Ryan Walters settles with Ethics Commission over tweets

Good morning, Oklahoma! Who’s got kids home this week for Spring Break? At least the weather is nice for them.

About that: It’s nice outside, but it’s dry with zero rain on the horizon. We’re facing another day of fire danger, especially across central Oklahoma.

Before we get to the news of the day, a tweak to the ‘Oklahoma Memo.’ Where you see stories that I share in prominent spots, I’ll not only be adding a link to the story; I’ll be adding a link to how you can support the publication — if it is subscription-based or if it takes donations. My mission for the ‘Oklahoma Memo’ is to re-engage Oklahomans with a daily news habit by sharing the best from every newsroom in hopes that more Oklahomans will support these newsrooms that add so much value to our communities.

And if you decide to support a publication because of something you see here, let me know. Or let them know, please.

Weather Update 💨🔥

Same as Monday but warmer.

🌡️ Tuesday high in OKC 82°
🌡️ Tuesday high in Tulsa 80°

Heed this warning, please, from the National Weather Service:

1️⃣ Walters to pay $5,000 in Ethics Commission settlement over Trump-supporting social media posts

By Beth Wallis, StateImpact Oklahoma
Click here to read the full story.
Donate to KGOU.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission and State Superintendent Ryan Walters have reached a settlement following an investigation into Walters using his official social media account to campaign for President Donald Trump.

The Commission found 10 of Walters’ social media posts advocating for the election of Trump and defeat of former Vice President Kamala Harris violated Oklahoma Ethics Rules.

However, the settlement acknowledges there was no evidence to show that Walters knowingly intended to violate the rules.

It calls for Walters to remove “Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction” and his official photo from his personal X account — which he has already done — and remove “Supt” from his account handle. It also requires Walters to pay $5,000 in penalties and attorney’s fees to the commission.

More Coverage 👀

• Ryan Walters, Ethics Commission reach settlement over social media violations (Tulsa World, subscribe)

• Oklahoma Ethics Commission reaches settlement with Supt. Ryan Walters on social media violations (KOCO)

• Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters faces $5,000 fine, social media restrictions (News 9)

• Walters to pay $5,000 for promoting Trump, violating Oklahoma rules about use of state social media (Oklahoma Voice)

• Read the full settlement agreement with Walters (KFOR)

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2️⃣ Fire danger continues across Oklahoma due to high winds, dry conditions

By Robby Korth, Graycen Wheeler, KOSU
Click here to read the story.
Donate to KOSU.

Much of Oklahoma is under a fire weather watch through Tuesday, as a red flag warning is in place for much of the state due to gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation on Monday.

The news comes as people across the state pick up the pieces from damaging fires that broke out across the state beginning Friday.

The latest numbers show four people died, 142 were injured, more than 170,000 acres were scorched and 400 homes sustained damage. Federal and state officials are continuing efforts to assess and survey the damage Monday.

Most of the state is abnormally dry, while roughly a third is experiencing moderate drought conditions. That means a lot of dried-out vegetation that can serve as fuel to a fast-moving fire. That means much of the state is facing critical fire weather again Monday and Tuesday.

More Wildfire Coverage 👀

• Live updates: Wildfire risk continues in Oklahoma, evacuation issued near Guthrie (The Oklahoman, subscribe)

• Wildfires prompt evacuation order for southeastern Logan County (KFOR)

• Firefighters in McIntosh County work to contain large wildfire (News On 6)

• High winds blow wildfires across the Mvskoke Reservation (Mvskoke Media)

• Jenks police and multiple agencies respond to large grass fire near 101st and 33rd W. Ave (KTUL)

• AMAZING GRACE: Stillwater man plays bagpipes after home burns down (2 News Oklahoma)

• Family of 5 barely escapes wildfires, finds shelter at Payne County Expo Center (Stillwater News Press, subscribe)

• Bill Haisten: Scott and Kim Sutton – ‘blessed’ victims of the Stillwater fire (Tulsa World, subscribe)

• What those affected by wildfires need to know about navigating insurance policies (Fox 23)

• As Oklahoma wildfire threat remains, first responders urge common sense (Black Wall Street Times)

• 'We lost everything:' Pawnee County family home destroyed in wildfire (News On 6)

• Love County community remains on edge after wildfire close call (KTEN)

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3️⃣ Feds investigating OU-Tulsa Medical school for alleged “impermissible” race-based scholarships

By Madeline Cantrell, Gaylord News
Click here to read the story.
Support student journalism at OU.

WASHINGTON – The University of Oklahoma’s Tulsa medical school is under federal investigation for alleged “race-based” practices in its admissions process.

However, the initial announcement coming from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) listed a non-existent “University of Tulsa Medical School” as under investigation. The release was later corrected to read, “University of Oklahoma, Tulsa School of Medicine,” apparently a reference to the OU Tulsa School of Community Medicine.  That program has a total of 119 students and an average of 30 per graduating class.

Last month, universities received a letter from the civil rights division of the Department of Education instructing them to cease “using race preferences and stereotypes as a factor in their admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, scholarships, prices, administrative support, sanctions, discipline and other programs and activities.”

It is unclear which OU scholarships or admissions processes violates this order. None of the scholarships listed on the Tulsa Campus Community Health website apply to race or gender specifically.

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Oklahoma News Headlines 📰

• Man charged with shooting Webbers Falls police officer arrested in New Mexico (News On 6)

• Oklahoma State University lays off Innovation Foundation staff amid release of scathing audit (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma County jail detainee dies day before birthday (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Woman set on fire in 2024 dies in hospital, months later (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Police fatally shoot man during welfare check, OSBI investigating (Guthrie News Page)

• Guthrie High School placed on lockdown after report of armed individual (Guthrie News Page)

• Lawmakers, National Weather Center staff weigh in on federal cuts as severe weather season approaches (OU Daily)

• Ardmore’s downtown master plan nears completion (KTEN)

• 5 charged in connection with attack on teenager at Bryan County party (KXII)

• ‘Channeling our ancestors’ engages 7th graders at TPAC (Osage News)

• REAL ID required for Base Visitors after May 7, 2025 (Tinker AFB News)

• Rig numbers increase in Oklahoma due to growth in oil and gas exploration (OK Energy Today)

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Sports: A look back on Sooners’ tourney history

By Ryan Welton
The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ makes no bones about it. We bleed crimson and cream.

We know every word to “Boomer Sooner.” There aren’t that many.

And we know our college sports history. But did you know that, all time, Oklahoma men’s basketball is a Top 25 program?

Mind. Blown.

It’s true by virtually any measurement, and the folks at Yahoo! agreed a couple years back when it ranked the top programs of all time based on AP polls from the 1940s to the early 2020s.

The Sooners came in at No. 22. All time.

If you’d really like a rabbit hole trip down memory lane, check out this page dedicated to every NCAA tourney game OU has ever played.

Did you know that between 1947 and 1979, the Sooners didn’t make the tourney? That just proves how good OU was in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and for part of the 2010s.

Also, however, it used to be that not many teams got into the tourney.

Did you realize that Oklahoma faced Larry Bird and the Indiana State Sycamores in that famous 1979 tournament that culminated with Bird and Magic facing off in Salt Lake City?

Did you realize that the Sooners then lost to the Sycamores again some 22 years later?

Did you realize that it’s been longer between now and that loss than between the Bird loss and that loss? Time flies.

The biggest heartbreak for Oklahoma truly was 1988. The Sooners dominated that season. Dominated. And Kansas’ Larry Brown came up with a perfect game plan to beat OU.

Danny and the Miracles.

A close second? Rick Fox. If you know, you know. $%&^#$!

But for me, the best win, the most satisfying win of all time for Oklahoma in the tourney was in 1999 when the Sooners with Ryan Humphrey and Eduardo Najera knocked off Arizona 61-60 from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Under Kelvin Sampson, OU had made it to the tourney four straight years and lost four straight times.

That last loss, to Indiana, was almost one of Sooner Magic lore. Oklahoma fought back so hard in that game.

Sampson’s teams were always resilient, and it’s something this squad under Porter Moser has. Grit.

Oklahoma is taking on the two-time defending national champions on Friday.

I can’t wait to see what Sooner Magic has to say about this one.

More Sports Coverage 👀

• Printable men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament brackets (Yahoo!)

• Cowboy Golf Second After Day One At Pauma Valley (OKState)

• Sooners’ women’s gymnastics team No. 1 seed for SEC championships (SoonerSports)

• Oklahoma’s women move to No. 11 in final AP basketball poll (OU Daily)

• ORU baseball heads to Arkansas for 2 against the Razorbacks (ORU Athletics)

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