Category Archives: Local

License Extension: Juvenile Detention

By David Arnett

Tulsa County’s probationary license to operate the Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Home has been extended after a state assessment. In a Sept. 30th letter to Juvenile Detention Home management, the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) Office of Public Integrity noted: “The assessment indicated improvement in areas of compliance with contract mandates and state certification standards” the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) wrote in a release today.

The Probationary License is effective through the end of this year. The objective of the BOCC and Juvenile Detention Home management is to continue to improve facility operations and achieve full licensure.

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TPS Collaborative Problem Solving First

By Susan Phillips, Education Editor

[Updated] The Tulsa Public School District’s (TPS) functional failures and controversy has evoked paranoia, hysteria, propaganda, and scurrilous behavior from educational establishment minions, but now, after two and a half years of observation, your editor is overjoyed to report collaborative problem solving has occurred.

The Problem: Oklahoma accreditation standards require one half-time library assistant in schools with more than 500 students and one full-time library assistant in schools with more than 1,000 students. TPS does not have the staff to comply. It needs a waiver from the State Board of Education.

Further, as of that September 16, 2024, school board meeting, the position “library assistant” had not even been posted! School librarians and the Tulsa Classroom Teachers’ Association are more than annoyed.

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‘Tulsa Sings! Open Mic Night’

By Staff Report

Calling all singers! Applications are open for Signature Symphony’s concert and vocalist competition “Tulsa Sings! Open Mic Night”. If you’re interested in joining the Signature Symphony and professional vocalist Scott Coulter on stage for the sixth-annual “Tulsa Sings!” competition, submit an audition video now through Oct. 14.

Selected finalists will work with Coulter, a New York City-based vocalist, and will perform with the professional orchestra in residence at “Tulsa Sings! Open Mic Night” on March 8, 2025.

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Brent VanNorman Concludes Recount

By David Arnett

In a release late Tuesday, the Brent VanNorman campaign backs the election recount outcome.

“After the largest recount in Tulsa County history, the razor-thin results of the August 27th Tulsa mayoral election have been certified. Each candidate lost votes due to ballot errors, but not enough to make the difference. The VanNorman campaign also learned of several opportunities to strengthen election integrity, particularly as it pertains to early voting. While we are continuing to inspect absentee envelopes, at this time, the campaign supports the verified outcome and expresses its deepest appreciation for everyone involved in ensuring a transparent and accurate process,” the team wrote.

Brent VanNorman said, “While the overall outcome didn’t change, the recount has played out fairly, and we stand by the results.”

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