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What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Monday, September 8, and it was a great weekend to be a Sooner!

It wasn’t such a great weekend for OSU or Tulsa, but just know that I rooted.

Where I wanted to start this week, however, is by hopping back to late last week and another of these state legislative Democrats’ Capitol Conversations. Their focus was on education, and what they’d like to see changed.

Of course, the conversation started and ended with leadership in the state superintendent’s office. I’m told every speaker who addressed the panel had the chance to talk about anything they wanted to — and it always came back to their concerns and frustrations with Ryan Walters.

And water is wet. It’s a get-together of Democrats.

But it’s not just Lefties who have had it with the state superintendent. Pollster Pat McFerron reported that among likely Republican voters, Walters only had a 31% approval rating, and a 44% unfavorable rating.

Trump Republicans still like him, but traditional Republicans do not.

You’d think Walters had the entire state behind him if you watched KOCO’s new political show called Oklahoma Chronicle. I thought anchor Evan Onstot did a good enough job. I didn’t pick it apart. He certainly wasn’t adversarial, but I also didn’t come away learning anything new about Walters, his policies or the state of Oklahoma education.

What we really need right now from journalists right now is challenge.

We know what Walters is going to say. The man’s greatest hits are on repeat, over and over. He’s here to disrupt the status quo and all the parents he talks to are in support of him.

It’s just not true though. And many of us would argue Walters’ version of disruption is setting education back in the state by decades, turning Oklahoma into the laughing stock of America.

Right now, everything he says needs to be challenged by the media, even his supposed popularity — because the current evidence suggests he’s not. At all.

I would have loved to have heard a question like, “Oklahoma is second to last in the nation in education according to a recent report and is consistently at or near the bottom in all others. You are the state superintendent. Why have those rankings fallen under your leadership?”

He’ll answer, and then the reporter responds, “OK, but these rankings have fallen under your leadership. Does the buck not stop with you?”

Walters and other elected officials should come away at least mildly uncomfortable from any news interview because they’re being challenged, and challenged fairly.

When they don’t answer the question, call them on it.

Once all the candidates to replace Walters as state superintendent are officially in place, I’d love to read about what their education priorities will be, specifically, and not just that they’re not Walters.

That need for the fourth estate to challenge isn’t directed to just one party.

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update ⛅

Slight rain chances early in the week, but otherwise quite nice.

🌡️ Monday's high in OKC 82°
🌡️ Monday’s high in Tulsa 80°

Gov. Stitt touts clearing homeless camps in Tulsa, providers say efforts cause 'traumatic experiences'

By Sierra Pfeifer, KOSU
Click here to read the story.
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At the direction of Gov. Kevin Stitt, state troopers were dispatched to encampments in Tulsa on Friday morning with instructions to clear people inhabiting state land.

Stitt announced his intentions to start forcibly sweeping encampments on Thursday and has been publicizing and lauding his own efforts, called Operation SAFE, on almost every social media platform since.

“Homeless individuals will either be transported to a treatment/housing facility or taken to jail if they refuse help. After, the encampment will be cleaned out by the State,” Stitt wrote next to a video panning over temporary structures, people and their belongings, posted on multiple platforms.

It’s one of many videos in a stream of posts emphasizing the governor’s efforts to fix the “disaster” he said “homeless people on every corner” have turned the city into. State troopers, dressed in uniform and carrying guns, stand onscreen.

Before moving to arrest someone in an encampment, the troopers have been instructed, and are required by state law, to offer them access to treatment.

Carrie Blumert, the chief executive officer of Mental Health Association Oklahoma, a large service provider in Tulsa that works directly with the homeless population, said Stitt’s plans came as a surprise.

“I have not talked to one service provider who said they knew this was coming,” Blumert said.

Abegail Cave, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, could not provide a list of possible treatment locations where people could be transported instead of being arrested, or the number of shelter spaces available.

“You could probably Google how many programs exist in Tulsa, and I think you're going to be shocked at how many people run some sort of program for homelessness in Tulsa,” Cave said.

Click here to finish the story.

Oklahoma lawmaker asks for AG opinion on legality of new governor's mansion

By Lionel Ramos, KOSU
Click here to read the story.
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Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, is questioning whether the State Capitol Preservation Commission can decide to build a new governor’s mansion all on its own, regardless of how it’s been funded.  And he wants the state attorney general to weigh in.

Fugate said he doesn’t think the state Capitol Preservation Commission can go ahead with the construction of a new privately funded governor’s mansion without the legislature's approval.

Especially because state taxpayers already pay for the maintenance of the nearly 100-year-old existing mansion.

"The plans as have been published say that they're going to keep the existing one and figure out what they're going to do with it," Fugate said. "Well, so now I've got insurance on two buildings, I've got utilities on two buildings… additional staff for staffing the buildings, for securing the grounds."

Fugate wants Attorney General Gentner Drummond to clarify if the commission can go forward with its plan to burden taxpayers without a legislative mandate, as those costs won’t be covered by donations.

Fugate points to Senate Bill 162, which ordered the construction of a veterans memorial arch on the State Capitol grounds, as an example of how the process should take place.

“My colleagues here at the Capitol certainly could decide to build a new governor's mansion so that we have two governors' mansions,” Fugate said. “I don't know that that makes a whole lot of sense, but that's not what this request is about.”

“This request is about who has the authority to make that decision,” he said.

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• As Tulsa seeks housing solutions, governor cracks down on homeless encampments with state police (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Gov. Stitt is lying about Tulsa homeless operation, Democrats say (Tulsa World)

• Stitt targets Nichols, Tulsa’s first Black mayor, over homelessness (The Black Wall Street Times)

• 'We can't incarcerate ourselves out of homelessness': Officials react to Governor's "Operation SAFE" (2 News Oklahoma)

• Jail or shelter: Tulsa homeless advocates push back on governor’s attempt to clear encampments (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• Records show Ryan Walters has a pattern of poor attendance at state boards (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson and wife accused of harassment (News 9)

• Preliminary report offers clues about plane crash that killed flight instructor, but no reasons why it happened (The Lawton Constitution)

• State Chamber unveils Oklahoma Decides, a hub for political candidate information (The Journal Record)

• ‘We fought the law and we won!’: Judge rules Glencoe basketball players eligible to play amid ongoing OSSAA legal battle (KFOR)

• OU football report card: Mateer outduels Underwood, but kicking game a disaster (Tulsa World)

• OSU football suffers 69-3 loss to Oregon, worst defeat in Mike Gundy era (The O’Colly)

• ‘We’re all kumbaya’: Jockeys, Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma reach agreement (NonDoc)

• Everything you need to know before the 2025 Oklahoma State Fair begins (KOCO)

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