What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Wednesday, August 7, and I love to get email from readers. Seriously. I want to know what matters to you — and to see if I can bridge that information gap.

There’s one follower on TikTok who had been asking me to look into a billboard in Stillwell that tied the closure of a hospital there to President Trump. I fully admit to dropping the ball on that request, but I do have an update. The billboard has been covered over, and it was reportedly paid for by the Democratic National Committee, per the Tahlequah Daily Press.

I’m sorry about that.

But when somebody emails you, that feels like they’ve taken an extra personal step.

I want to get to those — faster.

And so it was, an Oklahoma Memo subscriber emailing me on Wednesday about the goings on in Norman relative to the turnpike that nobody there wants. When I say that nobody wants it, I mean that in my time covering it (loosely, as I worked in digital), I have never actually met anybody who both lives in that area and either supports or is excited about the turnpike.

That person might exist.

That person might email me now! I’d love to hear from them.

Also, I lived in Norman for the better part of 13 years (2005-2018), so I feel like I have a decent grasp of sentiments there. And I know a ton of Normanites.

But this member of the Oklahoma Memo community wanted me to be aware of a Substack managed by Dr. Amy Cerato, a geotechnical engineer and professor at the University of Oklahoma.

She is passionately against the turnpike addition, part of a 15-year, $8.2B plan called ACCESS Oklahoma. Cerato writes about the public’s opposition to the turnpike in her post on Wednesday.

The article is titled: “OTA’s Own Report Shows 97% Public Opposition to South Extension Turnpike.”

Let’s take a step back for readers in Woodward, Lawton, Muskogee, McAlester, and other Oklahoma locales who might not be as aware of this project. From a bit of research I culled together and re-wrote with the help of ChatGPT:

**

Planned Norman Turnpikes: What to Know

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) is moving forward with two major projects in the Norman area:

• South Extension Turnpike: A 19-mile stretch connecting I-35 in Slaughterville to the East-West Connector near Franklin. Originally planned to run west of Lake Thunderbird, the route has now shifted further west, closer to I-35.

• East-West Connector: A 28-mile turnpike starting in Newcastle, crossing the South Canadian River, intersecting I-35, then continuing along Indian Hills Road to link up with the Kickapoo Turnpike at I-40.

These projects are part of OTA’s larger ACCESS Oklahoma expansion plan.

**

OK, back to human-speak. The purpose of the turnpike and the connector is to relieve congestion and improve traffic flow. However, as Cerato’s Substack notes, it is only supported by 3 percent of those whose input has been collected over the course of several meetings.

What input is she referring to? Here is a PDF from ACCESS Oklahoma with all of that community feedback.

What you’ll see, and what Cerato points out, is that even the OTA themselves could only confirm and categorize that 3 percent of the public commentary they requested is in “general support” of the project. The general opposition was significantly more, 10x more.

Much of the input was comprised of suggestions and questions, otherwise neutral in terms of sentiment. My gut tells me they’re likely opposed. They’re definitely not in “general support” of it.

But this Substack was substantially more than the headline.

Cerato details how the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority appears to have gotten the idea and the land for this project from ODOT’s 8-year plan — meaning that (if I understand this) there is a potentially nefarious bait-and-switch happening between ODOT and OTA.

Cerato put it this way:
“So ODOT took our public money and bought land they would never use—only to hand it over for OTA’s toll project, which is legally required to be funded through revenue bonds, not tax dollars.”

And that ties into some fresh headlines from just this week when Attorney General Gentner Drummond voiced his frustration with the state auditor’s office, which has taken more than two years to finish an audit into Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

From the Oklahoma Voice story written by Barbara Hoberock:
In a March 15, 2023, letter to Byrd requesting the audit, Drummond wrote that his concerns include improper transfers between OTA and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, improper contracting and purchasing, and inadequate internal financial controls.

Between Cerato’s Substack, filled with what the kids call '“receipts,” and the Oklahoma Voice report — this feels like a story the media needs to spend more time on. Maybe reporters should be looking into all Oklahoma Turnpike Authority projects over the years? Put them under the microscope.

I subscribed to Dr. Cerato’s Substack. She’s shining a light on a complex project that many of us (myself included) don’t fully understand — and on a dynamic that citizens fear most: being steamrolled by institutions that don’t seem to care what they think.

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update ☀️

Dangerously hot the next couple of days. Sunscreen, lots of water, and check in on elderly neighbors.

🌡️ Thursday's high in OKC 99°
🌡️ Thursday’s high in Tulsa 97°

Oklahoma Watch: Tulsa, OKC resort to hostile architecture to deter homeless encampments

By Jake Ramsey & Valerie Scott, Oklahoma Watch
Click here to read the story.
Donate to Oklahoma Watch.

The boulders appeared on Fourth Street as if by magic. But their placement near Tulsa’s Metrolink station is no accident; the rocks are intentionally unwelcoming, placed to deter those without homes from spending the night.

Oklahoma City installed inhospitable landscaping, too. Those boulders, placed in January, successfully thwarted impromptu encampments under the Oklahoma City Boulevard bridge.

“We really encourage people to not stay at this location because it is not a safe place for camping,” said Jamie Caves, strategy implementation manager for Oklahoma City’s Key to Home Partnership.

Officials for both cities said the boulders are to push people experiencing homelessness towards housing or other resources to combat homelessness, but experts claim those developments are not an effective way to address the problem. However, Oklahoma City is approaching the closure of the Boulevard bridge encampment with their housing-first projects, which seek to house people experiencing homelessness across the city.

The Boulevard bridge boulders are the only instance in which Key to Home in Oklahoma City has used the drastic measure of blocking an area, Caves said.

“We identified (under the bridge) for closure,” Caves said. “We wanted to help improve the safety of that area. It’s on a busier street that has a curve and people were sleeping right up against that road.”

Click to finish the story.

See Also 👀

Mayor's Office lays out plan for rehousing initiative to address homelessness in Tulsa (Tulsa World)

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• ‘Teacher effectiveness’ metric won’t be added to school evaluations, Education Department confirms (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma receives green light to remove soda, candy from food stamp eligibility list (Oklahoma Voice)

• Tribal nation sounds alarm over potential legislation hindering its economic, trust land rights (KOSU)

• Oklahoma City Police Department to implement Clearview AI technology (KGOU)

• Requesting rehearing, Muscogee Citizenship Board calls Freedmen ruling a ‘constitutional crisis’ (NonDoc)

• Muscogee (Creek) Nation files petition against Supreme Court ruling in favor of Creek Freedmen (Fox 23)

• Parents raise alarm over mold concerns at Sequoyah Middle School in Broken Arrow ahead of new school year (KTUL)

• Board members say Ryan Walters tried to 'destroy' their reputations over TV content (The Oklahoman)

• Protesters to call for Ryan Walters' impeachment at Oklahoma state Capitol on Saturday (The Oklahoman)

• Controversial Oklahoma law on transgender care upheld by appeals court (KOCO)

• More abuse claims revealed as Oklahoma City police search for girl missing for years (KOCO)

• Planned $4 billion aluminum plant has 'vast' potential, Tulsa Ports economic director says (Tulsa World)

• Claremore pastor, private school board member charged with 11 peeping Tom counts (Tulsa World)

• Checotah preteen faces 1 year in detention for Tiktok pencil trend (2 News Oklahoma)

• Former Sapulpa wrestling coach charged with inappropriately touching, messaging student (News On 6)

• Rosie the Riveter joins Tulsa's Route 66 statue lineup with Cowboy Bob (News On 6)

• Personnel change at Oklahoma State Department of Health after lawsuit filed (KFOR)

• Muskogee police release body cam footage of July 31 shooting (Muskogee Phoenix)

• 87th annual Lawton Rangers Rodeo kicks off its first night (KSWO)

• Chisholm Trail Heritage Center holds special art showcase in Duncan (KSWO)

• Guthrie Schools prepare for Aug. 14 start with campus upgrades at Cotteral, Charter Oak (Guthrie News Page)

• Police arrest suspect in Scissortail Park shooting of teen (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• School supplies, groceries to be given away Sunday (Enid News)

• Cleveland County to discuss request for proposals to initiate Rock Creek Entertainment District project (OU Daily)

• Stillwater High School shares vision for upcoming school years (The O’Colly)

• PAC Signs 40-Year Lease to Expand at Oklahoma Air & Space Port in Burns Flat (KECOfm.com)

• Elk City Police: Rape suspect arrested in Texas following rape, kidnapping investigation (KECOfm.com)

• Clinton men face felony charges for alleged fentanyl sales near school (KECOfm.com)

• Stillwater man admits damaging bouncer’s motorcycle after being kicked out of bar (1600kush.com)

• Stillwater man gets 10 years in prison for raping unconscious girl (1600kush.com)

• McCall making education a priority in run for governor (Stillwater News Press)

• Oklahoma’s 2025 approved legislative interim studies for education (KGOU)

• Southern Oklahoma hydrogen production facility proposal won't happen (KGOU)

• Oklahoma officials demand accountability over TV incident in Ryan Walters' office (KOCO)

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