Tulsa

Oklahoma Auditor Proposes Legislative Changes After Exposing Financial Mismanagement at Tulsa Public Schools

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Tulsa, Oklahoma – In the wake of a revealing audit on Tulsa Public Schools (TPS), Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd has proposed significant changes to state laws aimed at curbing financial mismanagement. The audit, covering the years 2015-2023, brought to light various questionable practices involving school administrators and local vendors that could potentially run afoul of criminal laws. The investigation highlighted instances where administrators benefited from vendor contracts and identified a concerning pattern of transactions just below the $50,000 mark, thereby sidestepping the district’s formal bidding process. One striking example noted in the … Read more

Tulsa Officer’s Shooting Case Prompts Jury to Examine Police Training: A Deeper Look into Systemic Issues

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Tulsa, Okla. — A legal battle concerning alleged improper training and use of force by the Tulsa Police Department is set to proceed to trial, a judge recently decreed. The focus is on a distressing incident dating back to March 2020, which was captured on body camera footage showing Tulsa Police Officer Aaron Russell firing five shots as Michael Delaney, then a suspect, maneuvered his car away from an arresting situation. Delaney who reportedly did not comply with Russell’s orders to exit his vehicle, was hit in the shoulder by gunfire. He later accepted guilt … Read more

Jury Recommends 28-Year Sentence for Aryan Brotherhood Member in Brutal Tulsa Road Rage Incident

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TULSA, Okla. – A man in Tulsa County, identified as an Aryan Brotherhood gang member, has been convicted and is facing 28 years in prison after a violent confrontation that followed a traffic incident in October 2023, authorities reported. The accused, Dustin Hicks, was found guilty of beating and robbing another motorist. According to the prosecutors, the incident unfolded when the victim inadvertently cut off Hicks on the road, causing Hicks to spill a drink. The confrontation escalated quickly as Hicks demanded compensation from the victim for the mishap. Authorities detailed that after both parties … Read more

Second Jury Reaffirms Guilty Verdict in Tulsa Girlfriend Murder Case, Recommends Life Again

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Tulsa, Oklahoma – In a significant decision this week, Alonzo Kelly was convicted for the second time in the 2016 murder of his girlfriend, Charletta Thomas, officials reported. The repeated guilty verdict came after a retrial was mandated by an appeals court, reasserting the gravity of the crime that has captivated local attention for years. Kelly, who was initially found guilty in 2021 and sentenced to a life term, challenged the verdict, arguing his right to self-representation was unjustly denied. His appeal brought the case back to the spotlight, culminating in this week’s retrial where … Read more