A week from today, Republicans and Democrats have choices to make about Oklahoma’s future
Time get your sample ballots.
The run-off election on Tuesday, Aug. 25, is next week, or if you can’t wait, early voting starts Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at all county election boards in the state. If you are in Tulsa County, you can also go to the Tulsa Technology Center Broken Arrow Campus, 4000 W. Florence St.
Republicans decide who is going to appear in the November ballot on some of the top jobs in government. Everyone has some state questions to vote on that look to change some things, while most Tulsans also have city council races on the ballot.
The easiest way to prepare for a vote is to do the following:
- Download the ballots you will be handed a week from now. Put in your last name, first name, and birthdate to get your copy at the OK Voter Portal.
- Refer to the two voter guides that are out there currently to read up on your candidates: The Tulsa Flyer and the Tulsa World.
Republicans still not sure who to vote for on the governor race, here is a recap from the forum sponsored by the University of Tulsa’s Office of Civic Engagement, Tulsa Press Club, Tulsa World and Oklahoma Watch. Without opponents or time limits, the event made for interesting conversations:
State superintendent debate gets weird
NonDoc and KSWO hosted a debate featuring the runoff candidates for the state superintendent in the Republican Primary, Robert Franklin and James Taylor.
Read NonDoc’s Kevin Eagleson’s report from the debate.
Steve Hartman in Tulsa
You know you have a story when Steve Hartman of CBS comes to town.
Notable numbers
820
– The number of alerts from the U.S. Space Force about objects entering Earth’s atmosphere last year. That’s up 645% from a decade ago. This unlocked New York Times story shows some crazy videos and photos of what has fallen from the sky.
Don’t forget: The first person hit by space junk was a Tulsan. Lottie Williams is actually recognized by Guinness World Records for it. She was walking in 1997 at a park when she was hit by a 5-inch piece of fiberglass, which luckily didn’t hurt her. The fragment was later confirmed to have been part of the second stage of a US-made Delta II rocket.
The Tulsa World’s Randy Krehbiel wrote her story back in the day.
3.2 million
– The estimated number of vehicles nationwide that have a “park outside” recall, as in you are asked to park your car outside because of the chance of a fire. And 2026 might be a record year of this type of recall with several months to go. Grab your car’s VIN or year, make and model and check. Read more about it in this unlocked Washington Post story.
60
– The percentage of gun deaths in America that are suicides, according to this unlocked New York Times op-ed about what is happening in areas where mental health therapy and high gun ownership meet.
33 billion tons
– The amount of carbon dioxide a year that a new natural-gas-burning power plant owned by Amazon would be permitted to release each year in Pecos County in western Texas. The plant is being built to power Amazon data centers “that won’t raise electricity costs for Texas families.” The company confirmed it would become the largest single source of pollution in the United States.
Quotable quotes
“I am calling for a total and complete shutdown of primary polling in the Midwestern United States until we can figure out what the hell is going on.”
– Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster and consultant, after the Wisconsin governor Democratic primary. The candidate leading by more than 20 points in multiple polls lost by a thin margin.
“A lot of bookish people tend to be introverts. We need a space where we know that we’re on common ground with others.”
– Sally Mercedes, the events coordinator at Magic City Books in Tulsa, in this unlocked guest essay in the New York Times with the headline “This is the solution to America’s literacy crisis, and it’s a lot of fun.”
“Energy-dense, highly palatable, rapidly absorbable, ultraprocessed foods that have altered our metabolism and have resulted in the greatest increase in chronic disease in our history.”
– Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler to “60 Minutes.”
“There’s 7 million men, able-bodied men, mostly young, who are what they call NILF. NILF is “not in the labor force.” This is different than unemployed. Unemployment means you’re looking, but you can’t find a job. This is not looking.”
– Bill Maher in conversation with Mike Rowe about the blue-collar worker shortage in America. Watch them talk about it.
Oklahoma City gets two headlines
As the home to one of the 41 “greatest Mexican restaurants across the United States” and as place featured under the headline “Meet the Americans who can’t afford haircuts or toilet paper.”
This & That
The Tulsa Girls Social Club, which gives you a chance to foster connection while also supporting local businesses, is featured in the Tulsa Flyer in this story by Raynee Howell.
I mentioned Flock cameras in a quote from the Tulsa police chief not too long ago. It’s been a topic of debate in the city council forums put on by the Tulsa World and Tulsa Flyer. Now, Coweta Police Chief Mike Bell is uninstalling the two cameras in his city, in this report from the Tulsa Flyer’s Joe Tomlinson.
Here’s why Oklahoma electric bills are going up. It’s not just data centers, writes Oklahoma Watch’s Andrea Eger, who covered a town hall in Tulsa put on my Rep. Meloyde Blancett.
“You didn’t have to be a genius to see the change, the sheer numbers of it.” Also from Oklahoma Watch, J.C. Hallman’s latest story on the State Farm and Allstate lawsuits, which stars a prominent Oklahoma lawyer who went from defending insurance companies to taking the lead in exposing what he says was a scheme to make a lot of money.
I appreciate your continued support with this movement toward truth and understanding in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
There is no cavalry. It’s up to us. Help me spread the word by forwarding this week’s issue to someone who says “I didn’t know that” too often.
All together now. jc
The Collington Index is a free weekly news summary written by Jason Collington that explains quickly what’s important and interesting, shared in weekly wraps, popular lists, conversations and cheat sheets. Skim or go deep. A movement toward truth and understanding in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Subscribe for free on Substack to get an email newsletter each Tuesday morning. See the archive at collingtonindex.com.
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