Collington Index

Tulsa’s fatal gun problem

Written by

@jasoncollington

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Catching you up on a lawsuit about the death that became rallying cry for LGBTQ+ advocates and the possible loss of up to 17 hospitals in Oklahoma with the estimated Medicaid cuts.

Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols listens to a question during a Monday news conference about recent shootings, including those at the Juneteenth celebration Saturday night. Photo by Mike Simons, Tulsa World

The scoop: 883 illegal guns seized, 21 dead by gun violence in last six months in Tulsa

This came out during a press conference with Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols about tightening the city’s curfew downtown.

  • The new curfew: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. within the Inner Dispersal Loop for people younger than 18 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
  • The curfew was voted on days after one person was killed and seven others were wounded during the Juneteenth Festival in the Greenwood District.
  • It was the second fatal shooting in the city’s downtown entertainment district in less than two months.
  • But: The Tulsa police chief says the city’s shooting-with-intent-to-kill numbers have dropped by 50% over the last three years.
  • “While I am pleased that we’ve started to see some of our violent crimes go in the right direction, the pockets of juvenile crime are incredibly startling. We’re also seeing an uptick in trespassing and nuisance crimes,” the mayor said.
  • Kevin Canfield and Mike Simons with this report.
  • “We know what youth need — guidance, after-school activities, mentorships and to be heard. The question is whether Tulsa is ready to provide that,” writes Columnist Ginnie Graham.
  • The Tulsa World Editorial Board offers the community a list of things to do to combat gun violence, including “Do you have the Tulsa Crime Stoppers number in your phone yet? It’s 918-596-COPS. And remember that callers can remain anonymous.”
Nikita Payne (right) and others protest outside Owasso High School last year in response to the death of student Nex Benedict. Photo by Mike Simons, Tulsa World

Nex Benedict’s death was felt around the world. It’s now the center of a lawsuit

A lawsuit alleges deliberate indifference on the part of Owasso Public Schools to known bullying and sexual harassment that caused a school sophomore’s suicide in 2024.

  • The lawsuit filed in Tulsa federal court on behalf of Nex Benedict’s mother, Sue Benedict, and her child’s estate.
  • The Owasso High School sophomore, who identified as nonbinary and preferred masculine or gender-neutral pronouns, died in 2024, one day after a fight in a school restroom. Benedict’s death became a rallying cry for LGBTQ+ advocates who thought the student might have been the victim of a hate crime.
  • Curtis Killman digs into the details of the lawsuit.
“Iit isn’t possible to estimate the effects of the Senate bill when we don’t yet have final text. But I’ve worked for more than 10 years to protect rural hospitals in Oklahoma and across the country, and that remains one of my highest priorities,” Sen. James Lankford said in a statement. Photo by Mike Simons, Tulsa World

The possible Oklahoma impact of Medicaid changes wanted by President Trump

The president of the Oklahoma Hospital Association estimates:

  • Oklahoma hospitals expect to lose $873 million a year in revenue.
  • As many as 17 will close if changes to Medicaid contemplated by congressional leaders and the Trump administration are enacted.
  • “That’s $8.7 billion in hospital reimbursements over 10 years,” said Rich Rasmussen. “There’s not a hospital in the state that wouldn’t be impacted.”
  • Steve Metzer with more.

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

  1. Cops led fatal chase over car’s paper tag. Body cam raises questions about why | By Corey Jones, Daniel Shular and Mike Simons
  2. Update: Police ID man killed in shooting at Tulsa’s Juneteenth Festival | From Staff Reports
  3. Thousands attend Bernie Sanders’ ‘Fight Oligarchy’ tour Saturday in Tulsa | By Ismael Lele, Daniel Shular, Annie Davenport and Cassidy Martin
  4. Oklahoma State Board of Education members request more review time before votes | By Lenzy Krehbiel-burton and Mike Simons
  5. I’m more confused than ever where money in higher education is going | By Ginnie Graham
  6. Tulsa officials move to change downtown curfew hours after shootings | By Kevin Canfield and Mike Simons
  7. Blue Heaven in Game 7: Thunder tops Pacers for NBA championship | By Berry Tramel
  8. More concerts coming to TU’s Chapman Stadium through Oak View Group partnership | By Jimmie Tramel
  9. Gov. Stitt lashes out at still-secret consent decree involving Tulsa, Muscogee Nation | By Curtis Killman
  10. New Oklahoma education laws: More school time, teacher raises, incentives to become a teacher | 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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