Mayoral Native stance, Christianity assignment concerns, and AG blasts Walters
VNN Weekly Digest August 19-25
Here’s a look at the week’s top stories:
Tulsa mayoral candidates provide stances on prosecuting Native Americans
(OKLAHOMA) The Tulsa Mayoral Election is next Tuesday, and seven candidates are vying for the opportunity to run the largest U.S. city that sits on three tribal reservations: Muscogee Nation, Cherokee, and Osage.
During a recent debate, three of those candidates were asked to respond to the question: “If you become mayor, will your administration continue to pursue criminal jurisdiction over tribal citizens in Tulsa?”
Skiatook HS pulls assignment on Christianity after Osage family protests
(OSAGE RESERVATION) Skiatook High School sophomore, Nettie Gray, received an assignment this week that left her and her family confused and upset. On Thursday evening, her mother Olivia Gray posted about the assignment on Facebook and hundreds of comments began to roll in.
The post read, “This is one of Nettie’s assignments for World History class. It’s being called a research paper. …” and included a photo of the assignment, which contained a series of ten questions about “how the world started” and urged students to write a research paper on the topic. Among the questions were “What does it mean to be a Christian?” “Is God real” and “Is satan [sic] real?”
AG Blasts Ryan Walters, Orders Funds Release to Schools
(OKLAHOMA) In an expedited opinion to help ensure schools have needed resources for enhanced security, Attorney General (AG) Gentner Drummond issued a formal opinion directing the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to send school districts long-overdue security funds.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters requested the opinion Aug. 12 after news reports surfaced that the OSDE was refusing to let school districts keep unused dollars from the School Security Revolving Fund.
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NATIVE COMMERCE NEWS
AICCO provides first look at Economic Impact Survey results
(OKLAHOMA) Founded in Tulsa in 1991, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma (AICCO) provides opportunities and resources to help Native, tribal, and associate business members prosper and succeed.
This year, AICCO launched an initiative to learn more about the impacts its Native businesses are having in their communities and statewide, focusing on 2023 data.
WEATHER ACROSS AMERICA
(NATIONAL) A dangerous heat wave intensifies over the Midwest, severe storms and isolated flash flooding are possible for the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes, and daily Monsoonal thunderstorms to continue across the Four Corners region into the southern Rockies and High Plains.
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