Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 • Sunny and in the upper-40s. ☀️

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In today’s Memo:

By Sierra Pfeifer, KOSU
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The executive director of Oklahoma City’s chapter of Black Lives Matter has been accused of embezzling more than $3 million meant to cover bail for Oklahomans detained in one of the country’s deadliest jails.

Prosecutors say BLM OKC executive director Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, 52, deposited at least $3.15 million in returned bail checks into her personal accounts.

Black Lives Matter had raised the funds to post pretrial bail for people arrested during racial justice protests in Oklahoma City after the 2020 murder of George Floyd. The indictment said much of the money was properly used at that time.

However, when a person’s case was adjudicated, and money was returned to BLM, instead of creating a revolving fund for people who couldn’t pay bail in the future, the U.S. Department of Justice alleges Dickerson deposited it into her personal accounts and into those of a company she controlled.

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By Jillian Taylor, StateImpact Oklahoma
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Providers say they won’t survive cuts made by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) to child care subsidies for school-age children. Oklahoma’s largest trade association for the child care industry is suing the department to stop it from enforcing the directive it made during the federal government shutdown.

The suit was filed by the Licensed Child Care Association of Oklahoma in the Oklahoma County District Court, over a month after DHS sent a letter at 5 p.m., Oct. 30, to child care providers.

The department announced the removal of a $5 per day “add-on” to providers’ subsidy rate schedule – implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic – for children ages six and older. It also halted new applications and renewals for these children, with exceptions for those in foster care, with disabilities and who are unhoused. Subsidies expire on a rolling basis.

Both policies became effective Nov. 1.

Click here to read the full story.

By Ryan Welton & Jeremy Cook, Oklahoma Memo
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Football took a back seat on Bedlam Buds as Ryan and Jeremy closed out the episode with a holiday detour — ranking their personal Top 5 Christmas songs of all time. From traditional hymns and Bing Crosby classics to Donny Hathaway, Mariah Carey and some unexpected modern picks, the list sparked nostalgia, musical nerdiness and a friendly taste divide.

🎄 Ryan’s Top 5 Christmas Songs

5. “Christmas Time Is Here” — Vince Guaraldi Trio
4. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” — Nat King Cole
3. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” — Mariah Carey
2. “Christmas Wrapping” — The Waitresses
1. “This Christmas” — Donny Hathaway

🎄 Jeremy’s Top 5 Christmas Songs

5. “White Christmas” — Bing Crosby
4. “O Come, All Ye Faithful” / “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (tie)
3. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
2. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
1. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” — Nat King Cole

What’s your Top 5? Message me at [email protected], and we’ll share your list!

Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.

Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.

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

• Oklahoma casino shut down after 'overthrow' of tribal government (The Oklahoman)*

• Parents hail OKC daycare staff as heroes as fire breaks out after car smashes through building (KOCO)

• Coordinated human trafficking operation in Oklahoma led to multiple arrests and children rescue (News 9)

• Department of Corrections refuses to release body camera footage (Oklahoma Watch)

• Coweta residents share data center concerns with state lawmakers, but city leaders and developers skip meeting (Tulsa Flyer)

• DUI arrests by state troopers in Tulsa County decline after OHP policy change (Tulsa World)*

• Tulsa Housing Authority lays groundwork for 100-plus affordable housing units at The Hilltop (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• Classen bike lane plans lead to rift in OKC City Council (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Audit of Western Heights schools details 'problematic' spending under former leadership (KOSU)

• Tulsa Democrats ‘incredibly disappointed’ at state primary mishap (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Oklahoma homeless youth handbook now available online (Public Radio Tulsa)

• List of who was on Walters' Library Media Advisory Committee not accessible (The Oklahoman)*

• Oklahoma lawmakers defend ‘behind-the-meter’ law amid AI data center concerns (News 9)

• Suspect killed after breaking into Tuttle home (KFOR)

• The Brook closes downtown location; Starbucks returning to Tulsa Airport | Dine Notes (Tulsa World)*

• Oklahoma oak trees go nuts during mast seeding (KOSU)

• Free things to do around Tulsa with your family during the holidays (Tulsa Flyer)

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