What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Friday, September 5, and I’m so ready for football this weekend, especially OU vs. Michigan.

If this had been a Friday night a month or two ago, we might have been headed to Chickasha to visit the Chief Drive-In Theatre. It’s an affordable family night out, and we like to get there really early to secure a primo spot.

Also, the food is really good!

So, I was disappointed to see StateImpact Oklahoma’s story about them having to close temporarily due to an oil company drilling in the area.

From Chloe Bennett-Steele’s story on KGOU.org:
The announcement comes after one of the drive-in owners, Barbara Egbert, voiced opposition to the drilling plans during the Aug. 18 Chickasha City Council meeting, as first reported by the Southwest Ledger. The theater is in Ninnekah, and the drilling is set to take place in neighboring Chickasha.

Light and noise pollution would disrupt the movie-going experience, she said.

But there is some good news, too.

Chief Drive-In has announced some upgrades to their facilities, which they announced Wednesday on Facebook. There’s no word whether Camino Natural Resources is funding some of those improvements in the name of being a good neighbor.

They should — and it’s a very common practice when a business disrupts something as beloved as Chief Drive-In.

And it’s beloved.

Best know that this newsletter will let the world know when Chief is back open for business.

Have a great weekend, y’all. Boomer Sooner, and Go Pokes! (Tulsa plays New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M., at 8 p.m.) Reign Cane!

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update 🌧️

Rain chances are back, and it will be much cooler.

🌡️ Friday's high in OKC 76°
🌡️ Friday’s high in Tulsa 74°

The Oklahoma County jail struggles with a shrinking number of detention officers

By Maddy Keyes, The Frontier
Click here to read the story.
Donate to The Frontier

The chronically understaffed Oklahoma County Detention Center has even fewer guards than last year, despite efforts to hire and retain more officers with bonuses and wellness programs. 

There are currently 360 staff members at the jail, including 134 detention officers. That’s 30 fewer detention officers than the jail had in 2024, according to numbers provided by the jail.

Oklahoma State Department of Health inspectors have cited the jail for insufficient staffing seven times since 2020, including twice since December. State rules require jails to have enough staff to supervise and keep detainees secure.

A staffing analysis had suggested it would take closer to 500 workers to properly run the jail, former jail CEO Brandi Garner told The Frontier last year. Garner resigned in February.

The Oklahoma County Detention Center lacks the funds and staffing needed to properly operate the jail, Paul Timmons, interim CEO of the jail, said during a town hall meeting on Aug. 26.

Jail officials provided updates on the 13-story facility during the meeting. Timmons cited extending detention officer training by six weeks and cell renovations as some facility improvements, but said the jail remains understaffed and underfunded. 

The Frontier reported last year that chronic understaffing at the detention center leads to missed sight checks at the jail. State law requires detention officers at jails to visually check on inmates at least once an hour. Over 50 detainees have died at the facility since 2020, including eight in the last year.

Mark Opgrande, a spokesperson for the jail, told The Frontier that the number of detention officers fluctuates because of staff turnover, retirements and challenges related to the position. While the jail has seen a reduction in detention officers compared to last year, the overall staffing levels have increased as they’ve integrated medical staff onto the detention center’s payroll, rather than using a private contractor, Opgrande added.

Click here to finish the story.

Gov. Stitt launches law enforcement operation to clear homeless encampments in Tulsa

By Robby Korth and Sierra Pfeifer, KOSU
Click here to read the story.
Donate to KOSU

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is launching an operation in Tulsa to clear encampments where people are living in tents and other temporary structures.

“Tulsa is a beautiful city,” Stitt said in a news release. “I lived there for years. But today, everybody can see the disaster it’s turning into— homeless people on every corner, trash piling up, and Oklahoma families are being forced to live in fear.”

Stitt blames Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols for a lack of action. He said he’s instructed the state’s Department of Transportation to put up notices telling people camped along highways to clear the area and for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to clear people experiencing homelessness off state land.

Stitt’s office says state troopers will give people two options: a ride to a treatment or housing facility or a ride to jail.

“This is the city’s job, but Mayor Nichols and Tulsa leadership haven’t met the level of action needed to keep neighborhoods safe,” Stitt said. “Oklahoma is going to step in to do our part and clean it up. Once we’ve done so, it’ll be on the City to keep Tulsa clean and safe. If they refuse, then we’ll be forced to take further action to protect Tulsans.”

In response, Nichols called Stitt an “unserious person.”

"Crime is down in all categories, and homelessness, which grew by over 20% the year before I took office, grew by only 4% this year,” he said in a statement. “We have a long way to go, but we are making progress and will continue to do so. I will not be distracted or deterred from doing what we know is necessary to end this crisis in Tulsa.”

Click here to finish the story.

Would you like to be here? 💰

If you’d like to advertise in the Oklahoma Memo newsletter daily, reach out to me at [email protected]. I’d be happy to send you a rate card with all sorts of options.

There will be 3 spots available for ads in the newsletter:

• A top-of-the-newsletter ad. Primo real estate. Banner image, 2-3 sentences with a call-to-action and a link.

• This space here. One photo or image, one paragraph, a call-to-action and a link.

• A bottom of the newsletter ad. This one is for bargain hunters. Banner image, 2-3 sentences with a call-to action and a link.

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:

• Oklahoma child abuse cases surge with over 13k victims (2 News Oklahoma)

• 3 Oklahoma Congress members share their views on unsealing Epstein files (Fox 23)

• Another judge steps away from high-profile Richard Glossip murder case (KOSU)

• Murder case over Richard Glossip on hold because of defense concerns about judges (The Oklahoman)

• Oklahoma unprepared for looming guardianship crisis (Oklahoma Watch)

• Oklahoma City road rage shooting on Interstate 240 sends driver to hospital (KOCO)

• Missing Okmulgee woman found dead (2 News Oklahoma)

• Oklahoma lawmaker asks for AG opinion on legality of new governor’s mansion (KOSU)

• Oklahoma mental health agency unsure of impact of planned provider contract cuts (Oklahoma Voice)

• Cherokee Nation fiscal 2026 budget proposal totals $3.65 billion (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Deputy shoots, kills Shattuck man after gunfire exchange on domestic disturbance call (Woodward News)

• Division of Access and Opportunity memo advises instructors to avoid DEI related content (OU Daily)

• College GameDay excitement builds in Norman as Sooners prepare to face Michigan (KOCO)

• Trae Young named celebrity guest picker for ESPN College GameDay before OU-Michigan (Tulsa World)

• Who are best NFL players with Oklahoma ties? Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield lead QB room (The Oklahoman)

• Actor Graham Greene will appear posthumously in 'The Lowdown' (Tulsa World)

• New clinic in Moore offering free dental care every Thursday (News 9)

• Improvement project to begin at busy, dangerous Edmond intersection (KFOR)

• Ponca City police investigating utility bill scam (Kay News Cow)

• Ardmore commissioners fail to act on cell tower permit (KTEN)

• Osage Casinos to host first outdoor concert at new Bartlesville location (Osage News)

Oklahoma Memo’s Mission, Social Media & Feedback

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.

✅ Save you time.
✅ Make you smarter.

Social Media

Follow ‘Oklahoma Memo’ on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

We also have a YouTube channel!

Contact Us

Message Oklahoma Memo at [email protected].