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

• Death row inmate Richard Glossip was granted a new trial by SCOTUS.

• Bixby superintendent Rob Miller is running for state superintendent. Will his opponent be Ryan Walters?

• Are DOGE’s FAA layoffs making the skies unsafe for flying? (Oklahoma Watch)

• OSU men’s basketball upsets No. 9 Iowa State 74-68!

Weather Update ☀️

Cooler and windy on Wednesday. Grab a windbreaker, a jacket, a wrap, or your grandmother’s shawl.

🌡️ Wednesday’s high in OKC 63°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 63°

Meteorologists are looking at the possibility of storms or even severe weather next Monday or Tuesday. Nothing certain.

1️⃣ Supreme Court grants Richard Glossip a new trial. But why? And what’s next?

Richard Glossip, a death row inmate convicted of orchestrating the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese, will get another trial. The Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors withheld key evidence and failed to correct false testimony—two major missteps that could have changed the case.

The conviction hinged on testimony from Justin Sneed, the man who admitted to killing Van Treese. Sneed claimed Glossip planned the murder, but in return for his testimony, he avoided the death penalty. That testimony, however, had serious problems:

• Inconsistent motives: Sneed changed his reasoning for the crime multiple times.

• False claims about his mental health: He denied seeing a psychiatrist or being prescribed lithium—both untrue.

• Shifting story on the murder weapon: His account of using a knife changed between police questioning and both trials.

Van Treese’s family opposes a new trial, believing Glossip is guilty and presumably fearing the emotional toll of reliving the case.

Now, with fresh scrutiny on the evidence, Glossip will have another chance to fight for his freedom.

I’ve put together a handful of the best stories from Tuesday on this huge news from SCOTUS.

Richard Glossip coverage 👀

• Following Supreme Court ruling, what’s next for former death row inmate Richard Glossip? (The Frontier)

• Listen Frontier: Death row inmate Richard Glossip’s murder conviction has been vacated (The Frontier)

• AG Gentner Drummond applauds the Supreme Court’s decision in Tuesday afternoon press conference (News 9)

• Former News 9 reporter Dana Hertneky covered the Glossip case extensively. She returned Tuesday to discuss SCOTUS’ ruling. (News 9)

• Ex-Oklahoma lawmaker says Supreme Court ruling should spark death penalty reform (News On 6)

• Will Richard Glossip go to another trial? Oklahoma AG says 'everything is on the table' (Fox 25)

• Glossip ruling overturned; advocates say this exposes flaws in Oklahoma's legal system (KTUL)

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2️⃣ Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller is running for state superintendent. Will Ryan Walters be his opponent?

Rob Miller, the superintendent of Bixby Public Schools, has announced his candidacy for Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Miller's campaign focuses on depoliticizing education and prioritizing student and teacher needs. Key aspects of his platform include:

• Increasing teacher pay to retain talent in Oklahoma

• Empowering local school districts to make more decisions

• Enhancing school safety and focusing on learning

It's unclear if current Superintendent Ryan Walters will seek re-election, as his office has not made a decision public yet. Miller and Walters have a contentious history. Miller is currently suing Walters for defamation over comments made in 2023.

Miller will be running as a Republican.

The election is scheduled for 2026, leaving time for additional candidates to emerge. The State Superintendent's role significantly influences Oklahoma's education policies and priorities.

See Also 👀

• Bixby superintendent Rob Miller to run for state superintendent (KOSU)

• “I’m not running against anyone. I’m running for Oklahoma’s families and kids,” Miller says. (News On 6)

• Miller ‘dropped bars’ in making candidacy announcement (Oklahoma Business Voice)

• ICYMI: Miller sued Ryan Walters for defamation last August. (KTUL)

• Superintendent suing Walters runs for his post (Public Radio Tulsa)

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3️⃣ Senators want to know if DOGE’s FAA layoffs will make the skies less safe

By Em Luetkemeyer and Torrence Banks, Oklahoma Watch
➡️ Click here to read the full story.

Everyone wants answers on whether it’s safe to fly — including senators.

The public is on edge over recent high-profile accidents, including the crash between a helicopter and a passenger flight near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The cause of the deadly crash is still unknown, but lawmakers say it’s made clear that this is an area where safety needs to tighten up.

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Oklahoma News Headlines 📰

• Fired Oklahoma IRS worker warns agency cuts will leave tax cases unaddressed, lead to lost revenue, increase state tax burden (KFOR)

• Beyond Apology Commission: A Shift from Debate To Action (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• In Depth: Oklahoma's Public Safety Commissioner speaks about the state's plans for deporting undocumented immigrants (Fox 23)

• Bill requiring Oklahoma schools to spend 60% of budgets on instruction advances (KOSU)

• As DA tenure ends, Greg Mashburn hired to lead OSBI (NonDoc)

• The end of daylight saving time in Oklahoma? Bill aims to adopt standard time year-round (The Oklahoman, paywall)

• Former Tishomingo mayor sworn in as Chief Justice of Oklahoma Supreme Court (KXII)

• Council candidate ruled ineligible following residency complaint (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Oscar longshots offer powerful, vitally important voices (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Mother pleads guilty to allowing 3-year-old’s death (Lawton Constitution, paywall)

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Oil & Gas Headlines 🛢️

Crude Oil Prices Hit Two-Month Low, Oklahoma Energy Stocks Suffer
Crude oil prices dropped nearly 2% to a two-month low on Tuesday, with West Texas Intermediate falling to $68.93 a barrel and Brent crude finishing at $73.02 a barrel. This decline impacted Oklahoma energy stocks, with companies like Devon Energy and Stardust Power experiencing 4% drops, while several others saw 3% declines. (OK Energy Today)

House Bill 2747 Advances to Promote Natural Gas and Protect Ratepayers
HB 2747, authored by House Appropriations and Budget Chairman Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton), passed the House Utilities Committee. The bill aims to modernize state regulations to increase natural gas generation, enhance existing infrastructure, and require state oversight for high-voltage transmission lines. It's designed to create a level playing field for natural gas to compete against federally subsidized renewables. (Southwest Ledger)

Oklahoma Corporation Commission Seeks New Oil & Gas Conservation Division Director
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has initiated a search for a new director of its Oil & Gas Conservation Division. The previous director, Robyn Strickland, who served for six years, is transitioning to lead the Commission's Petroleum Storage Tank Division. (OK Energy Today)

U.S. Crude Production Inches Up, Oklahoma Sees Increase in Active Rigs
U.S. crude production increased slightly to 13,497,000 barrels per day, up 3,000 barrels a day from the previous week. Oklahoma saw an increase of five active rigs, contributing to the nationwide total of 592 active rigs. (Hays Post)

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Sports Headlines 🏀⚾

Oklahoma State upsets No. 9 Iowa State Cyclones
Abou Ousmane scored 25 points, and the Cowboys never trailed in a 74-68 win over Iowa State on Tuesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.

Here are the final, celebratory moments:

And here’s the partying in the locker room! Oklahoma State improved to 14-14 on the season, and the Cyclones fell to 21-7.

Next up for the Pokes is a Saturday night affair in Waco, Texas, against 16-12 Baylor. That game will be available on ESPN+.

OU Baseball Run-Rules Texas Southern: No. 16 Oklahoma baseball team dominated Texas Southern, winning 15-4 in seven innings in their midweek opener. (SoonerSports)

OU's Raegan Beers Earns National Recognition: Oklahoma center Raegan Beers was named the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week after becoming the first Sooner since Courtney Paris in 2007 to have back-to-back 30-point games. (SportsWriters.net)

Men's Basketball Hosts No. 17 Kentucky: The Oklahoma Sooners (17-10, 4-10 SEC) are set to welcome No. 17 Kentucky (18-9, 7-7) to Norman for the first time ever. The game is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT at Lloyd Noble Center. (SoonerSports)

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