🚨🚨 BREAKING: Axios reported late Monday that the National Weather Service Radar Operations Center, a “centralized hub” for technicians to service older Doppler radars, will lose its lease in north Norman by the end of September. The lease was reportedly cut by DOGE.

OU Daily staffers were unable to get a comment as of late Monday night.

⛈️ ⛈️ ⛈️

Here is the Oklahoma journalism I’ve hand-picked for you this Tuesday:

• Oklahoma bill banning 21 food dyes and additives makes it out of committee

• Oklahoma AG calls Walters’ ask for opinion on Trump order a ‘manufactured political drama’ (Oklahoma Voice)

• OU to debut “new spring football tradition,” ending annual spring game

• SGA scores 51 as the Thunder beat Houston, 137-128

Weather Update ⛈️

A stormy morning for much of Oklahoma, but once the rain clears — it will be seasonably cool across the state.

🌡️ Tuesday’s high in OKC 62°
🌡️ Tuesday’s high in Tulsa 64°

There is still a significant wildfire risk in southwest and southern Oklahoma today. (OK Energy Today)

If you have weather photos you’d like to share with ‘Oklahoma Memo,’ email them to [email protected]! We’ll feature the best in Wednesday’s edition.

See Also 👀

• Severe weather and critical fire risk, ranked 'multi-hazard,' expected nationwide (KOSU)

1️⃣ Oklahoma bill banning 21 food dyes and additives makes it out of committee

An Oklahoma bill that would ban the use of 21 dyes and other chemical additives in food made it out of committee on Monday.

Introduced by state Sen. Kristen Thompson (R-Edmond), “the measure includes aspartame, an artificial sweetener, and sodium nitrate, a preservative. It requires a warning label disclosing all chemical food additives,” per reporting from Barbara Hoberock with Oklahoma Voice.

MitchellTalks host Scott Mitchell discussed the bill with Thompson last week on his YouTube channel.

More Coverage 👀

• Oklahoma bill proposes ban on diet soda ingredients and food dyes (KOCO)

• Bill banning dyes, additives from foods moves forward at Capitol (KFOR)

• Oklahoma Senate committee advances bill to remove harmful additives from food and medicine (Fox 25)

• A list of the prohibited substances (MuskogeePolitico.com)

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2️⃣ Oklahoma AG calls Walters’ ask for opinion on Trump order a ‘manufactured political drama’

By Nuria Martinez-Keel
Click here to read the story.

Calling the inquiry a “manufactured political drama,” Oklahoma’s attorney general declined state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ request for a legal opinion over whether a presidential order blocks federal education funds from benefiting undocumented students.

Walters had asked the attorney general whether any Oklahoma school programs are affected by President Donald Trump’s Feb. 19 executive order blocking taxpayer-funded benefits from supporting undocumented immigrants. He also asked how his administration at the Oklahoma State Department of Education should comply with Trump’s order if any school programs are affected.

(Be sure to click the link to read Ryan Walters’ response to the decision.)

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3️⃣ OU to debut “new spring football tradition,” ending annual spring game

Several universities have eliminated football spring games altogether, thanks to rules that make it far too easy for the games to be used for transfer portal recruiting.

That’s not a reason listed on SoonerSports.com, however.

Oklahoma News Headlines 📰

• Federal authorities announce indictments of 4 tied to human smuggling ring, 1 in OK prison (Fox 23)

• Former Northpark Cinema being converted into pickleball, restaurant, bar (Oklahoman, paywall)

• This Oklahoma City suburb just ranked in the top 15 suburbs in America. See the list. (Oklahoman, paywall)

• OKC to host rally in support of Ukraine freedom and peace (News 9)

• Former Pottawatomie County sheriff’s deputy faces domestic abuse charges (News 9)

• Rock, soul, strangeness march through OKC concerts this month (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Federal memo finds United Keetoowah Band ‘successor in interest’ to Cherokee Reservation (NonDoc)

• Heavy smoke and fire damage Muskogee church (2 News Oklahoma)

• Tulsa teenager diagnosed with rare disease, asks for help with dental surgery (News On 6)

• Crude fell 2% on Monday and OK energy stocks dropped up to 11% (OK Energy Today)

• Next Broadband expansion project to involve five counties in Oklahoma (OK Energy Today)

• Chickasha wrestling crowned 5A State Champions, leaves tournament with 3 individual champions (The Express-Star)

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Sports Headlines 🏀⚾

Gilgeous-Alexander scores 51 as Thunder beat Rockets 137-128

The Oklahoma City Thunder have won their 50th game of the season. (Thunder)

Undefeated baseball Sooners to be put to the test at Dallas Baptist

The 11-0 Oklahoma Sooners are No. 10 in one poll, No. 12 and 13 in two others and No. 19 in a fourth.

They’re fresh off a sweep against the CSU-Northridge Matadors, including a game that ‘Oklahoma Memo’ attended on Saturday, a 10-2 OU win.

However, the Patriots of Dallas Baptist are No. 21, and historically, they gave the Sooners fits in mid-week battles.

First pitch happens right after 6 p.m. Tuesday in Dallas in a game that you can watch on ESPN+ or listen to (my preference) on your KREF radio app.

If you’re out and about across Oklahoma or just have an interesting ‘view from your window,’ send those photos our way. The email address is [email protected].

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🗣️ Story Tips, Ideas, Feedback

My inbox is always open. If you have a link I should add to the newsletter, a story that isn’t getting enough attention, a press release, a press event you’d like to invite me to—or you just want to offer some good old-fashioned feedback, I’m available to you.

My mission is to amplify quality journalism, rekindling the daily news habit!

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