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Friday, October 16, 2026 • Grab a jacket! Windy and 58. 🍂
• Cold front brings dropping temperatures to Oklahoma (KOCO)
• Rainfall raises Lake Hefner water levels slightly (KFOR)
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OKLAHOMA MEMO
Cowboys vs. Cougars: Oklahoma State-Houston Preview and Predictions
Poll results:
We received 259 votes on the Thursday poll, “Should former Norman teacher Summer Boismier get her teaching certificate back?”
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes, she should be reinstated. (203)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No, the revocation should stand. (29)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Not sure (27)
New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)
Oklahoma lawmakers want more scrutiny of campaign loans
Oklahoma Rep. Jared Deck, D-Norman, speaks about candidate loans at a press conference at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Deck wants banking regulators and campaign finance watchdogs to scrutinize loans to GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei. (Paul Monies/Oklahoma Watch)
By Paul Monies, Oklahoma Watch
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Oklahoma lawmakers from both parties want to tighten up state campaign finance rules over personal loans to campaigns.
Rep. Jared Deck, D-Norman, and Rep. Jonathan Wilk, R-Goldsby, want the state Ethics Commission to review gaps in state law on how much information candidates must provide when they loan money to their campaign committees.
The lawmakers separately contacted the Ethics Commission about the issue. Deck held a press conference on Thursday to outline his concerns about Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei’s $11 million in loans to his campaign. Wilk wants the Ethics Commission to review loans to campaign committees above a $100,000 threshold. His proposal is supported by the commission’s House and Senate working groups for new rules.
Deck said he sent letters Thursday to federal and state banking regulators and the Ethics Commission, asking them to confidentially review a loan Mazzei took out in January. Mazzei pledged shares of his financial advisory firm, Trinity Wealth Advisors Inc., to secure the loan from Regent Bank, according to a financing statement filed in Oklahoma County.
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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰
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Here’s what’s happening in Oklahoma today:
3 more people discovered in Tulsa’s massacre graves investigation (Tulsa Flyer)
Oklahoma lawmakers weigh creating board to lead cold case investigations (KOSU)
Duncan teacher accused of sticking children with insulin needle pleads not guilty (KSWO)
Drummond drops lawsuit over Jewish charter school vote (Oklahoma Voice)
More data centers, more coal emissions — and an OU researcher watching Atlantic storms (Oklahoma Watch)
Oklahoma CareerTech system requests budget increase of $73.37 million (Oklahoma Voice)
University of Tulsa cuts staff positions in 9% reduction in force (News On 6)
'One of the sweetest young men': SNU football player Tyler Ulrich dies after game injury (KOCO)
Three new Tecumseh High School employees placed on leave amid football investigation (The Oklahoman)*
Metro widow shines light on OG&E policy that requires new deposits (KFOR)
Mercy Hospital Ardmore plans $20 million renovation focused on patient experience (KXII)
We’ve covered a lot of Tulsa news in our first year. Here are the Flyer and Eagle staff’s favorites. (Tulsa Flyer)
Oklahoma high school football scores (Touchdown Friday Night)
Friday Poll
Should Oklahoma require candidates to disclose more details about personal loans to their campaigns?
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