New Thunder Arena Unveiled + Glossip Deal Dispute | July 17, 2025

Summary:

Mayor David Holt debuts bold new renderings for OKC’s $1 billion Thunder arena. Plus, Richard Glossip claims AG Drummond agreed to let him go free — but the state says no deal. We break it all down, plus your top 10 stories across Oklahoma.

Sources:

• Oklahoma Voice: Arena story by Ylleana Berryhill
• Oklahoma Voice: Glossip story by Barbara Hoberock

CTA:

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🎙 Show Notes — Oklahoma Memo Podcast (July 16, 2025)

🚨 Today on the pod:

• Oklahoma sends aid to flood-ravaged New Mexico and more teams to Texas.
• Paycom’s big arena bombshell: What will OKC’s new arena be called — and what happens to the old one?
• Plus, the best journalism from across Oklahoma in your daily rundown.

🏟 Arena talk:

Oklahoma City is buzzing over arena news. Paycom announced it’ll drop naming rights in 2028, just as the new arena opens. That leaves a big question: Who’ll snag the next sponsorship deal? Listeners weighed in with ideas like Devon Energy Arena, Sonic Thunderdome, and even Life Church.arena. Meanwhile, Paycom’s CEO may redevelop the current site — think entertainment district like you see in Arlington or Atlanta. What would you want there? Email us at news@oklahomamemo.com.

🌊 Flood response:

Oklahoma’s sending a 10-person team to help New Mexico recover from catastrophic flooding, plus more swift water rescue crews to Texas, where the death toll is staggering. Gov. Stitt says it’s all about standing by neighbors when they need it most.

📰 The Oklahoma Rundown:

• Bob Funk Sr., co-founder of Express Employment Professionals, dies.
• OKC Police release bodycam from Midtown mass shooting.
• Voters will weigh a $2.7 billion bond in October.
• Charter board greenlights Epic audit.
• Ryan Walters fights order to pay journalists’ fees.
• No charges for officer in SE OKC fatal shooting.
• 400+ dogs rescued in Stroud cruelty case.
• Why did Oklahomans get a ‘Blue Alert’ from Texas?
• More: Cleveland County jail contract ends, paid leave report, disability jobs rethink.
• Ardmoreite small-town scoop: former principal says district ignored discipline, child struck.

👉 Subscribe to our free daily newsletter at OklahomaMemo.com and follow us on TikTok, YouTube & Instagram for more.

🎧 Trump’s Medicaid cuts, EPA vs chemtrails, & MLB draft 1st round dominated by Oklahoma players

In this episode of Oklahoma Memo, host Ryan Welton breaks down what President Trump’s new healthcare bill could mean for nearly a quarter of Oklahomans on Medicaid, plus how the EPA is once again shutting down chemtrails conspiracies. We also celebrate a huge weekend for Oklahoma baseball with three players going in the first round of the MLB Draft.

Also in this episode:

• A quick ad on how Oklahoma Memo can help turn your event or keynote into a podcast.
• The Oklahoma Rundown: 10 top stories from Guymon to Idabel, including record state revenues, SNAP impacts, and a tragic house fire in Logan County.

Links & sources:

• StateImpact Oklahoma on Medicaid: KGOU.org
• Oklahoma Watch on the EPA & contrails: OklahomaWatch.org
• MLB Draft coverage via The Oklahoman: Oklahoman.com

👉 Subscribe to our newsletter at oklahomamemo.com and follow us on social for daily Oklahoma stories.

Today on Oklahoma Memo:

• The Heartland Flyer gets a last-minute funding boost to keep running between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth — with long-term hopes of expanding into Kansas.
• State Superintendent Ryan Walters announces a PragerU-backed ideology test for teachers from “woke” states like California and New York, stirring debate as Oklahoma continues facing a teacher shortage.
• Plus, The Oklahoma Rundown — flash flood risks, a raccoon that took out the power, Paul McCartney heading to Tulsa, and more top stories from across the state.

Show notes:

• 🎙 Hosted by Ryan Welton
• 📰 Stories sourced from Oklahoma Voice, StateImpact Oklahoma (KGOU, KOSU), The Oklahoman, KFOR, News 9, KTUL and more — support local journalism!
• 🚂 Full Heartland Flyer story by Barbara Hoberock at Oklahoma Voice
• 🏫 Teacher certification story by Beth Wallis at StateImpact Oklahoma
• 📧 Want a turnkey podcast for your business? Email ryan@doabledigitalmedia.com
• 👉 Subscribe to the Oklahoma Memo newsletter at OklahomaMemo.com
• 🎥 Follow us on TikTok & YouTube @OklahomaMemo
• ⭐ Rate & review this podcast to help more Oklahomans find us!

🎧 Episode Notes: Oklahoma Memo — July 10, 2025

Today on Oklahoma Memo:

• A fringe anti-government militia claims it took down News 9’s weather radar — and warns more Oklahoma radars could be targeted.
• State Superintendent Ryan Walters says schools must serve free meals starting next year — but a top lawmaker calls it an “empty threat.”
• Plus, a fast spin around the state: mountain lions, stolen heifers, a Turner Turnpike travel stop closing for good, and more.

📰 Full story list + sources in today’s newsletter at OklahomaMemo.com

👉 Follow, rate & review the podcast wherever you listen. It really helps more Oklahomans find us.

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel by searching Oklahoma Memo.

📩 Sign up for the free daily newsletter at OklahomaMemo.com

Questions or want to sponsor an episode? Email ryan@doabledigitalmedia.com or news@oklahomamemo.com.

This is the first episode of Oklahoma Memo, a podcast dedicated to Oklahoma news. If you're unfamiliar with the Oklahoma Memo, it's a newsletter published daily at 7 a.m. You can subscribe to it at OklahomaMemo.com.

📝 Top stories:

✅ Trump plan to close key weather labs draws ire of Rep. Tom Cole

The Trump administration is proposing the shutdown of the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, which is responsible for major radar forecasting breakthroughs.

Oklahoma Watch’s Em Luetkemeyer reports this move would threaten more than 900 local jobs and critical severe weather research.

Rep. Tom Cole is pushing back, calling the lab a “national asset.”

Read more at Oklahoma Watch

✅ Oklahoma state park restaurants closed after financial dispute

The Oklahoma Voice’s Barbara Hoberock reports that The Lookout Kitchen restaurants at several state parks have closed.

The vendor reportedly owes the state $254,943 and hasn’t provided required financial assurances.

Closures impact Beavers Bend, Lake Murray, Roman Nose, and more.

Read more at Oklahoma Voice

🗞 The Oklahoma Rundown:

Highlights from around the state’s top outlets:

Tragedy in OKC: man arrested after death of 3-year-old (KFOR)

Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to be NBA 2K26 cover star (KOCO)

Oklahoma’s Rylie Jeffries joins Big Brother 27 cast (The Oklahoman)

Severe flooding hits Sallisaw (KTUL)

Bojangles expanding to OKC (The Oklahoman)

Muscogee Nation marks Sovereignty Day on McGirt anniversary (Mvskoke Media)

Lawsuit could make part of Will Rogers Turnpike free (Tulsa World)

Medicaid & SNAP cuts could impact thousands (The Oklahoma Eagle)

…and much more.

❤️ Special note:

Remembering Michael Dean — longtime Sooner football broadcaster and former Griffin Media colleague. A true gentleman who loved to talk OU hoops under Billy Tubbs. Boomer Sooner.

💌 Support local journalism:

Donate to Oklahoma Watch

Donate to Oklahoma Voice

📬 About Oklahoma Memo:

We’re here to reignite your daily news habit by connecting you to quality local reporting — stress-free.

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👉 Questions or story tips? Email: news@oklahomamemo.com

Have a great Wednesday — halfway to the weekend!