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Influential Oklahoma lawmaker presses Ryan Walters to buy inhalers for schools after delay

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Influential Oklahoma lawmaker presses Ryan Walters to buy inhalers for schools after delay


The Oklahoma Senate’s budget chairman had a terse message for state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters on Thursday: Show him the money.

Sen. Chuck Hall, a Republican from Perry, made the point in a brief letter to Walters just one day after Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued a “letter of counsel to Walters regarding the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s yearlong delay in purchasing emergency asthma inhalers for public schools.

In his letter, Drummond told Walters and Education Department officials to act quickly to make sure public school students have access to the inhalers. “Waiting more than a year to ask for guidance, changing procurement methods multiple times and now requiring school districts to individually procure emergency inhalers is neither speedy or responsible,” Drummond wrote.

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Hall cited Drummond’s message, as well as the numerous attempts by lawmakers to get the agency to buy the inhalers. Hall wrote that Walters had “a clear opportunity and pathway to do the right thing that will benefit everyone.” He added that “there is now no excuse to not execute the delivery of these funds as expeditiously as possible.”

The Legislature funded the inhalers for every Oklahoma school district through a law passed in 2023, but Education Department officials have not spent the money.

‘I continue to be disappointed in the lack of action’

Hall also took issue with agency spokesman Dan Isett’s statement to The Oklahoman on Wednesday which said the “OSDE has been distributing funds for inhalers for the past two years.”

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“My concern is the timeline of this statement,” Hall wrote. “The law to provide the $250,000 for the program only took effect last year. If this statement is accurate, I would also appreciate information on the vendor you used to distribute the inhalers.”

Hall said he believed a single supplier, the Brendon McLarty Memorial Foundation, was the lone entity in the state that could distribute inhalers to schools and train administrators and teachers on proper inhaler use.

More: Oklahoma attorney general criticizes Ryan Walters, OSDE over delayed inhaler purchase

“I have been in communication with the foundation after reading your spokesman’s statement, and they said they are unaware of OSDE distributing any funding for school inhalers,” Hall said.

For several years now, lawmakers have been trying to ensure emergency asthma inhalers are in schools.

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In 2019, lawmakers passed legislation that allowed the state to partner with the McLarty Foundation to buy emergency asthma inhalers. That measure, Senate Bill 381, authorized schools to stock emergency albuterol inhalers in the event that a child goes into respiratory distress and required at least two staff members at the school be trained on how to use the inhalers.

In 2023, lawmakers, again partnered with the McLarty Foundation to develop and pass legislation that earmarked $250,000 to buy albuterol inhalers and spacers for all Oklahoma school districts.

While Hall told Walters he respected his diligence in asking for guidance, he said he was disappointed by the yearlong delay in processing the funds.

“I continue to be disappointed in the lack of action as this money has been available for over a year,” he wrote. “Please end the delays and distribute this funding immediately.”



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Oklahoma

WATCH: Oklahoma Softball Newcomer Media Day

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WATCH: Oklahoma Softball Newcomer Media Day


RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City.

Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more.

Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com.

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Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.

Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 



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How Oklahoma State football’s Iman Oates first sack was a sign he had made his mark on DL

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How Oklahoma State football’s Iman Oates first sack was a sign he had made his mark on DL


STILLWATER — Iman Oates was happy to have put pressure on the quarterback.

The Oklahoma State defensive tackle pulled TCU quarterback Josh Hoover to the ground in the first quarter of what turned out to be a 38-13 Cowboy loss Saturday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Hoover tried to escape the pressure, but Oates dove, grabbing the quarterback and pulling him to the ground.

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“I thought he threw the ball away,” Oates said. “Then I got up and Kody Waltersheid was like, ‘Let’s go, Iman!’

“I was like, ‘Oh, it’s a sack.’”

Not just any sack, but Oates’ first of the season, and thus, the first of his OSU career.

Oates added another tackle for loss among his four stops Saturday as the product of Tulsa Edison High School and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M has turned into one of the Cowboys’ more reliable defensive linemen.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Oates redshirted last year, but quickly stepped in on a line full of returning players and made his mark. For the season, he has played 480 snaps, fifth-most on the defense and most among defensive linemen. 

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With one year of eligibility remaining, Oates should continue to be an impact player on what will be a mostly rebuilt defensive line next season.

Here’s a look at other Cowboys on the move in this week’s stock report:

Oklahoma State stock report

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Stock rising

Brennan Presley, receiver: The super-senior receiver became the Cowboys’ all-time leader in pass receptions, surpassing Rashaun Woods’ record of 293. Presley now has 297 for his career and surpassed the 5,000-yard mark in all-purpose yards, becoming the fourth OSU player to do so. In a year that has been hard to watch for Cowboy fans, Presley continues to be a ray of sunshine.

Young players’ development: Particularly on defense, the Cowboys got an extended look at some young players in the primary rotation for the first time. Now, with a week off, coach Mike Gundy said it would be a good time to let those players work their way toward more game snaps when the Pokes host Texas Tech on Nov. 23.

Stock falling

Veterans’ playing time: The flipside of the young players getting more involvement means veterans, especially those who are nearing the end of their careers, will have to share more time. Maybe some young offensive linemen work in with super-senior starters. The same will continue to happen at safety and on the defensive line. 

Alan Bowman, quarterback: He’s one of those super-seniors in danger of losing playing time in the final two games. The veteran quarterback deserves a proper senior salute for what he has given the program in a time of need. But the Cowboys need to be forward-thinking about the rest of the season. True freshman Maealiuaki Smith can play in the final two games without burning his redshirt, and it’s rare to have this opportunity to get a rookie QB meaningful snaps without endangering the status of your team.

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Oklahoma State redshirt tracker

Da’Wain Lofton looks destined to redshirt in his true senior season.

After transferring from Virginia Tech, Lofton was limited by an injury early in the season, but got on the field for four games.

However, he didn’t make the trip to Fort Worth, Texas, for the TCU game, so it looks like his season is over. Playing in a backup role to slot receiver Brennan Presley, Lofton had 140 receiving yards on six catches.

Lofton has played inside and outside receiver during his college career, and depending on what happens with the OSU roster, he could be in line for a prime role next season.

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Also, true freshman safety David Kabongo played in his fifth game of the season, wiping out his redshirt status. No other freshmen are in danger of surpassing the four-game mark over the final two weeks of the season.

And the Pokes debuted an unexpected freshman on Saturday. Linebacker/edge rusher Yamil Talib, a walk-on from Dallas, played five snaps, primarily as a pass rusher. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Talib is the nephew of former Kansas standout and NFL cornerback Aqib Talib.

Here’s a look at the OSU redshirt tracker with two games remaining:

  • Played in more than four games: Landyn Cleveland, Fr.; Josh Ford, Fr.; David Kabongo, Fr.
  • Played in four games: Gavin Freeman, Jr.; Da’Wain Lofton, Sr.
  • Played in three games: None
  • Played in two games: Jonathan Agumadu, Fr.; Rodney Fields Jr., Fr.; Collin Oliver, Sr.; Maealiuaki Smith, Fr.
  • Played in one game: Yamil Talib, Fr.
  • Other non-freshman redshirt candidates: A.J. Green, Sr. (0 games) 



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Jalon Moore fuels Oklahoma’s comeback win over Northwestern State with 23 points

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Jalon Moore fuels Oklahoma’s comeback win over Northwestern State with 23 points


NORMAN, Okla. — Jalon Moore scored 19 of his career-high tying 23 points in the second half and Jeremiah Fears had 15 points and four steals and Oklahoma pulled away in the second half Monday night to beat Northwestern State 73-57.

Dayton transfer Kobe Elvis added 10 points and Sam Godwin grabbed 10 rebounds to go with eight points for Oklahoma (2-0).

Micah Thomas led Northwestern State (1-2) with 20 points and Addison Patterson scored 16. Willie Williams added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

After Moore — a 6-foot-4 freshman guard who was a top recruit in the class of 2025 before he reclassified — and Elvis each hit a pair of free throws. Fears made a layup and then was fouled as he hit a jumper and made the and-1 free throw to give the Sooners a one-point lead with 14 minutes to play. Patterson answered with a tip-in at the other end, but Moore made a 3-pointer, a layup and another from behind the arc before Elvis capped a 19-4 run with a layup that made it 51-44 about 5 minutes later.

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Moore converted a three-point play and then hit two free throws before Glenn Taylor Jr. made a layup to give Oklahoma an 11-point lead with 5 minutes to play. Taylor added a 3-pointer with 3:47 to go and Northwestern State trailed by double figures the rest of the way.

    AP college football poll (Nov. 10): Texas climbs after big win; SMU slides to No. 14
    Missouri’s scoop-and-score with 30 seconds left extends disaster season for Oklahoma

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.



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