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Friday, July 17, 2026 • Chance of storms. Upper 80s. ⛈️
(Editor’s note: This is a vacation week for Oklahoma Memo. The newsletter will be in your inbox every day, but it might be a little lighter on the links. Follow the Memo’s social channels for highlights from the vacay.)
Poll results:
We received 175 votes on the Thursday poll, “Are you concerned that President Trump may attempt to delay or prevent the 2026 midterm elections?”
• 104 said Yes
• 71 said No
New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)
Audit: One-third of Oklahoma town's expenditures fraudulent or unauthorized
City of Washington / Social media photo
By Graycen Wheeler, KOSU
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A new state audit found massive fraud and unauthorized spending in the central Oklahoma community of Washington.
Between July 2020 and June 2024, Washington’s government expenditures totaled around $3.3 million. More than $1 million of those expenditures were unauthorized or fraudulent, according to the audit report released Wednesday.
“This is the worst example of board oversight I have seen in my 29 years of government auditing experience,” State Auditor Cindy Byrd said in a statement.
Most of the misspent money was spent by former town clerk and treasurer Susan Noel, the audit found. Between 2020 and 2024, Noel allegedly funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars toward personal credit card payments, her mortgage and utilities, and other personal transactions. Those include nearly $26,000 of Amazon purchases, a $1500 puppy from a doodle breeder and about $30,000 in “dog-related expenditures” over Venmo.
The report also found Noel doctored bank statements shared with the State Auditor and Inspector’s office to obscure the fraudulent purchases.
Noel’s employment with the town was terminated in July 2024; she had served as Washington’s clerk and treasurer since 2007.
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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰
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Here’s what’s happening in Oklahoma today:
Oklahoma restaurant owner’s sentencing delayed as judge denies bond and hearing requests (KOCO)
Oklahoma County jail reports statistical decrease in jail deaths (OPMX)
‘Should not apply in Oklahoma’: 10th Circuit weighs Kunzweiler case on nonmember Indian jurisdiction (NonDoc)
Creek County Sheriff’s Office mourns death of Deputy Adam Heitman following arrest operation in Sapulpa (News On 6)
Cry Baby housing? Tulsa wants to build on the hill and other vacant properties across the city (Tulsa Flyer)
Councilors to seek Nov. 3 election for proposed hotel/motel tax increase (Tulsa World)*
Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation severance agreement is public record, judge rules (Oklahoma Voice)
Federal government considers Endangered Species Act protections for Oklahoma skunk (Oklahoma Voice)
Tulsan adds Black Wall Street Food Festival to his portfolio of community-centered events (The Oklahoma Eagle)
Broken Arrow favorite Laurannae to bring coffee, pastries and cornhole to downtown Jenks (Tulsa Flyer)
Police identify 27-year-old woman as victim of fatal crash on Admiral (Tulsa World)*
Remains of murder victim found in 1981 identified as missing California millionaire (KFOR)
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