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Oklahoma welcomes students, but not cell phones — and statewide election results
This is your 5-minute round-up of Oklahoma news for August 13, 2025
Ryan Welton
August 13, 2025
What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Wednesday, August 13, and it’s back-to-school time in Oklahoma.
(But first: If you’re looking for election results, here you go!)
It’s a reminder that we need to slow down on the way to work each morning, and pay attention to school zones and pedestrians.
It’s a reminder that Friday night lights are around the corner.
It’s a reminder that our kiddos in 2025 carry different burdens than we did years ago. Many of our students carry significantly busier schedules than we did back in the day, too — and if I’m being honest, we all got to be awfully ornery without the inconvenience of social media ratting us out.
And it’s also a reminder that teachers are awesome — a reminder that I got to see that first-hand this summer.
As part of the Oklahoma Ambassadors of Music, I had the privilege of touring Europe with 200 high school students and a couple dozen music educators from around the state. And because I was a parent who participated in the choir — genuinely a Top 10 thing I’ve done in my adult life (seriously) — I got to experience the work of these teachers first-hand.
Their processes. Their patience. How much they genuinely care.
And in a world that can feel louder, faster, and more divided than ever, that kind of dedication is a reminder that hope is still being taught in classrooms every day.
You can message me anytime at [email protected].
Weather Update ☀️
OKC and Tulsa are twinning. Warm, sunny summer day.
🌡️ Wednesday's high in OKC 89°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 89°
Oklahoma welcomes students, but not their cellphones, back to school
Jenks High School students walk out of the Jenks Public Schools Math and Science Center on Nov. 13. All public schools in the state must enforce a cellphone ban this year. (PHOTO by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)
By Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
Click here to read the story.
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OKLAHOMA CITY — As Oklahoma students return to school in the coming days, they’ll have backpacks on, pencils and laptops ready, and their cellphones out of sight.
For the next year, state law requires all Oklahoma public schools to ban student use of cellphones and personal electronic devices for the entire school day. The only devices exempt from the new law are ones that are school-issued, medically necessary or needed for emergencies.
Parents, students and educators across the state said they’re optimistic the cellphone ban will help limit distractions and keep classrooms focused on learning. But, they acknowledged the new ban could be a “challenge” to adjust to, especially during lunch and passing periods.
Some students at Classen High School of Advanced Studies at Northeast have gotten used to watching Netflix during their lunch hour or looking at social media during down time, said rising senior Amasha Samaraweera. This year, that won’t be an option.
Show me the money: Some Oklahoma candidates carry huge campaign debts
Oklahoma Rep. Jim Shaw, R-Chandler, was elected in 2024 after defeating incumbent Rep. Kevin Wallace in a Republican primary runoff. (PHOTO by Oklahoma House of Representatives)
By Paul Monies, Oklahoma Watch
Click here to read the story.
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An Oklahoma state representative who knocked off a powerful incumbent in last year’s GOP primary is still owed a large debt from his campaign as he continues to lend it money.
The campaign committee for Rep. Jim Shaw, R-Chandler, now owes him $385,000, a huge amount for a freshman House lawmaker. He loaned his campaign another $20,000 in the second quarter, according to reports filed with the Ethics Commission.
It’s not uncommon for candidates to loan money to their campaigns. Some make the loans to scare off potential opponents and demonstrate their financial might. Others do it to match contributions from constituents to demonstrate their commitment to the campaign effort. But some candidates just don’t like raising money, which, in the current campaign environment, is a perpetual hamster wheel.
Shaw beat Kevin Wallace, the top budget chairman in the House at the time, in an August 2024 primary runoff. Shaw did not face an opponent in the November general election. The GOP primary contest for House District 32, with candidates spending more than $1.1 million, was the most expensive House race in state history. Another $313,000 poured into the race from independent expenditures, mostly to support Wallace. Those donations are unlimited as long as they are not coordinated with candidate campaigns.
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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰
A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:
• Network outage hits multiple Oklahoma agencies (Oklahoma Voice)
• Oklahoma Election Results: See what voters decided on key issues (KOCO)
• Tulsa man charged with murder after death of 1-month-old son (2 News Oklahoma)
• After DOGE cuts hit Oklahoma’s weather service, reports say NOAA will hire hundreds nationwide (KGOU)
• OKCPD officer accused of violating protective order in ongoing rape, domestic violence case (KFOR)
• Moore voters approve charter amendments, Mid-America Technology Center bond issue soundly rejected (KOSU)
• McAlester Public Schools releases more than $40 million bond proposal going before voters next month (Fox 23)
• Tulsa to put $6 million toward homelessness as resident frustrations mount (The Oklahoma Eagle)
• Norman Ward 5 councilmember Michael Nash resigns after reelection (KGOU)
• Oklahoma City Council approves $8 million for Scheels development (KGOU)
• Former lawmaker, OKC advocate Debbie Blackburn dies at 74 (KOSU)
• Matriarchal leadership on horizon for Seminole Nation as incumbent leadership ousted (KOSU)
• Stitt celebrates several new laws as 'best' of 2025, including 3 impacting LGBTQ+ people (The Oklahoman)
• Tulsa attorney out as counsel to State Board of Education amid power struggles (Tulsa World)
• ‘Campus corner’ concept approved near UCO, more mixed-use development on Edmond’s horizon (NonDoc)
• As Supreme Court rulings shape Oklahoma’s legal landscape, NCSL summit highlights key cases (NonDoc)
• A university in Green Country is focusing on AI with new degree program (Public Radio Tulsa)
• WATCH: Roof of historic Jim Norick Arena at OKC Fairgrounds imploded (KOCO)
• McAlester City Manager resigns (McAlester News-Capital)
• Union Public Schools opens 118 spots for 3-year-olds, seeks out-of-district kids (KTUL)
• OU QB John Mateer: 'The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false' (Tulsa World)
• 4-star IMG Academy DE Jake Kreul commits to OU football's 2026 recruiting class (Tulsa World)
• OKC soccer club, formerly Energy FC, files trademark for possible new name (The Oklahoman)
• New grocer could be coming to Durant (KTEN)
• Woman charged in connection with Paoli shooting (KXII)
• ADA intersection improvements underway; nearby Pocket Park nears completion (Guthrie News Page)
• Jimmie “JJ” Walker talks about filming in Sapulpa and still doing standup at 78: “the only problem we have now is political correctness.” (Sapulpa Times)
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