Local News Not So Local Anymore

Plus, 97 years of Route 66, a newsletter update, and even more Oklahoma news.

"All I Know Is What I Read In The Papers" - Will Rogers. A statue next to the Claremore Daily Progress office in Claremore, Oklahoma

KTUL News Is Moving

The Tulsa World reported that KTUL, channel 8 in Tulsa, would be moving all its news production to Oklahoma City and KOKH. Here’s the statement:

“Beginning December 11 we will be making changes to the way we produce news in Tulsa and refocusing our resources, establishing a regional content center to super serve the Tulsa and Oklahoma City television markets,” KTUL said in a statement. “This will allow hyperlocal news and weather content from both markets, as well as regional content, to be included in every newscast.”

The statement went on: “News airing on KTUL will now be produced out of our Oklahoma City content center, and will include live, local content with local reporters from Tulsa, paired with the resources of our content center at KOKH/KOCB.

“Sinclair is, and remains, committed to local journalism and the communities which we serve. The refocusing of resources in Tulsa will allow us to ensure the long-term success of the station and continue to bring the top local, regional and national news to the Tulsa market.”

To me, this just says it’s yet another corporate news consolidation. Locally owned and operated news media has been on its way out for some time now. Newsrooms across the state and country have been slashed drastically, and all we’re left with is some local news; the rest is wire services and corporate-mandated must-runs. Sinclair, the corporation that owns KTUL and KOHK, is known for their politically tinged must-runs.

Local Newspapers

Even your local newspaper isn’t really a local newspaper. It’s owned by some corporation, just like all the other news media. Again, you are left with your school football scores, a report on the latest city council or school board meeting, and the rest is wire services and corporate-mandated articles.

Well, I can’t say at all. You might be lucky and have a locally owned and operated newspaper. I hope you support and subscribe to them. They are becoming rare beings indeed.

Supporting Local News Reporting

It’s a shame that corporations like Sinclair, Nexstar, Hearst, or Gannett own so many Oklahoma news outlets. However, even with all the corporate BS, I still want to highlight the good job of those local reporters and staff in bringing us the news we need daily. I thank the news staff of all our Oklahoma TV, radio, and newspapers for their good reporting on things happening here in Oklahoma. I especially wish the news staff at KTUL and KOHK the best in this corporate reorganization.

The News at Blog Oklahoma

I have a page dedicated to Oklahoma news media sources at Blog Oklahoma (blogoklahoma.com/news). You’ll find links to Oklahoma newspapers, TV, radio, magazines, blogs, and forums there. If you know of an Oklahoma news source I may have missed, just let me know, and I’ll be sure to add it.

Oh, and besides in the In The News section below, I also share Oklahoma news headlines on Blog Oklahoma’s Mastodon and Threads most mornings. Please feel free to give @blogoklahoma a follow.

Newsletter Update

I’m going to take a little time off for Thanksgiving, so there will be no newsletter on November 20th or 27th. I’ll be back December 4th with an all new edition.

So, let’s all check our Oklahoma Thanksgiving checklist:

• Prepare the turkey with all the fixings, including but not limited to: sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, corn casserole, brussels sprouts, gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, and all the pies.

• Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

• Sing along with “The Jingle.”

• Be sure to say hello to every aunt, uncle, and third cousin.

• Watch some Football.

• Argue politics with at least one relative.

• Enjoy a fantastic meal with family and friends.

• Listen to family gossip.

• Loose at Dominos, Uno, or Skip-Bo.

• Eat leftovers all weekend long.

I wish you and your family the very best this holiday season.

In The News

A look at some of the latest headlines from around Oklahoma and beyond.

• Four Oklahoma counties now reporting highly contagious, lethal avian flu in backyard flocks | KOKH

• Ryan Walters’ administration tasked with offering Civil Rights Movement curriculum | Oklahoma Voice

• Oklahomans may pay as Walters seeks higher profile | The Journal Record

• Oklahoma officials' use of encrypted messaging app raises concerns over Open Records Act | KOKH

• Tribes, Oklahoma law enforcement clash over tribal license plate citation | Oklahoma Voice

• Tulsa's KTUL to Move News Production to Oklahoma City | Bartlesville Radio

• Oklahoma Families Appeal Ruling Denying Temporary Relief From Ban on Medical Care for Trans Youth | ACLU of Oklahoma

• Officials say they're optimistic Kansas-Oklahoma rail route is on track for federal funding | Public Radio Tulsa

• City of Catoosa planning to revitalize iconic Blue Whale | KTUL

• Insurance Denied a Lawyer’s Cancer Therapy. So He Took Them to Court. | ProPublica

In Oklahoma History

National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma

U.S. Route 66, also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America, or the Mother Road, was one of the original numbered highways in the U.S. Highway System. This famous highway was established on November 11, 1926, and originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, ending in Santa Monica, California. U.S. Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985. However, portions of the road have returned to maps as "Historic Route 66".

About Oklahoma: Carter County

Carter County, Oklahoma

Welcome to Carter County.

Carter County is in the south-central part of Oklahoma and was formed at statehood in 1907 from parts of Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation. The county was named after Captain Ben W. Carter, a Cherokee who lived among the Chickasaw.

Ardmore, Oklahoma, in the southeastern corner of the county near the intersection of Interstate 35 and U. S. Highway 70, is the county seat and largest city in the county. Other notable cities and towns include Ratliff City and Tatums in the northwestern, Springer and Gene Autry in the northeastern, Dickson in the eastern, and Lone Grove, Wilson, and Healdton in the western parts of the county.

Carter County is also home to Lake Murray State Park.

• Established: 1907

• County Seat: Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401

• Nation: Chickasaw

• Map: Google Maps

• Area: 824 mi² (2,134 km²)

• Population: 48,003 (2020 Census)

• Time Zone: UTC−6 (Central), DST observed

• Area Code: 580

• Congressional District: 4

• State House District: 48, 49

• State Senate District: 14

• Weather: NWS Norman

• Tourism Region: Chickasaw Country

• History: Oklahoma Historical Society

• Historic Places: Exploring Oklahoma History

• More Information: Wikipedia

Extras

Here are some more things I hope you'll find interesting.

$10 Microwave Only Thanksgiving Dinner for Two | Dollar Tree Dinners

More About (French) Onion Soup Than You Need To Know | Glen And Friends Cooking

CONELRAD: The Voice of Armageddon | Our Own Devices

3 | Number Lore | Mike Salcedo

Local TV Station Blackouts To Happen More Often - Here’s Why | Antenna Man

Feedback Welcome

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to leave a comment on Substrack, email me at blogoklahoma@blogoklahoma.net, or connect with me at Mastodon at @blogoklahoma@social.tulsa.ok.us or Threads at @blogoklahoma@threads.net.

Have a great week.

– K.