What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Wednesday, August 27, and there is nothing safe about routine.

A routine I had clearly become too comfortable with messed me up on Tuesday, and I later learned that it happened to me on Monday, too.

Background
Each edition of Oklahoma Memo goes through a test. That test comes to my inbox, and I review it with my own tired eyes every night at about 10.

But I failed to notice the wrong subject line for both the Monday and Tuesday newsletter. Ugh.

So, I fixed it and sent a replacement at 8 a.m., and that cost me three subscribers. It probably felt spammy to them.

Anyway, it was a self-inflicted wound. And on my birthday nonetheless, lol.

I value transparency, so I wanted to acknowledge it publicly. Maybe you didn’t notice. Either way, know this: Oklahoma Memo is a work in process…and so am I!

**

Did you read about the latest Sooner Survey poll results? In my nightly quest to gather news, I only found this on KSWO’s website and on The McCarville Report from my buddy Jason Doyle.

I’m stunned nobody else picked up this story.

The skinny
Gentner Drummond has expanded his lead among GOP gubernatorial contenders for 2026, and Ryan Walters has lost significant favorability amongst his own party. For the record, Walters has not announced his candidacy for anything in ‘26. However, where Walters had been a 37% favorable against a 37% unfavorable — he is now a 31% favorable against a 44% unfavorable.

That’s a big problem for Walters should he decide to throw his hat in the ring for governor because it would mean his primary competition right now is former Speaker Charles McCall. In a primary, the Top 2 would advance to a primary runoff — so there’s plenty of time.

McCall is gentlemanly, affable, very Henry Bellmon-like.

Walters is a firebrand.

It’s way, way too early to cling too tightly to this poll information, but its results were very interesting.

Read the full Sooner Survey poll analysis here.

And you can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update 🌧️

More rain on Wednesday. You can forget about mowing until at least Sunday.

🌡️ Wednesday's high in OKC 82°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 74°

Walters’ ‘America First’ teacher test could overstep Oklahoma law, state agency leader says

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

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma State Department of Education likely would contradict state law if it implements an ideological test for teachers coming from certain states, said the leader of another state agency that oversees teacher assessments.

Requiring an “America First” assessment for teachers moving from progressive states like California and New York, as state Superintendent Ryan Walters pledged to do, would step outside the authority Oklahoma law grants to the state Department of Education, wrote Megan Oftedal, executive director of the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability, in an email to her agency’s governing board on Monday.

“This is not the first instance in which (the state Department of Education) has acted in ways that appear to exceed its legal authority, and the pattern raises ongoing concerns about governance and the proper exercise of statutory responsibility,” Oftedal wrote in the email, which Oklahoma Voice obtained through a records request.

A spokesperson for Walters’ administration, Quinton Hitchcock, said Tuesday that neither the state Legislature nor the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, which governs Oftedal’s agency, “has any control over teacher certifications.” 

State law and the Education Department’s own website would disagree. Both acknowledge the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability is responsible for adopting competency tests that teachers must pass to become certified in Oklahoma. 

Click here to finish the story.

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I will also offer one-time story placement, branded clearly as sponsored content. Keep it to 250 words or thereabouts with an image and a call-to-action. There are also opportunities on other platforms for us to work together.

Monthly contracts available, and I can be super flexible to make the partnership meet your business needs.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Bartlesville Public Schools: Hacker got Social Security numbers in April data breach (Tulsa World)

• Tulsa's violent crimes task force seizes over 150 firearms over summer, police say (Tulsa World)

• Supreme Court rebukes Oklahoma judge for ‘poor demeanor,’ ‘bias’ toward lawyers (Oklahoma Voice)

• As Oklahoma prisons embrace AI, critics warn of risks (KOSU, Oklahoma Watch)

• Stigler Assistant Police Chief pulls man from burning car on I-40 (News On 6)

• ‘Operation Fair Game:’ 119 arrested for violent felony crimes, law enforcement officials say (KFOR)

• Why is Oklahoma sending thousands of rescue dogs and cats out of state? (KGOU)

• Mustang student who reportedly assaulted staff member and SRO could face serious charges, police say (KOCO)

• Man accused of arson at McClain County deputy's home faces tribal and federal charges (KOCO)

• Judge dismisses city of Tulsa from civil rights suit filed by wrongfully convicted man (Tulsa World)

• Ardmore industry takes another hit: Flanders to shut down manufacturing operations (The Ardmoreite)

• Continental Resources leadership transition announced; Shelly Lambertz named new board chair (The Oklahoman)

• Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission selects acting director, pledges to work through ‘challenges’ (Oklahoma Voice)

• Attorney claims Okemah officers' firings were retaliation amid union, power abuse issues (KTUL)

• Muscogee Nation tribal council pauses resolution involving Cherokee jurisdictional fight (KOSU)

• OKC Council approves 6-month jail agreement with Cleveland County for some detainees (The Oklahoman)

• Phoenix at 36 North opens with 100 mixed-income units in north Tulsa (2 News Oklahoma)

• Comanche council approves audit, annual agreement with Meridian EMS (Duncan Banner)

• Lawton City Council votes on new Ward 2 council member (KSWO)

• Ward 5 committee to interview Norman Transcript editor, 3 other candidates for council seat (OU Daily)

• Midwest City residents to vote on hotel tax increase in November special election (KOCO)

• Voters to decide changes to Sulphur city charter (KTEN)

• Fresh dog food store opens in Calera (KXII)

• Lankford discusses issues during Enid visit (Woodward News)

• Oklahoma Democrats announce second round of public 'Capitol Conversations' (KOSU)

• City of Oklahoma City announces closures, service changes for Labor Day (News 9)

• ‘Preserve this history’: Dusk ‘Til Dawn festival plays on after Selby Minner murder (NonDoc)

• Oklahoma County deputy steps in as aggressive dogs trap family inside home (KFOR)

• New location proposed for “Kicks 66” boot monument (KFOR)

• Gentner Drummond joins letter to DEA asking to ban "Designer Xanax" (News 9)

• Oklahoma City's Metropolitan Library system is looking for its first Poet Laureate (KOSU)

• Oklahoma State football selects Hauss Hejny to start at QB for season opener (The Oklahoman)

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