Oklahoma
Oklahoma City aims to unseat NYC with America’s tallest building
One World Trade Center could soon lose its title as America’s tallest building — if developers in Oklahoma City succeed in their plan of constructing a massive skyscraper at the height of 1,907 feet.
Dubbed “Legends Tower” at a development site known as the The Boardwalk at Bricktown, the proposed building would easily surpass One World Trade Center’s 1,792 feet and would give Oklahoma City the fifth-tallest structure in the world.
Plans were announced this week by real estate investor Matteson Capital and AO architecture firm, who said the tower would be part of a mixed-use project. Unlike One World Trade Center and Chicago’s Willis Tower (1,729 feet) — both of which primarily serve as office buildings — the Oklahoma City tower would feature nearly 2,000 apartment units, a Hyatt hotel with hundreds of rooms, and 110,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment.
With the work-from-home revolution and a steep decline in demand for office space, the mixed-use plan represents a shift in commercial development. Currently, there sits more empty office space in the U.S. than at any point since 1979.
The 1,907 feet for the tower is also a symbolic number, representing the year 1907, when Oklahoma officially became a state. It would roughly double the height of Oklahoma City’s current largest building, the Devon Energy Center, which measures just 50 stories high.
However, Oklahoma City’s mayor is said to be noncommittal about the new plan. The idea was also dismissed as “pie in the sky” by one city economist, especially given the entire project is estimated to cost $1.6 billion, according to CNN.
“The smaller the city, the harder it is to fill all that extra space and at a price that makes it worth it,” said Jason Barr, a professor of economics at Rutgers University-Newark, adding that the Oklahoma City tower would be “way too tall given the city’s population.”
Currently, New York and Chicago — which represent the country’s first- and third-largest cities by population — are home to the 10 tallest buildings in the U.S.
But the latest proposal is evidence of new ambitions for a booming region.
The U.S. Census Bureau has released its new annual population estimates for cities, and… it’s no fluke! Oklahoma City is still America’s 20th-largest city! pic.twitter.com/d4vqODMlqr
— Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) May 25, 2023
Although Oklahoma City is currently America’s 20th largest, the U.S. Census Bureau reports its the 6th-fastest growing city in the country. Between 2020 and 2022, it reportedly grew in population by about 2%, while the populations of larger cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia actually declined.
It’s Boomer Sooner time in Omaha.
Oklahoma has won the 2026 Men’s College World Series, steamrolling through North Carolina in the winner-take-all Game 3, 13-2, capturing its first national title in over 30 years and third overall. The Sooners are the seventh straight SEC team to win the national championship.
A dogpile with cheers that made its way through the infiled, it closed out the Sooners’ one-for-the-ages NCAA tournament run.
for the third time in program history, the Oklahoma Sooners are national champions 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xEvjGxhqgM
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 23, 2026
It was an all-around masterclass for OU, jumping out to a 3-1 lead by the end of the third and never looking back. They put at least one run across the plate in four of the final six innings, including three in the fourth and four in the eighth.
The fourth was where Oklahoma’s upper hand became clear. Walker McDuffie’s three consecutive one-out walks loaded the bases, and UNC turned to star freshman Caden Glauber. The Tar Heels were previously 29-0 with whenever he pitched, but he was pulled after a walk and Jaxon Willits’ two-RBI single.
LJ Mercurius was outstanding on the mound, entering for starter Nick Wesloski in the third and tossing 5.2 innings, giving up just one run on four hits. It was his longest outing since April 17.
Outside of Mercurius, shortstop Jaxon Willits and Kyle Branch starred for the Sooners. The former went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and was named Most Outstanding Player, while Branch also went 3-for-4 with a homer and six RBIs, a career-high. He’s the third player all-time to record six or more RBIs in a national championship game.
The victory caps off OU’s gauntlet-like journey to the top. After finishing 11th in SEC regular season play, they knocked off five national seeds — three in the top five and two on the road — leaning on a trio of freshman arms and a historic power surge at the plate.
Men’s College World Series All-Tournament Team:
- Catcher: Deiten LaChance, Oklahoma
- First base: Erik Paulsen, North Carolina
- Second base: Gavin Gallaher, North Carolina
- Third base: Tyrus Hall, West Virginia
- Shortstop: Jaxon Willits, Oklahoma
- Outfield: Jason Walk, Oklahoma
- Outfield: Owen Hull, North Carolina
- Outfield: Dasan Harris, Oklahoma
- Designated Hitter: Adrian Rodriguez, Texas
- Pitcher: Joey Volchko, Georgia
- Pitcher: Caden Glauber, North Carolina
THE 2026 #MCWS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/wlaQxxYFL3
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 23, 2026
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The Oklahoma National Guard announced the loss of a specialist who passed away last week.
On Monday, the Oklahoma National Guard announced the passing of Spc. Blake C. Akin, who passed away on June 17.
“We are saddened by the loss of Spc. Blake Akin,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and fellow Soldiers during this difficult time.”
Akin, 24, enlisted as an infantryman in November of 2021. He was a member of Charlie Company, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
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A memorial service for Akin will be held at 2 p.m. at Smith and Kernke Funeral Home Chapel, located at 14624 N. May Ave. in Oklahoma City.
OU baseball coach Skip Johnson, Sooners ‘never stopped believing’ on CWS journey
Skip Johnson’s OU baseball team defeated Georgia 11-4 Wednesday night to advance to the College World Series finals. Freshman pitcher Nick Wesloski allowed only one earned run in 5 ⅔ innings in just his second career start.
NCAA
North Carolina forced a winner-take-all Game 3 at the College World Series after taking down Oklahoma 6-2 on Sunday, June 21, after the Sooners took the opening game, 9-3.
Now, who will win the national championship?
Watch Game 3 of the College World Series finals live with Fubo (free trial)
Tar Heels head coach Scott Forbes said everyone is available to pitch on Monday, June 22, potentially even star reliever Caden Glauber, who tossed five scoreless innings of relief in Game 2 with eight strikeouts to one hit. While North Carolina hasn’t decided on a starting pitcher yet, Oklahoma will turn to true freshman right-hander Nick Wesloski (2-1, 3.63 ERA).
Oklahoma’s bats were silenced by UNC starter Ryan Lynch and Glauber. The Sooners were held to four hits in Game 2 after their 14-hit barrage on June 20. The loss snapped Oklahoma’s 9-game win streak dating back to its first loss against No. 2 Georgia Tech in the Atlanta Regional.
North Carolina, meanwhile, continued its unbeaten streak after a loss, avoiding back-to-back defeats since the Tar Heels’ March 6-7 losses against Virginia to open ACC play.
Here’s how to watch Oklahoma vs. North Carolina for all the marbles on Monday, June 22:
What TV channel is Oklahoma vs North Carolina on today?
Game 3 of Oklahoma-North Carolina will air live on ESPN, with streaming options on the ESPN app or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Wattch UNC vs OU baseball live with Fubo (free trial)
Oklahoma vs North Carolina time today
- Date: Monday, June 22
- Time: 7 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. CT
- Location: Charles Schwab Field Omaha (Omaha, Nebraska)
Oklahoma vs North Carolina predictions, picks, odds
Odds from BetMGM as of Monday, June 22
- Spread: North Carolina (-1.5)
- Over/under: 10.5 runs
- Moneyline: North Carolina (-160) | Oklahoma (+125)
- Prediction: Oklahoma 7, North Carolina 5
Oklahoma rebounds from its Game 2 loss and takes down North Carolina, with pitchers Nick Wesloski, Jackson Cleveland and LJ Mercurius all appearing. The Tar Heels throw the kitchen sink in Game 3, but ultimately the Sooners come out on top, capping off one of the most impressive runs in recent memory. — Austin Curtright
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