FEATURED
MJ: The Musical Brings Michael Jackson’s Story to Tulsa
J. Daughtry has a way of being in the right place at the right time. His musical career began with an unexpected turn in his earlier career in teaching. That led to a role playing the music legend Berry Gordy. He went on to play Gordy in another production. Next week Daughtry will bring his portrayal of the Motown icon – who played a vital role in Michael Jackson’s career — to Tulsa in yet another show -the touring jukebox musical production of MJ The Musical.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
918 Conversation With Tulsa’s Economic Development Director Erran Persley
Tulsa’s Economic Development Director Erran Persley, who began his new role in March 2024, spoke with The Oklahoma Eagle Managing Editor Gary Lee and Eagle contributor Kimberly Marsh about his plans for equitable economic growth across the city.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh & Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE 918 SERIES
FEATURED
North Tulsa Neighborhood Revitalization Plan Faces Challenges
According to U.S. census tract estimates cited in the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan, north Tulsa is losing Black residents by the thousands.
The vital objectives of the Master Plan are to stem that outflow, and stabilize and revitalize north Tulsa neighborhoods. The Tulsa Development Authority (TDA), through its PartnerTulsa staff, is finalizing a legal process to begin implementing the plan. And yet, enforcing the master plan faces substantive obstacles.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
FEATURED
TPS Achieves State-Mandated Student Testing Benchmark
Tulsa Public Schools improved student test scores by five percentage points as mandated by the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSBE). In a statement released to The Oklahoma Eagle late last week, TPS officials declared student test scores in English Language Arts (ELA) (reading/writing) have increased from 37% to 42% at the “basic and above” performance level.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
North Tulsa Neighborhood Revitalization Plan Is Underway
The City of Tulsa in late July awarded $2 million to spur the development of new housing, retail, and office space in north Tulsa. The Tulsa Development Authority (TDA) will use the money to finalize the legal process necessary to begin the development of seventy acres of largely vacant land in north Tulsa. The area designated for revitalization lies within The Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan study area which is bordered by Pine Street to the north, US Highway 75 to the east, the rail line to the south (Archer Street), and LL Tisdale Parkway to the west.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
Monroe Nichols and Karen Keith Advance in Mayoral Primary
Monroe Nichols edged Tulsa mayoral candidates Karen Keith and Brent VanNorman on August 27, earning more votes than each competitor, but falling short of the 50 percent plus one needed to secure victory. The forced runoff between Nichols and Keith will be settled by Tulsa County voters during the November 5 general election.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
Mayoral Candidates Say Yes To ACTION Tulsa
The standing-room-only meeting drew historic attendance. In all, 559 people – a diverse group from across Tulsa – gathered to support the session and hear responses from mayoral candidates Brent Van Norman, Karen Keith and Monroe Nichols. The three were put in the hot seats in front of the church sanctuary to hear stories about issues Tulsans have had in their neighborhoods, and then respond to a group request to commit to work on those items.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
The Myth of the Christian State
The Gospels, with which most orthodoxies were aligned in Oklahoma, were objectively not applicable to Black Tulsans. Segregation, lynchings and mass murder were the justified responses to perceived encroachment and entitlement. No Black Tulsan man, woman or child was deserving of dignity, as represented in the state’s constitution, yet faith, Christianity, was regarded as the foundation upon which all were governed. BTW graduates of 1921 were subject to both the legal cruelty of the state and a demand to accept that faith, a faith unlike their own, was the state’s moral foundation upon which life was governed, without objection.
CONTRIBUTOR
Ross D. Johnson, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE ROSS D. JOHNSON STORIES
FEATURED
Williams Named National Geographic Wayfinder
Kristi Williams, a stalwart advocate for Black culture and heritage in Tulsa, has been named a National Geographic Wayfinder. This coveted role positions Williams to amplify her brand of storytelling on national and international platforms.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE GARY LEE STORIES
FEATURED
FEATURED
Dennis Larsen, a stalwart of Tulsa police, takes command of the Police Department
Deputy Chief Dennis Larsen, a 45-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department, was gracious, sincere, and genuine as he launched an open conversation with The Oklahoma Eagle about his succession to Tulsa’s Chief of Police on Aug. 1. He was equipped with a pile of documents ready to respond to questions. Larsen replaces Chief Wendell Franklin, who retired from the department to lead private security operations for the Bank of Oklahoma.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
TPS Offers Second Chance for High School Diploma
Tulsa Public Schools is offering a free summer program for recent high school dropouts and struggling students to get a diploma. The credit recovery program enables students to complete or make up coursework working online at their own pace, with help from certified teachers based in north Tulsa. The Bridge to Graduation program is open to former high school seniors from two years ago (2021-22) to current high school students who are behind on course credits.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
Eagle Receives Top Awards In Annual Oklahoma Press Association Contest
‘Clear Winner. Bold Cover Layouts, Almost Magazine Like. Reminds Us Of The Sunday New York Times,’ Judges Noted.
CONTRIBUTOR
Staff, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE STORIES
FEATURED
Eagle Publisher Honored As One Of Oklahoma’s Journalism Giants
James O. Goodwin Is The First African American To Receive OPA’s Highest Honor
CONTRIBUTOR
Staff, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE STORIES
FEATURED
Lawsuit Against TPS Moves Forward
Two Tulsa Public School Board members are moving forward with a lawsuit alleging that other TPS school board members violated Oklahoma’s Open Meeting Act. The suit could eventually have a major impact on how the TPS board conducts meetings.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
MJ The Musical Tour
We are excited to announce that tickets to the Tulsa performances of MJ The Musical Tour are now on sale!
Celebrity Attractions brings the multi-Tony award winning musical to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center (TPAC) from Oct. 15 to Oct. 20. Centered on American pop singer Michael Jackson’s making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, MJ The Musical offers a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.
For tickets: MJ the Musical – Tulsa online, call (918) 596-7111 or go to the ticket office, located at 101 East 3rd St., open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
FEATURED
We Shall Know Them By Their Deeds
God’s place, one may objectively determine, of most early 20th century Oklahoma legislators, was to guide and protect the hand that inflicted harm, as the back upon which it fell was not worthy of His grace.
Of the 21st century, one may objectively determine that Oklahoma courts and legislators are convicted to guard against demands of accountability for sins that define the state’s history and moral character.
CONTRIBUTOR
Ross D. Johnson
MORE ROSS D. JOHNSON STORIES
FEATURED
New Community Mural Spotlights North Tulsans
At the Elgin Avenue underpass, a new scene welcomes passersby as they are greeted by the faces of Greenwood’s past, present, and future. Twenty portraits decorate the walls of the Elgin street underpass located between Mt. Zion Baptist Church and ONEOK field, home for the Tulsa Drillers and FC Tulsa. The murals are a community project titled, “Doorways to Hope,” referencing the neighboring Pathway to Hope.
CONTRIBUTOR
Sam Levrault
MORE SAM LEVRAULT STORIES
FEATURED
Oklahoma Court Dismisses Race Massacre Lawsuit
The long pursuit of justice by the two last-known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre took a decisive blow on June 12, when the Oklahoma Supreme Court affirmed a lower court’s dismissal of their lawsuit seeking reparations.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee
MORE GARY LEE STORIES
FEATURED
Judge Rules Educators May Teach Racial History
A federal court judge has blocked enforcement of key provisions of an Oklahoma law that aimed to restrict educators from teaching America’s sordid racial history.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
Oklahoma Gives Huge Subsidies To Private School Students
Oklahoma taxpayers have made a significant contribution of $150 million to support the education of private school students, a move that could undermine public education across the state. This is part of an ongoing private school funding scheme passed into Oklahoma law in 2023. Oklahoma Tax Commission records obtained by The Oklahoma Eagle reveal that these funds were used to pay the tuition and fees of 27,800 private school students in the 2023- ‘24 school year.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
My Brother’s Keeper-Tulsa Seeks To Transform Black Boys Into Men
My Brother’s Keeper-Tulsa, an organization focused on improving outcomes for boys and young men of color, has launched a new initiative to expand reading opportunities. The Books in Barbershops program comes a year after MBK-Tulsa was designated a “model community” by the Obama Foundation.
CONTRIBUTOR
Deon Osborne
MORE DEON OSBORNE STORIES
FEATURED
News Analysis: Public School Leader Johnson Wins Over Walters and State Education Board
By the spring of 2024, the Tulsa Public School district was able to document the achievement of goals in all the objectives in Johnson’s monthly reports to the State Board. These achievements reversed the State Board’s negative perception of the Tulsa Public Schools district, which began a discussion among the board about a roll-out of a similar effort for other struggling school districts in the state.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
Muscogee Nation Supreme Court To Decide Fate Of Creek Freedmen
When Creek Freedmen plaintiffs Rhonda Grayson and Jeff Kennedy won their civil case for citizenship in Muscogee Creek Nation (MSN) on Sept. 27, 2023, they thought it would end the years-long legal battle for full recognition in the tribal nation of their ancestors.
CONTRIBUTOR
Deon Osborne
MORE DEON OSBORNE STORIES
FEATURED
BRANJAE, A Tulsa Singer Rises To Higher Ground
Those who know her best recognize her stories in the songs she writes. She is a storyteller as well as a gifted lyricist and performer. She is known locally for her rhythmic performances as a co-fronter with Count Tutu, high vibrational solo albums and music videos, on-stage dance energy, and multiple style changes during a performance. She brings the venue to life with every move and every word.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
Cindy McGhee: How One Woman Built A Business From Scratch
One Of Fastest Growing Companies In The Country: Building The Next Generation Of Entrepreneurs (and Homeowners)
CONTRIBUTOR
Dr. Jerry Goodwin
MORE TALK OF GREENWOOD STORIES
FEATURED
The TINA TURNER Musical Reveals Trials And Triumphs
The arc of Tina Turner’s career is well-known. Although Ike’s story is lesser known, he had a powerful influence on Tina’s life and career. They had a family together, and he witnessed Tina rise to superstardom.
Ike Turner may have had multiple sides to his personality, according to Tulsans who knew him and the actor who plays him in the musical, “Tina, The Tina Turner Musical,” coming to Tulsa next week. However, the Ike Turner the public has seen is a violent man.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
Wendell Franklin Retires As Tulsa’s Police Chief
Tulsa’s first Black police chief will retire July 31 and assume a new position leading security for the BOK Financial Corp. Chief Wendell Franklin was hired as the City of Tulsa’s 40th police chief on Feb. 1, 2020, just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Early in Franklin’s career, he was called upon to create secure spaces for a series of high-profile events significant in the Black community, including the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter rallies, Black Panther marches, and the 2021 centennial anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh
MORE KIMNERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
Report Shows Minimal Progress For Black Tulsans
The City of Tulsa has released its annual Equality Indicators report for 2023 revealing that the needle marking progress in opportunities and well-being for disadvantaged communities has hardly moved during the last six years of reporting. The Indicators reports measure equality disparities among populations across various themes and topics, assessed using more than fifty-four metrics. The Oklahoma Eagle, as it has each year, closely examines how racial and community disparities affect North Tulsans.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
COVID Learning Losses to Cost Students Billions in Lost Income
Oklahoma Students Will Suffer Most. For the thousands of pupils in Tulsa – and across Oklahoma – who struggled with school during the COVID-19 pandemic, those challenges are destined to impact their earnings potential in the workplace. Students of the COVID-19 era will likely take home thousands of dollars less in wages annually than they would have had the pandemic not occurred, according to a new education study.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
Foundation Supports Programs For TPS Pupils
While Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) receives the majority of its funding from state tax dollars, millions of dollars in local grants and contributions boost the TPS education budget annually. Additional charitable donations also support public education in a variety of ways under the auspices of the Foundation for Tulsa Schools (FTS).
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
Their
Minutes after the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s summary report was shared, regarging Nex Benedict’s death, by the Owasso Police Department on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) Libs of TikTok account followers began to demand an apology from local and national media, LGBTQ advocacy groups and Oklahomans who attributed the violence and hatred experienced by Nex to their rhetoric.
CONTRIBUTOR
Ross D. Johnson
MORE LOCAL STORIES
FEATURED
The Story Of Greenwood Will Survive Any Court Decision
During the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Ford Fletcher’s voice didn’t crack while seated before the U.S. House of Representatives, describing the violence of the white mob in her childhood community of Greenwood, the Tulsa, Oklahoma district, known as Black Wall Street. “I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire,” Fletcher told the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee in May 19, 2021.
CONTRIBUTOR
Deon Osborne
MORE ROSS D. JOHNSON STORIES
FEATURED
Women’s History Month Profile – Ashley Townsend teaches how to save money and create generational wealth
The Oklahoma Eagle conducted an interview with Ashley Townsend of Chase Bank. She is vice president community manager at the bank. Joining in the interview was Kim Marsh, a news and editorial contributor at the newspaper. (The interview was edited for clarity and conciseness.)
CONTRIBUTOR
Dr. Jerry Goodwin
MORE DR. JERRY GOODWIN STORIES
FEATURED
Mayoral Candidates Make Their Pitches
During a broad-ranging discussion, the candidates highlighted the following key topics: the challenges of the unhoused and the related problems of mental health; street improvement delays; bipartisanship and co-governance with Tulsa area Native American tribes; and issues with mass transit.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
Focus on The Contenders for Tulsa Mayor
The three candidates registered for the Tulsa Mayor’s race are City Councilor Jayme Fowler, Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith, and Monroe Nichols, former Oklahoma House Representative of the 72nd District. Other candidates may still enter the race.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
Jennettie Marshall: Guiding Tulsa Schools Through Troubled Waters
Elected to the Tulsa School Board in 2016, Marshall is the longest serving member of the board - a panel of seven elected officials charged with overseeing the running of all 77 Tulsa Public Schools. She makes it her business to push for high standards in education and facilities for the schools in her district, which is composed of more than a dozen schools, including several institutions that have been vital for northsiders - McLain, Central High School, Burroughs, and Hawthorne Elementary among others. But Marshall’s dominion on the board is not limited to North Tulsa. She is the self-styled watchman for all TPS schools.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee
MORE GARY LEE STORIES
FEATURED
After the closing of Juno Medical-Tulsa, what’s the state of health care for North Tulsa?
In a posting on Meta (also known as Facebook), the social media platform, Dr. Jabraan Pasha, Juno Tulsa’s executive director, said, “The information we were given was Juno Headquarters lost support from a major national investor, which significantly impacted the company’s financials. As a result, he added, the company was suddenly closing its two newest clinics in Atlanta and Tulsa.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee
MORE GARY LEE STORIES
FEATURED
Following The Passing Of Nex Benedict, Serious Questions Linger
Owasso, Okla. – On the morning of Feb. 26, a group of gender equality advocates and supporters gathered on a busy intersection in this Tulsa suburb, in the shadow of Owasso High School, where two weeks earlier, three students bullied and beat Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old sophomore at the school who identified as non-binary.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee
MORE GARY LEE STORIES
FEATURED
FEATURED
FEATURED
FEATURED
FEATURED
Tulsa Public Schools To Expand Student Free Meals Program
Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) will expand its free meals program to include all students in district schools beginning in the 2024-’25 school year. Free breakfast and lunch are already automatically provided to all elementary school students in the district.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL
FEATURED
Goodwin Launches Campaign For State Senate Seat
State Rep. Regina Goodwin, District 73, stood before a jubilant crowd on Saturday, Jan. 6, flanked by campaign signs that will soon occupy the landscape of state senate district communities. The scene was the two-term representative’s announcement of her candidacy for the district 11 state senate seat.
CONTRIBUTOR
The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE LOCAL NEWS
FEATURED
2023, A Year In Review
Oklahomans have fared the year with their resolve intact, faith strengthened and a greater fire within. The new year will once again meet a people prepared.
CONTRIBUTOR
The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE LOCAL NEWS
FEATURED
The Oklahoma Eagle Is Seeking To Build Stronger Trust With Readers
The Oklahoma Eagle, a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based media organization that has served its community for more than 100 years, is currently engaged in a significant initiative to enhance its ability to build reader trust.
CONTRIBUTOR
The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE LOCAL NEWS
FEATURED
Tulsa Public Schools Promotes Ebony Johnson To Superintendent
The Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve interim superintendent Ebony Johnson as permanent superintendent in a 4-2 vote on Dec. 11. Johnson was named to the interim superintendent position in September 2023 to replace Deborah Gist, who resigned under heavy criticism from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE BY JOHN NEAL
FEATURED
Post Pandemic Food Insecurity Worsens for Black Americans
An end to government pandemic relief programs has worsened food insecurity and other measures of well-being for thousands of north Tulsans and millions of other Americans. Multiple reports reveal that the fallout is more significant for Black Americans. The end of a variety of temporary relief assistance programs is plunging poor adults and children back into poverty.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE BY JOHN NEAL
FEATURED
Revivalists Envision Future For All-Black Towns
Most Oklahomans are familiar with the state’s historic All-Black towns, the significance of the independence established by their residents, the economic freedom earned and the safe haven provided throughout the country’s and state’s racially charged history.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh
RELATED
TALK OF GREENWOOD
PEOPLE, NEWS AND THE PERSONAL NARRATIVES OF TULSANS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE BUILDING A GREATER TULSA, EVERY DAY.
Fulton Street Books & Coffee Has Moved To Greenwood, And We’re Here For It
Should anyone perceive Fulton Street Books & Coffee's recent grand opening, at 21 N. Greenwood Ave. (next to Greenwood Rising), as merely a change of location to the historic district, that would completely miss the point of the event... A blame for the head, not the heart.
FEATURED
FEATURED
Tulsa Man Recounts Serving 31 Years In Prison After Wrongful Conviction
Lott was arrested after the lineup. He was tried and convicted and given a 100-year prison sentence. However, in 2014, the Innocence Project ordered DNA tests of the rape kit, which showed that Lott was not the rapist.
CONTRIBUTOR
Jeremy Kuzmarov
RELATED
FEATURED
FEATURED
FEATURED
2001 Tulsa Race “Riot” (Massacre) Commission Report Update: From Rhetoric To Remedy
"While this study is long overdue, we are blessed to have eyewitnesses, our great survivors, more than 100 years later, among us... We will stare American history in the face to truthfully discuss recommendations, challenges, reparations, and policy. Right solutions lead to long-sought restorative justice." - Okla. St. Rep Regina Goodwin
CONTRIBUTOR
Ross D. Johnson
RELATED
FEATURED
Hughes Van Ellis: Survivor, Community Advocate, Eternal Optimist
As a survivor of the 1921 Race Massacre, he was making a plea that through legislation, lawmakers could bring about some justice for him and the other two survivors his 109-year-old sister Viola Fletcher and 108-year-old Lessie Benningfield Randle - that the courts had denied. Van Ellis’ speech, along with those of others who testified, was broadcast nationally from the chambers of the U.S. Congress. Listeners tuning in across the country heard – and clung to - his words.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee
RELATED
FEATURED
FEATURED
New TPS Superintendent Gives Progress Report To State Board
Tulsa Public Schools is undergoing a period of regrouping. Administrators at TPS are looking for ways to raise the test scores of students, lift the classroom experience and address other challenges. It is an apt moment for the community of educators, parents, students, and concerned citizens in the North Tulsa community to turn to its most tried and true resource: teachers.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee
RELATED
AROUND TOWN: BLACK WALL STREET & GREATER TULSA
DISCOVER ALL OF THE GREAT FILMS, OUTDOOR EVENTS, CONCERTS, EXHIBITIONS AND FAMILY FUN THAT GREATER TULSA OFFERS.
Feb. 1
THE LINGERING LEGACIES OF URBAN RENEWAL
Urban renewal radically changed Tulsa’s landscape in the 1960’s and ’70’s in ways that many residents were deeply opposed to. Author Victor Luckerson and Greenwood photographer Don Thompson will discuss the personal and policy impacts of urban renewal, juxtaposing visuals from government sources (redlining and urban renewal maps) with Thompson’s on-the-ground photography of how Greenwood residents experienced those tumultuous years.
Jan. 26 - Feb. 04
CHOIR BOY
Choir Boy is an exploration of the intersection of race and sexuality through brilliant storytelling, music, and syncopated step dancing.
Feb. 13
AILEY II
The Next Generation of Dance - Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers.
Mar. 13
2024 WOMEN'S SUMMIT
2024 Women’s Summit at the Doubletree Warren Place, 6110 S. Yale Ave. The program is sponsored by the Greenwood Women’s Business Center, 102 N. Greenwood Ave., Suite 201. For more information, contact info@greenwoodwbc.com or gbcwomensummit.com.
Mar. 27
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH – “AND SO I STAYED ”
Women’s History Month – “And So I Stayed” will be shown at Tulsa Community College at its VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education (PACE), 103000 E. 81st St., on March 27 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
FEATURED
Victims Allege Corruption In Tulsa Criminal Justice System
On July 17, Chico and 20 other protesters rallied and spoke at a rally for criminal justice reform in front of the Tulsa County Courthouse against corruption in the Tulsa judicial system and for reforms in the system.
CONTRIBUTOR
Jeremy Kuzmarov
RELATED
FEATURED
Oklahoma State Officials Vote To Accredit Tulsa Public Schools, Averting State Takeover
Tulsa, Okla. The Oklahoma State Board of Education on Thursday, Aug. 24 voted to approve the accreditation of Tulsa Public Schools. The OSBE set the accreditation status at "accredited with deficiencies."
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee
RELATED
FEATURED
TAKEOVER? What It Means For Tulsa Public Schools
Should Oklahoma officials ‘make good’ on their threats of further punitive action against TPS, and takeover the state’s largest school district in pursuit of its perceived Brave New World, Tulsa students and parents will ultimately shoulder the weight of such partisan bias.
CONTRIBUTOR
Ross D. Johnson
RELATED
FEATURED
FEATURED
“A Whistle Blew About 5:00 A.M., And The Invasion Of Greenwood Began”
The survivors, descendants, and communities of Tulsa, Oklahoma that continue to struggle in the wake of the state-sanctioned, institutional and societal racism that culminated in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, followed by more than 100 years of legislative cowardice intended to protect the interests of those who benefited from the deaths of the innocent, will find no immediate respite in the halls of Tulsa district courts, reveals by Tulsa County Judge Caroline Wall’s final ruling late Friday, Jul.7.
CONTRIBUTOR
Ross D. Johnson
RELATED
FEATURED
Will Justice Prevail For Race Massacre Survivors?
With Tulsa County District Judge Caroline Wall’s dismissal of the Race Massacre survivor’s case for reparations, the burning question is whether there is any remaining hope for justice for the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, the most murderous, violent acts in the city’s history.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee
RELATED
FEATURED
Students of the COVID-19 Era
An ongoing series that explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, partially on Black, Indigenous and people of color communities in Oklahoma.
By Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle.
FEATURED
MJ: The Musical Brings Michael Jackson’s Story to Tulsa
J. Daughtry has a way of being in the right place at the right time. His musical career began with an unexpected turn in his earlier career in teaching. That led to a role playing the music legend Berry Gordy. He went on to play Gordy in another production. Next week Daughtry will bring his portrayal of the Motown icon – who played a vital role in Michael Jackson’s career — to Tulsa in yet another show -the touring jukebox musical production of MJ The Musical.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
918 Conversation With Tulsa’s Economic Development Director Erran Persley
Tulsa’s Economic Development Director Erran Persley, who began his new role in March 2024, spoke with The Oklahoma Eagle Managing Editor Gary Lee and Eagle contributor Kimberly Marsh about his plans for equitable economic growth across the city.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh & Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE 918 SERIES
FEATURED
North Tulsa Neighborhood Revitalization Plan Faces Challenges
According to U.S. census tract estimates cited in the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan, north Tulsa is losing Black residents by the thousands.
The vital objectives of the Master Plan are to stem that outflow, and stabilize and revitalize north Tulsa neighborhoods. The Tulsa Development Authority (TDA), through its PartnerTulsa staff, is finalizing a legal process to begin implementing the plan. And yet, enforcing the master plan faces substantive obstacles.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
Monroe Nichols and Karen Keith Will Face Off in Mayoral Race
Tulsa Public Schools improved student test scores by five percentage points as mandated by the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSBE). In a statement released to The Oklahoma Eagle late last week, TPS officials declared student test scores in English Language Arts (ELA) (reading/writing) have increased from 37% to 42% at the “basic and above” performance level.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
TPS Achieves State-Mandated Student Testing Benchmark
Tulsa Public Schools improved student test scores by five percentage points as mandated by the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSBE). In a statement released to The Oklahoma Eagle late last week, TPS officials declared student test scores in English Language Arts (ELA) (reading/writing) have increased from 37% to 42% at the “basic and above” performance level.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
North Tulsa Neighborhood Revitalization Plan Is Underway
The City of Tulsa in late July awarded $2 million to spur the development of new housing, retail, and office space in north Tulsa. The Tulsa Development Authority (TDA) will use the money to finalize the legal process necessary to begin the development of seventy acres of largely vacant land in north Tulsa. The area designated for revitalization lies within The Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan study area which is bordered by Pine Street to the north, US Highway 75 to the east, the rail line to the south (Archer Street), and LL Tisdale Parkway to the west.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
Monroe Nichols and Karen Keith Advance in Mayoral Primary
Monroe Nichols edged Tulsa mayoral candidates Karen Keith and Brent VanNorman on August 27, earning more votes than each competitor, but falling short of the 50 percent plus one needed to secure victory. The forced runoff between Nichols and Keith will be settled by Tulsa County voters during the November 5 general election.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
Mayoral Candidates Say Yes To ACTION Tulsa
The standing-room-only meeting drew historic attendance. In all, 559 people – a diverse group from across Tulsa – gathered to support the session and hear responses from mayoral candidates Brent Van Norman, Karen Keith and Monroe Nichols. The three were put in the hot seats in front of the church sanctuary to hear stories about issues Tulsans have had in their neighborhoods, and then respond to a group request to commit to work on those items.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
The Myth of the Christian State
The Gospels, with which most orthodoxies were aligned in Oklahoma, were objectively not applicable to Black Tulsans. Segregation, lynchings and mass murder were the justified responses to perceived encroachment and entitlement. No Black Tulsan man, woman or child was deserving of dignity, as represented in the state’s constitution, yet faith, Christianity, was regarded as the foundation upon which all were governed. BTW graduates of 1921 were subject to both the legal cruelty of the state and a demand to accept that faith, a faith unlike their own, was the state’s moral foundation upon which life was governed, without objection.
CONTRIBUTOR
Ross D. Johnson, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE ROSS D. JOHNSON STORIES
FEATURED
Williams Named National Geographic Wayfinder
Kristi Williams, a stalwart advocate for Black culture and heritage in Tulsa, has been named a National Geographic Wayfinder. This coveted role positions Williams to amplify her brand of storytelling on national and international platforms.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gary Lee, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE GARY LEE STORIES
FEATURED
Lee To Receive Honor At National Association Of Black Journalists Convention, July 31 – Aug. 4
The National Association of Black Journalist will be presenting a special honor to one of the first Tulsans to be recognized by the national organization.
CONTRIBUTOR
Staff, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE STORIES
FEATURED
Dennis Larsen, a stalwart of Tulsa police, takes command of the Police Department
Deputy Chief Dennis Larsen, a 45-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department, was gracious, sincere, and genuine as he launched an open conversation with The Oklahoma Eagle about his succession to Tulsa’s Chief of Police on Aug. 1. He was equipped with a pile of documents ready to respond to questions. Larsen replaces Chief Wendell Franklin, who retired from the department to lead private security operations for the Bank of Oklahoma.
CONTRIBUTOR
Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE KIMBERLY MARSH STORIES
FEATURED
TPS Offers Second Chance for High School Diploma
Tulsa Public Schools is offering a free summer program for recent high school dropouts and struggling students to get a diploma. The credit recovery program enables students to complete or make up coursework working online at their own pace, with help from certified teachers based in north Tulsa. The Bridge to Graduation program is open to former high school seniors from two years ago (2021-22) to current high school students who are behind on course credits.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
Eagle Receives Top Awards In Annual Oklahoma Press Association Contest
‘Clear Winner. Bold Cover Layouts, Almost Magazine Like. Reminds Us Of The Sunday New York Times,’ Judges Noted.
CONTRIBUTOR
Staff, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE STORIES
FEATURED
Eagle Publisher Honored As One Of Oklahoma’s Journalism Giants
James O. Goodwin Is The First African American To Receive OPA’s Highest Honor
CONTRIBUTOR
Staff, The Oklahoma Eagle
MORE STORIES
FEATURED
Lawsuit Against TPS Moves Forward
Two Tulsa Public School Board members are moving forward with a lawsuit alleging that other TPS school board members violated Oklahoma’s Open Meeting Act. The suit could eventually have a major impact on how the TPS board conducts meetings.
CONTRIBUTOR
John Neal
MORE JOHN NEAL STORIES
FEATURED
We Shall Know Them By Their Deeds
God’s place, one may objectively determine, of most early 20th century Oklahoma legislators, was to guide and protect the hand that inflicted harm, as the back upon which it fell was not worthy of His grace.
Of the 21st century, one may objectively determine that Oklahoma courts and legislators are convicted to guard against demands of accountability for sins that define the state’s history and moral character.