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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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Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Report Against Brooklyn Nets

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Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Report Against Brooklyn Nets


On Sunday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder will host D’Angelo Russell and the Brooklyn Nets.

For the game, they have announced their injury report (updated as of 4:30 Eastern Time).

The Thunder have ruled out Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topic.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are both listed as questionabel.

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NBA Injury Report

NBA Injury Report / Jan 19

The status of Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander will have major implications on the game.

They are averaging a combined 52.2 points and 11.2 assists per contest.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed the team’s last game, so this would be his second straight out of action (if he doesn’t play).

Via OKC Thunder Stats: “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 36 straight games with 20+ points scored. That is the longest active streak in the NBA and 1 behind his career-high streak of 37 games.

It is the 45th longest streak in NBA history.”

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The Thunder have had an incredible start to the 2024-25 NBA season.

They are the first seed in the Western Conference with a 34-7 record in 41 games.

Following the Nets, the Thunder will play their next game on Wednesday when they host John Collins and the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.

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As for the Nets, they have had a tough season.

They are 14-28 record in 42 games, which has them as the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference.

Following the Thunder, the Nets will return home to host Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks on Tuesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

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Injury-Riddled Nets-Thunder Contest Should Prove Fortunate for Oklahoma City

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Injury-Riddled Nets-Thunder Contest Should Prove Fortunate for Oklahoma City


The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered its second loss in six games on Friday night, succumbing to the Dallas Mavericks without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on hand.

A 106-98 defeat, OKC missed the scoring impact of Gilgeous-Alexander’s as nobody in the lineup reached 20 points, with Jalen Williams being the high scorer with 19 points on 22 shots. That couldn’t quite get the job done, even when winning the rebounding and turnover battles.

The Thunder now sets its focus on its upcoming opponent, the Brooklyn Nets. This could potentially be another night without Gilgeous-Alexander as he’s listed as a game-time decision before the team’s contest on Sunday evening.

But beyond that, a slew of impactful players for both teams will be sitting on the bench due to injury. For the Nets, it’s Cameron Johnson, Cam Thomas and Bojan Bogdanovic, among others. Johnson is the only player listed as questionable for Sunday night’s bout.

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On Oklahoma City’s side, Isaiah Hartenstein still remains on the sideline with a calf strain, Chet Holmgren is yet to return from his hip fracture, and Ajay Mitchell’s toe injury has him out for the foreseeable months. All the while, Gilgeous-Alexander could possibly be coaching from the bench as well.

Though, this is a Brooklyn team who doesn’t frighten the Thunder. A 14-28 team, Oklahoma City will look to come inside Paycom Center with an edge as the team looks to recoup from its loss to Dallas just a couple nights prior. The Thunder has lost two consecutive games just once this season, and should be refined heading into Sunday to not make it happen twice.

Williams will have to take the scoring reigns and prove to be more efficient offensively in Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence. Working without three of his right hand men, this is where Williams can separate himself and showcase his ability to win a game as the primary point of leadership on Sunday night.

Want to join the discussion? Like Thunder on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.



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Inmate dies after being found unresponsive at Oklahoma County Detention Center

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Inmate dies after being found unresponsive at Oklahoma County Detention Center


A man being held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center died Saturday evening after being found unresponsive during routine sight checks, authorities said.

Vincent Riggie, 37, was discovered around 7:10 p.m., according to jail officials. An officer called for medical assistance and began administering lifesaving measures, including Narcan.

Emergency responders from EMSA and the Oklahoma City Fire Department arrived shortly after and continued efforts to revive Riggie. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Riggie, who was born Oct. 2, 1987, had been booked into the jail on Nov. 4, 2024, on charges of aggravated trafficking of illegal drugs and possession of a controlled substance. He was being held on a $50,000 bond.

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The circumstances surrounding Riggie’s death are under investigation. As per standard protocol, all in-custody deaths are investigated as homicides until the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office determines the official cause and manner of death.

Riggie’s family has been notified.





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