Oklahoma
As Democratic National Convention nears, Oklahoma delegates reflect party uncertainty
Joe Biden calls for an end to Israel-Hamas war in solo news conference
In a solo press conference defending his ability to keep his presidential campaign alive, Joe Biden called for the Israel-Hamas war to end.
Reuters
With Republicans starting their national nominating convention in Milwaukee on Monday, Oklahoma’s Democratic delegates to their party’s Chicago convention in mid-August reflect the uncertainty many have over President Joe Biden’s selection to be a candidate in the November general election.
“Biden’s my guy,” says Alicia Andrews , head of Oklahoma’s Democratic party.
“If it was up to me, I would tell everybody to shut up about having him drop out of the race and focus on reelecting a president who will preserve our democracy,” Andrews told The Oklahoman in a brief interview.
Referring to former President Donald Trump, expected to be the Republican presidential nominee, Andrews said, “we sure don’t want that dictator wannabe. We need to ride with the guy who beat him once and can beat him again.”
But while Andrews is supportive of Biden, former Gov. David Walters said it will be increasingly difficult for Biden to continue as the party’s nominee if swing state polls continue to deteriorate. “Fifty states don’t elect a president anymore,” Walters said. “In reality, it’s only about 10 states.”
Should Biden step aside, Walters said he hoped the party would have an open and transparent nomination process. “It strengthens the ticket a lot more if there’s a little competition,” he said.
Walters, in addition to his spot as a delegate, also serves on the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee. Walters said he was attending this year’s convention with his 17-year-old grandson, Harrison Fried, who was serving as a page.
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Walters said this year’s convention could be a historic one for Democrats, if it actually chooses the presidential nominee. “That’s the way it used to be done,” he said. “There’s no reason it wouldn’t work again.”
Walters also downplayed claims that it was too late in the process to change candidates. “If the UK can change its entire government in six weeks, then we should be able to,” he said. “So we’re going to prepare for what could be a very historic and interesting convention.”
The Oklahoma party’s website lists 13 of some 40 delegates from the state expected to attend the Chicago convention starting Aug. 19, including Walters and current state House Democratic leader Cyndi Munson, D-OKC. Walters served as governor from 1991-95.
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Currently the state has a Republican governor, all Republicans in its seven-member Congressional delegation and a strong majority of Republicans in both houses of the state legislature.
Discussions about Biden are distractions, Oklahoma Democratic delegate says
Oklahoma Democratic Committee delegate at-large Antwuan Jackson II said he thinks President Biden should stay in the campaign, noting he and the vice president are “our best hope for protecting the future of our country.”
“The opposition offers no credible alternative. They have shown themselves to be divisive, lacking in character, and detrimental to the interests of minorities, the middle class, working class Americans, and small business owners,” Jackson said in a statement.
Jackson said the discussions about President Biden’s age and mental acuity are distractions from substantial progress and meaningful change he and Vice President Kamala Harris have already achieved. He said he has heard from voters that they see a stark contrast between the presidential candidates, with Biden offering integrity and dedication to public service.
More: The GOP presidential nominee isn’t in question, but OK lawmakers expect debates at the convention
“Oklahoma voters, regardless of political affiliation, recognize the importance of a leader who can uphold the principles of honesty, competence and compassion in guiding our country forward,” he said.
Matthew Lucas, also an at-large delegate, said he believes that the party is firmly behind Biden. Lucas told The Oklahoman he believes the conversation surrounding Biden’s age and mental state are a “sideshow distraction.”
The Democratic National Convention in August should highlight the stark differences between the two parties, Lucas said, adding that more than 40 delegates from Oklahoma would be attending.
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“I think that’s going to be a defining point of this convention, making sure that we reiterate not only to our state delegates and everyone, but to the American people as well, that it is a real threat to our democracy,” he said. Lucas is going to the national convention for the first time and he’s assigned as a floor whip for Oklahoma’s fourth congressional district. More than 40 delegates from Oklahoma are attending.
M. Scott Carter and Jordan Gerard contributed to this story.
Putnam City West High School will shift to virtual learning on Tuesday after an incident involving two students prompted an investigation by the district and Oklahoma City police, according to Putnam City Schools.
District officials said administrators were alerted near the end of the school day Monday to an altercation involving two students in the school’s arena area.
Officials said the students left campus, and the case was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for investigation.
District officials said no students or staff were harmed and there is no ongoing safety threat related to the incident.
What we know
Putnam City West sent the following email to all families and staff at the school:
All PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st.
Today, an isolated serious incident involving two students occurred on school grounds. Near the end of the school day, administrators were alerted to an altercation between two students in the arena area. The individuals involved quickly left campus, prompting an initial fact-finding response by school administrators before the matter was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for further investigation. Because this is an active investigation involving students, no further information will be released at this time.
We understand this information may be concerning to students, staff, and families. Please know we are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all students. At Putnam City Schools, student and staff safety remains our highest priority. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and to allow for a thorough investigation, all PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st. Students will need to check Google Classroom for updates from teachers.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of PC West.
Putnam City Schools
All students and staff at Putnam City West will transition to virtual learning on Tuesday, April 21, while investigators continue their work, according to the district.
Students were told to check Google Classroom for instructions from teachers.
The district said it is withholding additional details because the case involves students and remains under investigation.
School officials have not said what triggered the incident or whether any arrests have been made.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
TULSA, OKLA (KTUL) — A new program in Oklahoma is giving adults another way to finish high school by allowing them to use past credits and test scores to earn a diploma, an option officials say could help thousands of people and strengthen the state’s workforce.
For years, adults in Oklahoma who did not finish high school largely had one main option: earning a GED. Now, Oklahoma CareerTech is rolling out the Career Readiness Diploma, a pathway designed to build on what students have already completed rather than requiring them to start over.
“So in Oklahoma right now, if you look at the demographics, we have about 279,000 people in our state without a high school diploma. So it’s almost 10% of our population doesn’t have a high school diploma,” said Lance Allee, an adult education and family literacy specialist with Oklahoma CareerTech.
Allee said the program allows adults to apply previously earned high school credit and combine different assessment scores into a single record to qualify for a diploma.
“It allows the student to use previously earned high school credit. So, it’s kind of like a portfolio where you can take multiple assessment scores and put them into one portfolio to get your high school diploma,” Allee said.
The program is open to adults 21 and older. In some cases, officials said, participants can finish in just weeks, depending on how many credits they already have.
CareerTech officials say the program is also aimed at improving job prospects for individuals while helping Oklahoma remain competitive when attracting employers.
“When you’re a company and you’re looking at moving into Oklahoma, you look at the demographics and say, is there a workforce there that we can employ? And you say, well, about 10% of the population doesn’t have a diploma, they may start looking at states that surround us. So, we definitely want to get as many diplomas out there as we can,” Allee said.
The program started issuing diplomas in recent weeks, and officials said dozens more people are already in the process. For more information or to sign up click here.
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NORMAN — Cord Rager’s return comes at a pivotal time for Skip Johnson’s Oklahoma Sooners. Not only do they get their day three starter back in time for big road matchups against Auburn and Arkansas on the horizon, but the Sooners pitching strength, their rotational depth, is primed and ready for the test.
The freshman lefty finished with eight strikeouts and only gave up one hit in only 65 pitches before his day ended in the sixth.
No. 14 Oklahoma earn its first conference sweep of the season, defeating Missouri 8-4. It was OU’s fourth conference series win.
Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8) put their best foot forward as they turn the page to the meat of their schedule where they will do battle against No. 13, No. 20 and No. 16 over the next three weeks — two of those series’ on the road.
Four runs in five hits in the second got things rolling for the Sooners.
Camden Johnson continued his brilliant play of late with a triple in the second. This came after a Brenden Brock solo home run to put OU up 1-0. Deiten LaChance grounded out to short but scored Johnson. Dasan Harris and and Nolan Stevens each found home before the inning ended.
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OU found fortune from the plate again in the fourth. Four runs off of four hits highlighted by a three-run home run by Johnson put Oklahoma up 8-0. It was Johnson’s seventh home run of the season, second on the team behind Brock’s nine.
Trent Collier got the nod in the sixth to relieve Rager.
In the seventh, Missouri finally got on the board for the first time since the ninth inning of Friday night’s Sooner victory. Cam Durnin hit a solo shot — his fourht of the season — to make the score 8-1 in favor of the home team.
The Tigers got their third hit of the game shortly after. From there, Collier’s short day was done. Gavyn Jones came on to relieve
LaChance missed a home run by inches when Tiger center fielder Kaden Peer made a leaping catch, jumping into the fence.
In the eighth, the Tigers continued to chip away. With bases loaded, Blaze Ward hit a basehit to score two Missouri base runners. OU led 8-3 heading into the final inning.
Harris led the Sooners with three hits. His day was accented by an RBI, stolen base and a run.
Oklahoma will travel to Auburn to take on the No. 13 Tigers for a three game series starting on Friday. Before that, they will host Oral Roberts for a midweek game at Kimrey Family Stadium in Norman. The Sooners won 4-0 against ORU earlier this season.
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