Good morning, Oklahoma! And ‘Boomer Sooner’ to everybody who stayed up to watch the OU men beat Georgia in the SEC tourney Wednesday night. Sooners get a rematch with Kentucky at 8:30 p.m. CDT. You can watch it on SECN. 🏀

Some news to keep an eye on Thursday:

🚨🚨 A really important story published by NonDoc late Wednesday afternoon details a quiet change made to Oklahoma’s social studies standards by the state Department of Education and State Superintendent Ryan Walters. The change would require teachers to push claims of voter fraud in the national 2020 election that have been widely and resoundingly debunked.

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Here is the Oklahoma journalism I’ve hand-picked (or put together) for you this Thursday:

• Oklahoma’s fire danger extreme Thursday, even more extreme Friday

• USDA cancels 2 local food programs for schools, food banks and tribal nations in Oklahoma (KOSU)

• Short state funding, Oklahoma is losing child care providers (The Frontier)

• Fears scores 29, leading Oklahoma past Georgia 81-75 in SEC Tournament

Weather Update ☀️

Chamber of Commerce day. Full stop. Get outside.

Fire danger is ramping up, and Friday will be incredibly windy!

🌡️ Thursday high in OKC 78°
🌡️ Thursday high in Tulsa 78°

If you have weather photos you’d like to share with ‘Oklahoma Memo,’ email them to [email protected]!

Here’s mine, from late Wednesday afternoon, a shot outside of Gaylord Hall on the campus of OU in Norman. In the distance, you could hear the Sooners football team practicing.

1️⃣ Oklahoma’s fire danger extreme Thursday, even more extreme Friday

Oklahoma is under significant wildfire danger heading into the end of the week, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing a Red Flag Warning for parts of northwest Oklahoma on Thursday and a Fire Weather Watch for Friday, covering all of western, central, and southeast Oklahoma, as well as western North Texas. Thursday's conditions will see south winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, temperatures reaching 82°F, and relative humidity dropping as low as 14%. The NWS has rated Thursday’s fire environment at 6 out of 10, with fuels at the 70th-89th percentile (4 out of 5) and near-critical weather conditions at 2 out of 5.

Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly, and outdoor burning is strongly discouraged.

Friday’s conditions are expected to be even more extreme, with southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 65 mph, relative humidity as low as 17%, and temperatures up to 71°F. The NWS has classified Friday’s fire weather as critical (3 out of 5), with fuels remaining in the 70th-89th percentile (4 out of 5) and an overall fire environment rated at 7 out of 10. With these dangerous conditions, fires could start and spread at alarming speeds, making outdoor burning highly hazardous. Residents are urged to stay alert and follow any local burn bans or advisories.

To reduce the risk of starting a wildfire, Oklahomans should follow these safety measures:

1. Do not burn outdoors – Avoid burning debris, trash, or brush, as fires can quickly become uncontrollable.

2. Be mindful of vehicles and equipment – Do not park on dry grass, and ensure chains on trailers do not drag and cause sparks.

3. Properly dispose of cigarettes – Never toss cigarette butts on the ground or out of car windows.

4. Avoid fireworks and open flames – Even small sparks can ignite dry vegetation in these conditions.

5. Secure outdoor objects – High winds can carry loose items into power lines or create additional fire hazards.

6. Stay updated on fire weather alerts – Monitor NWS warnings and follow local fire restrictions.

With critical fire weather conditions expected through Friday, taking precautions now can help prevent wildfires and protect lives and property.

More Coverage 👀

• Oklahoma fire danger: How rural fire departments prepare for days of extreme danger (News 9)

• Oklahoma lawmakers push to eradicate invasive red cedar trees amid fire danger (KFOR)

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2️⃣ USDA cancels 2 local food programs for schools, food banks and tribal nations in Oklahoma

By Anna Pope, KOSU
Click here to read the story.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has canceled two programs providing tribal governments, states, schools and food banks money to buy local food from producers.

A list from the department shows tribal nations in Oklahoma and the state itself with funding awards through the local food purchase cooperative agreement programs.

The USDA has canceled the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program.

(Click the link above for reactions not only from tribes but also from the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.)

3️⃣ Short state funding, Oklahoma is losing child care providers

By Kayla Branch, The Frontier
Click here to read the story.

For years, Oklahoma has only minimally contributed to a state program to help low-income families access child care. Advocates say without additional state funding, the industry won’t be able to meet growing demand.

It’s been a challenge for Vicki Duggan to recruit new staff for the daycare center she manages in Midwest City. 

Over the last few years, Kinder Castle was able to offer a $1,000 signing bonus and free child care to staff thanks to federal pandemic funding. Staff were able to get a few additional paid days off. That made it a bit easier to recruit, Duggan said. 

But that extra money ran out last year. The margins are back to being razor-thin, even though Kinder Castle is a five-star facility that gets the highest level of reimbursements from the state for accepting children who get subsidized care. Starting pay at Kinder Castle is $11 an hour for someone with no experience or degree. The facility does offer paid time off, but not until year two. Often, hiring comes down to money.

(Click the link to find out what the Greater Oklahoma City chamber says this crisis costs Oklahoma’s economy.)

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Oklahoma News Headlines 📰

• Decades-old Oklahoma conservation organization programs are put on hold with federal funding freeze (StateImpact Oklahoma)

• Regulators to consider PSO request for $730 million gas plant (OK Energy Today)

• Google to run Stillwater data center (The O’Colly)

• Grants available to businesses damaged by Ada tornado (KTEN)

• 'We are devastated': Edmond North High School mourns death of senior Maddie Hayes (KOCO)

• All Star Sport Complex permanently closes, under new ownership (2 News Oklahoma)

• Lauria and Ashley’s law passes House: Here's the potential impact on prison sentencing policies (News On 6)

• Mayes County Sheriff's Office investigating after 2 found dead in Chouteau (Fox 23)

• Oklahoma lawmakers look to plug teacher, National Guard gaps simultaneously (KGOU)

• Bill seeking to include Oklahoma school board elections on partisan November ballots advances (Oklahoma Voice)

• School leaders celebrate ‘success’ of private school tax credits, governor pushes for expansion (Oklahoma Voice)

• Dive team pulls submerged truck from Oklahoma River in southwest OKC (KOCO)

• Oklahoma community shaken after arrest of local volleyball coach (KOCO)

• Tribal Council confirms Page to Cherokee Nation Supreme Court (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Choctaw Nation breaks ground on new community center in Durant (KXII)

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Sports Headlines 🏀⚾

Sooners likely seal trip to NCAA Men’s Tournament with 81-75 win over Georgia in 1st round of SEC Tournament

Fears' 29 Points Propel Oklahoma Past Georgia, Bolstering NCAA Tournament Hopes

NASHVILLE — Freshman guard Jeremiah Fears delivered a stellar performance, scoring a career-high 29 points to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to an 81-75 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena. The win not only avenged a regular-season loss to Georgia but also significantly bolstered Oklahoma's chances of securing an NCAA Tournament berth.​

The Sooners (20-12, 6-12 SEC) entered the tournament as the No. 14 seed, facing the No. 11 seed Bulldogs (20-12, 8-10 SEC). Oklahoma started strong, showcasing their sharpshooting abilities by connecting on 10 of 18 three-point attempts in the first half, leading to a 43-39 advantage at halftime. Fears was instrumental in this surge, contributing 13 points before the break, while senior forward Jalon Moore added nine points.

Oklahoma will play Kentucky at 8:30 p.m. CDT on Thursday. You can watch the game on SECN.

More Sports Coverage 👀

• NBA Finals preview? Thunder beat Celtics in Boston 118-112 (Thunder)

• Sooners softball wallops Tulsa 10-2 in 6 innings (SoonerSports)

• OU baseball takes mid-week game vs. Louisiana Tech 9-5 (SoonerSports)

• Oklahoma high school basketball state tourney updates (The Oklahoman, paywall)

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🗣️ 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.

My mission is to amplify quality journalism, rekindling the daily news habit!

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