Fire danger returns Monday as Oklahoma just beginning clean-up

Good morning, Oklahoma! There will be a lot of coverage this week about Friday’s destructive wildfires. If you didn’t see our special newsletter on Sunday, it has information on how you can help families impacted.

(Note: Today’s cover photo was taken by Mitchell Alcala with OSU Agriculture)

But we have lots of sports to talk about, too, as both the Oklahoma men and women are going dancing, as are the Oklahoma State women. The OSU men accepted an NIT bid late Sunday night. 🏀

Right quick, though… I’m going to be asking you some questions over the next few weeks that I hope will make the ‘Oklahoma Memo’ a bigger, better, more helpful newsletter. Here is the first question. The data shows that political stories do better than other types of stories, but that might be because more of those stories are being posted.

If you want to rank your Top 3, you can do so after picking your No. 1 choice.

Weather Update 💨🔥

A cool weekend gives way to a very warm start to the week—and a return of extreme fire danger. The winds won’t be as strong as Friday, thankfully.

🌡️ Monday high in OKC 79°
🌡️ Monday high in Tulsa 78°

Heed this warning, please, from the National Weather Service:

Subscriber Photos 📷

If you have weather photos you’d like to share with ‘Oklahoma Memo,’ email them to [email protected]! Add a caption and some context, and we’ll add them to our newsletter.

Our Monday subscriber photo of the day was from a concert in Oklahoma City late last week. Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys tribute band, played a show at Tower Theatre.

People in the path of destruction of Stillwater wildfires survey the damage

By Lionel Ramos, KOSU
Click here to read the full story.

High winds and low humidity caused dozens of fires to race across the Oklahoma plains Friday. By Saturday, the healing had begun.

Jesus Jaime Garcia lost basically everything he had in Stillwater.

He’d only been living here for five months, working as an electrician on the windmills, harvesting the power of the breeze as it sweeps across Oklahoma.

But he was let off work early when the wind started picking up Friday afternoon – gusting as high as 70 miles per hour.

“I went to Walmart to shop,” he said in an interview translated from Spanish. “When I got back here, there was a fire.”

Click here to read the full story.

More Wildfire Coverage 👀

• At least 4 confirmed dead, 142 injured in wildfires; fire danger returns on Monday (Tulsa World, paywall)

• UPDATE: More than 70 homes lost in Stillwater-area fires (Stillwater News Press)

• How to help those impacted by disasters after Oklahoma wildfire outbreak (KOCO)

• Crews continue to battle 33 Road fire in Logan County, 10% contained (News 9)

• 'I'm Devastated': Norman family loses home to wildfires (News 9)

• 'The church has left the building': Mannford churches help city after wildfires (2 News Oklahoma)

• Velma residents back home following wildfire evacuations (KTEN)

• “This is really God’s blessing”: Homeowner in awe after Love County wildfire misses house (KXII)

• ‘It Got Everything’: Oklahoma Residents Who Escaped Fires Brace for Losses (New York Times)

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Oklahoma News Headlines 📰

• Blue Alert: Police search for man suspected of shooting officer in Muskogee County (News On 6)

• Oklahoma City Council approves MAPS4 bike lane construction (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Man walks into OKC convenience store after Sunday shooting, police say (KOCO)

• Oklahoma City Comets launch new identity ahead of inaugural season (News 9)

• Firefighters contain blaze at Oklahoma City restaurant Saturday night (News 9)

• Inaugural Andy Payne Route 66 Race set for April 12 (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Sky-Eagle collection shines at New York Fashion Week (Osage News)

• Council House plans for a week of fun Spring Break activities (Mvskoke Media)

• Three tribal nations now have tag compacts with the state; Chickasaw Nation latest to sign (The Oklahoman, paywall)

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Sports Headlines 🏀🏀🏀 Let’s Go Dancing!

The Oklahoma Sooners men and women are both in the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma State’s women are in the NCAA’s, and the Cowboys men accepted an invite to the NIT late Sunday night.

Who do the Sooners men play in the first round, and when is that game?

Oklahoma plays two-time defending champion Connecticut at 8:25 p.m. on Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Sooners are a No. 9 seed, and the Huskies are No. 8. The game will be shown on TNT. UConn is a 4.5-point favorite.
Click here to read the full story.

Who do the Sooners women play in the first round, and when is that game?

Oklahoma was a No. 3 seed, and their opening-game opponent is No. 14-seed Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles are 30-3 on the season, while OU is 25-7. They’ll play at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Norman at the Lloyd Noble Center. This game will be shown on ESPNU.
Click here to read the full story.

Who do the Cowgirls play in the first round, and when is that game?

Oklahoma State earned a No. 7 seed in the women’s NCAA tourney. They will travel to Storrs, Connecticut, where they’ll play No. 10-seed South Dakota State. OSU is 25-6 on the season, while the Jackrabbits are 29-3. This game will tipoff at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and will be shown on ESPN2.
Click here to read the full story.

Who do the Cowboys play in the first round, and when is that game?

Oklahoma State finished the season at 15-17 but was invited to the NIT. The Cowboys will play 19-14 Wichita State in the first round at Gallagher-Iba Area at 8 p.m. Tuesday. OSU is a 6.5-point favorite to open. There is not a broadcast listed for this game yet.
Click here to read the full story.

More Sports Coverage 👀

• Oklahoma City rolls past Bucks in nationally televised game (Thunder)

• NBA investigating why Thunder sat all five starters for same game: report (Fox News)

• Sooner Magic leads baseball to series win at South Carolina (SoonerSports)

• No. 1 OU softball sweeps Arkansas to improve to 26-0 (SoonerSports)

• Cowgirls softball shuts out Houston 3-0 (OKState)

• Cowboys baseball drops Big 12 opener to West Virginia, 8-6 (OKState)

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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].