Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 • Cooler, windy, mid-50s. 💨

Oklahoma Memo is reader-supported. You can buy me a coffee, or pitch in monthly on Patreon and Substack.

In today’s Memo:

By Joe Tomlinson, Tulsa Flyer
Click here to support their newsroom.

After controversy around a proposed mosque in Broken Arrow reached a fever pitch last week, the city council voted 4-1 Monday night to deny a zoning request and special use permit that would allow an Islamic organization to expand in Broken Arrow.

The Islamic Society of Tulsa has congregated for nearly 50 years and has owned the land in question — 15 acres along South Olive Avenue just south of the Creek Turnpike — since 2014.

The special meeting at Northeastern State University’s Broken Arrow campus lasted more than three hours with about 45 people speaking during public comment. More than half were opposed to the project.

Many raised concerns about the property’s stormwater detention, increasing traffic and the applicants’ proposal to use a septic tank due to lack of sewer access. Those concerns differed from online furor that largely focused on opposition to Islam being practiced in Broken Arrow. 

After IST representatives spent about 10 minutes answering questions from the public and councilors, Ward 2 Councilor Lisa Ford said she still holds the same concerns about the project that she did before the meeting.

“I think the comprehensive plan is very clear on what we want in that area, and the traffic situation clearly is not going to get any better,” Ford said.

Ward 4 Councilor Justin Green, the only Black member, said his vote against the project is not “based on racism” or Islamophobia but because he believes the project is incompatible with the land.

Click here for the full story.

Now booking 2026 sponsors
Oklahoma Memo offers one Primary Sponsor per month — your logo, link, and message featured daily to a highly engaged Oklahoma audience.

Additional ad options available.
📩 [email protected]

Want a newsletter like this for your business?
I build high-open-rate newsletters for Oklahoma organizations.
Monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly.
📩 [email protected]

By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
Click here to support their newsroom.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A new law that could have injected politics into the spending of hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for health improvement initiatives is unconstitutional, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

In an 8-1 decision, the state’s highest court struck down House Bill 2783. The measure, which became law in 2025 without Gov. Kevin Stitt’s signature, would have let Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust board members be removed at will and sought to limit them to a seven-year term.

The seven board members are appointed by the governor, treasurer, state superintendent, attorney general, state auditor, the House speaker and Senate president pro tem, and serve staggered seven-year terms. 

The Oklahoma Supreme Court found the new law affects TSET’s independence by making tenures on the board dependent on the goodwill of the appointing authority.

“There is no law authorizing this statutory change to the constitutional language,” said the order written by Vice-Chief Justice Dana Kuehn.

Click here for the full story.

By Brianna Bailey, The Frontier; Sierra Pfeifer, KOSU
Click here to support The Frontier
Click here to support KOSU

Free after more than four decades in prison, former death row inmate Wayne Thompson returned to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board to ask for a reduced sentence for his older brother, Tony Mann. 

Mann is serving life without parole for his role in the 1983 murder of Charles Keene. 

“I want y’all to know that that man is sitting in prison for something I did,” Thompson told the board. “I’ll trade places with him.” 

The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend commuting Tony Mann’s sentence to life. If Gov. Kevin Stitt approves the recommendation, Mann would immediately be eligible for parole.

Click here for the full story.

Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.

Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.

A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• ‘It’s hate coming from fear’: Muslim residents disappointed as Broken Arrow rejects plan for new mosque (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Tulsa churches ‘saddened’ by Broken Arrow City Council vote to deny Islamic mosque (Tulsa Flyer)

• ‘Dangerous grounds’: Edmond City Council denies Gardenia Apartments, hearing set in Walmart case (NonDoc)

• Oklahoma Capitol vandalized overnight with ‘violent and vulgar rhetoric’ (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma Gov. Stitt’s lawsuit against ClassWallet for allegedly mismanaging COVID funds dismissed (KGOU)

• Choctaw Nation leaders reject possibility of ICE detention facility in Durant (KOSU)

• Proposed Sand Springs data center raises water and sovereignty concerns (Osage News)

• Oklahoma City approves builder for $121 million multipurpose stadium (KOCO)

• Norman considers $8 million bond for new homeless shelter (KOCO)

• Jewish charter school could land Oklahoma in another legal battle, state official says (Oklahoma Voice)

• TPS enrollment is open for 2026-27 school year. Here’s what you need to know. (Tulsa Flyer)

• New EPIC Superintendent faces audit fallout, promises transparency and change (News 9)

• After former Caddo County teacher's grooming plea, law firm demands $25 million from school district (The Lawton Constitution)

• This group of Tulsans envisions a city more prepared for extreme weather, natural disasters (KGOU)

• Program that brought mental health professionals to rural Oklahoma schools looking for new funding (KGOU)

• Scott Taylor whistleblower recounts experience of trial, verdict (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Talk of Greenwood: Historic golfer, ‘Women to Know’ and Miss Juneteenth (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• Uptown 23rd construction underway, drawing concern, optimism from businesses (The Oklahoman)

• Decades-old family keepsakes returned after 30-year mystery: “It’s a blessing” (News On 6)

The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ mission is simple: Reignite the daily local news habit by connecting Oklahomans and those who love Oklahoma to quality sources of news and vetted information.

✅ Save you time.
✅ Make you smarter.
✅ Strengthen your community.

‘Oklahoma Memo’ is on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. There is also a YouTube channel — and it’s all growing day by day.

Message me anytime at [email protected].