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Injuries to Key Big Men Prove Catastrophic for OKC

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Injuries to Key Big Men Prove Catastrophic for OKC


Choosing Gonzaga middle Chet Holmgren with the second total choose within the 2022 NBA Draft was presupposed to be step one in fortifying the Oklahoma Metropolis’s inside protection. 

Holmgren, who was heralded for his defensive prowess in highschool and school, averaged a whopping 3.7 blocks per recreation as a freshman. His size, footwork and intelligence give the previous five-star recruit plug-and-play potential when he his wholesome. 

Because of Holmgren’s season-ending damage over the summer time, nonetheless, OKC entered the season already at an obstacle within the frontcourt. With Aleksej Pokusevski and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl now out of the lineup with accidents of their very own, the Thunder are missing depth at middle. 

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Oklahoma Metropolis now depends on Jaylin Williams, Eugene Omoruyi, Darius Bazley and Mike Muscala to occupy the large man roles on a nightly foundation. Within the staff’s earlier two outings, 6-foot-10 second spherical rookie Jaylin Williams has been the staff’s tallest starter with 6-foot-8 guard Josh Giddey working because the squad’s second-tallest starter. 

This has created points for the Thunder on each ends of the ground, as OKC has missed the rim safety talents of Pokusevski and the power of Robinson-Earl on protection whereas lacking the ground spacing every present on offense. Moreover, Oklahoma Metropolis has been outrebounded in every of its final two video games. 

Within the staff’s New 12 months’s Eve matchup towards the Philadelphia 76ers, celebrity middle Joel Embiid recorded a triple-double on the Paycom Heart. Whereas Embiid is a spectacular participant, it’s doubtless that Pokusevski and Robinson-Earl would’ve given the Thunder a greater likelihood at slowing down the previous Kansas Jayhawk. 

Offensively, the staff is lacking the output that their two injured huge man often present. Between Pokusevski, a 37.6% 3-point shooter, and Robinson-Earl, a 38% shooter from past the arc, OKC is lacking out on over 17 factors and 10 rebounds per recreation. 

Within the two video games since Poku and JRE appeared on the damage report, Jaylin Williams, Omoruyi, Bazley and Muscala have pitched in a mixed 14 factors, three lower than Pokusevski and Robinson-Earl mix to common in a single recreation.

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With their two important huge males sidelined for the foreseeable future, it seems as if Oklahoma Metropolis will wrestle early within the New 12 months.  


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Here's a peek at how our nonprofit news is funded • Oklahoma Voice

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Here's a peek at how our nonprofit news is funded • Oklahoma Voice


People often ask me about how sustainable Oklahoma Voice’s operations are. It’s a fair question in an ever-shifting media landscape that’s plagued by layoffs, publication closures and lots of uncertainty about the future of our industry.

We’re lucky to be a part of States Newsroom. This nonprofit network has  obtained sustainable, recurring funding for the four core positions in our nonprofit newsroom, which are held by myself and reporters Barbara Hoberock, Nuria Martinez-Keel and Emma Murphy.

That support will ensure we’re around for years to come.

So then where do you come in?

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We share the belief that local buy-in to our mission is critical if we want to continue to grow.

One of my goals over the coming months is to add another reporter to our staff so that Oklahoma Voice can bring you more news to help fuel the conversations you’re having with your family and elected officials.

In less than a year, we’ve seen an amazing hunger for our stories. Thanks to your support, Oklahoma Voice stories were republished and quoted hundreds of times during the four-month legislative session. They appeared in publications across this state and beyond.

Our content is always free to read. It’s never behind a paywall. We don’t accept advertisements. And, you’ll never be inundated with annoying pop-ups. 

We want everyone to have access to quality news they can use.

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So, if you’ve liked our legislative coverage, then please consider making a tax-deductible donation so that we can continue to grow. Every little bit helps.

As always, thank you for your continued support and for being a reader.

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Oklahoma Supreme Court rules against Catholic charter school proposal

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Oklahoma Supreme Court rules against Catholic charter school proposal


St. Isidore, which aims to serve 1,500 students online within Oklahoma by its fifth year of operation, has the backing of Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt as well as former state schools superintendent Ryan Walters. Proponents of the plan say the online school would be a boon for rural Oklahoma students who do not have a Catholic school in their area. 

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board had in April 2023 voted unanimously to disapprove the school’s application, later in June approving the contract 3-2 after revisions to the application.  

Brett Farley, executive director of the Oklahoma Catholic Conference and a board member for the proposed school, told CNA following the first disapproval that the plan’s backers were “not discouraged at all.” He said at the time he believed Oklahoma’s government presents a “favorable environment to negotiate protections for religious liberty” to ensure that the school’s Catholic identity is not threatened by the acceptance of public funds. 

The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City had pushed for approval of the school after former Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor issued an advisory opinion in late 2022 stating that because of the Supreme Court’s recent rulings, Oklahoma’s provisions banning religious schools from accessing public funds as charters could be unconstitutional. He cautioned that this legal change would not mean that religious schools using public funds “can necessarily operate however they want.” Drummond withdrew his predecessor’s opinion on the matter.

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In a dissent to the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s majority opinion, Justice Dana Kuehn argued that St. Isidore’s would be a partner of the state, not a government entity, and thus the state denying funds to St. Isidore’s because it is religious would violate the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.

“St. Isidore would not be replacing any secular school, only adding to the options available, which is the heart of the Charter Schools Act,” she wrote. 

“The state is not required to partner with private entities to provide common education. But if it does, it cannot close the door to an otherwise qualified entity simply because it is sectarian … Contracting with a private entity that has religious affiliations, by itself, does not establish a state religion, nor does it favor one religion over another.”





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Alabama man accused of killings in 2 states enters not guilty pleas to Oklahoma murder charges

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Alabama man accused of killings in 2 states enters not guilty pleas to Oklahoma murder charges


SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) — An Alabama man accused in a string of killings in Oklahoma and Alabama has pleaded not guilty to two Oklahoma killings.

The pleas were entered on behalf of Stacy Lee Drake, 50, during a Monday court appearance, KHBS-TV reported. He faces two charges of enhanced murder.

Drake has has until Aug. 7 in the Oklahoma case to find a lawyer to represent him, or a public defender will be appointed for him, KHBS reported.

Relatives and friends of the victims packed the courtroom where Drake appeared.

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Drake was apprehended Thursday in a wooded area in the Morrilton, Arkansas, area after a search that spanned multiple southern states, Arkansas State Police said.

Drake is accused of homicides and carjackings in Oklahoma, Arkansas State Police said. They said he’s also wanted on other felony warrants from multiple jurisdictions on charges including aggravated robbery, carjacking and murder.

A man and a woman were found dead inside a business near Gans, Oklahoma, near the Arkansas state line, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said. Both had injuries consistent with homicide, and the agency said Drake is a person of interest.

In Alabama, Drake is accused of killing Russell Andrews on May 14, according to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit said there is a warrant for Drake on a murder charge. News outlets reported that Andrews, 62, was found dead inside the Alcoholic Anonymous building.

Tuscaloosa authorities said Andrews’ vehicle was stolen when he was killed and hours later was picked up by cameras travelling along an interstate near the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.

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