NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman took this picture of Earth from the Orion spacecraft’s window. This picture is worth more than a thousand words. Actually, about $4 billion on top of the billions to develop everything for launch, according to the NASA inspector general. This is the first time that anyone has traveled this far from Earth since Apollo 17 in 1972, so I believe we were due for another selfie. See other images taken from space.
Vote today if you live in Tulsa
You have an election today on $609 million in bonds to fund four propositions for Tulsa Public Schools. Check out the cheat sheet so you can cram for it (just takes a few minutes) and know what you are voting on.
FAQ: Will this increase my tax rate?
Answer: No.
And remember this: “Too many people fought for my right to vote, and too many people don’t want me to vote. So, I’m voting.” – What Tulsa Flyer Reporter Ginnie Graham’s 18-year-old daughter said to her as she walked out the door to vote early for the TPS bond package. Graham, a journalist I had the honor to work with in Tulsa for almost 30 years, has a popular Substack to check out on top of her reporting (which is also featured below).
Coming soon to a ballot near you
We now know the candidates Oklahomans have to choose from in the June 16 primary election. Last day to register to vote in that election is May 22.
NonDoc, a nonprofit newsroom based in Oklahoma City, did a great job of reporting who filed for public office last week. The results:
- 15 have filed to run for Oklahoma governor.
- 9 want to be your next state superintendent.
- 12 want to replace Markwayne Mullin, now the secretary of homeland security, in Oklahoma’s open U.S. Senate seat.
- 13 want to replace U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, who jumped in the race to replace Mullin.
See the details on these races and others in one story by Faithanna Olsson with Nondoc:
Save the dates to put in your calendar so you know if you need to get an absentee ballot if you’re out of town: Primary elections June 16; Runoff primary elections Aug. 25; General election Nov. 3.
Also from the Capitol: “Republicans in the Legislature are trying to force state questions onto a likely GOP-heavy August primary runoff ballot. Some of them are pet projects of outgoing Gov. Kevin Stitt,” writes Paul Monies for Oklahoma Watch:
Outside the political arena
When is Gilcrease Museum opening? The Tulsa Flyer’s Ginnie Graham reports it will be a year later than expected, smaller than before and nearly 70% over its original budget.
A $1-million Hail Mary from a 95-year-old Tulsa philanthropist: Andrea Eger, an Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Famer who recently went over to Oklahoma Watch, had this exclusive:
Follow up from last week’s Collington Index: The City of Tulsa refused to release records related to a series of deaths at its municipal jail that would answer basic questions about how people died in custody. An investigation by The Frontier’s Garrett Yalch identified seven deaths over three years from preventable causes.
How about some good news
Rogers High School debaters headed to national championships at Harvard University. Tulsa World Education Reporter Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton and Staff Photographer Stephen Pingry have the story.
Elementary students designed a wheelchair audio aid for a blind first grader in Tulsa. Krehbiel-Burton and Staff Photographer Mike Simons (who said this is his favorite assignment of the year) with the story at Union Public Schools.
Quotable
“We plan to further enhance the project with improvements that honor the original architecture and mirror what the Helmerich family has created, while delivering new retailers that meet market needs and align with the neighborhood’s sought-after demographics. As a proud Oklahoman, I couldn’t be more pleased to step in as the next steward of Utica Square.”
– Ward Kampf, president of Northwood Retail, to the Tulsa World’s Curtis Killman about the sale of Utica Square to an out-of-state real estate investment firm
“What’s happening in downtown is just the beginning of a broader, system-wide transformation – one focused on accountability, coordination and results – placing Tulsa on a credible path to reaching functional zero homelessness by 2030.”
– Mayor Monroe Nichols to Tulsa World Reporter Kevin Canfield and Staff Photographer Mike Simons, in this in-depth story of how we got to this point: City closes downtown Tulsa to outdoor sleeping
“I think of Jeff as the literary king of Tulsa.”
– David Sedaris in an interview for this New York Times profile about Jeff Martin:
Join me as I interview Martin on stage Monday, April 20, to talk about how he made Tulsa an essential stop for so many authors: Tulsa Press Club and Magic City Books present an “ask me anything” kind of evening with Magic City Books President and Co-Founder Jeff Martin before he begins a new chapter. Guests can expect a wide-ranging chat with plenty of behind-the-scenes stories chronicling 25 years of literary life in Tulsa.
“I understand that journalism doesn’t hold back when there is a problem. The job of a journalist is to hold a mirror up to the community. I’m not talking about one of those tiny face-only mirrors, but one of those full-length-surround mirrors I must face when getting fitted for a new suit. There are times when I see things I don’t like but I can’t deal with problems unless I know what they are.”
– Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association, in a letter to the editor for Sharon Bishop-Baldwin’s Sand Springs Line, which covers the city like no one else.
2,783
– How many confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect in Tulsa County in 2025. It’s the most of any other county. There is a pinwheel planted in the front yard of the Parent Child Center of Tulsa, 1421 S. Boston Ave., for each case. Learn more how you can help.
“Because you know a lot of people, young people today, they’re being told that if they’re sad or anxious, that they need to eliminate that, which is quite wrong. The truth of the matter is that, you know, suffering is going to find you, man. And you can actually suffer and not grow by trying to eliminate it or you can suffer and you can grow. And I talk about all of this neurophysiologically, neurologically, how does the brain process these things? And these are the methods for living in kind of a new, old fashioned way.”
– Arthur Brooks to Dave Ramsey on the EntreLeadership podcast episode “Why High Achievers End Up Burned Out and Lonely.” Brooks’ latest book is “The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.”
If you have problems or solutions for Tulsa, I have a survey for you to fill out for a chance to win a $100 QuikTrip gift card: I’ve met several times with someone who usually only works behind the scenes in city government. His name is Nathan Pickard and he’s the Tulsa city auditor. His office investigates problems connected to city services and publishes the findings. His latest survey – Evaluate the 918 – is now ready for you to take. Takes about 10 minutes and you can skip any question. Plenty of places for you to say what you want. The findings go to the city’s departments, city council and mayor. Let ‘er rip.
Thank you all for the support last week as we launched the Collington Index. Thank you for the subscriptions and the pledges as we make a movement toward truth and understanding in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There is no cavalry. It’s up to us.
All together now. jc
The Collington Index offers a free weekly news summary that explains quickly what’s important and interesting, shared in weekly wraps, popular lists, conversations and cheat sheets. A movement toward truth and understanding in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Subscribe to the free email newsletter.
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