Oklahoma City is gaining riverboats thanks to Devon Energy and their $2 million commitment to water transportation.

Perfect for private rental on a dinner cruise, the boats will also provide transportation to and from the Meridian-Reno area hotels and Downtown in just 40 short minutes. Sounds about like the amount of time it takes to travel Meridian thanks to the current construction.

Will you take a boatride along the river?

Kyle Loveless, a longtime Republican activist and consultant, recently announced the sale of OKGOPChat.comto the Oklahoma Republican Party.

Considering the site will be operated and moderated by the GOP, one post at OKGOPChat.comasked if party administrators would "crack down on anyone who would criticize the party or its adherents."

Loveless responded that he hoped the GOP would allow discussions to be open if they did not violate the terms of the site.

What are your thoughts on the Republican Party operating OKGOPChat.com?

The Bricktown Urban Design Committee today decided at their meeting to table discussion for a future McDonald's which would have been located across from BassPro on Reno Ave.

Concerned about a drive-thru window, the committee wanted to discuss the matter at a future meeting. However, McDonald's corporate attendee said it was today or not at all. The committee still said they'd discuss it later. Then McDonald's said they might discuss it later.

Seems there won't be Golden Arches in Bricktown anytime soon. Guess we'll have to huff up to Sonic for when French fry craving hits while shopping at Bass Pro.

Nationally recognized and Tulsa World cartoonist Doug Marlette died in a Mississippi vehicle accident Tuesday, according to the World newspaper.

Marlette, who penned the syndicated Kudzu cartoon strip in addition to serving as a World editorial cartoonist, was visiting Mississippi when the vehicle in which he was riding during a heavy rainfall crashed.

The North Carolina native joined the World staff in Feb. 2006.

Pouring rain midmorning Friday flooded metro-OKC area streets. Many vehicles trying to make their way across NW 36^th Street in front of Gazette's office did not make it through the pooling water.

What streets have proved most treacherous for you today?

What is the craziest sight you have seen because of the rain?

Have you seen any animals pairing up two by two?

First Book has launched a "What Book Got You Hooked" campaign to get children in need hooked on reading. The campaign asks responders to share their favorite title in hopes of getting 50,000 books sent to Oklahoma. The state is ranking first currently, so click and share and be philanthropic.

Oklahoma City Public Schools appointed a new principal to the new JohnMarshallHigh School, effective immediately, and moved former Principal Trina Liles to another school.

Good move or not?

Matt Gross of The New York Times hit Vietnamese restaurants in OKC for his July 4 column, proving that even in fast-food, meat-and-potatoes-focused Central Oklahoma, vegetables reign.

What are the best metro places to eat fresh, from your perspective? Brownie (er, broccoli?) points for local and lesser known.

At last count, the story about the two Enid preteens who allegedly kidnapped their neighbors' baby is number seven on cnn.com's most viewed stories.

(Surely by now you have read about the girls' alleged foiled fund-raiser...)

Egads! Does the state really want to be mentioned in this top 10 list?

Al Gore won the latest round in his ongoing battle with Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla, with his announcement today of a Washington, D.C., concert that will be part of the global Live Earth event.

Inhofe, a global warming opponent, attempted to prevent the Beltway concert with claims it would be partisan and politically controversial.

Does this make you hot under the collar, or is it pretty cool?