What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Saturday, July 26, and… wait. It’s Saturday?

It is, and I knew that at some point we’d need another Saturday edition of Oklahoma Memo. The breaking news alert came from The Oklahoman mid-afternoon Friday with a report that two State Board of Education members reported seeing nude images in video playing on a screen in State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office on Thursday.

They were with Walters in a closed-door meeting.

(Note: It turns out that there was a third board member in the office, who corroborates the story but who didn’t see the screen as well as the others.)

Two newsrooms broke this story within minutes of each other. First was The Oklahoman, but quickly following was NonDoc. Truth be told, NonDoc might have been first to post, but I got The Oklahoman’s alert first by at least 5-10 minutes.

Doesn’t matter. They were both all over it. Kudos to them. Great job.

Only KFOR even mentioned it during their early evening newscasts, at least in Oklahoma City. I’ve been told that Fox 23 mentioned it in their newscast, and by 8 p.m., most everybody has the story on their website.

Understand that TV newsrooms usually wait before reporting something like this on-air until they get statements, especially when the allegations are against a high-ranking official. TV stations don’t have the luxury of doing what we call ‘iterative reporting’ like digital publications do. Iterative reporting is when you report what you have confirmed right now, and then you add to it as you go with additional, confirmed developments, reactions, and more. If a TV station leads the 5 p.m. with allegations without giving the accused enough of a chance to respond, it comes off as unfair.

This is a really important distinction between TV news and digital news.

But KFOR did their homework. They had a statement from Walters, a statement from House Speaker Kyle Hilbert and from Gov. Kevin Stitt.

That’s what you call hustle. The other stations in Oklahoma City frankly got smoked.

Soon after, Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton and Senate Education Chairman Adam Pugh also issued statements — and everybody in authority is in agreement: an investigation is coming.

Good.

As of 10:45 p.m., we have not heard from Attorney General Gentner Drummond. That’s curious. We haven’t heard from him that I’m aware of I should write, but I’ll be surprised if we don’t see a tweet from him before noon today.

He’s running for governor. Surely he has something to say on the matter.

None of this means Walters is guilty of anything. The nudity was on a TV supposedly, and it may have been hooked up to a cable channel. The descriptions in the stories I’ve read suggest the nudity was full and that the two women were around a chiropractic or massage table.

Sounds like a movie without much of a storyline, if you ask me.

But it also could have been some kind of cable true crime show about an investigation with the naughty bits pixellated.

Who knows. I’m giving Walters the biggest benefit of the doubt while being highly suspicious. Surely, a guy who has intentions of seeking the governorship is not this undisciplined.

Here are the facts: when you’re a State Superintendent crusading against what he considers to be pornography in Oklahoma schools, you’d better not get caught consuming actual pornography inside a state government office.

Let’s allow the investigation to play out, but if the actual ‘porn problem’ sits atop the State Department of Education, I’m confident lawmakers will have Walters removed before the first day of class.

They will 100 percent not cover for him. Bet.

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update ☀️

Sunny and hot. Go to the pool!

🌡️ Saturday's high in OKC 94°
🌡️ Saturday’s high in Tulsa 93°

Probe needed after reports of nude women on state superintendent’s office TV, Oklahoma Speaker says

By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
Click to read the story.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s top Senate leader said an inquiry is underway following “a bizarre and troubling situation” where two board members reported that they saw naked women on State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office television.

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said the inquiry is being led by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and “leadership at the agency is working through proper channels to initiate the investigation.”

The Oklahoman and NonDoc reported late Friday that board members Ryan Deatherage and Becky Carson said they saw the pictures on a television in Walters’ office during a State Board of Education executive session that was held the July 24.

“This is a bizarre and troubling situation that raises serious questions about the events and what took place during yesterday’s executive session at the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting,” Paxton said in a statement. “The accounts made public by board members paint a strange, unsettling scene that demands clarity and transparency. Senator Pugh and I appreciate the quick action by OMES to help coordinate through this situation to get details on exactly what happened. More transparency is essential before strong conclusions can be drawn.”

A spokesperson for Oklahoma’s House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said he believes a probe is needed.

“These are serious allegations made by two members of the State Board and an expeditious third-party review is warranted,” Hilbert said. “I urge the State Superintendent to unlock and turn over all relevant devices and fully cooperate with an investigation.

“If no wrongdoing occurred, a prompt and transparent review should quickly clear his name.”

Walters and an agency spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Oklahoma Voice.

Earlier in the day, the agency told NonDoc that the accusations were “a junk tabloid lie,” and said that Walters was facing a “hostile board who will say and do anything except tell the truth.”

Carson could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon. 

Deatherage declined a request for an interview, but said in a text message that it is his top priority to protect students.

“We hold educators to the strictest of standards when it comes to explicit material,” Deatherage said. “The standard for the superintendent should be no different.”

The two board members were recently confirmed by the Senate. Deatherage was appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt during a board restructuring that replaced three board members following what Stitt called “needless political drama.” Carson was appointed to fill a vacant position.

The board has questioned Walters’ actions and his authority in recent months. On Thursday, board members questioned Walters over his authority to require districts to provide free school lunches to all students, a controversial test he wants to require California and New York teachers to take before they can become certified to teach in Oklahoma, and a new partnership with a private, online Arizona-based school. The board wanted to know why they weren’t consulted.

Carson also publicly questioned Walters about why he didn’t provide them with a copy of a resignation letter that was addressed to both the board and Walters. 

Walters has been a vocal critic of pornography and sought to ban some books that he said contained it from school library shelves.

Reporter Emma Murphy contributed to this report.

Could this businessman be the Kevin Stitt of the ‘26 Oklahoma governor’s race?

By Ryan Welton, Oklahoma Memo
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Speculation is swirling around Dustin Hilliary, co-CEO of Hilliary Communications, as a potential contender in Oklahoma’s 2026 gubernatorial race. While Hilliary has not declared a candidacy, a source close to Hilliary confirmed to political analyst Scott Mitchell that he is not ruling it out.

At this time, Dustin is committed to running the family business and building broadband across rural Oklahoma, the source told Scott, but he would not rule out a run for governor.

Hilliary’s name has surfaced in recent political conversations as observers look for a candidate who could follow in the footsteps of Gov. Kevin Stitt — a political outsider who self-financed his way to victory in 2018. Hilliary Communications, a Lawton-based broadband and media company, has grown into a powerhouse in southwest Oklahoma and has been a recipient of significant federal infrastructure investment.

The potential for self-funding could position Hilliary as a serious candidate in what is expected to be a crowded and expensive Republican primary. Political analysts such as Kyle Loveless, the vice president of Stratus Intelligence, estimate a competitive campaign could cost $5 to $6 million through the primary and runoff stages, with another $1 to $2 million likely required for the general election.

No one is likely to win this race on the first ballot, he agreed.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond, considered the likely frontrunner, faces challenges despite his statewide name recognition and previous electoral success over appointed incumbent John O’Connor. Observers suggest no for-sure favorite has yet emerged.

Hilliary, known for his influence in rural infrastructure and media, could significantly alter the race’s dynamics if he enters.

For now, insiders are saying say the buzz is real — and growing.

**

Watch the video above with Scott Mitchell and Kyle Loveless, and visit their websites. You can find Scott at MitchellTalks.com, and you can find Kyle at Stratus Intelligence.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Woodward County mother jailed after shooting man accused in sexual abuse of 16-month-old boy (KOCO)

• Landlord with history of neglect proposes redevelopment, residents question good faith (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Oklahoma lawmakers to tackle dark money, water and artificial intelligence during the interim (Oklahoma Voice)

• Vinita theme park backer claims he was duped out of $60 million for failed project (Tulsa World)

• Polishing shoes, healing hearts: Courthouse shoe shiner Cleo Fields dies at 87 (KFOR)

• Oklahoma finalizes purchase of state's last privately-owned prison (KOSU)

• Oklahoma’s largest utility company references criticized bill in OCC application (KGOU)

• Amphitheater developer no longer focused on OKC market; Broken Arrow venue proceeding (The Oklahoman)

• Oklahoma district attorneys gain ally in Glossip case (Oklahoma Watch)

• Claremore Animal Control Shelter locks down after Parvovirus outbreak (KJRH)

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