Collington Index

Thousands protest in Tulsa without an incident

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Catching you up on the ‘No Kings’ protests, Tulsa high school football’s highest-paid coach, clawing back tax credits for private schools and why shoplifting in Oklahoma is up 89%

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From left, Sebastian Sanchez, 6, walks with his mother Yadira Espraza, and aunt Everlyn Espraza during the No Kings protest at the intersection of 41st Street and Yale Avenue in Tulsa on Saturday. Photo by Daniel Shular, Tulsa World

Tulsa anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies attract several thousand. No serious incidents reported

The scoop: The three protests in Tulsa and across the country were against President Donald Trump and what many perceive as his authoritarian if not monarchical administration.

Pictured with his football program’s 10 championship trophies, Bixby coach Loren Montgomery has been rewarded with a pay increase. Photo by Mike Simons, Tulsa World

How much should a high school football coach make after winning 10 championships in 11 seasons?

The scoop: Bixby’s Loren Montgomery has become the most accomplished large-school prep football coach in state history. Now he’s being paid like it. For the first time, if you can believe that.

State Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, authored a bill to try to increase protection for parents by prohibiting private schools, including religious schools, from requiring their participation in the tax credit program — which she says is happening to constituents in Tulsa — and also to prevent schools from jacking their tuition rates as a result of the availability of tax credits. It didn’t receive a Senate hearing. Photo by Mike Simons, Tulsa World Archive

Parents who took tax credits to pay for their kids’ private school owe taxpayers $2.4 million

The scoop: The state of Oklahoma has collected just 8% of the millions of dollars owed back by parents who received private school tax credits for children who did not attend the schools.

What are we talking about? The Parental Choice Tax Credit program:

  • Gives state income tax credits of $5,000 to $7,500, depending on household income, for parents of private school students.
  • Gives $1,000 per home-schooler to parents who register for the program.
  • The state allocated $150 million of taxpayer money for the program’s first year.
  • About 36,000 Oklahomans applied for the credits.
  • The amount on taxpayer money available to parents goes up $50 million for next school year.
  • Projects Reporter Andrea Eger with this latest exclusive on how the state hopes to recoup that outstanding balance with parents.
In June 2022, the State Department of Education issued a report highly critical of $8.6 million in bonuses paid out in June 2021 under Epic Superintendent Bart Banfield’s leadership, including to him and his wife, a longtime Epic administrator.

Speaking of education in Oklahoma: The state agency that sponsors Epic Charter Schools is:

  • Investigating the “fiscal integrity” and compliance of Oklahoma’s third-largest school system.
  • Comes after budget slashing that has left many students without an in-person school to return to when summer break ends.
  • Andrea Eger goes way beyond the press release other news outlets gave you.
  • My favorite line: “Not mentioned in any press release was the departure of Jeanise Wynn, deputy superintendent of finance.” That’s who Eger reports “promptly raised red flags to Epic’s school board about Epic’s co-founders overpaying themselves by at least $8 million.”
  • Read the story: Two top administrators over Epic Charter Schools’ budget have resigned in the wake of a fiscal year that has seen at least 500 employees lose their jobs and the shuttering of in-person learning centers.
A QuikTrip security officer models a uniform as part of QT’s armed “hybrid” employees program announced by the convenience store chain a few years ago to mitigate and deter theft. Photo by Mike Simons, Tulsa World

Shoplifting in Oklahoma is up 89% in four years

The scoop: Shoplifting in Oklahoma is up because many, including QuikTrip, point to State Question 780, passed by Oklahoma voters in 2016, that raised the felony threshold for conviction of property theft, including theft from a retailer, from $500 to $1,000.

  • The goal with that law was to reduce Oklahoma’s prison population.
  • The most recent Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation data says: In 2020 (including about 93% of law enforcement agencies representing 70% of the population) there were 9,022 incidents of shoplifting. That number was 17,017 in 2024, up 89% in four years.
  • This quote: “I think people are bolder than they used to be,” said Angelene Ripley Wright, the owner of Ida Red and Oklahoma’s Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  • Most stolen items? Clothes, accessories and shoes.
  • Read the story: Business Reporter Michael Dekker with this report.

The most popular stories on tulsaworld.com in the past week you may have missed

  1. New Oklahoma education laws: More school time, teacher raises, incentives to become a teacher | By Steve Metzer
  2. Epic Charter Schools under investigation by state agency as two top administrators resign | by Andrea Eger
  3. Bixby’s Loren Montgomery is now highest-paid coach in Tulsa area | By Bill Haisten
  4. 5 way-too-early predictions for OU softball’s 2026 season | By Mason Young
  5. Bernie Sanders stopping in Tulsa for ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour | By Anna Codutti
  6. Ex-OSU president Kayse Shrum announced as Chickasaw Nation chief health officer | By Tim Stanley
  7. From QuikTrip to Ida Red, how retailers are addressing the rise in shoplifting since law change | By Michael Dekker
  8. State collects just $200K of millions owed by ineligible private school tax credit recipients | By Andrea Eger
  9. Stitt, city leaders dismayed, disappointed, sad about Drummond’s refugee remarks | By Kevin Canfield
  10. Top-tier trauma center coming to Saint Francis in partnership with OSU Medical Authority | By Steve Metzer

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Thanks for reading the first Collington Index. Go get it today. Press on. jc

Contact me at jason.collington@tulsaworld.com

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