What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Thursday, July 3, and you may have seen this on social media yesterday — we are now closer to the year 2050 than we are to the year 2000.

C’mon! It was 1987 just yesterday.

We’re especially close to the Fourth of July. It’s tomorrow. So, it caught my attention to see this headline from the Tulsa World:

“High lake levels affect Fourth of July activities” with a list of closures.

Lake closures?

You may have noticed that June was quite wet here in Oklahoma.

“How wet was it?” (Echoes of Johnny Carson, who btw dominated the airwaves in 1987.)

It’s been so wet that several of our lakes are full. Over-full.

Sorry, no joke at Ed McMahon’s expense.

From the Tulsa World:
After northeastern Oklahoma saw its third-wettest June on record, water levels have risen at area lakes, affecting multiple recreation areas. Zink Lake on the Arkansas River south of downtown Tulsa has been closed since June 10 due to high water levels.

Pier 51 Marina at Keystone Lake on June 20 announced that recent flooding had forced organizers to delay the fireworks display that had been planned for July 5. Lake Oologah's fireworks display is being rescheduled for Labor Day weekend, according to Brannen Parrish of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Tulsa District.

Click here for the rest of the World’s story, and then bookmark this link so that you can check our state’s lake info anytime.

Thought you’d want to see that story before you solidified your Friday plans.

Speaking of those plans, we had a full list of Oklahoma events for the 4th in our Monday edition. Click here for Monday’s ‘Memo.’ I’ll republish them for Friday’s newsletter, too.

Thinking ahead: If you’d be willing to send us a photo from your Independence Day celebrations this weekend, we’d love to share the best next week! 🇺🇸

My email is [email protected].

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Maybe it’s for your Oklahoma friend who lives out of state and just needs a place to catch up on everything back home. Maybe you share it for that friend who is constantly sharing conspiracy theories online.

The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ mission is simple: Reignite the daily news habit by connecting Oklahomans and those who love Oklahoma to quality sources of news and vetted information.

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Community Notes

From the City of Lawton…
Old Home Rescue has been chosen to restore the historic Carnegie Library Town Hall steps in Lawton, ensuring the landmark’s safety, accessibility, and historic charm. Interior repairs from storm damage are also underway. More updates on reopening will come soon. For details, contact the City of Lawton Arts & Humanities Division at (580) 581-3470 or visit SWOKarts.com.

From the City of Tulsa…
Tulsa’s new $3.4M Chamberlain Pool opens July 3 with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Free admission that day & July 6. Mayor Monroe Nichols, local kids to take the first splash. Located at 4940 N. Frankfort. More improvements coming to Chamberlain Park & Malone Center.

Tulsa pool hours:
🏊 McClure: Tue–Sat, Noon–6p (closed Sun/Mon)
🏊 Lacy: Tue–Sat, 10a–4p (closed Sun/Mon)
🏊 Whiteside: Thu–Mon, Noon–6p (closed Tue/Wed, reopens July 7)
🏊 Reed: Wed–Sun, 10a–4p (closed Mon/Tue)
🏊 Chamberlain: Sun–Thu, 11a–5p (closed Fri/Sat) — opens July 3 after 11a ribbon cutting

💵 $3 admission, kids under 4 free.

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Weather Update 🌧️

Rain chances return Thursday and Friday. Today’s odds aren’t high at any one time, but there’s a good chance you’ll see at least some rain at some point.

🌡️ Thursday's high in OKC 83°
🌡️ Thursday’s high in Tulsa 86°

Trump administration freezes over $70 million in Oklahoma federal education funds

By Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
Click to read the story.
Donate to Oklahoma Voice.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Trump administration is indefinitely withholding more than $70 million in federal education programs meant for Oklahoma students and educators, including money for teacher development, English learners, after-care programs and migrant children.

The U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday it has frozen six federal programs that collectively distribute $6.8 billion across the country. The federal agency said it would not send out the money by July 1, the start of the 2026 fiscal year for states and schools, because it is still reviewing the funding.

“The department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the president’s priorities and the department’s statutory responsibilities,” the agency wrote in a message to states.

Withheld funds include nearly $31.37 million that Oklahoma districts use for teacher professional development, $15.68 million that support before- and after-school programs, $6.43 million dedicated for the 13% of Oklahoma students learning English as their non-native language and $240,000 for the children of migrant workers. Another $7.3 million for adult education in Oklahoma also is affected.

The Trump administration also said it froze funds from Title IV Part A, which provide $16.35 million for academic enrichment in Oklahoma schools. However, the Oklahoma State Department of Education said it started receiving money from this program for the 2026 fiscal year.

Federal dollars from the other affected funds have not yet arrived, the state department reported last week.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters advised schools to budget only for federal funds that already have been awarded.

“We appreciate the fact that the Trump administration is working diligently to ensure our taxpayer dollars are being stewarded with care,” Walters said in a statement. “(The state Department of Education) is working in lockstep with the Trump administration to assist with our mutually-aligned education priorities.”

Walters also took to social media to mock California being frozen out of the same programs that Oklahoma and all other states are currently unable to access.

In response to California state Superintendent Tony Thurmond saying the Trump administration’s withholding of funds “will harm students” and “cannot stand,” Walters wrote in a Tuesday post, “Don’t break the law by pushing racist CRT and DEI tactics, by push LGBTQ ideology on kids, and even allow boys to compete in women’s sports.”

Click to finish the story.

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• OKC doctor accused of murdering 4-year-old daughter before placing her in Florida pool (KOCO)

• ICE breaks into Oklahoma man’s car to send him to a country he hasn’t seen in decades (KFOR)

• 'Unjust': Owasso father faces deportation after living an honest life in US (2 News Oklahoma)

• OBN seizes nearly 4,000 marijuana plants, over 100 pounds of processed marijuana in Hughes County (KFOR)

• Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma cancels fireworks show after fire breaks out, 5 injured (KOCO)

• Oklahoma death row inmate died of bleeding pancreas, autopsy shows (The Oklahoman)

• Attorney seeks release of Claremore man, accused of threatening Trump supporters (2 News Oklahoma)

• An effort to expand access to a state scholarship to more Tulsa Race Massacre descendants stalls (The Frontier)

• Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office: Man charged in missing person case dating back to 2012 now in custody (McAlester News-Capital)

• Greenwood group will ask city for event-permitting changes in wake of fatal shooting (Tulsa World)

• Tedeschi Trucks Band bringing 'Mad Dogs' documentary to Church Studio (Tulsa World)

• Investigation continues after fatal ultralight aircraft crash in Logan County (Guthrie News Page)

• Marshall County shooting victim identified (KXII)

• Thunderbirds refueling mission gives Oklahoma veteran a behind-the-scenes tour (News 9)

• Oklahoman has new perspective on July Fourth after being wrongfully imprisoned in Thailand (The Oklahoman)

• Indian Healthcare Resource Center opens expanded clinic in Tulsa, offering services for all tribal citizens (News On 6)

• PSO urges customers to beware of utility scams underway in Oklahoma (The Henryettan)

• Muskogee residents seek transparency during sales tax meeting (Muskogee Phoenix)

• AG Opinion: Door Badge Swipes are Public Records (Oklahoma Watch)

• Osage Nation Congress votes down $225k turnpike settlement in special session (Osage News)

• ‘A Better Way’ comes to Norman from Tulsa, provides supportive employment opportunities (KGOU)

• Oklahoma bipartisan nonprofit relaunches to advocate for LGBTQ+ issues (Oklahoma Voice)

• Lawton councilwoman announces upcoming resignation (KSWO)

• County approves temporary budget; final budget to be completed this fall (Ardmoreite)

🗣️ Story Tips, Ideas, Feedback

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Best way to reach me is via email at [email protected].

Have a wonderful Thursday!