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Friday, September 4, 2026 • Sunny, still hot. 97-98. ☀️
🏈 Reminder: Sooners football tonight at 7 p.m. If you’re watching on TV, the game will be on SEC Network+, which you can access from the ESPN app. Important note: It won’t be on the SEC Network, which most TV providers include.
Poll results:
We received 241 votes on the Thursday poll, “Should Oklahoma restore tenure for new faculty at regional universities?”
134 said, “Yes, it’s needed to attract top candidates.”
35 said, “No. Professors should not receive tenure.”
47 said, “Only with stronger performance requirements”
25 said, “Unsure / need more information”
New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)
Osage Nation Congress approves special counsel investigation into new principal chief
Osage Nation Principal Chief Joe Tillman speaks to the Osage Nation Congress on Aug. 5 following announcements the tribe's visitors center, language immersion school and Harvest Land farm will close. (Thomas Pablo, KOSU)
By Thomas Pablo and Sarah Liese (Twilla), KOSU
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The Osage Nation Congress is hiring special counsel to investigate allegations against Principal Chief Joe Tillman, which will help determine if removal is in the cards.
Eleven out of twelve congress members signed off on a $50,000 budget for legal counsel on Wednesday, according to documents obtained by Osage News. John Maker was the only congressional member not to sign it.
Maker said he was unable to sign the document on short notice because he was in Tulsa. But he added he likely would have done so to give Tillman a fair process.
Second Speaker Whitney Redcorn brought the authorization forward to investigate three allegations.
Two allegations are related to a state of emergency Tillman enacted in early August, when he announced the closure of the tribe’s visitors center, private immersion school and Harvest Land farm. He wrote the farm and visitors center were not generating sufficient revenue.
The declaration was one of his first actions in the role since taking office in July. He wrote the nation projected a financial shortfall and required around $38 million in budget cuts.
Osage Congress members said they were caught unaware by his decision and denied the tribe was in a budgetary crisis.
Congressman Billy Keene said the government doesn’t always exist to generate a profit.
“We're a tribal government. A lot of this stuff we do is not meant to make money,” Keene said. “We're not a spreadsheet. We're not a corporation.”
Ten days after declaring the emergency, Tillman retracted it. However, he chose to keep the school, visitors center and farm closed.
Now, the congress maintains the state of emergency was false and alleges that Tillman’s actions could constitute malfeasance, or intentional wrongdoing.
Keene said he “can't let that false declaration about the emergency go.”
See also: ON Congress authorizes investigation into whether Chief Tillman’s actions warrant removal (Osage News)
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Here’s what’s happening in Oklahoma today:
Inola smelter company cuts proposed emissions limits amid legal pressure (The Oklahoman)*
Norman City Council discusses proposal to de-annex land in Ward 5, receives overwhelming opposition (KOCO)
Civil rights activist Barbara Henderson dies at 92 (OU Daily)
Claiming ‘utter fear,’ Rick Silanskas admits he authored religious emails to Gene Bicknell (NonDoc)
Tulsa low-income tenants and landlords could get access to legal representation under proposed city program (Tulsa Flyer)
Gold Dome sold to unlikely buyer in mandated auction, disrupts OKC's redevelopment plan (KOSU)
Greenheck to purchase former Macy's distribution center near Owasso (Tulsa World)*
Two Killed in Highway 33 Crash; Commercial Driver Investigated for Impaired Driving (Guthrie News Page)
Family grieving man killed in Sand Springs construction accident (News On 6)
OHP: Oklahoma man dies after wreck involving wild pigs on Stephens County road (KOCO)
Choctaw police investigating fatal crash that claimed life of 25-year-old woman (KOCO)
Reduced credit hour bachelor degrees approved at 3 Oklahoma colleges (Oklahoma Voice)
Oklahoma wildlife officials release severance agreement after two-year legal fight (Oklahoma Voice)
Oklahoma City high school students get hands-on healthcare experience through new partnership (StateImpact Oklahoma)
Greenwood Film Festival wants Black creators to see future for themselves in Oklahoma film industry (Tulsa Flyer)
Downtown Edmond staple celebrates 75 years (KFOR)
Regent Bank Amphitheater, NSU joining to further arts and education in Oklahoma (Broken Arrow Sentinel)
Which tribes in Oklahoma are hosting Labor Day, early fall gatherings? (KOSU)
Union schools starting free N.I.L. education for athletes (KJRH)
Norman PD shares parking information ahead of OU Gameday (KFOR)
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