What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Thursday, June 19, and this morning’s edition of Oklahoma Memo comes to you from Bad Hofgastein, Austria. We have a full slate of shows today from Alpenarena with the concert band, the jazz band and the choir performing at 5:00 p.m. local time.

While we will be celebrating Juneteenth in Oklahoma on Thursday, in Austria, they celebrate a religious holiday called Corpus Christi Day. Most businesses here will be closed. I’m aware of a parade through Bad Hofgastein in the morning — and I will be there to take photos and video.

Today’s newsletter will be focused on Juneteenth events and information from Oklahoma. Since you’re there and I’m here — if you had any photos or video from those events and wanted to send them to me at [email protected], I’d love to include one or two in Friday’s edition!

But for more photos from the European trip, follow me @ryanweltondigital on Instagram or @ryanisthatdude on TikTok or YouTube. There are only two more days across the pond, and unless something cataclysmic happens, it appears I will have gotten a newsletter out each day of the trip. Das ist gut.

Oh, and the Oklahoma City Thunder could be NBA Champions by the time you get the Friday edition. Manifest positivity, and make a wish that the Thunder get this done in Indianapolis on Thursday night.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. on ABC.

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Our email is [email protected]. Message us anytime. I’m not checking messages this week but will as soon as we get back from Europe.

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Weather Update ☀️

For the first time in a while, there isn’t any rain in the near-term forecast.

🌡️ Thursday's high in OKC 92°
🌡️ Thursday’s high in Tulsa 91°

What to know about Juneteenth celebrations in Oklahoma

From the Oklahoma Historical Society:
This celebration of emancipation from slavery began because Gen. Gordon Granger of the U.S. Army proclaimed the end of bondage in Texas on June 19, 1865, at Galveston. African American folklore developed alternate explanations for the importance of that date. One story described a Black former Union soldier who brought word of freedom by mule to the trans-Mississippi South and announced the news in Oklahoma on June 19, 1865. News of emancipation came to the enslaved people of the Indian nations, in the territory that became Oklahoma, at different times during the summer of 1865. It was enforced through the Reconstruction Treaties of 1866.

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday in the United States, and it is a reason for all Americans and Oklahomans to celebrate. So, today’s edition of the ‘Oklahoma Memo’ will bring together all the stories and information I can find about today’s celebrations in one place.

• Juneteenth celebrations happening around Oklahoma (Fox 25)

• Juneteenth in Oklahoma: Events from around the state (News On 6)

• Juneteenth 2025: Will mail run? Are banks open? What you need to know in Oklahoma (The Oklahoman)

• Juneteenth 2025: Here are 5 festivals and community events to visit in Oklahoma (The Oklahoman)

• Juneteenth 2025: What to know, including what’s open (KFOR)

• Juneteenth on the East returns to Oklahoma City with expanded celebrations (KOCO)

• In Oklahoma, Juneteenth highlights tribal slavery descendants’ fight for recognition and citizenship (AP)

• June concerts see locals, tours, Juneteenth celebrations (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Cherokee Nation to host “A Taste of Freedmen History” in Muskogee (Black Wall Street Times)

• Tulsa City Hall and several other city facilities to be closed for Juneteenth (Fox 23)

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Attorney: Large-scale immigration raids not happening in Oklahoma, but ICE is detaining more people (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Records: Man who plotted ISIS-style attack is son of Blanchard Police official, questions raised about parents’ response to confession (KFOR)

• April Wilkens to stay incarcerated until Survivors Act hearing (2 News Oklahoma)

• Oklahoma Supreme Court says HB 1775 ban does not apply to university courses (KOSU)

• Oklahoma City inks deal to keep Thunder through 2053, nails down new arena policies (KGOU)

• Eldercare nightmare: A tragic family story raises the specter of widespread guardianship fraud (Oklahoma Watch)

• Video shows Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission leaders at illegal cockfights (NonDoc)

• Former University of Tulsa athletic director to serve as school's interim president; search to replace Carson continues (Tulsa World)

• Keystone Lake recreation areas closed this week by Army Corps of Engineers (Tulsa World)

• New Tulsa Race Massacre victim identified by forensic experts in ongoing Oaklawn Cemetery research efforts (News On 6)

• Tulsa works to fix discrimination complaint issues on website (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Cherokee Nation proposes revamp of aging Claremore Indian Health hospital (KOSU)

• Oklahoma County judge continues to weigh Richard Glossip's request for bond (KOSU)

• Epic Charter School board approves $30 million credit lifeline, slimmer budget (KGOU)

• Rep. Tammy Townley agrees to pay $5,000 for campaign finance violations (NonDoc)

• A love letter to Route 66: Jim Ross and Shellee Graham’s new book (Luther Register News)

🗣️ 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.

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