Saturday, July 4, 2026 • Happy birthday, America! Some could see 100 for the first time this year. Upper 90s elsewhere. Storms possible Saturday night. Stay safe! ☀️⛈️

• Severe weather could impact Fourth of July celebrations in parts of Oklahoma (KOCO)

• As Fourth of July arrives, Tulsa immigrants share their American stories of freedom, family and belonging (Tulsa Flyer)

• How a McLoud couple’s patriotic tribute touches Oklahomans’ hearts (News 9)

• ‘Playing with my heart': Student musicians celebrate America’s 250th alongside Army Band (StateImpact Oklahoma)

• Cody Canada, The Departed to headline Norman's Fourth Fest 250 (KGOU)

• Tinker Air Force Base highlights America250 celebration in Oklahoma (News 9)

• What are the fireworks laws in the Oklahoma City metro after passage of Rockets' Red Glare Act? (KOCO)

• What to know about Oklahoma’s newly legal bottle rockets (News 9)

• Celebrate America 250 with these fireworks displays in Oklahoma City metro (KOCO)

• Independence Day 2026 celebrations across the KGOU listening area (KGOU)

• When and where to watch Fourth of July fireworks shows across Texoma for America’s 250th birthday (KXII)

• Yukon Freedom Fest celebrates America's 250th birthday with fireworks, live music, and an F-16 flyover (KOCO)

• Preview: Fireworks on the 4th at Lake Murray (KTEN)

• 5 ways to spend your weekend in Tulsa July 3-5 (Tulsa Flyer)

• Checotah 4th of July celebration postponed (News On 6)

• Wetumka cancels Fourth of July fireworks after supplier files bankruptcy (Fox 25)

• Fireworks sales explode ahead of America’s 250th birthday. Oklahomans are scrambling to meet demand. (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• America at 250: Oklahoma veterans share hope for where the country is headed (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• Lawton Fire Chief urges firework safety, reminds community they’re illegal in Lawton (KSWO)

• Fireworks safety in focus after Tulsa child loses hand in explosion (News On 6)

• Flooded Keystone Lake poses hidden dangers ahead of July 4th (News On 6)

• Skiatook Class of 2026 buries time capsule to be opened during America’s tricentennial (News On 6)

We received 107 votes on the Friday poll, “Should kratom be illegal in Oklahoma?”

• 56 said YES
• 14 said NO
• 33 asked, “What’s kratom?”
• 4 said, “Only kratom product with concentrated 7-OH in it.”

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

By Andrea Eger, Oklahoma Watch
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Edmond Public Schools renewed employment contracts for all of the district’s top brass, only to turn around and tell many of them that their jobs are being eliminated.

The moves by first-year superintendent Josh Delich and the Edmond school board already have local taxpayers on the hook to cover nearly $90,000 in cash settlements with the first two administrators to be ousted, with arrangements for other affected employees still unresolved.

At least 10 district officials have reportedly been notified their positions have been or will soon be eliminated, and of those, five have been selected for newly created positions in Delich’s reorganized administration.

EPS has not fulfilled a public records request for email discussions between Delich and the school board, but in an interview, Delich acknowledged that talks of the matter began as early as January. 

With notifications coming so late in the spring semester – 1-3 months after administrators had their contracts renewed for 2026-27 on March 2 – some of those affected have been forced into retirement or to find new jobs elsewhere for significantly less pay. Others are in limbo after being told they will be cut at an unspecified date in the fall after critical job duties are completed.

“I’ve worked in Edmond for 25 years of my 30-year career and we have never treated people this way,” said Cara Jernigan, whose last day as executive director of elementary education was June 30. “I have never been reprimanded informally or formally; I’ve never had a bad evaluation. I’ve watched people who made mistakes and had to be let go be treated with more dignity and respect than this.”

At a special meeting on June 24, the school board approved separation agreements with Jernigan and Mark Andrus, district residency and truancy officer. That Wednesday evening meeting during summer break was the first public signal that a shake-up was underway at the state’s fourth-largest school district.

👉 Click to read the rest of the story.

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