Saturday, September 19, 2026 • Still very hot. 96-97. ☀️ Storm chances NW.

We received 243 votes on the Friday poll, “Should Oklahoma provide free school meals to every public school student?”

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes, for all students (146)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Only for students who qualify (80)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No, families should pay (16)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Not sure (1)

New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)

By Joe Tomlinson and Haley Samsel, Tulsa Flyer
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The City of Broken Arrow filed a motion to dismiss the Islamic Society of Tulsa’s religious discrimination lawsuit on Friday, arguing the city council’s January denial of a proposed mosque and commercial complex was not motivated by religious bias.

“Broken Arrow does not discriminate based on religious practice or beliefs. Indeed, the record in this case will reflect at least one individual defendant referred to Muslim residents as ‘our Muslim brothers and sisters,’” the filing reads. 

Attorneys from Atlanta-based law firm Troutman Pepper Locke argue the Islamic Society fails to show how the city violated state and federal religious discrimination laws when denying their application by a 4-1 vote. The city is paying the firm $925 an hour for legal services related to the lawsuit and a Department of Justice investigation.

The denied proposal followed a special meeting that attracted more than 1,000 people and a social media frenzy of anti-Islamic comments. Broken Arrow’s filing acknowledges the “significant public interest” in the case and the removal of some “disruptive” people from the January meeting. But the application was treated the same as any other, attorneys argue. 

“Like any other religious institution or assembly, (the Islamic Society) must comply with the City’s land use policies, which are facially neutral between religious and non-religious uses, neutral among religious denominations, and administered in a way that does not discriminate or substantially burden anyone’s free exercise of religion,” the filing reads. 

In a separate filing, lawyers for the city also said councilors cannot be held personally liable for land use decisions.

“These decisions require the exercise of each individual member’s discretion and independent judgment. As such, it is essential that they be permitted to execute their duties without fear of litigation and potential personal liability,” the filing reads. 

The Islamic Society’s August lawsuit accuses the city of violating state and federal laws prohibiting religious discrimination when denying its requests to build a mosque and commercial complex on 15 acres along South Olive Avenue just south of the Creek Turnpike.

Councilors have said their decision was solely based on land use concerns like traffic congestion, water quality and compatibility with the city’s comprehensive plan. But a Tulsa Flyer investigation published in July revealed some councilors privately agreed with anti-Islamic sentiments in their communications with the public.

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