Good morning, Oklahoma!

Have a good weekend. Good golf, good tennis, or whatever makes you happy!

Email me at [email protected] if you know who used to say that. 😊

Weather Update ☀️

See you at the car wash! It’s a sunny and beautiful Friday ahead.

Nothing wrong with the weekend either, although there is a slight risk for severe weather Saturday night in northeast Oklahoma.

🌡️ Friday's high in OKC 69°
🌡️ Friday’s high in Tulsa 69°

1️⃣ Oklahoma State Department of Health launches measles update page following 4 reported probable cases

By Jillian Taylor, StateImpact Oklahoma
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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) launched a central location for measles updates on its website, following the identification of four probable measles cases in the state.

Case summary updates will occur on Tuesdays at noon. They will include total cases, both probable and confirmed, hospitalizations, deaths and the vaccination status of cases.

A probable measles case shows symptoms consistent with the national standard surveillance definition and lacks a confirmatory test result or a link to a laboratory-confirmed case. A confirmed case shows symptoms consistent with the national standard surveillance definition and has a confirmatory test result or a link to a laboratory-confirmed case.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

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2️⃣ This Oklahoma church is hosting some of the biggest names in Republican politics

By Em Luetkemeyer, Oklahoma Watch
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A nondenominational church in Oklahoma has become a political hot spot for President Donald Trump’s inner circle.

FBI director Kash Patel promoted his book in the church. Lara Trump phoned Trump on stage. The lawyer Alina Habba talked about Trump’s New York trial. And this month, Eric Trump met there with some of Tulsa’s top CEOs.

The 1,700-member Sheridan Church, which has campuses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, is led by the pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, an unsuccessful 2022 Senate candidate who has backed Trump since 2015. Lahmeyer, who also founded Pastors for Trump, a coalition to engage the evangelical Christian voter base during Trump’s 2024 campaign, has turned all of that early support for the president into a new role in the White House. He said he’s now part of the White House Faith Office and was in the Oval Office when Trump signed the executive order creating it on Feb. 7.

Click to read the rest of the story.

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3️⃣ State, tribal leaders discuss sports betting, inter-governmental relations

By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
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CATOOSA — The head of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association said Thursday that tribes shouldn’t rush into a “bad deal” with the state when it comes to sports betting.

His remarks came after a panel on the future of sports betting in Oklahoma at a meeting of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma in Catoosa. 

Balancing tribal priorities and relationships with state leaders was another major topic of conversation for tribal leaders.  

With 31 of Oklahoma’s tribal nations represented at the meeting, speakers at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa included Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. of the Cherokee Nation, Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe, and Margo Gray, executive director of UINO. 

Click to read the rest of the story.

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Oklahoma News Headlines 📰

• Is Trump's order to dismantle the US Dept. of Education the right move? Share your thoughts (The Oklahoman)

• Wendell Grissom is first Oklahoman executed in 2025 (KOSU)

• Oklahoma sees reprieve from fire weather Thursday before it picks back up Friday (KOSU) 

• Spring arrives in Oklahoma with a warm and dry outlook (StateImpact Oklahoma)

• Oklahoma bill to allow teachers to use sick leave with maternity leave (KOCO)

• OKC City Council could streamline process for ADUs (NonDoc)

• Shareholder wants to buy Lee Enterprises, company that owns the Tulsa World (Tulsa World)

• 2 arrested in alleged fake green card, Social Security card operation (Tulsa World)

• 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away:' Historic Kiowa church to be rebuilt after Oklahoma wildfire (KOSU)

• Osage Agency Superintendent Adam Trumbly returns to work (Osage News)

• Lighthorse officers involved in shooting of a homicide suspect (Mvskoke Media)

• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to bring final tour to Cain's Ballroom (Tulsa World)

• No charges to be filed from OSBI probe into former Pawhuska police chief (2 News Oklahoma)

• Pawnee County couple charged with murder after 1-year-old found dead in home (Fox 23)

• Wildfire recovery event offers multi-agency resources across Oklahoma from March 21-23 (KTUL)

• ElevateHER Conference to Empower and Celebrate Black Women in Tulsa (Black Wall Street Times)

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SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

Sooners Take on UConn in NCAA First Round on Friday Night in Raleigh

Click to read the story. (SoonerSports)

NORMAN — Making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2021, the No. 9 seed Oklahoma men's basketball team (20-13, 6-12 SEC) meets No. 8 seed and two-time defending champion Connecticut (23-10, 14-6 Big East) in a first-round West Region game on Friday at approximately 8:25 p.m. CT inside 19,500-seat Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.
 
Friday's contest will be televised by TNT with Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter) announcing. It will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland (play-by-play) and Kevin Henry (analyst) on the call.
 
The OU-UConn winner will play No. 1 seed Florida or No. 16 seed Norfolk State on Sunday (time TBA).

Click to read the rest of the story.

More Sports Coverage 👀

• How to watch the NCAA March Madness 2025 tournament live (News On 6)

• No. 10 OU hosts Mississippi State for SEC home-opening series (SoonerSports)

• Cowgirls set for March Madness in Connecticut (OKState)

• Cowboy wrestling in second with best opening session since 2005 (OKState)

• 3 Takeaways: OSU in second place after first session at nationals (The O’Colly)

• From Baranczyk's fanatic family to Vann's proud father, OU's support flows strong in stands (Tulsa World)

• OU men's basketball All-Time Starting 5: Who is the head coach and starting backcourt? (Tulsa World)

• 'Maximizing the opportunities': Jaren Kanak, Jim Nagy, others connect with fans through social media (OU Daily)

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🗣️ Story Tips, Ideas, Feedback

My inbox is always open. If you have a link I should add to the newsletter, a story that isn’t getting enough attention, a press release, a press event you’d like to invite me to—or you just want to offer some good old-fashioned feedback, I’m available to you.

My mission is to amplify quality journalism, rekindling the daily news habit!

Best way to reach me is via email at [email protected].