arts.

Residents can enjoy live music, food, and community events.

Today, the Central Oklahoma Independent Bookstore Crawl launches with 20 independent bookstores offering stamps for every visit and prize entries for every five stamps.

The three-day event runs (from Apr. 24 to 27) from Crescent to Norman, inviting local book lovers across the metro.

OU alum Emma Jackson will sign her debut young adult novel A House of Vipers at Best of Books in Edmond at 6 p.m. April 28.

A Q&A with Jackson and former professor Jennifer Lynn Barnes will follow (advance purchase of the novel is required).

OU will confer honorary degrees on Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, renowned coach Sherri Coale and Chickasaw Nation official Bill G.

Lance Jr. at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15 at the Lloyd Noble Center — a ceremony highlighting their contributions to OU and the community.

The Oklahoma Board of Education advanced the new 2026 social studies academic standards for review on March 26.

Educators have raised concerns over changes made to key standards and typos while State Superintendent Lindel Fields said issues will be fixed through normal corrections.

OU announced it will award honorary degrees to filmmaker Ron Howard, former women’s basketball coach Sherri Coale and Chickasaw leader Bill G.

Lance Jr. during the Michael F. Price College of Business commencement ceremony on May 15 at 7 p.m. at Lloyd Noble Center (OU press release).

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1481 on Thursday to double recess time for elementary students to 40 minutes — split into two 20-minute periods — with the law preventing recess from being taken away as a form of discipline; the change will take effect next school year.

City officials will remove a structure at the south end of Andrews Park over the next two weeks to launch a master plan for revitalization and upgrades.

The move follows the recent approval of the park improvements.

Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu committed to joining the OU women's basketball team after averaging eight points and 6.4 rebounds last season.

The London native announced her move on Thursday (Apr. 23) via social media and joins coach Jennie Baranczyk's transfer additions including Jordan Speiser and Keeley Parks.

The OKC Thunder announced that Jalen Williams suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain during Wednesday’s playoff win over the Suns and will be re-evaluated weekly ahead of possible Games 3-5 in Phoenix.

His absence may affect the Thunder as they prepare for their next matchup.

Graduation Weekend Celebration

12:05 PM – 10:05 PM — NOUN Hotel, Norman — Cost varies — Celebrate accomplishments with pop-up shops, dining, live music, and handcrafted cocktails.