Sponsored by
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • Hot and 98 (again). ☀️
Poll results:
We received 303 votes on the Tuesday poll, “Should the proposed $4 billion Inola aluminum smelter be allowed to move forward?”
26 said, “Its economic and national-security benefits outweigh the concerns.”
206 said, “No, environmental and community concerns must come first.”
52 said, “Only after the permitting process is complete”
19 said, “Unsure / need more information”
New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)
As abundant ticks spread alpha-gal syndrome, Oklahomans are being forced to adapt
A lone star tick crawls inside a small plastic cup in a classroom at Oklahoma State University. The tick’s saliva contains sugar molecules that can cause alpha-gal syndrome. (Sarah Liese, KOSU)
By Sierra Pfeifer, KOSU
👉 Click to support this newsroom
Before he helps a customer choose a baked good from behind the counter at his bakery and café in Edmond, Dale Trujillo asks whether they have any allergies.
Recently, more and more people have been saying that they have alpha-gal syndrome.
Trujillo knows exactly what they are talking about. His wife, Rebecca Schuckman, was diagnosed with the same tick-borne condition in late 2024. She can’t eat beef, dairy or other mammalian products without having a severe allergic reaction.
For Trujillo, who opened No Cow Bakery & Café last year to create an allergy-friendly restaurant, accommodating customers with alpha-gal hasn’t been difficult. The bacon that goes in his signature breakfast burritos, for example, is prepared and cooked separately from other ingredients, with no chance of cross-contamination.
“That's what we're building the business on,” he said. “You can walk in here and not worry.”
Still, he knows how challenging it can be to see your loved one’s dining options shrink, especially when alpha-gal syndrome is added to an existing list of allergies. The couple used to dine out together, but now that Schuckman has been diagnosed with alpha-gal, she prefers to eat at home.
“It was a mental thing for her,” Trujillo said. “We found a couple of restaurants that she could go to. That's taken away from her now completely.”
Schuckman is one of many Oklahomans living with alpha-gal syndrome — a condition that existed relatively under the radar for years. Now, restaurant owners like Trujillo, doctors, researchers and lawmakers are taking notice and trying to adapt.
🎙️ Oklahoma Memo Podcast 🎙️
OKLAHOMA MEMO
One Tick Bite Could Make You Allergic to Red Meat, with KOSU's Sierra Pfeifer
Smarter CRM. Less Busywork.
Disconnected data and tools make it harder to understand your customers. HubSpot's Agentic Customer Platform brings your data, teams, and tech stack together with AI built in to help your business work faster and create more personalized customer experiences.
Why HubSpot and what's new
Use AI powered tools to take action faster
Unify your data, teams, and tech stack in one place
Create one shared view of customer data
Connect teams around the same customer context
Bring your business tools into one place
Connect more of your business in one place and give every team a smarter way to work. Get set up quickly and start checking off your hardest tasks.
The Oklahoma Rundown 📰
Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.
Here’s what’s happening in Oklahoma today:
Judge considers allowing cameras in State Farm storm damage trial (News 9)
'Harms our producers': Gov. Stitt breaks with Trump over plan to sell imported beef at discount rate (KOCO)
Coweta police review use of force after 69-year-old injured following traffic stop (News On 6)
Interchanges removed from controversial Oklahoma turnpike design amid local opposition (Oklahoma Voice)
Kunzweiler demands stronger safeguards around marijuana industry after Sand Springs explosion (KJRH)
Historic Gold Dome auction attracts surprise winning bidder (The Oklahoman)*
Oklahoma’s teacher certification pass rates range from 100% to 15%. The data has problems too. (Oklahoma Watch)
‘Is this really the right location?’: Opposition grows to Jesus House recovery center near Bishop McGuinness (News 9)
‘It will make an impact’: Amid literacy push, teachers receive special summer training (NonDoc)
Oklahoma City leaders push transit, commuter rail as global spotlight nears (The Oklahoman)*
More out-of-state toll roads added to Oklahoma’s PikePass system (Oklahoma Voice)
City says stop-work order fell through cracks before massive El Reno water leak at Bitcoin facility (KOCO)
$29.25 million in legal judgments could impact Muskogee property taxes (KJRH)
Muscogee Nation National Council approves minimum wage increase (Tulsa World)*
Police investigation leads to new allegations involving child sexual abuse; family member accused of cover-up (Guthrie News Page)
Warrant issued for educator after alleged relationship with student (KFOR)
OSBI releases sketch of man wanted in violent sexual assault in Grove (KJRH)
Deferred sentence issued in fake nursing credentials case (Kay News Cow)
Research indicates higher heat-related death tolls than reported (KOSU)
New pollinator garden coming to Norman City Hall (KGOU)
Want to help Oklahoma weather the impact of extreme heat? Try growing more native plants. (Tulsa Flyer)
Logan County Captain Tom Kutay retires after more than 28 years of service (Guthrie News Page)
Longtime Oklahoma high school sports announcer Tom Nelson dies after battle with cancer (The Oklahoman)*
Wednesday Poll
Would you pay more for beef raised in Oklahoma rather than buy cheaper imported beef?
How to support Oklahoma Memo
✅ Want to partner with Oklahoma Memo? Click here.
✅ Message me anytime at [email protected].
✅ News tips and reader comments: [email protected]
✅ NEW! Follow Oklahoma Memo on LinkedIn
Your support of this venture is greatly appreciated.