Cyndi Munson, Nick Coffey on stage in Tulsa on Tuesday answering questions from local journalists
The University of Tulsa’s Office of Civic Engagement, Tulsa Press Club, Tulsa World, Tulsa Flyer and Oklahoma Watch are hosting a forum with governor candidate Cyndi Munson and attorney general candidate Nick Coffey on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
They will be on stage Tuesday at the University of Tulsa’s Lorton Performance Center as they answer questions from longtime local journalists Randy Krehbiel of the Tulsa World and Ginnie Graham of the Tulsa Flyer. I will moderate the event.
- The lobby opens at 5 p.m. with tables for all candidates who are on the upcoming ballot. The public forum with Coffey and then Munson starts at 6 p.m.
- The free event is open to the public
- The event will be live streamed thanks to TUTV.
- Get more details on the event. I hope you can join us in person or online.
Munson and Coffey’s Republican competition was invited to the forum but both declined.
Speaking of the governor race
The Frontier checked the facts handed out by both candidates in the Oct. 1 OETA debate. They were pretty accurate.
Friday was the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election. The state election board’s voter portal went down for some time that day. The Oklahoma Watch’s Ted Streuli and Jake Ramsey reported on it.
Notable numbers
120 gas pumps
– That is how many are expected to be built at the proposed Buc-ee’s in far west Oklahoma City along Interstate 40, which would be a new record. The location will employ about 200 people starting at $20 an hour plus benefits. The Oklahoman’s Steve Lackmeyer has the details.
17 times
– The increase in the amount of people who have visited Restore Hope Ministries in Tulsa in the first nine months of the year compared to four years ago. That’s more than 12,000 people. Anti-hunger advocates gathered recently in Tulsa for the annual Hungry for Action conference. The Oklahoman’s Ben Felder reports what was discussed to help struggling Oklahomans.
$297,029
– The median income among college graduates of the mathematics department at Duke, which is the single most lucrative degree in America, according to a report from the HEA Group and quoted in this unlocked New York Times article. It costs about $103,000 a year to attend the college. In the article, you can look up which majors pay off and those that don’t.
Quotable quotes
On Greek tragedies
“In this century, so far there have been 128 college hazing deaths. Deaths. Kids have died from being repeatedly punched in the chest, from hypothermia, alcohol poisoning, traumatic brain injury, dehydration, drowning, inhaling nitrous oxide, asphyxia.”
– Comedian and host Bill Maher – an upset Cornell alum in light of the alleged sex assault at a fratnerity – on his show Real Time, explaining why he believes fraternities and sororities should not be allowed. His stat from the video above comes from hazinginfo.org, which offers a death database for you to search your college’s stats.
On the screens
“If we make screens the villain, then we let the people who control children’s health care — Congress, insurers and health systems — off the hook for the fact that half of American children with a treatable mental illness get no treatment at all.”
– Dr. Jonathan Slater, clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who says screen time is not the biggest problem with children today in this unlocked NYT op-ed.
On making money in high school
“There is no other school doing a program like this where they’re educating the families on what this NIL thing is. Because, again, once you sign your name on that dotted line, it’s happening, and those companies are going to do what they want.”
– Attorney Cole Way, a former University of Tulsa football player who was also drafted by the Kansas City Royals, about a seminar series at Union High School, where he graduated. The series helps families learn more about making money off of name, image and likeness contracts now available for high school athletes. The Tulsa Flyer’s Anna Colletto has the details.
On a great deal
“The addition of a polytechnic high school will offer young people an opportunity to receive career and technical training that improves access to high demand, high skill and high wage jobs. And they get that for free.”
– Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Ebony Johnson during the announcement that Central High School will become a polytechnic high school in an expanded partnership with Tulsa Tech beginning next school year. The Tulsa Flyer’s Anna Colletto has the details.
On state land
“It did not solve anything. Just simply scraping their belongings away did nothing more but scatter them.”
– Mack Haltom, CEO of the Tulsa Day Center, in a story by The Frontier’s Maddy Keys about how a year after Gov. Kevin Stitt launched Operation Safe to clear homeless encampments, some are back on the same state property.
On taking ownership
“… so if I’ve made a mistake or two, you know, I’ll hold up to it and admit to it and say I’m sorry and take my licks for it. You know, in my family at home, I got more spankings than anybody else. There was four of us, so I’m used to discipline.”
– State Rep. Danny Williams in an interview with NonDoc before he was censured in September by the House Rules Committee over findings of sexual harassment. Oklahoma Ethics Commission released new information last week concerning conflict of interest allegations that involve potential “misuse of office” in a manner where “Williams stood to benefit from his official actions,” according to a NonDoc story by Andrea Hancock.
Thank you for reading as I try to help you keep up with this ever-changing world.
There is no cavalry. It’s up to us. 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.
