Oklahoma
How An Oklahoma Co. Partnership Will Help Prevent Drugs From Entering Jail
Oklahoma County leaders launched a new partnership to stop drugs from entering the Oklahoma County Detention Center.
The priority prompted new action from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. A new collaboration between the DA’s office and OCDC is about stopping the crime cycle.
Before this agreement — detention center investigators only had authority inside the jail. This new partnership allows them to pursue suspects outside the jail’s walls. Illegal drugs often disrupt a community’s rhythm.
“Fentanyl is a drug that we’re all very concerned about,” said Vicki Behenna, Oklahoma County District Attorney. “We don’t want it on our streets, and it has no place in the Oklahoma County Detention Center either. It drains the resources of law enforcement. It drains the resources of the criminal justice system.”
Oklahoma County Detention Center investigators had authority inside the jail. Investigators had to rely on other agencies to pursue the suspects.
“They kinda had to stop at the walls,” Behenna said. “As a result of that, we decided to this cross-commissioning agreement.”
Behenna’s office opened a door to save investigators’ time to follow leads. Behenna said they do not need additional staff.
“My investigators have statewide jurisdiction,” Behenna said.
The Prison Policy Initiative shows that 41% of people arrested suffer from substance use disorder.
“What we see in the criminal justice system is a number of individuals who cycle through the system,” Behenna said.
Behenna said this partnership allows OCDC investigators to interview suspects themselves. They can follow an investigation directly to discover the source of any drugs. Behenna said quicker investigations protect people.
“To ensure, even if someone is held pretrial, that they’re safe in that environment,” Behenna said.
Oklahoma County plans to build a new jail and mental health facility.
“If we treat the underlying problem – substance abuse – and stabilize that individual, then they’re not gonna reenter the system,” Behenna said.
Behenna said these tools can restore a healthy community pulse.
“I think all of that is really, really good for the community,” Behnna said.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Offers 2026 Bixby DB Braeden Presley
The stark reality of the Cowboys future on the gridiron is up in the air. Can Oklahoma State bounce back in 2025 following one of the worst football seasons in years? Will the Pokes return next season and play with a chip on their shoulder? Only time will tell and the best way to improve the football team is for the coaching staff to hit the recruiting trail hard.
Oklahoma State will say goodbye to one of the greatest statistical wide receivers to ever wear the Cowboy orange. Senior Brennan Presley has been the cornerstone of the receiving core for the past four seasons. He is the all-time receptions leader in Oklahoma State history and has caught more than two passes in nearly every game since his sophomore season.
The offense won’t be the same in 2025 with Presley snagging catches across the middle, but the fans of Cowboy football won’t have to wait long as a familiar name will be entering the mix straight out of the class of 2026.
On Thursday, Oklahoma State looked to make it the Presley trifecta when they offered the youngest of the bunch, 2026 Bixby star Braeden Presley. Older brothers Brennan and Braylin both committed to Oklahoma State out of high school. Brennan hung around to become the all-time receptions leader in school history while Braylin transferred to Tulsa.
Braeden is the biggest brother of the bunch and measures in at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, according to 247Sports. He is unranked at the moment but still has a full season of football yet to play. The interest continues to grow for Braeden who has drawn offers from Tulsa, Boston College and Kansas.
Oklahoma State joined the mix on Thursday and is hoping to use its family ties to lock up their third straight Presley. Little is known about Presley on the field, and he has proven this season that he is a jack of all trades. He has logged a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and passing touchdown this season for the Spartans of Bixby.
A majority of his highlights have come on the defensive side of the football. He has 27 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in 2024 for a Bixby team who is searching for yet another Class 5A State Championship.
The fans of Oklahoma State football may not have to wait very long to have a Presley once again under the lights of Boone Pickens Stadium.
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Oklahoma
Miami Basketball: Canes drop second straight game to Oklahoma State 80-74
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1), 80-74, Friday afternoon at TD Arena in the Hurricanes’ (3-2) second game of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic.
Down 17 with five minutes to play in the game, the Hurricanes connected on seven of their final ten shots to pull to within six of the Cowboys, but time ultimately ran out on Miami’s comeback.
Guard Nijel Pack recorded his second 20-point game of the season, totaling 20 points to lead the Hurricanes in scoring.
Forward Brandon Johnson tallied his first double-double of the season with 12 points and ten rebounds, pacing the Hurricanes’ on the glass.
Oklahoma State took control early, opening the game on a 9-0 run. Miami cut the lead to three thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Blackmon and Pack, but the Cowboys responded with a 7-0 run to extend their lead to double-digits, 20-10, with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
The Cowboys shot 53.3 percent from 3-point range in the first half, increasing their lead to 16, 43-37, at the halftime break.
Oklahoma State took its largest lead of the game, 51-31, at the 14:35 mark in the second half, but Miami responded with an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 13 at the midway point of the frame.
The Hurricanes shot 58.1 percent from the field in the second half, and four Miami players scored eight-plus points in the final 20 minutes of play, but they could not complete the comeback.
On Sunday, Miami will play VCU or Nevada at 12:30 p.m. ET at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C.
Courtesy of Miami Athletics
Oklahoma
Tide Pod: Alabama prepares for road matchup against Oklahoma
Jack and Tony preview Alabama’s first game against Oklahoma in Norman since 2002. The show starts with a discussion on how Alabama is handling the “Rat Poison” and preparing for another challenging road environment. Jack and Tony give their keys to the game, including a turnover-happy Sooners team, Jackson Arnold’s threat at QB and how Alabama will test OU’s strong defense. Tony gives his take on the Tide’s No. 7 College Football Playoff ranking, chances at reaching the SEC Championship game and more. The show finishes with predictions and Week 13 CFP picks.
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