Oklahoma experienced many newsworthy events this year that kept it in the spotlight. From being declared the most seismically active place in the world (still shocking) to embarrassing racial chants, the state of Oklahoma experienced some insane things in 2015. Here is a quick review of some groundbreaking things that happened in 2015 in Oklahoma:
- Oklahoma became the number one earthquake area in the world in 2015.
Richard Walker/Flickr In 2014, Oklahoma was the most seismically active state in the Lower 48 states, but in 2015 we surpassed that.
- The University of Oklahoma Sigma Alpha Epsilon racism incident that occurred on March 7, 2015 went viral causing the OU chapter to be shut down.
Screenshot taken from Youtube user OHDOCTAH79 On March 7, 2015, videos were recorded while fraternity members and their dates were riding on a chartered bus to an event celebrating the national organization’s Founder’s Day. In the video the students are heard singing a chant to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Their version of the chant included racial slurs. Along with the OU SAE chapter being closed, 2 OU students were expelled.
- Then there was that horrific day in October when a car rammed into pedestrians at the OSU homecoming parade in Stillwater.
Screenshot taken from youtube video from user TomoUsa A woman is accused of running a red light and purposely driving her car around a barricade and police motorcycle before crashing into pedestrians at the parade. The crash left four people dead and at least 46 others hurt, including many children.
- We got to view the rare, supermoon eclipse.
Chad Horwedel/Flickr In September, this beautiful eclipse was visible and won’t happen again until 2033.
- Oklahoma Labor Commisioner, Mark Costello, was murdered by his son in an Oklahoma City Braum’s.
mark.costello.5201/facebook Mark Costello was stabbed several times with a steak knife by his son, Christian, who suffered from a mental illness. All American and Oklahoma flags on state property flew at half-staff for over a week in August to remember the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner.
- Oklahoma googled “Caitlyn Jenner” more than any other state.
estately.com Estately.com figured out the top search term for each state in 2015 using Google Trends, and it looks like Oklahoma was extremely interested in Caitlyn Jenner.
- A gallon of gas became cheaper than a gallon of milk.
smysnbrg/facebook The price of gas in Oklahoma hit a record low since the recession in 2009. Depending on where you live in the state, you could have seen gas as low as $1.49 in 2015.
- Insane flooding happened across the state.
MikeCollierWx/Facebook Preceded by more than a week of heavy rain, a slow-moving storm system dropped tremendous precipitation across much of Oklahoma during the nights of May 24–26, 2015, triggering record-breaking floods. Late December is also experiencing extreme flooding and several rivers are expected to peak at record breaking levels.
- The 1997 cold case murder of Kirsten Hatfield was solved after 18 years.
Screenshot taken from youtube video from user Missing Kids Rescued Kids 2 An almost perfect DNA match linked Anthony Palmer to the murder of Kirsten Hatfield, a 2nd grader that was abducted from her bedroom window in Midwest City in 1997.
- The Ten Commandments were removed from the capitol building in Oklahoma City.
Drew Tarvin/Facebook The 10 Commandments displayed on a granite monument at the Oklahoma State Capitol have been superseded by another commandment: Thou shalt not have a display on state property that supports “any sect, church, denomination or system of religion.” The monument was removed in early October after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled, 7-2 in favor of its removal.
- Blue Bell shuts down a plant in Broken Arrow after a listeria outbreak.
Blue-Bell-Ice-Cream/facebook In April 2015, Blue Bell voluntarily closed the Broken Arrow plant. The recall was the first in the company’s 108-year history. The outbreak was linked to the deaths of 3 people.
What other insane 2015 events should we add to this list? Please share in the comments below.
Richard Walker/Flickr
In 2014, Oklahoma was the most seismically active state in the Lower 48 states, but in 2015 we surpassed that.
Screenshot taken from Youtube user OHDOCTAH79
On March 7, 2015, videos were recorded while fraternity members and their dates were riding on a chartered bus to an event celebrating the national organization’s Founder’s Day. In the video the students are heard singing a chant to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Their version of the chant included racial slurs. Along with the OU SAE chapter being closed, 2 OU students were expelled.
Screenshot taken from youtube video from user TomoUsa
A woman is accused of running a red light and purposely driving her car around a barricade and police motorcycle before crashing into pedestrians at the parade. The crash left four people dead and at least 46 others hurt, including many children.
Chad Horwedel/Flickr
In September, this beautiful eclipse was visible and won’t happen again until 2033.
mark.costello.5201/facebook
Mark Costello was stabbed several times with a steak knife by his son, Christian, who suffered from a mental illness. All American and Oklahoma flags on state property flew at half-staff for over a week in August to remember the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner.
estately.com
Estately.com figured out the top search term for each state in 2015 using Google Trends, and it looks like Oklahoma was extremely interested in Caitlyn Jenner.
smysnbrg/facebook
The price of gas in Oklahoma hit a record low since the recession in 2009. Depending on where you live in the state, you could have seen gas as low as $1.49 in 2015.
MikeCollierWx/Facebook
Preceded by more than a week of heavy rain, a slow-moving storm system dropped tremendous precipitation across much of Oklahoma during the nights of May 24–26, 2015, triggering record-breaking floods. Late December is also experiencing extreme flooding and several rivers are expected to peak at record breaking levels.
Screenshot taken from youtube video from user Missing Kids Rescued Kids 2
An almost perfect DNA match linked Anthony Palmer to the murder of Kirsten Hatfield, a 2nd grader that was abducted from her bedroom window in Midwest City in 1997.
Drew Tarvin/Facebook
The 10 Commandments displayed on a granite monument at the Oklahoma State Capitol have been superseded by another commandment: Thou shalt not have a display on state property that supports “any sect, church, denomination or system of religion.” The monument was removed in early October after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled, 7-2 in favor of its removal.
Blue-Bell-Ice-Cream/facebook
In April 2015, Blue Bell voluntarily closed the Broken Arrow plant. The recall was the first in the company’s 108-year history. The outbreak was linked to the deaths of 3 people.
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