Saturday, July 25, 2026 • Sunny, hot. Upper 90s to near 100. ☀️

We received 163 votes on the Friday poll, “When someone appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis, what should happen first?”

• 92 said, “They should be taken to a hospital or crisis center.”
• 8 said, “They should be taken to jail if they broke the law.”
• 57 said, “It depends on the circumstances.”
• 6 said, “Not sure.”

New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)

By Garrett Yalch, The Frontier
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Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said Friday the city will immediately close its municipal jail. 

The announcement comes one day after The Frontier published a story and video showing the final hours of Justin Benner, who died at the jail in September 2025 after detention officers placed him in a full-body restraint device and left him alone in a cell. 

“Over the last 24 hours, I know many Tulsans have had questions about our municipal lockup and the way our detention system operates,” Nichols said in a statement. “Those are important questions, and regardless of any one circumstance, it is my responsibility to ensure our public safety system meets the high standards our community expects.”

Nichols said he has directed the Tulsa Police Department to immediately begin the process of closing the city jail and transitioning detainees to Tulsa County’s David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center. The city will work to transfer most detainees by July 31. 

Nichols has instructed Tulsa Public Safety Commissioner Laurel Roberts to evaluate the city’s policies and procedures for detention and transport of arrestees to “ensure they continue to provide clear guidance, reinforce accountability, and reflect the professionalism that Tulsans expect from their public safety system.”

The mayor also announced he will seek to expedite all outstanding open records requests related to the jail. 

The city has previously refused to release records to The Frontier related to deaths at the facility. 

“I remain committed to making Tulsa the safest big city in the country, and that starts by ensuring our public safety system meets the high standards that Tulsans deserve,” Nichols said. 

👉 Click here to read the full story

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