Walters presses districts on DEI, tariffs to impact state agriculture — and Thunder go up 2-0

Thunder Up, Oklahoma! It is April 23, and here are a few quickies:

• Elon Musk tells shareholders his time in the White House is nearing an end after news that Tesla’s quarterly profits were off by 71%.

• Tulsa’s newest Asian fusion restaurant opens today. It’s called Daigoro, and it’s located in the 1900 block of South Riverside Drive.

• One more sleep until Norman Music Festival ‘25. See the lineup here!

• Stocks rise on news that President Trump has no plans to fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Click for live updates.

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Weather Update 🌧️

Rain chances become the norm for the next several days. Pack an umbrella, or carry a rain coat.

🌡️ Wednesday's high in OKC 78°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 80°

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Oklahoma to Withhold Federal Funds from School Districts That Don’t Sign Title VI Assurance

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma State Department of Education will begin withholding federal funds from public school districts that fail to sign a federal Title VI assurance by April 25, State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced Tuesday.

The assurance, mandated by the U.S. Department of Education, requires school districts to certify that they will not discriminate based on race and prohibits the use of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives deemed discriminatory under federal guidelines.

Walters, who signed the assurance on April 11 and shared the signing on social media, said the measure aligns with federal expectations under the Trump administration and is intended to promote “merit-based education.”

Districts that do not comply with the requirement will have federal reimbursement payments withheld beginning April 25, according to the department.

The Title VI assurance falls under federal civil rights law and is a condition for receiving certain education funds. Walters said the requirement is intended to prevent schools from using DEI frameworks that favor one group over another.

It was not immediately clear how many districts had yet to sign the assurance or how much funding could be at stake.

How will tariffs impact Oklahoma's agriculture industry?

By Anna Pope, KOSU
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As farmers and ranchers have seen high input prices and lower commodity prices, producers also have a wary eye on tariffs. Economists say there is a lot of uncertainty, but people will feel the impact of the trade move.

The United States has imposed a blanket 10% tariff on nearly all imports and a 145% tariff on certain imports from China. In response, China has a 135% tariff on certain U.S. imports.

Oklahoma imports and exports goods in the agriculture industry, and economists say the tariffs’ impact varies depending on the commodity and where it’s going.

In 2024, Oklahoma shipped almost $2.4 billion in agricultural exports, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The state’s top exports were cattle and wheat, which are also Oklahoma's top commodities.

Click here to finish the story.

Bridge Over Fort Gibson Dam Closed Indefinitely After Structural Issue Found

WAGONER COUNTY, Okla. — The State Highway 251A bridge over the Fort Gibson Dam has been closed indefinitely due to a critical structural issue, state officials announced Monday.

The bridge, which connects Wagoner and Cherokee counties, was shut down following an advisory from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers citing a serious safety concern.

No timeline has been given for repairs or reopening. Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes and use caution in the area.

Transportation officials said updates will be provided as assessments and repairs progress.

From News On 6 👀: ‘CRITICAL FINDING:’ Fort Gibson Dam bridge closed until further notice due to increased degradation

Also from News On 6 👀: Engineer explains why Fort Gibson Dam Bridge is closed indefinitely: 'Public safety is top priority'

Oklahoma Treasurer’s Office Faces Scrutiny Over Use of Signal in Anti-ESG Coordination

By Paul Monies, Oklahoma Watch
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The chief of staff for Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ used messaging app Signal to communicate and coordinate policy with groups opposed to environmental, social and governance standards, according to an open records lawsuit. 

In a deposition taken in February, Chief of Staff Jordan Harvey said she used the app in late 2022 and early 2023. At the time, the newly elected treasurer was figuring out how to implement the Oklahoma Energy Discrimination Elimination Act. The law directs the treasurer to create a list of prohibited financial firms for state or local vendors who had corporate policies perceived to be hostile to fossil fuels. 

Harvey said she has Signal installed on a personal cell phone. She received briefing documents on Signal from organizations opposed to ESG efforts that she then forwarded to personal and work email addresses. That was before she was issued a state cell phone, Harvey said in the deposition. Selected portions of the deposition were filed as an exhibit in the lawsuit in March. 

Signal allows any party in a conversation to set the messages to self-delete after a certain time period. The messaging app has been central to revelations in the past month that high-level members of the Trump administration used the app to plan and coordinate war efforts, with a reporter included in the chat. 

Click here to finish the story.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A concise summary of the latest news from across the state:

• Gov. Stitt approves parole for an Oklahoma man locked up as a teenager for murder (The Frontier)

• Oklahoma reports new confirmed measles case, potential exposure sites in latest update (KGOU StateImpact Oklahoma)

• Indian boarding school preservation efforts halted after Trump administration cuts funding (KOSU)

• 3 arrested after drug-soaked documents sent to jail (KFOR)

• Police find man fatally shot outside east OKC hotel (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Tulsa Public Schools board votes to accept independent audit findings (Tulsa World)

• Bills aim to tackle teacher shortage, added options for maternity leave for teachers (KFOR)

• TPS adjunct coach arrested for assault after incident ends track meet (2 News Oklahoma)

• 'Just zero responsibility:' Tulsa Sonic manager arrested, accused of giving marijuana edible to teen employee (News On 6)

• Bodies found swept away in Wagoner Co. floodwater identified (2 News Oklahoma)

• Body found at Boomer Lake in Stillwater is identified (The O’Colly)

• OSDE to withhold funds from school districts failing to sign Title VI assurance (Fox 23)

• Audit requested for OKDHS amid lawmakers’ concerns about agency’s financial accountability (KTUL)

• Red Earth Group protests outside Rep. Tom Cole’s office to advocate for environmental regulations (OU Daily)

Community Notes & Events 🏡

Tulsa Press Club to Host Randy Krehbiel for Talk on New Book About Race Massacre Centennial

TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Press Club, in partnership with the Tulsa World and Fulton Street Books & Coffee, will host a conversation on April 29 (Tuesday) with journalist and author Randy Krehbiel about his new book, Tulsa, 2021: A Massacre’s Centennial and a Nation’s Reckoning.

The book is a follow-up to Krehbiel’s earlier work, Tulsa, 1921: Reporting a Massacre, and examines the legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre and the national response during its 100th anniversary.

The event is free and open to the public. More details here.

SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

NBA Playoffs Game 2: Oklahoma City 118, Memphis 99

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder roll to 2-0 lead vs Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Playoffs (Oklahoman)

• OKC Thunder answers every Memphis Grizzlies run to go up 2-0 in NBA Playoffs | 5 takeaways (Oklahoman)

• Social Media Reacts to OKC Thunder Beating Grizzlies in Game 2 (Sports Illustrated)

More headlines:

• Jason Parker resigns as Muskogee athletic director (Tulsa World)

• OU men's basketball head coach Porter Moser announces new transfer signees (OU Daily)

• FINAL SCORE: Oral Roberts 5, Oklahoma 3 (baseball)

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