Thursday, February 5, 2026 • Gorgeous day, and mid-60s. ☀️
View from your phone: We want to share your photos! Message them as attachments to [email protected], and include location and photo credit.
Oklahoma State Department of Education
By Beth Wallis, StateImpact Oklahoma
Click here to support their newsroom.
Public comment is now open for Oklahoma’s new social studies academic standards. And, this year’s version is markedly different from the standards put out by former State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ administration.
Notably absent from this set of standards is instruction to “identify discrepancies in 2020 election results” or unproven theories on the origin of COVID-19. Students are instead invited to “examine political polarization and constitutional issues” related to the 2020 election and the “federal and private response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as its impact on global health and American society.”
Rather than dozens of mentions of the Bible, the proposed standards have one related to the translation of the Bible during the Protestant Reformation.
State Superintendent Lindel Fields took over after Walters resigned last fall. The new standards are one of several Walters policies Fields has undone during his tenure, in addition to nixing a mandate requiring Bibles in Oklahoma classrooms. The State Board of Education also recently approved a rule to remove a requirement for teachers to take the U.S. Naturalization Test.
Sand Springs council votes 6-1 to allow giant data center along Highway 97
Citizens opposed to a proposed hyperscale data center in Sand Springs wave signs outside a city council meeting on February 3, 2026. (PHOTO by Matthew Perez for the Tulsa Flyer)
By Phillip Jackson, Tulsa Flyer
Click here to support their newsroom.
The Sand Springs City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night to rezone 827 acres for a proposed data center to be operated by Google.
City councilman Beau Wilson was the lone dissenter.
The proposed data center — developed by White Rose Partners — was recommended to council for approval last month despite receiving heavy push back from community residents. The city annexed property for the facility along Highway 97.
Mayor Jim Spoon told the crowd the decision was simply a “yes or no” because there would “not be another opportunity” for Sand Springs to have a data center if it was not approved by the council. Close to 300 people in the crowd reacted with both jeers and cheers.
Some residents shouted for a recall vote after the meeting adjourned.
Quick national links:
Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.
Supreme Court declines to block California's new mid-decade congressional map (ABC News)
Senate talks to revive ACA tax credits appear to be fizzling out (The Hill)
Trump says the lesson from Minneapolis is to use a "softer touch" in federal immigration enforcement (CBS News)
Attempted Trump assassin Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison (ABC News)
‘It’s an absolute bloodbath’: Washington Post lays off hundreds of workers (The Guardian)
Texas A&M professor files suit after firing over gender identity lesson (Politico)
'TODAY' co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and family make tearful plea for mother’s return (NBC News)
The Oklahoma Rundown 📰
Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.
A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:
• What would happen if Oklahoma 'shut down' medical marijuana like Gov. Stitt wants? (Tulsa World)*
• Power struggle roils Oklahoma Senate as Paxton sidelines Freedom Caucus leader (The Frontier)
• Bill protecting places of worship from disruptors heads to Oklahoma governor (Oklahoma Voice)
• Oklahoma State Election Board releases yearly voter registration report (KOSU)
• Oklahoma County jail sees first death of 2026 as budget shortfalls continue (KOSU)
• H-E-B buys 600+ acres in north Texas. Are Oklahoma stores coming soon? (The Oklahoman)*
• From limiting tax breaks to moratoriums, Oklahoma legislators eye new rules for data centers (The Frontier)
• House education committee approves bills affecting state tests, school libraries (Oklahoma Voice)
• House lawmakers weigh bills aimed at reducing Oklahoma food assistance fraud (Oklahoma Voice)
• House GOP lawmaker launches state superintendent campaign (Oklahoma Voice)
• Oklahoma’s Winter Storm Uri lawsuits coming out of cold storage (Oklahoma Watch)
• Tulsa County receives major FEMA funding as nearby counties await aid (News On 6)
• 'I want answers': Pawhuska resident frustrated with lack of rural water supply (2 News Oklahoma)
• Truck drives into Tulsa non-profit thrift store (2 News Oklahoma)
• Ada junction one step closer to being less 'crazy' (KTEN)
• EOC Tech seeks voter approval for a technology bond extension on Feb. 10 (The Luther Register)
• KFOR’s Gene Allen and Patrick Spencer honored by Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame (KFOR)
• Music bills to watch in the Oklahoma legislature in 2026 (KOSU)
• Oklahoma native, Grammy winner Jimmy Webb brings hits to McKnight Center (KOSU)
• Ed Harris, Toby Keith to be honored at Western Heritage Awards in OKC (The Oklahoman)*
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined with abdominal strain (News 9)
Oklahoma Memo’s Mission
The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ mission is simple: Reignite the daily local news habit by connecting Oklahomans and those who love Oklahoma to quality sources of news and vetted information.
✅ Save you time.
✅ Make you smarter.
✅ Strengthen your community.
Now booking 2026 sponsors
Oklahoma Memo offers sponsorship and advertising opportunities in this newsletter.
📩 [email protected]
Want a newsletter like this one for YOUR business?
I build high-open-rate newsletters for Oklahoma businesses and organizations.
Monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly.
📩 [email protected]
Oklahoma Memo is on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. There is also a YouTube channel—and it’s growing day by day.
Oklahoma Memo is reader-supported. You can buy me a coffee, or pitch in monthly on Patreon and Substack.
Message me anytime at [email protected].