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How the natural beauty of Oklahoma state parks you enjoy today was preserved decades ago

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How the natural beauty of Oklahoma state parks you enjoy today was preserved decades ago


With nearly 40 state parks in Oklahoma today, there are wonderful places in natural settings where you can still get away and take in the outdoors.

In 1937, Oklahoma was celebrating its eight new state parks, planning guided tours by the state park commission and National Park Service. It would be an introduction for visitors to learn more about each of the parks’ unique features.

Beginning in April that year, there would be a new park featured each weekend, beginning with Beavers Bend State Park, as reported in The Daily Oklahoman:

Scenery such as many Oklahomans do not know exists in the state will be seen when the first April tour is conducted through Beavers Bend park in McCurtain County in extreme southeastern Oklahoma. Wild flowers will be in bloom then.

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Specialists in natural history, drawn from the national park service personnel in the Oklahoma City regional office, will serve as guides. They will interpret the various natural features of the parks, identifying species of wildflowers, trees, and geological formations.

The new parks and their locations included Quartz Mountain, Lugert; Boiling Springs, Woodward; Robbers Cave, Wilburton; Beavers Bend, Broken Bow; Roman Nose, Watonga; Spavinaw Hills, Salina; Osage Hills, Pawhuska; and Lake Murray, near Ardmore.

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The Daily Oklahoman’s readers were told to watch the newspaper for more details coming soon that would reveal exact dates for each guided tour. But in the meantime, instructions were given that included a glimpse of what people would experience:

Visitors will drive to the parks in their own cars where they will be met by the guides. The picnic facilities include running water, fireplaces, combination table and bench units, comfort stations and parking space for automobiles. The tour through the woodlands, past the waterfalls and over the streams will be on foot.

In March 1937, the complete dates for the “Sunday outings” were announced, beginning with the Beavers Bend tour on April 11 and ending with Spavinaw Hills on May 23:

Covering more than 30,000 acres, these eight parks are situated in the most interesting natural areas in Oklahoma. Set aside for the free use of all the people, the areas are being preserved in their natural state. The civil conservation corps is confining its development to making the parks accessible with roads, trails, picnic facilities, comfort stations, campsite. In several parks facilities for boating, swimming and fishing have been provided.

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The conducted tours have been arranged to give Oklahomans an opportunity to become better acquainted with Oklahoma’s wildflowers, birds, trees, small mammals and geological formations.

If you visit Oklahoma’s state parks this spring, take note of your surroundings — the streams, trees, rocks, waterfalls, animals — and how actions taken almost 90 years ago helped preserve the natural experiences you can enjoy today.



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OU basketball vs South Carolina prediction, our pick for Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

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OU basketball vs South Carolina prediction, our pick for Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16


SACRAMENTO, CA — Oklahoma women’s basketball is looking to advance to its first Elite Eight since 2010 when it faces South Carolina in the Sweet 16 on Saturday.

The No. 4 seed Sooners previously defeated the No. 1 seed Gamecocks 94-82 in overtime on Jan. 22.

OU has won nine of its last 10 games, including defeating Idaho in the first round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament and Michigan State in the second round.

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The matchup will be a battle of two of the best offenses nationally as the Sooners rank fourth in scoring offense while South Carolina ranks third.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of OU’s Sweet 16 contest against the Gamecocks:

Watch Oklahoma vs South Carolina live with Fubo

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When does Oklahoma play in March Madness? What time is Sooners basketball game vs South Carolina in NCAA women’s basketball tournament?

  • Date: Saturday, March 28
  • Time: 4 p.m. CT
  • Location: Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California

How to watch Oklahoma vs South Carolina in NCAA Tournament: Time, TV channel, live stream

Oklahoma vs South Carolina airs on ESPN at 4 p.m. CT Saturday.

Streaming options include FUBO.

Oklahoma vs. South Carolina in NCAA Tournament score prediction

South Carolina 93, Oklahoma 81: The Sooners keep it competitive early behind Aaliyah Chavez. But the Gamecocks’ size and depth prove too much in the fourth quarter. Dawn Staley hasn’t lost in the Sweet 16 since 2019 and that won’t change Saturday.

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Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.



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Rapper Snoop Dogg to star in, produce ‘God of the Rodeo’ film shot in Oklahoma

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Rapper Snoop Dogg to star in, produce ‘God of the Rodeo’ film shot in Oklahoma


Rapper and hip hop icon Snoop Dogg is set to produce and star in a feature film that will be shot in Oklahoma this year.

“God of the Rodeo” is based on a 1998 book from New York-based journalist and author Daniel Bergner, who reported on inmates competing in a controversial rodeo inside Louisiana’s Angola Prison in the 1960s. According to Deadline, the film centers around Bucckey, an inmate serving a life sentence who “finds a glimmer of redemption” through the rodeo. Snoop’s role has not yet been announced.

The film is directed by Rosalind Ross, who is best known for writing, directing and executive producing “Father Stu.” Snoop will produce alongside Sara Ramker, Giannina Scott and Ridley Scott, Deadline reports.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce confirmed to News 9 on Friday “God of the Rodeo” was pre-approved for the state’s film incentive program through Oklahoma Film + Music.

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Filming is scheduled in Oklahoma for June 15 through July 31, according to Oklahoma Film + Music’s website. The website also lists Tulsa-based production company Rebellium Films as working on the film. Filming locations have not been announced yet.





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Oklahoma City Comets preliminary 2026 roster

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Oklahoma City Comets preliminary 2026 roster


The Oklahoma City Comets, the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, unveiled their initial roster on Thursday, with opening day set for Friday night in Oklahoma City against the Albuquerque Isotopes, a Rockies’ farm team.

Among the 43 players on the Dodgers 40-man roster, 10 are on the injured list (three on the 60-day IL, which expands this list to 43), and 26 are active in the majors. Six of the seven remaining 40-man players for the Comets.

River Ryan is the only unaccounted 40-man player not on the preliminary Oklahoma City roster, but he could join them soon. Ryan is slated to pitch this weekend in Arizona, Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic reported Thursday.

Hyeseong Kim lost out to Alex Freeland for a spot on the opening day roster, with the Dodgers wanting Kim to split time between second base, shortstop, and center field in Triple-A.

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“There’s no doubt that Hyeseong at some point is going to come help us out. I think the driver, as far as at the outset, is giving Hyeseong an opportunity to play every day, play all over the diamond,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday.

Kyle Hurt is among the relievers. After an impressive spring training, the Dodgers opted to slow-play the right-hander missed all of last season after Tommy John surgery. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get called up as a need arises in the majors.

Paul Gervase also impressed in spring, and left-hander Ronan Kopp is in his first year on the 40-man roster. Expect a lot of strikeouts from that pair.

Ryan Ward is also on the 40-man roster for the first time, but he returns to Oklahoma City, where the reigning Pacific Coast League MVP he holds several club records in the Bricktown era, a period since the current ballpark opened in 1998. Michael Siani will patrol the outfield for the Comets, likely flanked by Zach Ehrhard and/or James Tibbs.

Ehrhard and Tibbs, acquired from the Boston Red Sox for Dustin May last July, impressed as non-roster invitees in camp and as the older and more experienced of the plethora of stellar Dodgers outfield prospects are the closest to the majors among the group.

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Jack Suwinski was briefly on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this offseason, as was utility man Ryan Fitzgerald, who will likely play all over the infield and potentially some outfield for the Comets. Defensive whiz Noah Miller will play shortstop for Oklahoma City, whose infield also has Nick Senzel and Ryan Fitgerald, all of whom were non-roster invitees this spring for the Dodgers.

Veteran pitchers Cole Irvin and Keynan Middleton are on the Comets’ staff. Other Oklahoma City pitchers with major league experience are River’s brother Ryder Ryan, Garrett McDaniels, and Carlos Duran (pitched one game for the Athletics last season).

Irvin and Ryder Ryan will start the first two games, followed by Christian Romero on Sunday, per play-by-play broadcaster Alex Freedman.

Left-hander Antoine Kelly and right-hander Chris Campos, who were the last two non-roster pitchers standing in Dodgers camp this spring, each are on the Comets preliminary roster. left-hander Logan Allen, who signed a minor league contract last week, is also with Oklahoma City.

Pitcher José Rodríguez, who was touted as a potential Rule 5 Draft pick last December but went unselected, was a non-roster invitee this spring training but did not pitch. He starts the season on the 60-day injured list, as does veteran first baseman Matt Gorski.

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Oklahoma City preliminary roster

  • Starting pitchers (4): Cole Irvin, Ryder Ryan, Cristian Romero, Carlos Duran
  • Right-handed relievers (8): Kyle Hurt*, Paul Gervase*, Chris Campos, Keynan Middleton, Jordan Weems, Wyatt Mills, Antonio Knowles, Jerming Rosario
  • Left-handed relievers (4): Ronan Kopp*, Antoine Kelly, Logan Allen Garrett McDaniels
  • Catchers (2): Eliézer Alfonzo, Seby Zavala
  • Infielders (4): Ryan Fitzgerald, Noah Miller, Nick Senzel, Austin Gauthier
  • Outfielders (4): Michael Siani*, Ryan Ward*, Jack Suwinski, Zach Ehrhard
  • Infielder/outfielders (2): Hyeseong Kim*, James Tibbs III
  • Injured list (2): rhp José Rodríguez (60-day), 1b Matt Gorski (60-day)

The Comets will finalize the roster before Friday’s season opener.



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