Public Radio Tulsa

Delayed retirements may soon hit understaffed Tulsa police as accountability concerns persist Despite what department advocates say, research suggests that short-staffed police forces pose a higher risk of officer misconduct.

Long-time Tulsa police officers are getting ready for retirement after the ends of their careers were delayed, complicating a public safety picture critics say lacks oversight. #tulsa

Lankford to visit ICE detention centers Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator says he will be touring ICE detention facilities, though he doesn’t plan on bringing media and he’s giving advance notice.

Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator says he will be touring ICE detention facilities, though he doesn’t plan on bringing media and he’s giving advance notice. #tulsa

Reporter’s Notebook: On the release of a woman sentenced to life without parole This reported essay traces the case of Cathy Lamb, an Oklahoma woman who spent more than three decades in prison serving life without parole for a 1991 killing her prosecutor said was self-defense.

After 34 years in prison, Cathy Lamb rolled out the gates of Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McCloud on Wednesday.

Inside the ICE detention system: How Oklahoma facilities use legal limbo to pressure deportations After the Oklahoma Highway Patrol arrested Yingchao Fan following a rollover accident on Interstate 40, he sat in Sequoyah County jail despite facing no criminal charges, not even a traffic citation. ...

"It is not about the actual merits of any of the cases," said Alex Gavern, an assistant clinical professor of law at the University of Tulsa. #tulsa

Oklahoma becomes ICE arrest hub as federal policy drives enforcement explosion When Yingchao Fan's car rolled over on Interstate 40 in Sequoyah County during January's snowstorm, he did what anyone would do: he called 911 for help.

When Yingchao Fan's car rolled over on Interstate 40 in Sequoyah County during January's snowstorm, he did what anyone would do: he called 911 for help.

Amid ICE fears and Epstein revelations, Tulsans plan to rally every Friday to denounce Trump Organizers with Indivisible Tulsa County said small, more consistent protests can help raise awareness and build community.

At least 45 protesters rallied at the Chapman Centennial Green Park on Friday to decry the policies of President Donald Trump. #tulsa

Civil rights groups call for rejection of Jewish charter school in Oklahoma The coalition, including the ACLU and Oklahoma Appleseed Center, claims the theoretical school would “indoctrinate its students in Jewish religious beliefs.”

A consortium of civil rights and anti-state religion advocacy groups is calling on the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board to reject at its upcoming Feb. 9 meeting a proposal for the formation of an online Jewish charter school.

KWGS bids fond farewell to reporter, Morning Edition host Zach Boblitt The voice you've been hearing delivering local Tulsa news to you bright and early for more than a year is departing.

The voice you've been hearing delivering local Tulsa news to you bright and early for more than a year is departing. #tulsa

Local groups are offering training on how to observe ICE, CBP Activist groups who oppose President Donald Trump are gathering for training on how to connect with each other and defy the administration.

Activist groups who oppose President Donald Trump are gathering for training on how to connect with each other and defy the administration. #tulsa

Texas stunner: Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips Republican state Senate district Trump won by 17 points Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipped a reliably Republican state Senate district in Texas in Saturday’s special election, continuing a string of surprise victories for Democrats.

“I’m not involved in that. That’s a local Texas race,” Trump told reporters Sunday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Sand Springs advances proposed Google data center rezoning A proposed Google data center near Sand Springs moved one step closer to approval Tuesday night after the city’s Planning Commission voted 6-1 to recommend rezoning more than 800 acres of land in Osag...

A proposed Google data center near Sand Springs moved one step closer to approval Tuesday night. #tulsa

'A warning cry to humanity': Tulsa's Jewish community centers Holocaust education on remembrance day While the Jewish community in Tulsa has focused on local education, other major institutions have been outspoken about comparisons to Nazi atrocities and current events.

Tuesday marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz. #tulsa

Tulsans mourn Minnesota shooting victims, rail against fascism More than 100 people turned out to a Tulsa vigil for two people killed in Minnesota.

More than 100 people turned out to a Tulsa vigil for two people killed in Minnesota. #tulsa

Stitt criticizes Trump admin as nation reacts to Minnesota shooting Gov. Kevin Stitt said “Americans don’t like what they are seeing” in Minneapolis.

Gov. Kevin Stitt said “Americans don’t like what they are seeing” in Minneapolis.

Open primary advocates brace for challenges after submission of signatures Open primary advocates have a reached a red letter day.

Open primary advocates have a reached a red letter day. #tulsa

Oklahoma lawmaker proposes bill to prohibit AI from reaching personhood status A House lawmaker filed legislation to prevent artificial intelligence from having the same rights as humans in Oklahoma.

A House lawmaker filed legislation to prevent artificial intelligence from having the same rights as humans in Oklahoma.

Tulsans brace for Winter Storm Fern Daily life is about to be disrupted across Oklahoma as Winter Storm Fern bears down on the state.

Daily life is about to be disrupted across Oklahoma as Winter Storm Fern bears down on the state.

Tulsa company says geothermal push will be ‘game changer’ A Tulsa company says it’s about to revolutionize the energy industry.

Geothermal is a technology that produces energy from the earth’s own heat. It’s touted as always available and carbon neutral. #tulsa

Tulsa Jewish leaders surprised by Jewish charter school application The Jewish Federation of Tulsa said it was not consulted about an application seeking to found a taxpayer-funded online Jewish charter school.

Leaders of Tulsa’s Jewish community have expressed surprise and unease about a potential Jewish online charter school they said was introduced without local input. #tulsa

Scott Taylor whistleblower recounts experience of trial, verdict It’s been a long few years for 41-year-old Kylie Wells.

In 2022, Wells, a DJ by trade, made a post online wondering why Tulsa praises artistic “mediocre white men so hard." #tulsa #oklahoma

Okla. AG launches investigation into proposed Broken Arrow mosque The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called Drummond's investigation a "witch hunt" in a statement.

A group of at least 200 people gathered Tuesday in opposition to the mosque, with flyers reportedly handed out to attendees linking Islam as a whole to terrorism.
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Coweta council delays decision on allowing members to carry guns Coweta city councilors decided they don’t need to have guns in their meetings, at least not yet.

Coweta city councilors decided they don’t need to have guns in their meetings, at least not yet. #tulsa

In Kiefer, residents surprised, indifferent about Epstein files "Never in a million years would I figure the little town of Kiefer make national news," said one person who grew up in the area.

Many others KWGS approached in Kiefer said they weren't aware of the news or didn't have enough information to react. Some declined to comment altogether or did not seem to care.

Why Oklahoma’s Survivors’ Act is failing the women it was meant to help Enacted in late 2024, the law allows domestic violence survivors to seek reduced sentences if abuse was a “substantial contributing factor” in the crime they committed against the perpetrator.

Enacted in late 2024, the law allows domestic violence survivors to seek reduced sentences. But only one woman has been released from prison.
#tulsa #oklahoma

City councilors say they won’t speak with Tulsa’s newspaper of record after inflammatory op ed Three city councilors are protesting a Tulsa World op ed.

Three city councilors are protesting a Tulsa World op ed. #tulsa

AI spending will cool in 2026, Tulsa financier predicts A Tulsa financier says spending on artificial intelligence will fall off next year.

A Tulsa financier says spending on artificial intelligence will be cooling off next year.
#tulsa

Trump suspends U.S. green card lottery after Brown University and MIT shootings Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on the social platform X that, at Trump's direction, she is ordering the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to pause the program.

President Donald Trump suspended the green card lottery program on Thursday that allowed the suspect in the Brown University and MIT shootings to come to the United States.

Trump gives a partisan prime-time address insisting the economy is stronger than many voters feel President Donald Trump delivered a politically charged speech Wednesday carried live in prime time on network television, seeking to pin the blame for economic challenges on Democrats while announcing...

“We’re poised for an economic boom, the likes of which the world has never seen.”

Meet the 4 Republicans who defied House Speaker Mike Johnson on ACA subsidies Four moderate House Republicans — from swing districts Democrats are already eyeing for next year’s midterms — have broken ranks with Speaker Mike Johnson, signing on to Democrats’ petition to force a...

Four moderate House Republicans — from swing districts Democrats are already eyeing for next year’s midterms — have broken ranks with Speaker Mike Johnson.

As psychiatric crisis team faces funding shortfall, woman credits COPES with recovery: ‘You kept me alive’ When a Tulsa woman left a voicemail thanking the crisis workers who helped pull her out of homelessness, violence and addiction, staff at COPES said it arrived at a moment when their services and futu...

When a Tulsa woman left a voicemail thanking the crisis workers who helped pull her out of homelessness, violence and addiction, staff at COPES said it arrived at a time when their services and future are facing growing strain.
#tulsa