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What’s happening this weekend in Tulsa? | March 13-15 (News On 6)

By Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoma Watch
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When the financial services website WalletHub announced its annual list of states’ education systems, Oklahoma’s ranking became instantly quotable by politicians on all sides. 

The site listed Oklahoma nearly dead last at 50th in the nation, including the District of Columbia; only New Mexico ranked lower at 51st. 

WalletHub’s ranking system synthesizes 15 education-related metrics into a quality score worth 80 points using test scores, graduation rates, teacher certification, and more. An additional 20 points assess the safety of states’ education systems. 

Data experts say some of their measures are spot-on. Some are misleading. Others are flat-out wrong. 

But the end result mirrors others’ findings, including a recent analysis of national test score data by the Oklahoma Center for Education Policy and U.S. News and World Report, which both placed Oklahoma at 48th. 

Oklahoma’s 50th-place position seemed to draw more attention and spark more policy conversations, which WalletHub’s Chip Lupo said is the purpose of their list.  

👉 Click here for the full story.

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

• Stephanie Bice, Kevin Stitt, Kim David make Congressional announcements (KOSU)

• Trump endorses Hern as Stitt, Bice bow out (Tulsa World)*

• Tulsa police’s use of Flock cameras to investigate protest activity sparks debate (Tulsa Flyer)

• Hugo city hall turmoil: employee alleges threats from vice mayor (KXII)

• ‘We literally live in the hospital’: 9-month-old Norman girl waiting for a new heart (KOCO)

• 2 killed in crash involving train near Minco (News 9)

• Instruction time, school libraries and undocumented students: This week at the Oklahoma legislature (StateImpact Oklahoma)

• Oklahoma House proposal would add 7 school days for $175 million (Oklahoma Voice)

• Stillwater families rebuild homes and hope one year after wildfires (KOCO)

• This city has the most walkable downtown in Oklahoma, WorldAtlas says (The Oklahoman)*

• Popular park in Sequoyah County set to reopen with upgrades (Cherokee Phoenix)

• ‘Every day is a blessing to be alive’: Lawton man races against time to find kidney donor (KSWO)

The death of a young child in Oklahoma is now driving a push for legislative change at the Capitol.

Jacob Towe lost his precious son Leonardo after the child was poisoned by fentanyl.

Now Towe is working with Oklahoma lawmakers to pass “Leo’s Law,” legislation that would require fentanyl testing before children are returned to homes during Department of Human Services reunification cases.

The proposal would simply add fentanyl to the list of drugs already tested during those investigations.

Towe said he began advocating for the change after learning Leo’s mother had admitted using fentanyl but was not tested for the drug before Leo was returned to the home.

Leo’s Law has already cleared a legislative committee and could reach the House floor soon. It’s expected to pass — and Towe says lawmakers across the country are watching what Oklahoma does next.

“If it saves even one child,” he said, “it’s worth it.”

👉 Click here for the full podcast.

Tulsa congressional candidate John Croisant says escalating tensions involving Iran could soon have direct consequences for Americans — from higher gas prices to security threats on U.S. soil.

Speaking on the Oklahoma Memo Podcast, Croisant warned that global conflicts rarely stay overseas.

Croisant pointed to recent violent incidents in Michigan and Virginia as examples of how international conflicts can spill into domestic tensions.

He said the biggest impact may ultimately come through the economy.

👉 Click here for the full podcast.

A daily briefing connecting Oklahomans to the state’s best journalism — and original content from Oklahoma Memo. Got a news tip? Somebody I need to interview? Message me at [email protected].