What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is April 22, and here are a few quickies:

• It’s Earth Day! 🌎 Here are some Oklahoma events happening today and the rest of the week.

• Save the date: The Frontier is celebrating its 10th anniversary with Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols on April 29.

• Stock futures rose Monday night after a rough day of trading. Click here for live updates.

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Weather Update ☀️⛅

Should be a nice day, but the chance for severe weather returns Tuesday night — especially in western and northwestern Oklahoma.

🌡️ Tuesday's high in OKC 80°
🌡️ Tuesday’s high in Tulsa 80°

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✝️ Pope Francis (1936-2025)

Pope Francis, who guided the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics through a decade of reform and controversy while advocating for the poor and marginalized, died early Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican announced.

Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, became the first Latin American pontiff when he was elected in 2013 following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. His papacy was marked by efforts to make the Church more inclusive and responsive to modern challenges while maintaining its core doctrines.

This is a collection of coverage from Oklahoma about the Pope’s death and his legacy.

• Archbishop Coakley’s statement on the passing of Pope Francis (Archdiocese of Oklahoma City)

• 'My heart is heavy': Leaders in Oklahoma react to death of Pope Francis (KOCO)

• Pope Francis' recognition made Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine possible in OKC (KOCO)

• Oklahoma City Catholic Community remembers Pope Francis (KFOR)

• Tulsa faith communities remember Pope Francis (2 News Oklahoma)

• A down-to-earth listener who spoke 'off the cuff:' Local priests remember Pope Francis (Oklahoman)

• Local Catholic community mourns death of Pope Francis (Fox 23)

• Holy Family Cathedral hosts memorial Mass Monday night for Pope Francis (Tulsa World)

• How is the next pope selected? (KFOR)

Gov. Stitt approves parole for an Oklahoma man locked up as a teenager for murder

By Brianna Bailey, The Frontier; and Sierra Pfeifer, KOSU
Click here to read the story.
Donate to The Frontier.
Donate to KOSU.

Gov. Kevin Stitt has granted parole for Wayne Thompson, who was 15 when he murdered his sister’s abuser. 

Thompson, now 58, has spent more than four decades behind bars for the 1983 killing of Charles Keene, his sister Vickie’s ex-husband, in Grady County. 

Cindy Welch, another of Thompson’s three sisters, started crying Monday when she got word Thompson’s release had been approved. 

“I can’t explain how happy this makes me,” Welch said. “Wayne has been given a chance at freedom and he’s gonna show the world he deserves it.”

The release is contingent on Thompson’s completion of a six-month transitional program through the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. 

After his release, Thompson plans to live with the mother of a childhood friend and find work, Welch said. She said she hopes her brother will be home by the end of November. 

The Frontier and KOSU reported last year on Thompson’s decades-long efforts to win parole. 

Click here to finish the story.

EPA gives some Oklahoma coal-fired power plants extensions to meet pollution requirements

By Chloe Bennett-Steele, StateImpact Oklahoma
Click here to read the story.
Donate to KGOU.

Months before a high-level embezzlement scheme at Tulsa Public Schools was uncovered, former superintendent Deborah Gist and her deputies were quietly arranging an exit plan for the official behind it — and using secret payments to a private consultant to manage the transition, according to internal district records obtained by The Frontier.

Tulsa Public Schools told The Frontier the official, former chief talent and equity officer Devin Fletcher, had applied to be the superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools around the same time. But still months before his eventual departure, Fletcher was not among three finalists for the job, according to news reports from the time.

An investigator for the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector’s office wrote in an internal memo that the records raise questions about whether school leaders knew about Fletcher’s scheme to defraud the district of at least $800,000 long before it was reported to law enforcement. 

“If Fletcher’s plans to leave the District were not prompted by the discovery of his questionable vendor practices,” the investigator wrote, “then why did TPS act in secrecy about the transition?”

Click here to finish the story.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Mother and child found dead after family's SUV swept away by floodwaters (Tulsa World)

• First responders rally around survivor, honor 2 killed in Moore flooding (KOCO)

• Flood damages lead to Turner Falls Park closure until Thursday (KTEN)

• Woman rescued from deep flood waters by Carter County first responders (KXII)

• OSBI investigates double homicide in Wynnewood (KTEN)

• Neighbor fears for rural community after double homicide at Wynnewood marijuana grow (KOCO)

• Cleveland County inmate facing new charges after alleged attack on detention officer (KOCO)

• Man sentenced to 40 years for posing as teen, rape charge (Guthrie News Page)

• Panel advances bill banning delivery of abortion-inducing drugs in Oklahoma (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma bill would make it illegal to use or sell kratom under certain conditions (Fox 25)

• Bill increasing requirements to close businesses during a pandemic heads to Oklahoma governor (Oklahoma Voice)

• Tulsa County Courthouse construction noise delays jury trials (2 News Oklahoma)

• Former Paragon workers still seeking employment months after layoffs (News On 6)

• More than 50 TPS second graders record original songs at Church Studio (Fox 23)

• List of NE Oklahoma roadways closed due to weather-related damage (KTUL)

• GOP bill would block 94% of Oklahoma voters from citizen petitions (Black Wall Street Times)

• ‘Representation matters:’ Not your average ‘Tiger Lily’ (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Healthcare, economic strategy, and sovereignty take center stage at State of the Tribal Nations (Osage News)

• “Seeds” at the heart of the Indian Territory Film Festival (Mvskoke Media)

• Lawton City Council preview: Potential landfill fee changes, pet business licenses (KSWO)

• Feasibility study on Westwin plant could be ready by May (Lawton Constitution)

• Bricktown food truck owner says OKC's proposed ordinance would hurt late-night business (Oklahoman)

• City sales tax revenues to remain flat, concern raised at City Council (The O’Colly)

SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

NBA Playoffs Game 2: Oklahoma City vs. Memphis
Tuesday night at 6:30 on TNT/truTV/Max

• Thunder send message in Game 1 annihilation of Grizzlies. OKC is ready to win a title now. (USA Today)

• NBA teams 'don't respect' OKC Thunder? Why Game 1 rout of Memphis should raise fear factor (Oklahoman)

• Social Media Reacts to OKC Thunder's Blowout of Grizzlies (Sports Illustrated)

• Mark Daigneault's brutally honest Grizzlies take proves Thunder are title favorites (Thunderous Intentions)

• OKC Thunder's explosive Game 1 came with one looming problem (FanSided)

More headlines:

• OSU quarterback Maealiuaki Smith to enter transfer portal, per report (The O’Colly)

• 'Never seen anything like that': Unique circumstances of OSU baseball's win define new-age issue (The O’Colly)

• FC Tulsa Ousts Las Vegas Lights FC, 4-1, Behind Prolific First Half (FC Tulsa)

• How OU women's basketball landed Aaliyah Chavez, the top player in 2025 recruiting class (Oklahoman)

• Men's Golf Set for SEC Championship at Sea Island (SoonerSports)

• Cowboys Head to Historic Southern Hills in Search of Big 12 Title (OKState)

• Here's the police report from former OSU wideout Justin Blackmon's public intoxication arrest (The O’Colly)

• ORU baseball wraps up road trip with second meeting with Sooners (ORU Athletics)

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