Now Serving Ex-offenders. With a few radio ads and cooperation from other agencies, a newly concentrated effort to help ex-offenders find work is up and running in Tulsa.

Tulsa Reentry One-Stop, operated by the Community Service Council, offers GED classes and life and career coaching, along with incentives such as bus passes and interview clothing, in addition to employment services.

The center, based at 533 E. 36th St. North, was created with the help of a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to the council. The department notes that national statistics show nearly three out of five ex-offenders end up being charged with new crimes within three years of release, with the grant money given out as a way to ultimately reduce costs to communities.

The radio ads appear targeted at employers. Cooperating agencies include the Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League, Workforce Tulsa, ResCare Workforce Services, Counseling and Recovery Services of Oklahoma, and Tulsa Area United Way.

Beauty Pageant Approaches. The Oklahoma Princess America Pageant will be held in Bartlesville on April 12 and 13. Girls who would like the chance to compete in the pageant must apply by email to oklahomaprincessamerica@yahoo.com or by mail to PO Box 2293, Owasso, 74055. Deadlines are Feb. 1 for entrance and March 15 for payment. For more info call Dawnia Pearce at 918-260-8335.

Bridenstine Bucks Boehner. Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) was reelected speaker of the House of Representatives despite a minor rebellion from backbencher Republicans, including Rep. Jim Bridenstine, Tulsa's recently inaugurated congressman.

"He felt that it was time for new leadership, that we had seen some failures in leadership and needed to make the statement that we needed a stronger leader," spokeswoman Sheryl Kaufman told UTW after the vote.

Bridenstine voted for Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.).