The move from a printed edition of The Vista to an all-digital one isn’t a big deal on the face of it. It’s 2025. The University of Central Oklahoma’s publication probably should be all online.

But for anybody who has followed this story at the state’s third-largest university, they know it’s not the real issue. The concern from students and a lawyer who represents them is that the decision was actually retaliation for rigorous journalism — stories that might not have made the university or its president, Todd Lamb, look good.

UCO says the move was to cut costs, $12,000 to be exact.

But when private donations to cover those costs started to filter in, the university said, “No, thanks.”

An attorney with a group called Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press wrote a letter to UCO leadership on behalf of a half-dozen current or former students. The response came from university spokesperson Adrienne Nobles:

“The Vista remains an independent publication in its new digital format with editorial agency over their content,” Nobles said in a statement, adding that the publication’s student editor is among those who support the transition to digital-only.

But, again, the problem isn’t the move to digital only.

The problem is the evidence of this move being retaliation, ultimately undermining the independence of the journalists in that newsroom and on that campus.

Hopefully those Vista journalists have already made open records requests for any and all emails related to this decision. If they can prove that it was retaliation — that’s an even bigger problem for the university and its president.

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Here’s your Thursday list:

‘Oklahoma Memo’ is on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. There is also a YouTube channel — and it’s all growing day by day.

We’ll get to autumn come November, maybe. Next rain chance looks to be Monday.

🌡️ Thursday's high in OKC 84°
🌡️ Thursday’s high in Tulsa 81°

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

OKLAHOMA CITY — Former state Superintendent Ryan Walters is under an ethics investigation again, this time over an alleged conflict of interest.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission revealed Tuesday it is gathering materials and information regarding Walters’ departure from office. Walters, who did not immediately return a request for comment, resigned Sept. 30 to become the CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a conservative nonprofit that he promoted through his elected position.

The Ethics Commission has not disclosed specifics of what it is investigating — only that the inquiry centers on conflict of interest rules — and is not required to make public the complaints it has received.

However, Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, filed an ethics complaint against Walters on March 25 over his use of state resources to endorse the Teacher Freedom Alliance, alleging he violated rules governing state officers and private economic interests. She renewed her complaint after Walters announced he would resign to join the organization.

Walters issued a news release March 10 on the Oklahoma State Department of Education letterhead, touting the Teacher Freedom Alliance as an “alternative to woke teachers’ unions.”

Pogemiller alleged this violated rules that prohibit public officeholders from using state resources to endorse or give preferential treatment to a private entity.

“Superintendent Walters’ endorsement is intended to result in increased membership and financial benefits for (the Teacher Freedom Alliance) at the expense of competing labor organizations, which is a blatant misuse of official position,” her complaint states.

Pogemiller worked for the state’s largest teacher union, the Oklahoma Education Association, until she took office as a House lawmaker.

She said she is grateful the Ethics Commission is investigating Walters.

“Oklahomans deserve accountability when taxpayer dollars are used for personal gain,” Pogemiller said.

Walters already has paid $23,300 to settle other ethics complaints over contributions to his 2022 campaign for state superintendent and regarding his social media activity while in office.

If you’d like to advertise in the Oklahoma Memo newsletter daily, reach out to me at [email protected].

Your advertisement could include a headline, photo, story and a link to anywhere you’d like it to go! 🔗

Oklahoma City is preparing to dedicate a new downtown landmark that cements its role as the birthplace of the civil rights sit-in movement. The Clara Luper National Sit-in Plaza, scheduled for a public dedication on Saturday, November 1 at 11 a.m., honors the pioneering activism of Luper and the 13 students who staged the nation’s first lunch counter sit-in at Katz Drugstore in 1958.

Watch: Interview with John Kennedy, who co-chaired the committee that oversaw the creation of the plaza.

Although Greensboro, North Carolina, is often credited with launching the movement in 1960, Oklahoma City’s protest came two years earlier and lasted six years — the longest-running sit-in campaign in the United States.

John Kennedy, civic leader and co-chair of the plaza committee, said the effort to create a permanent public tribute began in 2018 with the 60th anniversary of the sit-in. “We’ve got to do better at telling our own stories,” Kennedy said. “This plaza represents the intersection of history, art, and respect.”

The plaza features 15 sculptures crafted by StudioEIS of New York, with guidance from renowned sculptor Ed Dwight and input from Luper’s daughter, Marilyn Luper Hildreth. The project was funded privately, with contributions from Oklahoma City business and civic leaders, including Thunder GM Sam Presti.

The dedication will include performances from the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Langston University, and local school choirs. Kennedy says the goal is not long speeches but for “the real star of the show to be the sculpture and the story behind it.”

The plaza sits just blocks from the Oklahoma City National Memorial, creating what Kennedy calls “a powerful contrast on the same street — two of the most significant examples of violence and nonviolence in our country’s history.”

A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• Tulsa Race Massacre grave search to resume Monday (Tulsa World)

• Oklahoma families fear losing WIC benefits amid government shutdown (KOCO)

• Families of Oklahoma City bombing victims uphold the Oklahoma Standard during government shutdown (KOCO)

• State Superintendent Lindel Fields aims to set new tone in Oklahoma education (KOSU)

• Oklahoma energy secretary announces bid for attorney general (Oklahoma Voice)

• Advocates urge Oklahoma lawmakers to increase funding for mental health services (KOSU)

• Animal group investigates Tulsa-area alleged cockfighting farms (2 News Oklahoma)

• Ryan Walters vowed to pull these teachers' licenses. Now their cases could be dropped (The Oklahoman)

• Costs going up? OG&E seeks approval from corporation commission (2 News Oklahoma)

• Zach Bryan responds after song condemning ICE divides fans. 'We need to find our way back' (The Oklahoman)

• ‘Economic opportunity’: Brownfields grant seeks greener pastures in northeast OKC (NonDoc)

• OSU agricultural economy professor cites ‘black swan’ events behind industry’s bailout need (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Local butchers, steakhouses affected by rising beef costs caused by tariffs, cattle shortages (KFOR)

• Tulsa’s COVID cases are spiking. What you should know if you test positive (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• Indigenous newspapers chronicle history, Sequoyah National Research Center preserves it (Cherokee Phoenix)

• John Mateer injury update: OU football QB questionable vs Texas on SEC availability report (The Oklahoman)

• What’s that oddly shaped house near the outer limits of east Norman? (The Oklahoman)

• OU Motel property available for purchase again (KFOR)

The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ mission is simple: Reignite the daily news habit by connecting Oklahomans and those who love Oklahoma to quality sources of news and vetted information.

✅ Save you time.
✅ Make you smarter.
✅ Protect Democracy.