Oklahoma
Oklahoma City boy burned after trying viral NeeDoh microwave trend
An Oklahoma City family is warning parents after they say a viral social media trend led to serious injuries for their 11-year-old son.
Koltyn Preston says he saw videos online showing people microwaving NeeDoh stress toys to make them softer. He says he tried it himself and within seconds, it went wrong.
“I put it in the microwave,” said Koltyn. “It wouldn’t come off and it was burning.”
The hot gel inside the toy splattered across his face and neck.
His mother, Kami Gill, was in another room when she suddenly heard him scream.
“I’m sitting on my bed taking a bite of my sandwich and I hear this scream,” said Gill. “I’m like, what in the world could have happened?”
She says she rushed to help him and quickly realized the severity of the injury.
“It was terrifying and terrible,” said Gill.
Koltyn was taken to the hospital, where he stayed overnight. Gill says he has since undergone multiple wound care appointments and is still recovering weeks later.
“If it would have got in his eyes, he’d be blind,” she said. “He’s been under anesthesia twice to scrub the wounds.”
Gill also says that when she later looked at the packaging, she noticed a warning label that was difficult to see.
“There’s a giant barcode over the warning label,” she said. “If you’re not looking for it, you don’t see it.”
Doctors say they’ve received questions about similar online trends involving the toys and warn that they should never be heated.
“The material inside heats up very fast and it can blow up,” said Dr. Ryan Brown at OU Children’s. “It can explode in the microwave or once you get it out it can burn your hands or explode into your face.”
Gill is sharing her family’s experience in hopes that other parents will talk with their children about what they see online before trying viral trends themselves.
The manufacturer, Schylling, says microwaving, heating or freezing NeeDoh products is dangerous and can cause injury.
The company says it has worked with TikTok to remove videos showing misuse and has added safety warnings to packaging and online listings.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma teen reported as endangered missing person
DAVIS, Okla. (KXII) – Law enforcement is searching for a 15-year-old boy from Davis who has been reported as an endangered missing person.
According to an OHP post on X, James Pletcher of Davis was last seen after 11 p.m. Saturday, July 4th. He was wearing a black shirt, black shorts and black shoes.
Anyone who sees Pletcher or has information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.
Copyright 2026 KXII. All rights reserved.
Oklahoma
Governor Stitt declares disaster emergency for Cleveland and Washington Counties
TULSA, Okla. — Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order declaring a disaster emergency for Cleveland and Washington Counties, following powerful severe weather that moved across the state on July 4.
The declaration will ensure recovery resources can be deployed to those impacted areas quickly.
Related Coverage>>> THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER: Cooling centers open in Bartlesville and Dewey
The Governor’s office is asking anyone with damage to their home or business to report it at Damage.ok.gov.
In a news release, the Governor’s office said the state is also coordinating with Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief to assist residents affected by the storms.
People needing assistance from Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief can call (844) 690-9198 or fill out a request form online at www.okdisasterhelp.org.
“State and local crews are out across Cleveland and Washington counties this morning checking on families, clearing debris, and helping our communities get back on their feet after these severe storms,” said Governor Stitt in the news release. “As crews work to get power restored to those impacted, please help by reporting damage and checking on your neighbors.”
The full text of the executive order can be read here.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere —
Oklahoma
Will Oklahoma Be Able to Replicate Febechi Nwaiwu’s Leadership on Offensive Line?
Last summer, Sooner fans had no idea what to expect from the team’s offensive line. This year, Oklahoma fans can be cautiously optimistic about the unit heading into the fall.
Late in the 2025 season, offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh utilized a six-man rotation that featured Febechi Nwaiwu, Derek Simmons, Ryan Fodje, Michael Fasusi, Eddy Pierre-Louis and Jake Maikkula.
Nwaiwu was the only veteran in the position group, as Simmons and Maikkula transferred in and Fodje, Fasusi and Pierre-Louis were freshmen. (Pierre-Louis was a redshirt freshman).
The new-look group produced mixed results.
Oklahoma allowed 29 sacks, which ranked 93rd out of 134 FBS teams — so not great. But according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), OU quarterback John Mateer was pressured 26 times, which ranked 26th among signal callers at the Power Four level.
In 2024, OU allowed 50 sacks, which tied for last in the nation. Though there were still pass-blocking lapses in 2025, the performance from the line in those situations was far better than the year before.
OU’s linemen, however, still struggled to open up running lanes. The Sooners ranked 13th in the SEC and 112th nationally in rushing, averaging only 118.5 yards per game.
Oklahoma’s offensive line didn’t suddenly become the best in the SEC last year, but Bedenbaugh’s group did show that it’s on the right trajectory.
Fodje, Fasusi and Pierre-Louis will all be sophomores in 2026, while Maikkula and Arkansas transfer E’Marion Harris are entering their senior seasons. Those five are OU’s likely Week 1 starters, and the combination of youth and experience should give the Sooners a strong foundation on the line.
That said, the Sooners will be without Nwaiwu — their “glue guy” — in the fall.
Nwaiwu started 26 games over two seasons at Oklahoma. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors in 2025 and was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to college football’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. Nwaiwu began his collegiate career at North Texas and appeared in 26 games for the Mean Green.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X for the latest news.
Nwaiwu was OU’s most effective pass blocker, finishing 2025 with a remarkable 91.6 PFF grade in that category. His former OU teammates and coaches regularly raved about his leadership traits, saying they were just as vital to the line’s improvement as his skills.
The Houston Texans selected Nwaiwu in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. So now that he’s gone, who will step up?
Maikkula and Harris are certainly the “old guys” on the line. Maikkula spent three seasons at Stanford before coming to Norman, while Harris played 1,694 offensive snaps over his four years at Arkansas.
The young trio of Fodje, Fasusi and Pierre-Louis doesn’t have as much college football experience as those two, but they’ve been in Norman for just as long — or longer — than Maikkula and Harris.
Though it’s hard to replicate the impact Nwaiwu made, OU coach Brent Venables feels confident that others will step into leadership roles in the fall.
“Lots of different personalities, same mentality,” Venables said after OU’s spring game on April 18. “It might be the best that we’ve had since we’ve been here when it comes to that — the continuity, the chemistry, the togetherness. It’s a very real thing. It jumps out at you.”
The talent is there for OU’s offensive line to improve again in the fall. But someone — or several linemen — must step up for the unit to avoid a 2026 regression.
Follow
-
Minneapolis, MN3 minutes agoLongtime Star Tribune Columnist Retires After 36 Years
-
Indianapolis, IN8 minutes agoCrash on Indy’s East Side Kills a Man
-
Pittsburg, PA15 minutes agoThe Eastman aims to reinvigorate an East Allegheny space with new energy
-
Augusta, GA18 minutes agoCrews battle fire along Boy Scout Road
-
Washington, D.C23 minutes agoWhite supremacist group demonstrates on Capitol Hill ahead of America 250 celebrations
-
Cleveland, OH30 minutes agoRittman police officer among 4 dead in Wayne County
-
Austin, TX33 minutes agoDinosaur Day Returns to Austin with Fossil Identifications, T. rex and Family Fun
-
Alabama38 minutes agoThe 5 most important position battles facing Kalen DeBoer, Alabama ahead of fall camp