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Good morning Tulsa! |
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We have a name: Tulsa Flyer! We’re inspired by Tulsa’s rich aviation history — but also the idea of stories so good and important that you want to share them, like you would with a paper flyer. We want to raise the conversation in Tulsa, whether it’s about a new burger place opening at 71st and Memorial or how housing prices are shifting around Owen Park. So read us, share us and help us tell Tulsa’s stories. And if you have ideas for our newsroom, send us a line at connect@tulsaflyer.org.
Have a great day! |
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Gary Lee
Executive Editor |
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The Oklahoma Highway Patrol clears out a homeless encampment under the Broken Arrow Expressway between Sheridan Road and Yale Avenue in Tulsa Sept. 8, 2025 (Photo by Stephen Pingry, Tulsa World). |
Shelter or jail? The numbers behind Stitt’s efforts to clear Tulsa’s homeless encampments |
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By Kimberly Marsh, The Oklahoma Eagle | Anna Colletto, Tulsa Flyer
As Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Operation SAFE continues clearing homeless encampments across Tulsa, there’s little clarity on where the effort is taking place — or how many people are being impacted.
But there are some numbers:
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The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is six days into its operation.
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OHP cleared 30 encampments and more than 250 tons of debris as of Monday, according to Stitt.
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The Tulsa Day Center, a downtown homeless shelter, reported an additional 30 people seeking help each day since the operation began but doesn’t have room to shelter them overnight.
We’ve asked, but so far OHP has not shared locations of the cleared encampments with outside organizations, including the mayor’s office or public safety departments, according to their representatives.
Josh Sanders, director of outreach and engagement for the Day Center, said the mayor’s office was weeks away from implementing a plan to move people from encampments into housing, but the governor’s effort undid more than a year’s worth of their work.
Last Thursday, Stitt directed OHP to clear “homeless encampments, trash and criminal activity from state-owned property inside the city.” He said state troopers would offer people experiencing homelessness a ride to a treatment facility or jail if they refused service — though as of Tuesday, OHP said no one had been arrested.
If you’ve seen sweeps in Tulsa, been directly affected by them or just want to share your opinion on Operation SAFE, we want to hear from you.
Email us at connect@tulsaflyer.org. |
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Howdy y’all! I’m the Big Tulsan, and it’s mighty fine to meet ya! My good buddy, Todd, and I have called T-Town home for a very long time. I’ve been around so long I have fond memories of having fun at places like Cimarron Ballroom, the Orpheum and, of course, riding the Wildcat at Bell’s Amusement Park. I’ll never forget fun meals at The Louisiane, Crystal’s Pizza and Utica 21 Club.
My hobbies? Meeting new folks and sharing my memories of Tulsa’s past as well as my thoughts on current happenings around town. Send me your burning questions about anything and everything pertaining to Tulsa. Todd and I will see what kind of fun we can get into by digging into the mail bags and responding each week to some of our favorite Qs.
Don't forget to write me! Email bigtulsan@tulsaflyer.org. |
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Weather or Not? |
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How Tulsa weathered summer 2025 |
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Tulsa’s summer of 2025 was anything but ordinary. We were mild on the thermometer but soaking wet when it came to rain. The city only logged two 100-degree days, far fewer than the typical 11. But rain was the real standout this summer. Tulsa soaked up 18.26 inches, making it the 11th-wettest summer on record and well above the usual 11.79 inches.
Beyond Tulsa, June brought a burst of severe weather across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. Nineteen tornadoes touched down — a record for the most June tornadoes in the region. We were spoiled with temperatures well below normal for the first week of September, but unfortunately summer is not fully over. We are back in the 90s this coming weekend and can expect a couple of weeks ahead with above-average temperatures.
Meteorologist Kirsten Lang |
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How New Orleans evacuees found a new life in Tulsa after Hurricane Katrina
It's been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans. Many evacuees came to Tulsa. But for people who stepped up to help them, those experiences haven't left their minds. Read more. |
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"I will always remember the vacant looks on their faces…the fear of where they were. We just tried to be a smiling face, and people who would listen to their stories and help them."
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Weekend Fly-By |
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With temperatures shifting and fall festival season on the horizon, Tulsans have a wide slate of options to get out of the house this weekend. Here are five events to check out. |
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Second Friday Art Crawl on 66
6 p.m. Friday
The Historic Red Fork District comes to life with local art and music for an evening of family fun on the west side of the Arkansas River at 4077 Southwest Blvd. Free to attend.
Tulsa Farmers’ Market
8 a.m. Saturday
Shop for fresh seasonal produce, responsibly grown meats, farm-fresh eggs, local honey, pecans, prepared foods, artisan crafts and much more in the Historic Kendall-Whittier District. Free to attend.
La Fiesta de Tulsa
3-9 p.m. Saturday
East Tulsa’s signature celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off with a parade beginning at Cooper Elementary, 1808 S. 123rd E. Ave., and ending at Hannah Hall, 1801 S. Garnett Road, at 4 p.m. to launch the event. La Fiesta will feature live performances, cultural showcases and the traditional "Grito de Independencia" led by the Mexican Consulate in Oklahoma City for the first time in Tulsa. Free to attend.
WOMPA Bazaar
5 p.m. Saturday
WOMPA’s monthly indoor night market at 3306 Charles Page Blvd. features more than 40 local vendors from farmers to makers to artists to vintage sellers and more. There will be live music, food and drinks available. Free to attend.
Broncho
7 p.m. Saturday
The local rockers return home to Cain's Ballroom for the closing night of their summer tour in support of their fifth album, “Natural Pleasure.” Tickets are only $8.37 after fees if purchased in advance. |
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Come meet the Tulsa Flyer! We are prioritizing your stories as we launch this newsroom. That means creating opportunities for you to engage with our team. Here’s where we’ll be in the week ahead. Stop by, introduce yourself and tell us your good news.
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La Fiesta de Tulsa
3-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13
Hannah Hall, 1801 S. Garnett Road
Chamberlain Park Community Food and Resources Festival
5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16
Chamberlain Park, 4940 N. Frankfort Ave.
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Tulsa Flyer Open House at MUST (Mixed-Use Tulsa) |
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6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17
MUST, 2417 E. Admiral Blvd. |
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And coming up...
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Special screening of “The Post,” followed by an introduction to the Tulsa Flyer team
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30
Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis Ave.
(RSVP here) |
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