Skip to content

The Tulsa Beacon

 

News

How conservative or liberal are Tulsa area Oklahoma legislators?

Tulsa Beacon

The Oklahoma Constitution newspaper publishes a Conservative Index on each member of Oklahoma’s state senators and representatives each year. Their rating is based on the voting  record of each legislator.  Ten bills are selected that both the House and Senate voted on, that are considered to be over a variety of topics that  having a…

This Semester on Campus: ‘Sociology Of Sexualities’

Tulsa Beacon

Institution: University of Oklahoma Department: Sociology Course Code & Title SOC 6373 — “Sociology of Sexualities” Course Description: “Considers sociological understandings of sex and sexualities, LGBTQ identities/experiences, and heteronormativity with an emphasis on gender, power, and intersectionalities.”   Required Reading Bi: Bisexual, Pansexual, Fluid, And Genderqueer Youth Semi Queer: Inside The World Of Gay, Trans,…

SQ 832: National costs, and local consequences

Tulsa Beacon

A new Oklahoma ballot proposal, State Question 832, would significantly increase the state’s minimum wage by tying it to the cost of living in expensive urban areas. The measure is on the ballot on June 16, 2026. Let us imagine that this ballot proposal would have passed, say, 10 years ago. If that were the…

The real cost of ‘top two’: Taxifornia shows us what happens

Tulsa Beacon

The claim has been made that State Question 836, which changes Oklahoma’s primary election to a “top-two” model, would benefit taxpayers. Real-world experience suggests otherwise. Since California adopted a “top-two” primary election system in 2010, the tax burden on Californians has skyrocketed. The 15 years preceding the implementation of the “top-two” primary saw a rate…

OID fortified roof program saves homeowners millions

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA – A first-of-its-kind study from the University of Alabama, commissioned by the Alabama Department of Insurance, showed that homeowners with FORTIFIED homes are better protected from hurricanes than with standard construction. FORTIFIED Standards are used to mitigate homes as part of the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) Strengthen Oklahoma Homes grant program. “The findings in…

Gas Prices down in Tulsa last week

Tulsa Beacon

Average gasoline prices in Tulsa have fallen 9.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.60/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 321 stations in Tulsa. Prices in Tulsa are 25.2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 28.0 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price…

Back to School Barber Bash this Sunday

Tulsa Beacon

WHO: Tulsa Tech barber and cosmetology students, as well as instructors Local volunteer barbers and stylists Tulsa Tech administration Area partners and vendors Students and parents from across the region   WHAT: Tulsa Tech’s barber students, along with alumni and other partners will be providing FREE back-to-school haircuts and styling for school age children this…

OSSBA seeks another billion for schools … for administrators

Tulsa Beacon

Since 2018, Oklahoma public school funding has increased by $3.3 billion, with per-pupil revenue surging 51 percent during that time. But the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA), a lobbyist organization hired by school districts, says Oklahoma schools need $1 billion to $2 billion more. And the head of OSSBA says Oklahomans should not necessarily…

Owasso School Bond election to be held on September 9th

Tulsa Beacon

The Owasso Board of Education voted to accept a bond proposal at its regular board meeting on June 9, 2025. The bond included one resolution totaling $169,180,000.  The vote on the proposition will be held with a special election on September 9, 2025 for voters in the Owasso School District boundaries. The bond would be…

Summer reclaims headlines in July

Tulsa Beacon

After months dominated by rain and severe weather, summer finally reclaimed the spotlight in Oklahoma during July. The state’s wet streak ended, replaced by rising heat and drying conditions. A lone tornado touchdown near Vance AFB extended the tornado streak to five consecutive months, bringing the 2025 total through July to 88. Sweltering July heat…

Columns

Have you seen Jesus at the Gym? (What my Dad taught me about it)

Tulsa Beacon

“Did Jesus exercise?” It is an odd question, but one that invites us to think more deeply, not just about Jesus’ lifestyle 2,000 years ago, but about our own in this modern sedentary world. If we define exercise as an activity that we participate in for the sake of health and fitness, then the answer…

This is what I did to lose about 40 pounds in 5 months

Tulsa Beacon

I’ve lost about 40 pounds since March 1. Hurray! This is the most weight I have ever lost in one season. When I was 21, I lost 35 pounds at my summer job, which was delivering furniture for Manhattan Furniture. I wasn’t trying to lose weight that summer but it happened. About 10 years or…

The White House has a history of renovations

Tulsa Beacon

[Analysis of history and science influence on political and religious attitudes.] White House is a simple name for an amazing mansion. Everyone has the picture in their mind of the Greek Revival columns on the two story portico with two wings on either side. But how did the structure get to where it is today?…

It’s a challenge trying to be a long-distance Grandpa

Tulsa Beacon

I never met one set of my grandparents, my mother’s parents, the late Amos Whitten Rogers and Elizabeth Mae Rogers of West Virginia. Believe it or not, they were both born in 1875 – 144 years ago! They had 11 children, who were born from 1895 through 1917. My mother was born in 1911. She…

Opinion

Editorial: Oklahoma school-choice critics miss the mark

Tulsa Beacon

Opponents of Oklahoma’s school choice program claim it primarily benefits “the rich” because, in effect, the joint income of a working mom and dad with children is greater than the income of a young, single person with no children. Yes, the arguments against school choice really are that stupid. The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit…

Letter: America’s Greatest Mistake

Tulsa Beacon

When America adopted the term “Separation of Church and State” it began America’s greatest mistake, although it was a great idea originally.  It was meant to keep the federal government from dictating to churches what to do or say. But since then, they have changed what the First Amendment really meant.  Now it is used…

Editorial: Medicaid work requirements make moral and fiscal sense

Tulsa Beacon

“Work” may be a four-letter word, but it’s not an obscenity. You wouldn’t know that based on the reaction of many liberals to the new work requirements for Medicaid. To stay on Medicaid, the new law requires able-bodied adults with no children to spend only 80 hours per month either working, going to school, participating…

Editorial: OK economic reforms strengthen families, reward work, expand freedom

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma made meaningful progress during the 2025 legislative session with reforms that support families, encourage work, and expand opportunity. Together, they represent a steady movement toward a healthier, family-centered state—one where parents keep more of what they earn, education options reflect the needs of families, and the government respects individual initiative. Too often, economic and…

Sports

Boone Pickens Stadium named the best by USA Today

Tulsa Beacon

According to USA Today Oklahoma State’s Boone Pickens Stadium is the best college football Stadium in the United States.  USA Today compiled ratings from Yelp, Tripadvisor and Google reviews to make the determination. The three top stadiums were OSU’s Boone Pickens Stadium, with Kansas State’s Snyder Family Stadium and Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium close behind. After…

2026 OU Basketball Schedule for SEC Conference Games

Tulsa Beacon

The Southeastern Conference released its conference schedule for Men’s Basketball last week. All  SEC teams will play 18 SEC Conference basketball games this year. Each team will play 12 teams in the SEC one time and 3 teams twice. Oklahoma will play Ole Miss, Miss. State, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Tennessee,…

Daikin Park the home of the Astros

Tulsa Beacon

Last week I wrote about going to Houston to watch a couple of baseball games between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. I highlighted the fact that this is the final season for Nationals television broadcaster Bob Carpenter. This week, we look at the experience of attending a game at Daikin Park. It was…

Oilers lose in playoffs to Blizzard

Tulsa Beacon

Green Bay defeated the Tulsa Oilers, 58-26, on Sunday in Wisconsin, to advance to the IFL Eastern Conference Championship. It was the Oilers first playoff game in franchise history. Tulsa was plagued by turnovers throughout the game and on their first possession of the game, the Oilers fumbled the ball away inside the red zone…

Entertainment

Sight and Sound production of “Jesus” in Branson

‘Jesus’ at Sight & Sound in Branson has a great impact

Tulsa Beacon

BRANSON, Missouri – It would be difficult for a stage play to have more impact than the production of Jesus here at Sight & Sound Theatre. The public ministry of Jesus Christ, His miracles, His relationships, His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection are dramatically portrayed as only Sight & Sound can. Even though…

Question marks for Branson shows, Disney, Six Flags, etc.

Tulsa Beacon

Vacation plans are on hold and Tulsans’ best options for entertainment due to the coronavirus outbreak are in their own living rooms. Movie theaters closed All the movie theaters in Tulsa – even the Admiral Twin Drive-in – are closed due to the pandemic. Entertainment venues, which tend to draw big crowds, are deemed “non-essential”…

Singer Joe Diffee dies

Tulsa Beacon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nineties country-music hitmaker Joe Diffie died March 29th due to complications related to COVID-19. In all, Diffie charted 18 Top 10 singles, with the majority reaching the top five, including 1993 radio essentials Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die) and iconic song, John Deere Green. Diffie’s popular hits also…