AGP Executive Report

Oklahoma Sports: Oklahoma State fans turned a historic upset into a campus spectacle after the Cowboys stunned No. 6 Oregon 39-31, snapping a long losing skid. QB Drew Mestemaker threw for 317 yards and two TDs and added a rushing score, while the celebration spilled onto the field—students tore down a goal post and carried it to Theta Pond. Big Ten Shake-Up: Week 2 delivered a rough weekend for the Big Ten, with Texas erasing a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23, while Oregon fell to OSU and Michigan bounced back to beat No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10. Local Safety/Health: Whole Foods recalled Cabricharme cheese sold in seven states due to undeclared egg lysozyme, warning people with egg allergies could face serious reactions. Oklahoma Community & Civic Life: Rogers County election officials plan to keep their doors open until midnight for National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 15, offering registration help and a community event. Oklahoma Crime Update: Oklahoma County prosecutors filed murder charges in the alleged pit bull mauling death of toddler Locklynn McGuire, with parents facing first-degree murder and cruelty counts.

College Football Upset: Oklahoma State stunned No. 6 Oregon 39-31 in Stillwater, snapping a 21-game skid against FBS teams as Drew Mestemaker threw for 317 yards and two TDs and added a rushing score; fans stormed the field and even tossed a goalpost into Theta Pond. Big-Game Bounce-Back: Michigan answered early Week 1 doubts by beating No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10 in Ann Arbor, with a late interception return setting up the go-ahead TD and Bryce Underwood running for 87 yards. Local Sports Note: Louisiana State University at Alexandria shut out Oklahoma City University’s men’s team 4-0 (lightning ended it in the 71st minute), while LSUA’s women beat OCU 2-1. Household Pressure: Gas prices are rising again, adding strain to budgets already hit by inflation, with higher fuel costs expected to ripple into everyday prices.

College Football (OKC-area focus): Week 2 is here, and Oklahoma fans get a marquee test Saturday as No. 11 Oklahoma visits Michigan at noon ET (FOX). The Sooners are listed around a 4.5-point road favorite in multiple previews, after OU opened with a 51-0 win over UTEP. Sports Betting Buzz: Public betting chatter has Oklahoma as the most popular Week 2 pick at Kalshi (about 66% of traders), with Michigan also drawing plenty of attention after its controversial 13-12 escape vs. Western Michigan. Local Crime: Tulsa police say a man accused of kidnapping a 1-year-old from a mother’s Walmart shopping cart was arrested after officers found him near a bus stop; the mother confronted him and got the child back. Weather: Oklahoma is bracing for more heat and storm chances, with forecasts calling for very hot afternoons and isolated thunderstorms. Federal/Policy: DOJ sued Hawaiʻi, D.C., Arkansas and Utah over in-state tuition rules for people living in the U.S. without legal permission.

OKC Infrastructure: Oklahoma City is moving ahead with a $4.2 million beautification push—new highway gateway signs at 12 locations and upgrades to three pedestrian bridges (SW 24th Street, Woodson Park, Blackwelder Avenue) with ADA improvements, repairs, and LED lighting. OU & Athletics: The OU Board of Regents meets Tuesday to review design plans for an $80 million, 77,000-square-foot Engineering Research Building and to consider athletics staffing and contract changes. Sports—Local College Volleyball: Fort Hays State split a GAC-MIAA crossover in Oklahoma, dropping a four-set match to No. 24 Oklahoma Baptist before sweeping Southern Nazarene. Public Safety: A 17-year-old was arrested after reporting a deadly hit-and-run in OKC; police say the victim was struck near Melrose and Rockwell while the driver was on his phone filming near railroad tracks. Health: A Cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled lettuce is officially over, though the FDA says its investigation continues. Remembering 9/11: Oklahoma law enforcement leaders gathered in Tulsa to mark 25 years since 9/11 and discuss how coordination failures still shape public safety today.

Oklahoma City Remembers 9/11: Retired OKC Fire Battalion Chief Larry Hansen reflected on responding to both the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the Sept. 11 attacks, stressing preparedness and the need to never forget. Oklahoma Energy Update: OG&E says its Horseshoe Lake Unit 11 gas turbine passed performance tests and should enter service next month—six months ahead of schedule—adding flexible power for customers. Gas Prices Watch: AAA reports the national regular gas average jumped 13 cents in a week to $4.27, with volatility tied to crude oil and Strait of Hormuz concerns. Weather Disruption: Storms knocked out power to 3,000+ OKC metro homes after record heat, with OG&E estimating restoration between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Health & Community: Muscogee Creek Nation is raising its tribal minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2028, phased in starting next month. Sports (Local Interest): Oklahoma’s Week 2 spotlight game is Michigan at the Big House, while OSU opens against Oregon in Stillwater with NFL scouts reportedly in attendance.

Health & Cost Relief: The White House says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Oklahoma, will get $500 Obamacare refunds tied to alleged federal “user fee” overcharges from the Biden era. 9/11 Remembrance: Oklahoma State-linked firefighter Brian White reflects on Sept. 11 as a retired NYPD memo book and other first-responder stories mark the 25th anniversary. Local Firefighting: Rain is giving northeast Oklahoma firefighters a breather after weeks of grassfires driven by triple-digit heat and dry conditions. Oklahoma Sports: No. 10 Oklahoma heads to Ann Arbor for its first trip to Michigan, with QB Bryce Underwood’s starting job under scrutiny and the Sooners’ defense in focus. Crime & Courts: Oklahoma County reported 102 property-category detention bookings for the week ending Sept. 6. School Bus Safety: Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office urges kids and drivers to follow bus-stop rules as the school year continues.

Oklahoma City Infrastructure: Jacobs was selected by the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust to run operations and maintenance for the city’s wastewater facilities and solids management under a 5½-year contract, aiming to keep services reliable as demand grows across OKC and nearby communities. Local Water Update: Oklahoma City is also set to release water from Canton Lake to help replenish Lake Hefner levels. Public Safety: A preliminary National Safety Council analysis says traffic fatalities fell slightly in the first half of 2026, with Oklahoma down about 20% year over year. Retail Tech: Walmart is expanding tap-to-pay at checkout starting today, with Oklahoma scheduled to get it on Sept. 14. Politics: President Trump promised a $5,000 “dividend” to adult U.S. citizens if Republicans hold both House and Senate majorities, as the GOP midterm convention continues in Dallas. Sports (Big 12/OU): Week 2 headlines include No. 11 Oklahoma visiting Michigan, plus major Big 12 matchups like Iowa State at Iowa and Arizona at BYU.

Oklahoma Politics: Former state House speaker Mark McBride has filed suit at the Oklahoma Supreme Court to block Gov. Kevin Stitt’s plan for a spring 2027 vote on calling a constitutional convention, arguing the governor can’t do it the way he’s proposing. Local Courts: Gov. Bob Ferguson appointed Bree Black Horse, a citizen of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, to a newly created Yakima County Superior Court seat—making her the first Native American on that bench. OKC Community & Housing: Residents displaced by an intentionally set northwest Oklahoma City apartment fire are still searching for permanent housing, with case managers and partners helping them through hotel stays and applications. Education & Access: Oklahoma’s charter school reporting system is under review, with a new report saying compliance burdens create avoidable administrative friction even as accountability remains important. Weather: Oklahoma is bracing for scattered thunderstorms and a cooler stretch, with gusty winds possible. Sports (Sooners): OU heads to Michigan for a Week 2 matchup after a controversial opener for the Wolverines, with Oklahoma looking to disrupt Bryce Underwood. Travel Perk: TSA is rolling out “Gateside” at select airports, letting some approved non-fliers access the gate area without a boarding pass.

Nuclear Energy Push: West Virginia just signed a deal with the U.S. Department of Energy to join the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus effort, joining Idaho, Tennessee, Utah, Oklahoma and Louisiana—an initiative the DOE says could bring billions in investment and thousands of jobs. Local Health & Safety: Oklahoma City-area families are feeling the squeeze as a new student loan system leaves some borrowers struggling to stay afloat, while Oklahoma also saw a major frozen-berry recall expand to include Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend sold in multiple states including Oklahoma. Public Services Update: AMR is taking over ambulance service in Pauls Valley and nearby areas, ending Mercy EMS’s eight-year run. Tech & Privacy Watch: Tulsa residents pressed city leaders about Flock license-plate cameras at a town hall, with police saying policies are public and being reviewed as leadership changes. Weather Alert: Extreme heat is hitting parts of eastern Oklahoma with heat index values topping 105–113, with storms possible later today. Sports (OKC tie-in): The Thunder are again listed among the NBA’s championship-favorite tier as the 2026-27 season preview season ramps up.

Oklahoma City & 9/11 remembrance: The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum is highlighting how lessons from the 1995 Murrah bombing helped shape memorials after 9/11, with exhibits and connections spanning New York and Oslo as the 25th anniversary nears. College football (OU vs. Michigan): Michigan dropped out of the AP Top 25 after its controversial Hail Mary win over Western Michigan, and this week’s matchup has Oklahoma’s defense in focus as the Sooners prepare for a big challenge in Ann Arbor. Local sports & schools: Oklahoma high school football keeps rolling, with Midwest City Carl Albert chasing a state record winning streak and a tough road test ahead. Foster care push: CASA of Northeast Oklahoma is recruiting more volunteers to advocate for children in foster care, aiming for at least 26 new advocates by the end of 2026. Travel update: TSA Precheck is adding “Gateside,” letting eligible non-travelers access parts of airports beyond security without a boarding pass. Business/finance: Chime plans to buy Enid-based Stride Bank for $590 million, aiming to speed product development and expand lending as it moves toward owning its own charter.

Oklahoma City & State Services: Oklahoma City plans to release water from Canton Lake in mid-September to help replenish Lake Hefner, a key drinking-water source that’s been dropping amid drought and triple-digit heat. Digital Access: Oklahoma is pushing the “Community Access Portals” idea—broadband-equipped pods rolling out to public libraries statewide—to help close the digital divide as BEAD builds continue. Public Safety & Health: Federal officials closed a multistate egg-linked Salmonella outbreak, reporting 134 illnesses across 18 states; no deaths were reported. Local Crime & Courts: Kore Bommeli pleaded no contest in a Wagoner County killing case and was sentenced to 28 years for manslaughter, with additional consecutive time for corpse desecration. Education Funding Fight: Oklahoma districts are reacting to the state ending an expanded-day “third meal” program, leaving some rural schools scrambling. Sports (OKC-area): Oklahoma linebacker Cole Sullivan returns to Michigan this weekend, while OSU starts 0-1 after a Tulsa loss that included costly fourth-down struggles.

OKC Travel Watch: Labor Day travel is hitting Oklahoma airports hard, with TSA expecting about 2.7 million screenings nationwide Monday; OKC Will Rogers Airport is urging travelers to arrive early and plan for delays, while Tulsa International recommends getting there at least 90 minutes ahead and checking real-time wait times. Local Security Update: TSA called in the OKC bomb squad after suspicious checked-bag items at Will Rogers Airport looked like electric blasting caps, but officials later determined they were non-explosive demonstration tools. Thunder Spotlight: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-level production is being credited for making the Oklahoma City Thunder nearly impossible to defend, with OKC finishing 64–18 and posting the NBA’s best net rating. Politics & Labor Policy: Rep. Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma City introduced the “No Preference Act,” aiming to stop the federal government from favoring contractors based on whether workers belong to unions. Health & Safety: A new study reports alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the U.S. have doubled since 1990, with the biggest burden tied to liver cancer. Sports Betting & Tech: Polymarket is promoting code “SILIVE” for Labor Day sports, including NFL and college football markets. Gas Prices: Diesel prices remain elevated, with GasBuddy reporting the lowest in Wagoner County at $4.99/gal for the week ending Aug. 29.

Labor Day Gas Prices: Americans are paying record-high prices at the pump, with AAA putting regular at about $4.14 a gallon and warning the national average could top the old Labor Day record of $3.82. College Football (SEC/Big Ten): Week 1 power rankings are rolling out after a strong SEC showing and a Big Ten weekend marked by controversy, including Michigan’s last-second Hail Mary escape vs. Western Michigan. Oklahoma Sports (NIL/9-11): Oklahoma Sooners edge rusher Danny Okoye is tying his on-field production to donations for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation ahead of the 25th 9/11 anniversary. Local Nonprofit Grants: The Sam the I Can Man Foundation is accepting applications for “I Can Too” grants supporting Oklahomans with differing abilities through equipment, activities, and experiences. Public Safety/Weather: Severe storm chances are highlighted for Monday night in parts of the Plains, with wind and hail risks noted. Food Safety: Walmart shoppers in 16 states are urged to check freezers as a Chilean berry recall expands due to possible E. coli contamination.

Oklahoma Sports Spotlight: Oklahoma’s own college scene stayed busy as No. 14 BYU played Oklahoma to a 1-1 draw in Provo, with Sophie Sivulich scoring the equalizer for the Cougars. Oklahoma State soccer also got a win at home, grinding out a 2-0 victory over Southeast Missouri State with goals built on teamwork in the offensive third. Oklahoma City Thunder: A new report says OKC is doing early 2027 NBA Draft scouting overseas, as the team looks to stay in championship mode. Local Business/Community: In Tulsa, Oasis Fresh Market is nearing its long-awaited opening downtown at 6th and Cincinnati, aiming to bring a full-service grocery option back after years of food-desert gaps. National Sports Notes: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani’s return is “imminent”, while a high school football game in Hawaii ended early after a third-quarter brawl.

Oklahoma City & State Water: Oklahoma City plans to release water from Canton Lake later this month to raise Lake Hefner levels, a move tied to local water management. College Football (OU/OSU): Oklahoma opened its season with a 51-0 shutout over UTEP, with John Mateer throwing three TDs and Isaiah Sategna adding an 88-yard punt return score; meanwhile, Oklahoma State’s new era under Eric Morris started with a 24-10 loss to Tulsa. Big Ten Drama: Michigan survived Western Michigan 13-12 on a controversial second-chance Hail Mary after officials restored one second to the clock, keeping the Wolverines unbeaten at 1-0. National Policy Watch: TSA launched “Gateside by TSA PreCheck,” a pilot letting approved non-ticketed visitors walk to the gate at select airports, including Will Rogers World Airport in OKC. Local Community Spotlight: Fort Sill, Oklahoma, became the third military base to roll out geothermal heat pumps for family homes. Sports Business/Tech: Opposition is growing to new AI data centers over power-grid strain, with residents in multiple states pushing back.

OSU-Tulsa Shock in Oklahoma Sports: Tulsa beat Oklahoma State 24-10 in Eric Morris’ debut, spoiling the Cowboys’ big offseason with a slow, mistake-filled offense and four Tulsa stops on fourth down. Drew Mestemaker finished 29-of-49 with a touchdown and two interceptions, while Baylor Hayes threw for 227 yards and a score and Damari Alston ran for two TDs. College Football Week 1 Watch: Oregon rallied to beat Boise State 34-27 after a slow start, while Week 1 featured standout first-start quarterback performances nationwide. Local Weather & Daily Life: Daylight saving time could end on Nov. 1, 2026 unless the Sunshine Protection Act clears the Senate and is signed; Florida and many other states have already moved to make it permanent. OKC Area Sports: Oklahoma City University opened its Sooner Athletic Conference road swing with a 3-1 win over College of the Ozarks, improving to 8-0 overall and 2-0 in the SAC. Travel Costs: AAA says Labor Day gas prices are near record highs, with Oklahoma averages just above $3.70 a gallon.