What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Tuesday, August 12, and I’m enjoying the brief respite from the heat.

We’re getting a bit of rain in central Oklahoma on Monday afternoon, enough to keep the sprinklers off for a few more days.

Somebody else enjoying a respite from the heat (this is what you’d call a professional segue) is Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters. I can’t attest to knowing how much pressure he feels one way or the other.

However, with the declaration on Friday that state testing will soon be a thing of the past, and today’s news (below) from Oklahoma Watch that Walters is committed to this conservative online school that may or may not be accessible via tax credits, we’ve moved on for now from TV Nuditygate ‘25.

But that might not be for long.

A source close to the investigation tells Oklahoma Memo that we will soon learn that the state agency that oversees all-things cybersecurity in Oklahoma offered to look at any of Walters’ devices, which if there was nothing on them could have cleared Walters. To be clear, no one was going to manufacture innocence. If nothing was there, a thorough and independent check would have shown that and absolved him.

He chose not to turn over his devices.

Over the weekend, News 9 and News On 6 political analyst Scott Mitchell talked to attorney, cybersecurity expert and former legislator Collin Walke about the Ryan Walters situation — with Walke offering the advice he would have given our state superintendent.

Be quiet and cooperate.

You can read more about their conversation and see clips here at MitchellTalks.com.

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update ⛈️

More rain possible Tuesday, and even cooler!

🌡️ Tuesday's high in OKC 86°
🌡️ Tuesday’s high in Tulsa 85°

President Bill Clinton to speak at former Oklahoma governor’s memorial

By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Former President Bill Clinton will speak Thursday at the memorial for former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh, according to a spokesperson. 

Nigh died at 98 on July 30. The Democrat served two terms as governor and opened the door for women to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Clinton will attend and speak at Nigh’s public memorial service, which will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Crossings Community Church, 14600 North Portland Ave., according to a statement from Bob Burke, the Nigh family spokesperson. 

The Democratic former president and Nigh were governors of Arkansas and Oklahoma at the same time. They worked together on projects like the Arkansas River Navigation Project and lobbied in D.C. for federal dollars to upgrade interstate highways. 

“President Clinton’s presence is yet another indication of the significance of Governor Nigh’s legacy of leadership,” said former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters in a statement. 

Eulogies will also be given by Burke and Bob Blackburn, both longtime friends of Nigh and Oklahoma historians. 

Opera star and Oklahoma native Leona Mitchell is expected to sing at the service, Burke said.

Ryan Walters is doubling down in support of a conservative online school

By Em Luetkemeyer, Oklahoma Watch
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Ryan Walters, the state superintendent of Oklahoma schools who garnered national attention for wanting Bibles in the state’s public classrooms, will continue to push for tax credits for tuition-paying parents who want to send their children to a conservative online school, despite the school being deemed ineligible for the credits by the state’s tax commission.

American Virtual Academy is an online K-12 school that Walters’ department has said promotes American principles rather than pushing a liberal agenda. Walters had previously emailed parents in Oklahoma stating the tax credits would be available, according to KWTV-TV, but the school is not accredited in the state and therefore not qualified for tax credits. However, Walters is prepared to get his way by the time school starts.

“We will continue to work with the tax commission and American Virtual to have them approved by the start of the school year,” Walters said in a written statement. “Oklahoma is proud to remain the most school choice state in the country.”

Representatives for the tax commission did not reply to questions from Oklahoma Watch.

It’s another example of Walters’ heavy advocacy for school choice, specifically for more access to religious and conservative schools.

Click to finish the story.

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Oklahoma AG launches open records compliance complaint portal (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma City Public Schools prepares for new year with safety upgrades and policy changes (KOCO)

• OKC 2.7 billion dollar bond aims to help break the chain of homelessness (News 9)

• Oklahoma Ethics Commission opinion says officeholders can use campaign funds for some security costs (Oklahoma Voice)

• New report says voter-backed program to reduce crime and incarceration has paid off (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Logan County deputies investigate death after assault at Crescent home (KOCO)

• Edmond police say 3 people drove away after woman's fatal fall out of moving car (News 9)

• Tribal roundup: Seminole Nation leaders ousted, Tulsa opposes Keith Stitt, Delaware Nation sues Hinton (NonDoc)

• Peeping Tom, child porn charges leveled against Lawton man (The Lawton Constitution)

• Removal of state testing rollout draws jeers from union president (Public Radio Tulsa)

• OKC schedules Jim Norick Arena roof implosion during latest demolition (The Oklahoman)

• Scheels setting up shop in Oklahoma City, asking for $8 million in public incentives (KFOR)

• Broken Arrow boy donates 7,092 new toys to other sick kids (2 News Oklahoma)

• DIY justice: In the Panhandle, you might have to defend yourself (Oklahoma Watch)

• Caught on camera: Tulsa man vandalizes native pollinator garden (News On 6)

• Lincoln County names person of interest in woman’s suspicious death near Wellston (News 9)

• Collington Index: Why Reporter Michael Dekker looks at building permits each week (Tulsa World)

• Mosquitoes with West Nile Virus found in SE Oklahoma (KXII)

• 'Leaning Tower of Broken Arrow' actually perfectly vertical, according to City, despite apparent tilt (News On 6)

• Altus Air Force Base’s 97th Air Mobility Wing to hold active shooter training exercise soon (KSWO)

• Election guide August 2025: city government changes and school bonds (KOSU)

• New AI software launched by Paycom as earnings beat estimates (The Oklahoman)

• Legislation drafted by Sen. Mullin could limit rights to United Keetoowah Band (Fox 23)

• Widower struggles to recover personal items from hospital after deadly motorcycle crash (KFOR)

• High school adds new aviation classes and college prep (Woodward News)

• Summit Utilities Oklahoma reminds Oklahomans to dial 811 before digging (KSWO)

• Oklahoma community gardens offer place to gather, grow food (KOSU)

• Berry Tramel and Paul Finebaum discuss a critical year for OU (Tulsa World)

• Why Bill Bedenbaugh compares OU football OC Ben Arbuckle to 'young Lincoln (Riley)' (The Oklahoman)

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