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What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Monday, August 25, and it’s football time in Oklahoma.

For me that mostly means, “Boomer Sooner!” My bachelor’s degree is from the University of Oklahoma, and I’ve followed OU football since the days of Thomas Lott and Billy Sims. In fact, I remember a day when Oklahoma football on the radio was played inside the grocery store. At least it was on Sept. 19, 1981, when OU defeated Kentucky in Lexington by the odd score of 29-8.

Each year, I get more excited to see what this team does than any other I follow — and my expectations are higher than usual because I think the Sooners are much improved. There’s a lot at stake this year for the program, and they open the season at 5 p.m. Saturday versus Illinois State.

Meanwhile, in Stillwater, it has to be an improvement, right? I don’t know whether anybody really has a pulse on the Cowboys just yet, and we don’t even know who’ll be starting at QB Thursday night against UT-Martin.

Last year, Mike Gundy’s club went 3-9 and 0-9 in conference play.

A repeat of that, and I’d surmise the program is under new leadership in ‘26. But I don’t think it’ll come to that, and in fact, I suspect the Cowboys will be significantly better this season. Hunch.

And then there’s Tulsa, which also went 3-9, ending the year with the dismissal of head coach Kevin Wilson. Under new leadership (Tre Lamb), the Golden Hurricane open the season Saturday night at 7 against Abilene Christian.

Here’s to hoping for and expecting 1-0 records across the board for all the Oklahoma teams.

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update 🌧️

It’s going to be a rainy week, and a much cooler one.

🌡️ Monday's high in OKC 76°
🌡️ Monday’s high in Tulsa 72°

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Oklahoma treasurer making another attempt to change corporate policies

By Paul Monies, Oklahoma Watch
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Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ is making another run at using a state tobacco settlement investment portfolio to put his stamp on social and cultural issues at publicly traded companies. 

At Russ’ behest, the Board of Investors of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust voted 3-1 on Wednesday on shareholder proposals regarding abortion pills, Chinese investments, diversity programs and avoiding so-called gender ideology activism.

After an hour-long presentation and discussion, the board selected 10 publicly traded companies it intended to target with shareholder proposals in 2026. Among the companies are Boeing, Starbucks, Chipotle, computer chip giant NVIDIA, Visa and Mastercard. 

Russ said the more immediate goal was to engage the companies in the changes recommended under the shareholder resolutions. If companies make changes without it going to a shareholder vote, then the effort would be a success, he said. 

“As we counterbalance what’s going on to protect these investment portfolios, it’s really good for everybody, from a financial standpoint, from a fiduciary standpoint,” Russ said. “We’re trying to get them back to neutral, and if you only have pressure from one direction, it’s pretty impossible to get it to neutral.” 

The latest effort comes after shareholders for several companies gave the board’s proposals less than 1% of the vote at annual meetings earlier this year. Russ teamed up with Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group, and proxy advisory firm Bowyer Research Inc. to make that initial foray into shareholder activism. 

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Oklahoma Rep. defends history cartoon claiming slavery was ‘better than being killed’ (KFOR)

• Ryan Walters says he's ending standardized tests. Lawmakers, others say law prevents that. (The Oklahoman)

• Facing harassment, vandalism and violence, Oklahoma faith groups take steps to stay safe (The Oklahoman)

• Ponca City Police investigate triple shooting; 1 dead (Kay News Cow)

• 12-year-old dies after Kingfisher County ATV wreck (KOCO)

• McClain County deputy's home set on fire amid law enforcement burglaries (KOCO)

• Stabbing at Edmond dispensary leaves one dead, suspect arrested (KFOR)

• Police investigating after body found on trail in north Tulsa (News On 6)

• Hern says Medicaid work requirements ‘most popular thing in America’ (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Roundup: Walters testing claim questioned, OSSAA sued, Islamic marriage custom interpreted by court (NonDoc)

• Turnpike opponents urge residents to not trust purchase offers, fight condemnation efforts (The Oklahoman)

• Oklahoma County Commissioners demand state repay them for unrealized mental health hospital (KOSU)

• River Parks keeps wave pool closed until a resolution is made regarding safety (KJRH)

• Elk City teen dead following single-vehicle collision (KSWO)

• 2 dead following single-vehicle collision on I-44 near Walters (KSWO)

• OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg recovering from open-heart surgery (Tulsa World)

• Hern says Ukraine war will continue as long as Russia can sell oil and gas | D.C. Digest (Tulsa World)

• Lankford backs Trump efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war (McCarville Report)

• Education, health care and 2026 elections take center stage on Your Vote Counts (News 9)

• Developer of upscale, mixed-use project explains why his company chose south Tulsa (Tulsa World)

• Will restricting use of Tulsa medians improve safety? City council debates proposal (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• Inmates discuss business plans at Dunn Correctional Center (Muskogee Phoenix)

• The storyteller becomes the story: Texoma journalist reflects on covering own wreck (KXII)

• Oklahoma City Thunder unveil 2025-26 City Edition uniform (KGOU)

• Oklahoma City unveils bronze statue of C.G. ‘Gritsmill’ Jones (The Journal Record)

• Is Oklahoma becoming a minerals hub? (OKEnergyToday)

• Fall weather sneaks in ahead of Labor Day (KECOfm.com)

• Man on probation accused of possessing BB gun in Cushing (1600KUSH.com)

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