A lot of stories could top off this week’s Collington Index, but something the man in the sunglasses said really stuck with me. It’s exactly how I feel about this project and so many local endeavors done by others who care. I can’t sing the lyrics of a single Eric Church song, but these words mean a great deal to me and perfectly express how I feel about why I’m not leaving Tulsa any time soon.
“Your generation faces a temptation no generation before has ever faced. The temptation to perform for everyone and belong to no one. To be globally visible and locally invisible. To have thousands of followers and no one knows actually where you live. Resist this. Plant yourself somewhere. Put down roots with the full intention of growing there. Learn the actual names, not usernames, of the people around you. Volunteer. Coach the team. Build the thing your community needs, even if the internet will never see it.”
– Eric Church, the singer-songwriter during his commencement speech at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
What’s going to be different in schools after this Legislative session? Kids are going to be in school longer. And that’s going to cost some districts. Oklahoma Watch’s Jennifer Palmer with the details.
The Tulsa World’s Steve Metzer with what legislators labeled successes and setbacks as elected officials head back out to their districts in hopes to be re-elected.
Here is a recap on the big things that happened during the session from Oklahoma Voice from their team at the Capitol.
Were 90% of private school tax voucher recipients in Oklahoma already enrolled in private schools and less than 1% financially disadvantaged? Matthew Yim with the answer, reporting for Oklahoma Watch and Gigafact.
Major Tulsa Zoo attraction under construction is $15 million short: African Wilds, a $47.3 million exhibit under construction at the Tulsa Zoo, is facing a funding shortfall that could stop work on the project late this summer, city councilors were told last week, according to a story by Tulsa World Reporter Kevin Canfield and Staff Photographer Mike Simons.
Quotable quotes
“The President has endorsed another candidate in CD1. It is not congruent with my assignments in life to actively campaign against a candidate endorsed by my Commander in Chief.”
– Lt. Col. Dan Rooney of Owasso in a statement released after he ended his campaign for the 1st Congressional District. President Donald Trump endorsed Jackson Lahmeyer, a businessman and pastor in Owasso. Rooney’s name will still be on the ballot for the June 16 election, writes Tulsa World Reporter Randy Krehbiel.
“When it comes to balance, sometimes it is OK to temporarily have an imbalanced life, especially in high school. Arguably, your high school years are the most important years of your life because that’s not only where you are changing the fastest, but they have the greatest impact and influence on your life.”
– Jayden Rosario, who graduated Union High School as co-salutatorian. He also earned an associate degree from Tulsa Community College through Union’s Earn a Degree, Graduate Early program. Tulsa World Reporter Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton’s profile also explains how he also fit in a yearlong internship with Williams Companies.
“People can still go into the Osage, walk out as millionaires and leave us with nothing. If I’m going to do any more work in this Indian business, it’s on that issue. I’m tired of getting ripped off.”
– Osage Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear about data center construction during the State of the Tribal Nations, hosted by the Tulsa Regional Chamber. KOSU’s Thomas Pablo reports other topics discussed included Medicaid and rebuilding the oil and gas energy industries in Indian Country.
“I wanted to tell the people that are on the school board, ‘Hey it does matter, kids are throwing up, kids are falling asleep in their class. You say Aramark has nutritional guidelines, but the stuff that we have is gray and sloppy.’”
– Maisy Archer, a fifth grader at Kendall-Whittier Elementary School, about the child nutrition contractor for Tulsa Public Schools. With support from Tulsa Changemakers, an afterschool program led by nonprofit Leadership Tulsa, the students collected complaints through surveys, interviews and focus groups. After hearing enough, the TPS board decided to end the agreement and take the work back in house, according to Tulsa Flyer’s Anna Colletto.
“… when we covered those things up, did we ever get a public, you know, outlash.”
– Daniel Rotelli, owner of the building at Third Street and Frankfort Avenue that had the murals of Leon Russell, Wayman Tisdale and Aretha Franklin. KWGS’s Angel Ford says they are being replaced with new murals after fading. Leon is coming back. Tulsa World Staff Photographer Mike Simons with the new look so far.
“Quantum Space is building satellites to meet the needs of the Space Force’s theory of competitive endurance.”
– Jim Bridenstine, former Oklahoma congressman and NASA administrator, in a statement about a new high-precision spacecraft parts manufacturing facility going in at the Tulsa International Airport, the Tulsa World’s Randy Krehbiel reports. He’s talking about the government’s military department, not the Steve Carrel Netflix series.
“Swiping primes people to make superficial, snap judgments. It really has turned dating into gaming.”
– Jenny Taitz, a clinical psychologist and author of “How to Be Single and Happy” in a New York Times story about Bumble killing off the swipe feature to shift toward matchmaking driven by artificial intelligence. Match and Bumble have lost more than $40 billion in market value since 2021.
Some good ideas worth duplicating
High school students take a class fixing up cars for single parents without transportation: Louisa County High School students in Virginia can take part in a trade program with Giving Words, a local nonprofit. So far, they’ve taken 60 donated cars and presented them to those deserving for free, according to this story on Today.
Free rent for hanging out with elderly residents: A nursing home in the Netherlands allows university students to live rent-free alongside the elderly residents, as part of a project aimed at warding off the negative effects of aging. The students are required to spend 30 hours per month acting as “good neighbors.” PBS NewsHour with the story.
Tulsa couple makes Wall Street Journal under this headline: What’s the secret to their 40-year marriage? Eight gut renovations. About $14 million later, they are on their ninth home, which they built from the ground up.
Mark your calendars for June 16: That’s when you vote in a primary election
Here is a deep dive by NonDoc’s Matt Patterson into the arguments for and against raising the minimum wage, which is on the ballot for every Oklahoman.
NonDoc is hosting a number of debates with candidates. Here are the details.
The Tulsa Press Club, University of Tulsa and Oklahoma Watch will have forums with candidates running for governor and state superintendent June 2 and June 4.
When you are ready to cram for the election: The Oklahoma Voice’s election guide hits everything on the ballot.
Why I paint by Lauren Leigh Henson
I paint because I can’t not create. Whether it was a random craft I saw on Pinterest, repainting my front door on impulse, or constantly rearranging and reinventing spaces around me, I’ve always had the need to be making something.
Visual art is the first time all of those “random” creative instincts finally made sense. All of that energy has an outlet and a purpose now.
What I love most is that it goes beyond the visual. I’m just as drawn to the storytelling and world-building behind each series. Whether I’m researching a pop icon, building an entire fictional universe around my cowgirls, or writing fake member profiles for The Good Girl Liberation Association, the work becomes bigger than the canvas itself.
For me, painting is part visual art, part storytelling, part identity exploration. It’s how I make sense of parts of my world past and present.
As a bonus, it also means I’m not leaving a trail of half-finished random crafts around the house anymore, and my husband doesn’t have to grinch about craft supplies taking over every single surface.
Follow Lauren on Instagram.
If you want to give me the why behind something you do, email me at jc@jasoncollington.com.
Recommendations: Where to go analog and unplug
Keystone Ancient Forest: Serene and scenic.
The Boathouse at Gathering Place: Awesome views. Rocking chairs.
Soma Rooftop at Brut Hotel: Weeknight live music, great food, comfy seating.
Thank you for continuing to forward the email newsletter and sharing these stories in this movement toward truth and understanding in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There is no cavalry. It’s up to us.
All together now. jc
P.S. If you don’t have a “to-don’t” list, let me help you with that. I am speaking during an LT Elevate event on May 28 called “Create a 13th month while saving time and maximizing effort.” When you save time, you create margin to think clearly, do deep work and achieve sanity. You will learn 3 simple systems that make it clear how to reverse a clock counting down. Free for Leadership Tulsa members and just $35 for nonmembers. Register here.
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