What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Tuesday, July 22, and somebody turned on the furnace outside.

The dog days are summer are finally upon us.

However, I have managed to take two of my three prescribed walks today (Monday). I walk all the way around the neighborhood, roughly a mile.

And while I walk, I admire the beautiful landscaping. Our neighborhood either has some really talented folks, or they can afford great landscapers. Periodically, if nobody is around, I’ll use my Picture This app to sneak a photo of the flowers and learn a little bit about the plants.

Each year for the past 4-5, I have tried to plant some flowers in our flower beds. Most of the time, most of the flowers are dead by June — and that included this year. This especially happens when I try to use a pot.

But I did have some success this year.

I lean on the Picture This app (costs about $30 per year) to help me with how to take care of my plants. However, what I wanted to share with you today is this website from Oklahoma State University. It’s called “Oklahoma Proven: Plant Selections for Oklahoma.”

Bookmark it.

Here are two flowers I planted this year that can absolutely withstand the Oklahoma heat:

This is the Coleus, which the OSU website describes as, “a time-honored plant that is quite diverse and full of character. It is well known for its attractive foliage colors, patterns, and forms and has long been a great color plant for shade as well as indoor as a houseplant. Many cultivars are now full sun tolerant and are one of Oklahoma’s best full sun foliage plants.”

I put this one in an area that didn’t get as much sun as the rest of the flower bed. The Coleus has been a champ.

And this is what they call ‘Yellow Bells’ or ‘Esperanza.’ It’s the Chuck Norris of plants.

It looks at 96 degrees on the thermometer and says, “Let’s go. Make it 114. I don’t care.”

Both the documentation for the plant and the OSU website sang its praises: “Yellow bells is a tropical shrub used as an annual in Oklahoma. It can reach a height of 3 feet and produces striking yellow flowers above glossy green leaves from summer until frost. Give this plant a southern exposure; it loves the heat and sun.”

Great. I’m glad somebody does.

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update ☀️

There might be a breeze, but I don’t anticipate it cooling you off any.

🌡️ Tuesday's high in OKC 95°
🌡️ Tuesday’s high in Tulsa 96°

Anonymous source sheds light on Panhandle police impunity

By JC Hallman, Oklahoma Watch
Click to read the story.
Donate to Oklahoma Watch.

“I intend to stay anonymous,” the source said.

Among the deluge of tips received by Oklahoma Watch in February after it exposed a Texas County DA-run drug task force ticketing scam targeting truckers passing through the panhandle, one stood out for the anonymous writer’s claim of having lately been employed as a patrol officer in the Guymon Police Department.

Many of the tips received over the past several months have described local residents’ fear of law enforcement and the judicial system in District One, a wide swath of land that includes Harper County and the panhandle and is home to 31,000 people.

In a slight twist, the tip from the former Guymon police officer cited potential dissent within the police force, particularly regarding the since-discontinued ticketing scheme.

The source recounted personal conversations with drug task force members who reported writing as many as 10 such citations per day. Numerous Guymon police officers had expressed concern that drug task force members making a salary of $50,000 per year could nevertheless afford to buy cars for their children and live in homes well beyond their means, the source said.

“Members of the Guymon Police Department, including myself, are suspicious of where seized cash is going,” the source said.

The source went on to describe two cases in detail that may be representative not only of abuses in the panhandle, but of the ad hoc justice that characterizes much of rural Oklahoma.

Click to finish the story.

'Keep going': Efforts to preserve Caddo language continue, despite death of last fluent speaker

By Sarah Liese (Twilla)
Click to read the story.
Donate to KOSU.

The Caddo Nation mourns the loss of beloved elder Edmond Johnson, the tribal nation’s last fluent speaker. Despite his recent passing, Caddo language preservation efforts continue, with his legacy in mind.

The last three years of Alaina Tahlate’s work as the Caddo Nation’s Language Preservationist have centered around her learning from the few remaining Caddo fluent speakers. The language, which is a member of the Caddoan family, is considered severely endangered.

Like many Indigenous communities throughout Turtle Island, federal and religious Indian boarding schools had a devastating impact on the Caddo Nation, and later so did the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread virus resulted in the loss of most fluent Caddo speakers, leaving Katherine Proctor and Edmond Johnson to share their wisdom with all, including Tahlate.

“During my language documentation work, inevitably you end up preserving teachings and history and songs with the language, too,” Tahlate said. “Language carries ideas, values [and] worldviews. [It] helps us to understand how our ancestors thought about or try to explain how things are the way they are and why they’re that way.”

When Tahlate first began working with Johnson, she confided in him about her anxiety to undertake this mission and how much pressure she felt to document as much as possible. As Johnson normally did, he offered advice through storytelling, detailing a time when he felt fearful as a paratrooper in the Vietnam War.

Click to finish the story.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Beloved Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dies at 54 During Family Trip (The Black Wall Street Times)

• Oklahoman executed alongside family during clash in Syria, federal officials say (KOCO)

• Woman allegedly killed by ex-partner in Bethany filed 2 protective orders prior to her death (KOCO)

• Former Choctaw High School choir teacher was sexual 'predator,' attorney general says (The Oklahoman)

• Tulsa police find 3-year-old missing since July 4 (2 News Oklahoma)

• 3 arrested in connection to Okmulgee homicide (Fox 23)

• OKC officer fires weapon at suspect holding a firearm; nobody hit by gunfire (KOCO)

• Recreational marijuana petition drive to begin in Oklahoma (Tulsa World)

• Over $7.5 million in adult education federal funding frozen for Oklahomans (KFOR)

• Oklahoma Policy Institute warns against revamping private prisons for immigration detention (KOSU)

• Norman City Council to discuss purchase of Griffin Memorial Hospital, use land for affordable housing (OU Daily)

• These 12 people will lead the search for the University of Oklahoma's next athletic director (Oklahoma Memo)

• Cockfighting still a felony offense, but fights ongoing (Tahlequah Daily Press)

• Public meeting on Vista Shadow Mountain's plan to reopen is Tuesday (Tulsa World)

• Arrest made in Achille homicide investigation (KTEN)

• Three Ponds Elderly Housing development stuck in six-year quagmire (Mvskoke Media)

• Ascension St. John becomes first Level 1 Trauma Center in northeast Oklahoma (News On 6)

• Lazy E Arena announces major expansion with new event center, amenities (Guthrie News Page)

• 'Pretty good news': New hangar coming to Bartlesville municipal airport (2 News Oklahoma)

• Wahzhazhe Health Center opens doors to a new era of care (Osage News)

• Eskimo Joe’s owner opens time capsule to end anniversary week (The O’Colly)

• National Register of Historic Places has 2 new Oklahoma sites (KGOU)

• Oklahoma’s fertility rate continues to decline, report finds (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma state park restaurant remains closed months after fire (Oklahoma Voice)

Ad: Your business needs a podcast — but not for the reasons you think.

It’s not just about downloads.

It’s about:
✅ Video clips for LinkedIn & Instagram
✅ Blog posts pulled straight from your conversations
✅ Authority that drives AI mentions & search snippets — giving you a real edge.

But who’s got the time or team to pull it off?

👉 That’s where I come in.

You send me the audio (or video) — your CEO talking at an event, a team Zoom call, even a smart-phone recording.

I’ll turn it into a polished podcast with music, cover art, full hosting & distribution — plus clips and articles to fuel your entire content strategy.

🎯 Totally turnkey.
🎯 Just $500 per episode (4-episode start).
🎯 Only 5 slots open — then I’m booked.

Proof?
Here’s one I built for Local Media Association, from a simple Zoom call:
[https://open.spotify.com/episode/25IGhTfWLiq8DdntNnpyBj]

Want to launch yours before fall?
👉 Email me now: [email protected]

Our Mission, Sociedia & Feedback

The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ mission is simple: Reignite the daily news habit by connecting Oklahomans and those who love Oklahoma to quality sources of news and vetted information.

Frictionless. Painless. Stress-free.

Social Media

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

We also have a YouTube channel! It’s new. Pardon our dust.

Contact Us

Message Oklahoma Memo at [email protected].