Good morning, Oklahoma! Loved seeing the Sooners survive Mizzou on Wednesday night. OU needed that one badly. 🏀

Thunder improved to 51-11 with a 120-103 win over Memphis! (Recap)

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Here is the Oklahoma journalism I’ve hand-picked for you this Thursday:

• Oklahoma bill would curtail state superintendent’s control over school board meetings (Oklahoma Voice)

• Tribal leaders scramble to keep BIA services afloat amidst DOGE closures (KOSU)

• OSU funding misappropriations violated state law, audit says (The O’Colly)

• Sooners topple No. 15 Missouri 96-84

Weather Update 💨

We’ll be a bit warmer today than yesterday, but that wind will still blow.

🌡️ Thursday’s high in OKC 60°
🌡️ Thursday’s high in Tulsa 58°

We are still looking at rain on Saturday!

If you have weather photos you’d like to share with ‘Oklahoma Memo,’ email them to [email protected]!

1️⃣ Oklahoma bill would curtail state superintendent’s control over school board meetings

By Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
Click here to read the story.

Following complaints from the Oklahoma State Board of Education, lawmakers introduced legislation to limit the state superintendent’s control over the board’s operations.

Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, repurposed House Bill 1491 with new language that would allow board members, not only the state superintendent, to place items on their meeting agendas. Leaders of the House and Senate, as well as Gov. Kevin Stitt, endorsed the measure.

“No one member should unilaterally control a board, especially one that directly impacts the outcomes of our students,” Stitt said Wednesday.

More Politics 👀

• Walters reissues push for AG opinion on whether Trump order pulls funding from immigrant students (StateImpact Oklahoma)

• New legislation increases tension between Walters, Stitt, Drummond (2 News Oklahoma)

• Gov. Stitt against spending money on Bibles (KOCO)

• House Bill 1491, backed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, proposes new rules for the Oklahoma State Board of Education (News 9)

• OKC Chamber hosts Gov. Stitt, lawmakers on March 12 (KFOR)

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2️⃣ Tribal leaders in Oklahoma scramble to keep BIA services afloat amidst DOGE closures

By Katie Hallum (ᏧᏟ), Sarah Liese (Twilla) | KOSU
Click here to read the story.

Under the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, Bureau of Indian Affairs offices are undergoing sudden and unexpected layoffs and closures across the state. Tribal leaders are taking matters into their own hands to mitigate the impact on their citizens.

(Click the link to find out which agencies were listed for closure on DOGE’s Wall of Receipts.)

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3️⃣ OSU funding misappropriations violated state law, audit says

By Kennedy Thomason, The O’Colly
Click here to read the story.

An audit of state funding has found Oklahoma State violated state law with “expenditures that were not aligned with the restricted purposes.” 

The report, which accounts for $41 million in state funds, comes after former OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum resigned, effective Feb. 3. Innovation Foundation President and CEO Elizabeth Pollard resigned the same day. The Innovation Foundation is named as one of the entities that had misappropriated funds, which included “unauthorized transfers” and “expenditures on unrelated purposes.”

Oklahoma News Headlines 📰

• Ada schools closed as storm recovery continues (KTEN)

• County commissioners to discuss possible action regarding the UNP entertainment district (OU Daily)

• Teen’s family speaks out after brutal attack at Bryan County party (KXII)

• Tariffs expected to have zero or little impact at Port of Catoosa (2 News Oklahoma)

• Oklahoma bill to ease college access for those with criminal convictions goes to House floor (Black Wall Street Times)

• National Weather Service confirms 4 tornadoes touched down in Okmulgee County on Tuesday (Fox 23)

• Choctaw citizen sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder (Mvskoke Media)

• Ardmore leaders discuss sales tax, Michelin and Woodside in annual meeting (KTEN)

• Choctaw County woman sentenced in baby’s 1993 death (KXII)

• Measure would ask voters to alter selection process of Oklahoma appellate judges (Oklahoma Voice)

• Two Republicans advance from special election to fill Oklahoma Senate seat (Oklahoma Voice)

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Sports Headlines 🏀⚾

Sooners get much-needed win, 96-84, over Missouri

The Oklahoma Sooners secured a 96-84 victory over No. 15 Missouri on Wednesday night at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. The Sooners' offense was led by freshman guard Jeremiah Fears, who delivered a standout performance with a career-high 31 points, including a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.

Oklahoma set the tone early, shooting an impressive 69% from the field in the first half, which included a 4-for-7 effort from beyond the arc. This offensive efficiency propelled them to a 50-37 lead at halftime. The Sooners maintained their momentum in the second half, converting 19 of 20 free-throw attempts to keep the Tigers at bay.

The win was Oklahoma’s fifth over a Top 25 team.

The Sooners' bench made significant contributions, adding 28 points to the team's total. Forward Mohamed Wague was particularly effective, scoring 12 points on a flawless 4-for-4 shooting and grabbing five rebounds. Guard Kobe Elvis also chipped in with eight points and a team-high four assists.

This victory improved Oklahoma's record to 18-12 overall and 5-12 in the SEC, while Missouri fell to 21-9 and 10-7 in conference play.

Porter Moser’s team looks to finish the regular season with a win at Texas at 7 p.m. Saturday. (More from SoonerSports)

• New OU quarterback John Mateer talks to media (John Hoover Media)

• Coach Brent Venables holds pre-spring press conference (OU Insider)

• Women’s hoops opens postseason tournament (SoonerSports)

• Cowboys fall to UCF 83-70 (OKState.com)

• Cowboy baseball splits mid-week series (OKState.com)

• Oklahoma high school basketball scoreboard: OSSAA state tournament schedule, scores, stats (The Oklahoman, paywall)

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