Oklahoma GOP Passes On Social Studies Standards; OKC Family 'Traumatized' by ICE

What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is April 30, and here are a few quickies:

• Amazon decides not to show cost of tariffs on purchases after it upsets President Trump.

• Trump marks 100 days in office with big rally in Michigan.

• KFOR report: ‘We’re citizens!’: Oklahoma City family traumatized after ICE raids home, but they weren’t suspects

• Drinks & dinner? Why Ross Crain decided it was time to open his own restaurant in northwest Oklahoma City.

• How about dessert… Staying at the Skirvin in downtown OKC? Enjoy some ice cream starting May 1.

• Stock futures slip: Recent winning streak plus Q1 results have investors nervous. Click for live updates.

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Weather Update 🌧️

More rain is expected across the state, and Oklahoma may end up setting a record for the wettest April in both OKC and Tulsa. As of Tuesday night, OKC has recorded its second wettest April ever — and Tulsa isn’t far behind.

If you mow your own yard, here’s some unsolicited advice from Oklahoma Memo: take advantage of any sunshine and drying over the next two weeks because rain is in the forecast through the end of next week.

🌡️ Wednesday's high in OKC 73°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 72°

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New Oklahoma Social Studies Standards To Be Implemented After GOP Declines Vote

OKLAHOMA CITY — New social studies standards pushed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters will apparently go into effect after Oklahoma Senate Republicans declined to take up a resolution to reject them, ending a months-long controversy that drew criticism from educators, Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Kevin Stitt.

The decision followed a closed-door caucus meeting Monday between Senate Republicans and Walters. Senate leadership confirmed Tuesday that the chamber would not vote on the challenge, effectively allowing the standards to move forward without legislative interference.

According to reporting from News On 6:
A spokesperson for Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton said that while he had worked with Sen. (Adam) Pugh on SJR 20, the Republican Caucus ultimately chose not to bring it to a vote.  

“Following a lengthy conversation Monday, the caucus was not on board with rejecting the standards based on the process in which they were presented to the board of education. The standards are not a legislative obligation, and the curriculum is developed by the State Department of Education.” 

It appears the standards will now take effect as part of the official Oklahoma State Department of Education curriculum, marking a major policy win for Walters despite bipartisan skepticism.

Walters posted to X late Tuesday afternoon:

Oklahoma Memo has gathered the best coverage across the state:

• After closed-door meeting with Walters, Oklahoma GOP opts out of rejecting social studies standards (StateImpact Oklahoma)

• New academic standards set to pass after lack of vote from Oklahoma Legislature (Oklahoma Voice)

• Lawmakers opt against voting on controversial social studies standards (Tulsa World)

• Senate doesn't act to reject social studies standards that question 2020 election results (Oklahoman)

• Oklahoma State Department of Education's controversial social studies standards approved (KOCO)

• Senate Republicans decline to hear challenge to social studies standards (News On 6)

• Lawmakers will not consider resolution to stop proposed controversial social studies standards (KFOR)

Oklahoma Human Services reduces waitlist for disability services from 13 years to 1

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

Oklahoma Human Services has reduced wait times for Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) from 13 years to one.

The Legislature appropriated $32.5 million to the agency in 2022 to end a waitlist of more than 5,000 applicants. For the 2025 fiscal year, the Legislature appropriated an additional $3 million to help process applications received between May 2022 and 2024. They are being reviewed chronologically based on their application date.

Click to finish the story.

Tulsa Hosts Major VC Summit, Spotlighting Tech & Aerospace Growth

Tulsa welcomed more than 400 founders, investors, and business leaders for the third-annual Midcon Venture Capital Summit, where an estimated $1 trillion in investable capital was represented.

Keynote speakers included former NASA chief Jim Bridenstine, Phantom Space CEO Jim Cantrell, and Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols IV, who said the city is aiming to become the Drone Capital of the World and praised recent investments from NorSun and Agile Space Industries.

The summit, led by Cortado Ventures and FUSE, positioned Tulsa and the broader Midcontinent region as a rising force in aerospace, deep tech, and venture capital.

Takeaways ⬇️

• $1 trillion in capital represented at Tulsa-hosted VC summit

• Mayor Nichols: Tulsa is becoming a global innovation hub

• Bridenstine: Region is poised to lead new space era

• Strong focus on aerospace, defense, and deep tech

• Summit co-hosted by Cortado Ventures and FUSE

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A concise summary of the latest news from across the state:

• House sends mandatory ‘bell-to-bell’ cellphone ban bill to Oklahoma governor (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma House rejects plan to add extra instructional day for every $25 million in new funding (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma Prisoner Perseveres in Pro Se Wrongful Detention Lawsuit (Oklahoma Watch)

• Edmond ‘budgeting conservatively’ for upcoming year as long-time councilmembers depart (NonDoc)

• ‘We can’t grow’: OU researchers raise concerns for future of projects following federal funding cuts (OU Daily)

• Oklahoma City reports slight rise in homelessness with increases among families, seniors (KOCO)

• EF-1 tornado touches down in Collinsville Tuesday morning (News On 6)

• Tulsa mother arrested after 3-year-old daughter dies from fentanyl and cocaine toxicity (News On 6)

• Former Choctaw High School teacher charged after alleged sex crimes against student (KOCO)

• Oklahoma health experts warn of Vitamin A toxicity amid measles outbreak (KFOR)

• Local Oklahoma City church ends affiliation with denomination (Oklahoman)

• Muslim Day at Capitol continues for 11th year, draws demonstrators (Oklahoman)

• At least 1 dead after multi-vehicle crash in northwest Oklahoma City, police say (KOCO)

• Tulsa mayor gives update on Vista Shadow Mountain Apartment Complex (Fox 23)

• Muskogee City Council to renegotiate SRO contract amid police staffing concerns (KTUL)

• Hip-Hop to healing: nonprofit uses music to empower Black youth (Black Wall Street Times)

• Cherokee Nation hosts first Agriculture Summit (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Oklahoma supports Enel’s appeal to keep wind turbines operating (Osage News)

• Mvskoke Etvlwv Nakcokv Mvhakv Svhlwecvt (CMN) Class of 2025 celebrates commencement on May 2 (Mvskoke Media)

• Ardmore attorney facing forgery charges at trial (KTEN)

• Ada police seek woman wanted for murder (KXII)

• Oklahoma high school student receives $60,000 scholarship from OG&E (KXII)

• Hydrogen plant slated to open in Ardmore this year now on hold (KXII)

• Luther Friends of the Park Plant Sale is Saturday (Luther Register News)

SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

• Week 12 OU Softball Report: Sooners back where they started, at No. 1 (Clay Horning)

• 'I love it': Patty Gasso weighs ideas of hosting OU softball at Cotton Bowl, other football stadiums (OU Daily)

• Head Coach Patty Gasso Honored as USOPC College Coach of the Year (SoonerSports)

• Booker T. alum Nate Goodman named new head coach of Hornets’ football program (Tulsa World)

• Scammers posing as Thunder players target super fans on social media (KOCO)

• How to buy second-round NBA playoffs tickets to see Oklahoma City Thunder (Oklahoman)

• Cowboy Duo Named To United States Palmer Cup Squad (OKState)

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