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Student’s death shines new light on LGBTQ+ policies in Oklahoma schools

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Student’s death shines new light on LGBTQ+ policies in Oklahoma schools



The week in extremism, from USA TODAY.

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The death of a transgender student after a fight at an Oklahoma school has placed new focus on the state’s hostile stance toward LGBTQ+ people. Meanwhile, a government report finds that social media and gaming companies continue to host extremist propaganda and recruitment efforts. And extremism is a top concern for voters, according to a new nationwide poll.

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It’s the week in extremism.  

Student’s death shines light on Oklahoma’s treatment of LGBTQ+ community

Nex Benedict, a teenager from the Tulsa, Oklahoma, suburb of Owasso, died earlier this month, a day after they were involved in a fight in a high school bathroom. Nex, who used he/him and they/them pronouns, identified as gender expansive, an umbrella term that describes people whose gender identity expands beyond traditional gender norms, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

While it remains unclear whether the fight contributed to Nex’s death, the case has placed new focus on Oklahoma’s treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Several students in Owasso told The Oklahoman they had experienced bullying because of their gender identities and sexualities. “I was bullied pretty much every day, consistently,” said Ren Stolas, 20, who is transgender. “That’s why this hurts a little extra.”  

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  • On Wednesday, 350 local, state and national organizations sent an open letter to senior officials at the Oklahoma State Legislature calling for the removal of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, who they say has been hostile towards the state’s LGBTQ+ community.
  • Last month, Walters appointed Chaya Raichik, the far-right influencer whose controversial posts have preceded dozens of bomb and death threats, to a statewide library advisory board. That move had sparked outrage from the LGBTQ+ community. 
  • As USA TODAY reported, Raichik does not meet the state’s own basic requirements for the position. In an interview with a Washington reporter last weekend, Raichik acknowledged she has only been to Oklahoma once, and shed no new light on her qualifications for the state position. 
  • The open letter also calls for an investigation into the Oklahoma Department of Education, “to determine what actions and policies have led to a culture where rampant harassment” of gay and trans students. 

Police officials have said in a statement that Nex’s death was not the result of injuries from a fight, adding that the findings were preliminary and investigations by the medical examiner’s office and the police department remain under way. 

Report: Gaming sites, social media ‘often used’ by domestic terrorists

A report released this week by the Government Accountability Office concludes that domestic terrorists often use social media and online gaming sites to spread propaganda and “to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize” people online.

  • The FBI identified lone offenders and small groups who have been radicalized online and commit violence over political grievances as “one of the most significant terrorism threats” facing the country, the report says.
  • While the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have mechanisms to share information about extremists on social media and gaming sites, “neither agency has developed a strategy that articulates how it identifies and selects companies to engage with or the goals and desired outcomes of those engagements.” 
  • The report’s primary recommendation: To develop just such a strategy. The FBI should should share information related to domestic violent extremism with social media and gaming companies, the GAO said.

Poll: Extremism top concern for voters

The primary concern to U.S. voters currently is political extremism/threats to democracy, according to a new nationwide Reuters/Ipsos poll.

  • 21% of respondents to the three-day poll said extremism was their top priority, while 19% said it was the economy and 18% said immigration. Crime and corruption (7%) and war and foreign conflicts (5%) were far behind.
  • Democrats mostly named extremism as their top concern, while Republicans overwhelmingly chose immigration.
  • The majority of Americans (71%) told pollsters the country is on the wrong track, and only 13% said it is heading in the right direction. 

Statistic of the week: At least 17

That’s how many people were killed by domestic extremists in 2023, according to a report released late last week by the Anti-Defamation League. The number of fatalities is down from 2022, in which domestic extremists killed 27 people, per the ADL.  

Will Carless is a national correspondent covering extremism and emerging issues. Contact him at wcarless@usatoday.com. Follow him on X @willcarless. 

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Oklahoma’s Brent Venables named to 2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason watch list

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Oklahoma’s Brent Venables named to 2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason watch list


The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. have announced the preseason watch list for the 2026 Dodd Trophy, recognizing 20 college football head coaches from across the Power Four conferences, the Pac-12 and one independent program.

The annual award honors the head coach whose program exemplifies success on the field while promoting scholarship, leadership and integrity, the three principles that defined legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s philosophy.

Oklahoma’s Brent Venables among nominees

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is one of six Southeastern Conference coaches included on this year’s watch list. Coaches became eligible after leading their current programs for at least two seasons and maintaining an Academic Progress Rate (APR) above the national average of 971.

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The selection committee also considered each program’s Graduation Success Rate, community service efforts and projected performance during the 2026 season.

Coach School Conference APR (2024-25)
Bret Bielema Illinois Big Ten 988
Jeff Brohm Louisville ACC 972
Curt Cignetti Indiana Big Ten 989
Mario Cristobal Miami (FL) ACC 993
Spencer Danielson Boise State Pac-12 985
Ryan Day Ohio State Big Ten 1000
Kalen DeBoer Alabama SEC 1000
Sonny Dykes TCU Big 12 987
Mike Elko Texas A&M SEC 1000
Kirk Ferentz Iowa Big Ten 997
Jedd Fisch Washington Big Ten 991
Marcus Freeman Notre Dame Independent 1000
Willie Fritz Houston Big 12 989
Josh Heupel Tennessee SEC 993
Brent Key Georgia Tech ACC 997
Dan Lanning Oregon Big Ten 988
Lincoln Riley USC Big Ten 993
Steve Sarkisian Texas SEC 990
Kirby Smart Georgia SEC 981
Brent Venables Oklahoma SEC 997

Key facts

  • Twenty coaches were named to the preseason watch list.
  • Oklahoma’s Brent Venables included with a program APR of 997.
  • The Big Ten leads all conferences with seven coaches on the list.
  • Four previous Dodd Trophy winners are included.
  • Watch list coaches have combined for four national championships, 31 conference titles and 1,841 career victories.

What’s next for the award?

A midseason watch list will be released this fall and could expand or narrow the field. Finalists will be selected after the 2026 regular season by a panel that includes previous winners, national media members, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame representative.

The 2026 Dodd Trophy winner will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

We used AI tools to help with editing and formatting this story. A human journalist reviewed everything before publication.

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Kip Lewis reveals why he returned to Oklahoma for senior season

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Kip Lewis reveals why he returned to Oklahoma for senior season


Kip Lewis returning for his redshirt senior season with the Oklahoma Sooners was one of the biggest wins of the offseason. Lewis has built an impressive career in Norman, racking up 209 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and five sacks with two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns.

Beyond his production, Lewis has become one of the emotional leaders of the Oklahoma locker room. Although the NFL was an option, Lewis believed another season learning under Brent Venables would put him in the best position for long-term success.

In a video shared by Oklahoma, Lewis explained the factors that led him to return to Norman for another season.

“I talked to a lot of people,” Lewis said. “Mostly, my family and then my dad. He was just giving me key points that he felt like I should have come back… Mostly talked to a couple of my teammates like John (Mateer) and Isaiah (Sategna), getting their thoughts on what their plan was. I asked Danny (Stutsman) for advice. Talked to him for a little bit. Advice from Danny really stood out to me.”

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Getting advice from Stutsman likely played a significant role in Lewis’ decision. Stutsman was in a similar position following a strong 2023 season. Stutsman elected to return to Norman in 2024 and had another strong individual season. That resulted in him being taken in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Lewis’ decision to return gives Oklahoma one of the most experienced and talented linebackers in the country for another season. By following the same path as Stutsman, Lewis is betting on development and another opportunity to improve his draft stock.

If he continues to lead at the level he has throughout his career, his final season in Norman could be the one that cements him as one of the top defensive players in college football.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.

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LANZAMIENTO: Local organizations aiming to continue Tulsa’s food industry growth

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LANZAMIENTO: Local organizations aiming to continue Tulsa’s food industry growth


TULSA, Okla — Tulsa has seen a boost in its food industry, thanks in part to a growing population.

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Study shows Hispanic population boom boosting Tulsa economy

The Hispanic and Latino population has also contributed to the Oklahoma economy through restaurants, catering businesses, and food trucks.

According to a study conducted by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the number of Hispanic and Latino individuals who have gone into the state’s food service industry has grown by more than 12,000 between 2001 and 2021.

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To help continue this growth, the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation is starting up its “Lanzamiento Program” for Spanish speakers who are interested in pursuing a career in the culinary industry.

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Mother Road Market hosts program for Hispanic, Latino food entrepreneurs

The classes are held in partnership with Mother Road Market for 12 weeks.

Wendy Henriquez is the owner of Sugar Crave and completed the program back in 2024.

She said it was a huge help when it came to learning the ins and outs of the industry.

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It also helped her that it was all in Spanish, the language she prefers.

“All of the classes were focused on the regulations here in the United States and Oklahoma needing to be met,” she said. “In every class, we had experts talk to us about things like taking out loans, insurance, credit.”

“Wow, I mean it isn’t easy, but it’s possible,” she said. “Perseverance is important.”

Abel Aguilar is the Program Manager in charge of the Lanzamiento course.

“We believe it’s important because not only do we have a strong population of both Hispanic and Latin entrepreneurs here in Tulsa, they may not know the resources that they have available to them,” he said.

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While tuition doesn’t start off as being free of charge, there are financial assistance options to help.

We Street Credit Union has also pitched in to offer funds for financial assistance so some weight can be taken off of the participant.

Aguilar also said Lobeck Taylor will work something out if finances are the only obstacle to applying.

For others interested in other resources to help kickstart their business, Avanzando Juntos is also a non-profit organization that can help.

Primarily for Spanish speakers, Avanzando Juntos helps connect business owners with grants and funding that can help eliminate some of the costs that come with starting a business.

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For those interested in applying to the “Lanzamiento” Program, you can visit the Kitchen 66 website for the application.


Isabel Flores is your North & East Tulsa reporter.

Is there something you think she should know about or look into?

You can email her at Isabel.Flores@kjrh.com.



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