Here is the Oklahoma journalism I’ve hand-picked for you this Friday:

• Layoffs nationwide at National Weather Service impact Norman

• Board of Education approves controversial social studies standards (Oklahoma Watch)

• What Oklahomans need to know about measles outbreak (StateImpact Oklahoma)

• No. 13 OU women top Florida 89-65 for 6th straight win

• Fun things to do this weekend in OKC and Tulsa!

Weather Update ☀️

A warmer, beautiful Friday ahead. Just remember: It is 5 o’clock somewhere.

🌡️ Friday’s high in OKC 74°
🌡️ Friday’s high in Tulsa 74°

Rain and thunderstorms are possible on Sunday.

1️⃣ Layoffs nationwide at the National Weather Service include casualties in Norman

Hundreds of people who worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were laid off on Thursday. This was part of a federal downsizing by Elon Musk’s DOGE team, and it included workers at the National Weather Service’s (NWS) office in Norman, Oklahoma.

The scientists at the National Weather Service issue watches and warnings, saving an immeasurable number of lives each year.

According to CBS News, about 880 employees were laid off. While the government claimed that this included no meteorologists, the NWS disputed this, saying that meteorologists were part of the layoff.

OU Nightly had the local breaking news first, confirming with people inside Norman’s NWS center that the layoff was happening just before 4:30 p.m.

An anonymous source told the OU Daily that “the minimum staffing level required for tornado events may not be met after these layoffs.”

Selected Coverage 👀

• Trump's federal employee layoffs hit National Weather Service workers (The Oklahoman, paywall)

• National Weather Center employees in Norman among those fired Thursday in purge of federal workers (StateImpact Oklahoma)

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2️⃣ Board of Education approves controversial social studies standards

By Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoma Watch
Click here to read the story.

The Board of Education on Thursday advanced new academic standards for social studies that would require public schools to teach the Bible. 

Academic standards outline what students are expected to learn in each grade and subject, but they don’t dictate how teachers teach or mandate any specific curriculum. In Oklahoma, they are revisited on a six-year cycle that aligns with textbook adoption. The Legislature must approve the final version. 

Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has pushed the state’s public schools to teach the Bible as a historical resource. 

(Be sure to click the link to the story to see how the newest board members voted.)

Selected Coverage 👀

• ‘Why am I here?’: New Board of Education members frustrated with agenda access, immigration rule (NonDoc)

• New Oklahoma State Board of Education members asking tough questions during first meeting (KOCO)

• Stitt-appointed OSBE members clash with Supt. Walters (KFOR)

• New OSBE members question Supt. Ryan Walters’ control over board (Oklahoma Watch)

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3️⃣ Measles cases are climbing in Texas: Here’s what Oklahomans need to know

By Jillian Taylor, StateImpact Oklahoma
Click here to read the story.

Last week, the Oklahoma State Department of Health sent out a health alert advising clinicians in Oklahoma to consider measles among patients with compatible symptoms amid a measles outbreak in Texas that’s now infected at least 124 people since late January.

An OSDH spokesperson told StateImpact the department is “closely monitoring the situation.”

The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the first death in this outbreak Wednesday. The school-aged child was not vaccinated and was hospitalized in Lubbock, Texas last week. It’s the first measles death reported in the U.S. since 2015.

(The story goes into detail about the symptoms you can expect with measles — so be sure to click the link!)

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Oklahoma News Headlines 📰

• Impact: The Frontier and ProPublica are semifinalists for a national investigative reporting prize (The Frontier)

• In dispute over O’Brien decision, beef brews between Kunzweiler, Nichols (NonDoc)

• WATCH: Toddler hilariously calls Moore police for 'emergency donuts' (KOCO)

• Sports betting in Oklahoma not likely happening in 2025 (KOCO)

• Oklahoma City breaks ground on $42 million MAPS 4 animal shelter (News 9)

• Bill to raise the age of consent in Oklahoma passes committee (News 9)

• 2 homicides in 2 days started with domestic disputes (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• OKC city council acts on safety, homelessness, and surveillance (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Federal NIH freeze places OKC biotech industry in limbo (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• CN contributes $800K to Little Cherokee Seeds Program (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Chef Kevin Lee announces plan to open new OKC restaurant in The Drake space: What to know (The Oklahoman, paywall)

• 🤘 Rocklahoma 2025 announced! (Tulsa World, paywall)

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Sports Headlines 🏀⚾

No. 13 Sooners Beat Florida 89-65 for 6th Straight Win
Payton Verhulst led the OU women with 17 points, and Sahara Williams added 9 rebounds as the Sooners led almost wire to wire, improving to 22-6 on the season.

Langston University Claims Top Seed in SAC Women's Basketball Tournament
Langston Lions secure the number one seed in the 2025 Sooner Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, entering as the 17th-ranked team in the NAIA. (LangstonSports.com)

OU Hosts CSUN for Weekend Series at Mitchell Park
No. 16 Oklahoma continues a five-game homestand with a three-game series vs. CSUN at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Friday's game is set for 4 p.m. CT before a 2 p.m. Saturday first pitch and 1 p.m. finale on Sunday. (SoonerSports)

No. 1 Sooners Softball Home To Host Oklahoma Omni Classic (SoonerSports.com)

Cowgirl Softball Run Rules Wichita State
An offensive eruption from the No. 16/15 Oklahoma State softball team resulted in an 11-2 win over Wichita State on Thursday at Wilkins Stadium in Wichita. (OKState.com)

Cowboy Baseball Faces Loaded Field At Astros Classic (OKState.com)

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Fun things to do this weekend in Oklahoma City 🎉

🎨 Beyond Boundaries: Old f'Art Exhibition
🖼️ Art knows no age! Witness the genius of Oklahoma’s most seasoned artists (ages 65-85) in this boundary-pushing exhibition. Expect bold creativity, deep stories, and artistic wisdom that spans decades. Open all weekend at various times.
🔗 downtownokc.com

🏒 Oklahoma Warriors vs. Amarillo Wranglers
🥅 Get ready for hard hits and fast skates as the Warriors take on the Wranglers in an electrifying showdown at Blazers Ice Centre! Puck drops Friday, Feb. 28, at 7:00 PM. Don’t miss the action!
🎟️ oklahomacity.events

🎤 Beat Maker Exchange
🔥 Calling all producers and music lovers! Get in the groove and collab with fellow beat makers at ACM@UCO’s Live Room. Whether you're a pro or just vibing, this is the place to create. Happening Friday, Feb. 28, at 7:00 PM.
🎧 eventbrite.com

🐾 Dog Caricatures at Angry Scotsman Brewing
🍻 Dogs + Beer + Art? Say less. Bring your furry best friend and get a custom caricature while you sip on a cold one. Saturday, March 1, at 1:00 PM.
🐶 eventbrite.com

Fun things to do this weekend in Tulsa 🎉

🩰 "Alice in Wonderland" Ballet
✨ Step through the looking glass into a mesmerizing performance by Tulsa Ballet. Stunning choreography, breathtaking sets—pure magic on stage. Showing Feb. 27–Mar. 2.
🎟️ tulsaballet.org

🎤 Comedy Night w/ Evan Hughes
😂 Need a laugh? Catch some of the best stand-up at The Vanguard this Friday, Feb. 28. Good vibes, cold drinks, and nonstop laughs guaranteed.
🤣 thevanguardtulsa.com

🕺 DISCO NIGHT w/ radstringbean
💿 Dust off your platforms & get ready to groove! Tulsa’s hottest disco party is bringing the funk to The Vanguard this Friday night.
🪩 thevanguardtulsa.com

🎶 Koo Koo Performance
🔥 Live music, high energy, and a killer atmosphere. If you know, you know. Don’t miss Koo Koo at The Vanguard on Saturday, March 1.
🎸 thevanguardtulsa.com

🛍️ JBF Tulsa Mega Fairgrounds Sale
👶 Parents, this one’s for you! Stock up on baby & kids' gear at Tulsa’s biggest consignment sale, Feb. 28–Mar. 2. Deals on deals!
🛒 eventbrite.com

🗣️ Story Tips, Ideas, Feedback

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