What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Friday, August 1, and that means it’s a) almost football season, b) time for back-to-school or c) both of the above.

Give yourself a point if you chose Option C.

I was tempted to add another option called, “almost hoodie weather,” but truthfully we’ve got another couple months of heat to deal with.

But this time of year takes me back. I grew up in eastern Oklahoma, and each year about this time, my folks would take us to Sears in Tulsa, the one that was at 21st Street and Yale Avenue, right across Drillers Stadium once upon a time and right down the road from Bell’s Amusement Park.

To me, 21st and Yale was the happiest intersection in T-Town. It had everything awesome, and believe me when I tell you — Sears was awesome.

It was big. It was bustling. It smelled of popcorn.

For those of you who are too young to remember the glory days of department stores, do yourself a favor and spend a couple hours at Macy’s on 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

That’s 80 percent of what it was like. It’s as close as I can think of.

But Sears back in the day was still better.

Tulsa World did a throwback feature last year detailing the Sears department store’s history there through the rebuild in 1998 all the way until it finally closed for good in 2017.

If it were still there, you’d be able to buy school clothes tax-free this weekend. There are a lot to the rules of Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday, so I put together a guide for you.

But maybe I’m wrong about there not being any place quite like Sears in Tulsa from back in the day. If there’s a modern day equivalent to it in Oklahoma, by all means — let me know!

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update 🌧️

Rain chances, especially in the morning.

🌡️ Friday's high in OKC 84°
🌡️ Friday’s high in Tulsa 84°

Rep. Stephanie Bice takes ‘offense’ to question about not holding in-person town halls

By Em Luetkemeyer, Oklahoma Watch
Click here to read the story.
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Republican Rep. Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma on Wednesday night defended her use of remote town halls after a constituent on the call confronted her and accused her of dodging voters.

The question came during a telephone town hall event featuring Republican Reps. Jason Smith of Missouri and Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, who each chair a House committee.

“Without dodging my question or giving me the okey doke, can you tell me why you are not holding in-person town halls, where you can look your constituents in the face, eye-to-eye, and answer tough questions?” the caller said.

“These town halls, telephone town halls, are a joke, and are screened, carefully screened. I had to pretend to be asking another question. I would have never gotten this question in,” the caller added.

Bice was quick to respond, saying this is the 30th telephone town hall she has hosted, and that she speaks with her constituents in the district and in Washington, D.C., all the time.

“Let me make this very clear: I can reach several thousand constituents when I dial out for these telephone town halls. I am never going to get that kind of engagement if I’m doing in-person town halls. I am lucky to get a couple hundred, and that’s on a great day,” Bice said. “I do not dodge my constituents.”

She said the telephone format also allowed her to have “expertise,” such as Westerman and Smith, join in to help answer questions about the reconciliation bill that Republicans recently passed.

“I take offense to the idea that you think I’m dodging questions, because that’s not the case, and frankly, I’m glad you asked,” Bice added. “Especially for my senior citizens that are across the district, they have the opportunity to sit in their homes, listen to the answers that are being given and understand what’s happening in D.C., other than having to drive to a location, especially in the evening during the winter months in the dark.”

Click to finish the story.

What can you buy during Oklahoma’s 2025 sales tax holiday for back to school — and what are the rules?

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s annual sales tax‑free weekend runs from Friday, August 1 to Sunday, August 3, 2025, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday and ending at midnight Sunday. During this time, purchasers across the state can buy qualifying clothing and shoes without paying state or local sales tax.

✅ What’s tax‑exempt during Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday?

• Most clothing and footwear items individually priced under $100 qualify for the exemption.

• Purchases apply in-store, online, by phone, or by mail, as long as payment occurs during the holiday window. Delivery may take place later.

🚫 What’s not included during Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday?

Excluded items include:

• Any single item priced at $100 or more

• Accessories such as jewelry, handbags, wallets, umbrellas, or watches

• Special athletic or protective gear like cleats, helmets, pads, or hard hats

• Items primarily intended for athletic/protective use

• Clothing rentals

• School supplies, backpacks, electronics, and computers

🛒 Oklahoma sales tax holiday: Shopper & retailer rules

• All Oklahoma retailers must participate; none can opt out of the exemption.

• Store discounts or coupons that reduce an item’s price below $100 make it eligible. Manufacturer or third-party coupons that do not lower the sale price to below $100 don’t qualify.

• Layaway purchases qualify if the final payment is made and the item is delivered during the holiday.

• Returns and exchanges for the same eligible item within or after the holiday do not incur tax; if exchanged for a different item after the window, tax applies on the new item.

📌 Quick facts about Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Former Oklahoma teacher charged in killings at Arkansas state park (KOSU)

• Parents of students speak out about Andrew McGann’s “eerie” behavior following murder arrest (KFOR)

• Toddler dies after being hit by truck in Bryan County (KTEN)

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• Poultry industry blasts AG's proposed fines in Illinois River pollution lawsuit (Tulsa World)

• Oklahoma Tax Commission denies American Virtual Academy’s eligibility (KOCO)

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• Cherokee Nation opens its first Head Start with day care at MidAmerica in Pryor (Tulsa World)

• OSBI investigates altercation involving Coal County sheriff (KTEN)

• Suspended Tulsa attorney sues Oklahoma Bar, claims free speech violations (News On 6)

• Police investigate armed robbery at Ponca City convenience store (Kay News Cow)

• Wellston Fire Department loses state grant for new truck (KOCO)

• Calls for immigration help hits OKC Catholic Charities (KFOR)

• Osage Nation Attorney General denies any wrongdoing in committee hearing (Osage News)

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• What to know about OKC's new required roofing permits (News 9)

• DEQ sets Aug. 7 deadline for repairs wastewater overflowing in Wagoner (KTUL)

• Integris Health Woodward announces new chief hospital executive (Woodward News)

• Oklahoma Insect Adventure offers hands-on bug experience at Sapulpa Library (Sapulpa Times)

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