AGP Executive Report

Jonas Brothers Tour Buzz: The Jonas Brothers just added a Seattle stop at Climate Pledge Arena on Dec. 5, with Spotify Reserved presales starting Aug. 18 (general sales Aug. 21). STEM in Oklahoma Schools: Society for Science picked 100 educators for its 2026–2027 Advocate Program, awarding $326,000 to expand student access to science research and competitions. College Football Spotlight: The AP preseason Top 25 puts Ohio State at No. 1 and Oregon at No. 2, while SEC teams dominate the ranked count with nine entries. Oklahoma Health & Safety: Oklahoma’s READY initiative is rolling out a Botvin LifeSkills Training program in districts, aiming to cut teen substance use rates that run higher than the national average. Local Energy Concern: A lightning strike sparked a major fire at Explorer Pipeline’s Glenpool tank farm near Tulsa, forcing shutdowns and raising fuel-supply worries. Music Scene: Texan crossover band Judiciary released “Death Knell,” with Oklahoma City on the fall tour calendar (Sept. 16).

Oklahoma Education Politics: GOP superintendent candidates Robert Franklin and James Taylor faced fresh controversy in their race, including a leaked voicemail involving Franklin apologizing after he grabbed a child with special needs at a camper years ago, and Taylor addressing past firing and alleged misuse tied to Little Axe school resources. Sports & Entertainment Spotlight: Russell Westbrook officially retired after 18 NBA seasons, ending a career defined by triple-doubles and a long rivalry arc that included his Nuggets-era battles with Nikola Jokic. College Football Buzz: The AP preseason Top 25 is out, with Ohio State and Oregon landing 1-2 and the Big Ten dominating the top spots; Oklahoma is listed at No. 10. Local Arts & Culture: OU alum Elvie Ellis returns to Oklahoma City in the touring Broadway hit “Hamilton.” Community & Health: Northeastern State University’s Health and Kinesiology department will lead Oklahoma’s Presidential Fitness Test modification, aiming for a more inclusive, practical assessment for schools. Oklahoma Music/Events: The Jonas Brothers announced a major “Burning Up Tour All Over Again” run, including a stop in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma Entertainment & Sports: Rock & Brews Casino is pushing ahead with a big expansion in northern Oklahoma, adding a 25,000-square-foot entertainment center (R&B Live) plus a 21-space RV park—construction is already underway, with the RV park due in October 2026 and the venue targeted for August 2027. College Football Season Prep: A new guide is out for squeezing maximum fun out of the 2026 college football season, with weekly “must-watch” matchups and a focus on close games and chaos. Local Sports Spotlight: OSU’s Cowgirls opened strong with a 3-0 shutout over Stephen F. Austin, while Nowata and Caney Valley softball both rolled through tournaments—Nowata is 5-1 and Caney Valley is 5-0. Pop Culture & Film: “The Rivals of Amziah King” is getting attention as a honey-tinged modern Western, with Oklahoma beekeeper vibes at the center of the story. Community Watch: Oklahoma troopers cleared another Norman homeless encampment, and the state is also threatening to bill Tulsa and OKC for related cleanup costs.

Film Spotlight: “The Rivals of Amziah King” is back in the spotlight with Matthew McConaughey’s honey-and-bluegrass modern Western, plus a closer look at how the story’s hive politics mirror its human stakes. Faith & Community: “American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story” lands in limited-run theaters Aug. 25-27, tracing the Oklahoma farm boy’s return to Guatemala despite death threats. Local Arts & Culture: East Oklahoma City’s Aug. 16-22 calendar highlights what to catch this week, including a Third Thursday Poetry Reading at The Lunch Box (Aug. 20). Sports (Oklahoma ties): USA sitting volleyball teams are training in Edmond at UCO, with the women’s squad bringing home ParaVolley World Championship gold and the men qualifying for the Paralympics. College Football (OSU): OSU tight ends coach Drew Svoboda says the room is built for versatility, while QB Drew Mestemaker’s biggest edge is his mental processing as the Cowboys’ offense ramps up. Entertainment/Pop Culture: McConaughey also talks family and his “Warrior Kid” project with Levi’s next big-screen role.

Oklahoma Music & Film: Norman guitarist Terry “Buffalo” Ware, a key figure in the outlaw country movement, died Aug. 5 at 86, leaving behind a legacy tied to Red River’s music scene. Faith on the Big Screen: “American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story” premiered in Moore, with Martin Sheen narrating the English version and the film set for wider theatrical release. Local Sports Spotlight: OSU hockey is bringing “Bedlam on Ice” to Boone Pickens Stadium on Jan. 30, 2027, with public skating days and tailgating planned. NFL Training-Camp Buzz: Chiefs rookie DE R Mason Thomas showed pass-rush flashes in the preseason opener, while Cowboys notes highlight Phil Mafah’s early impact before a chest injury. NBA Watch: Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso is framed as a postseason key even with roster changes, and Spurs–Thunder matchups are already being billed as a real rivalry. Community & Events: Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre is holding local auditions, and the Tower Theatre is celebrating Route 66 with free family movie night screenings.

Bedlam on Ice: OSU and OU hockey are set for an outdoor showdown at Boone Pickens Stadium on Jan. 30, 2027, with an ice rink installed for five days and three open to the public for skating, plus tailgating and world-touring performers. Local Sports Buzz: Oklahoma fans also got a steady stream of preseason and pro-sports chatter, including Chiefs preseason takeaways and a Dodgers update on Tyler Glasnow’s rehab timeline. Movies & Culture: Oklahoma filmmaker Andrew Patterson’s “The Rivals of Amziah King” is getting theater attention, with coverage highlighting its heist-thriller, modern-western, and community themes. Music Scene: Norman guitarist Terry “Buffalo” Ware, a longtime pillar of the Oklahoma music community, has died after a lengthy illness. Community & Faith: A new TV debut for “Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66” on OETA is in the mix, alongside local arts and performance announcements.

Local Arts Spotlight: Painted Sky Opera’s 10th anniversary run of Verdi’s La Traviata hits Oklahoma City’s Civic Center Music Hall (Aug. 14-23), with performances featuring cast members including Gabrielle Gilliam as Violetta. Film & Music in OKC: Photos and coverage spotlight Oklahoma’s Nimrods, a Green Day–inspired road-trip comedy shot in the OKC area, including scenes at OFA Studios and appearances tied to the band’s promotional buzz. Dance Auditions: Central Oklahoma Ballet will hold The Nutcracker auditions Sunday, Aug. 30 in Yukon (ages 7-11 at 2 p.m., 12+ at 3 p.m.), with a live-orchestra performance planned for the season. Sports & Community: For Oklahoma high school football, coaches are juggling preseason practice with extreme heat and player safety. Music History (Oklahoma Pride): Remembering Jimmy Webb—born in Elk City on Aug. 15, 1946—celebrated for a legendary catalog spanning songwriting, lyrics, and orchestration. Sports Media: ESPN’s NBA coverage changes continue as familiar faces step back, signaling a broader retreat from serious hoops coverage.

Native Arts Spotlight: The Santa Fe Indian Market keeps pottery at the center, with Gen X and Millennial potters pushing new ideas while honoring the tradition’s roots. Oklahoma Arts & Culture: Tulsa-based digital artist Lily Belmira is building a free video game recreation of Michael Heizer’s monumental land art “City,” using public mapping data to make the work more accessible. Film & Music Buzz: Oklahoma-filmed “Nimrods,” a Green Day-inspired road trip comedy, hits theaters this weekend, while “The Rivals of Amziah King” leans into a rural Oklahoma honey-and-bluegrass world starring Matthew McConaughey and Kurt Russell. Sports & Community: Butch Huskey, a Lawton native and one of the last Mets players to wear Jackie Robinson’s No. 42, has died at 54. Local Governance: Oklahoma warns Tulsa and OKC they may have to repay nearly $900,000 tied to clearing homeless encampments under Operation SAFE. Sports Schedules: OSU men’s basketball releases its nonconference slate, and the Heartland Flyer gets new funding to keep running into 2027.

Local Arts & Film: Matthew McConaughey’s comeback lands with The Rivals of Amziah King (in theaters Aug. 14), a honey-themed rural comedy/crime musical set in Oklahoma—he even joked about getting stung during filming. Music: Medium Build (Nick Carpenter) drops “In My Gut” with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, ahead of the Sept. 4 album King of Having Fun. Sports (OU/OSU): OU true freshman OL Noah Best is turning heads at camp with “perfect technique” reps against top interior talent. Sports (Pro Rodeo): Oklahoma-linked steer wrestler Gus Franzen is building momentum toward a PRCA top-30 finish after wins across the road. Community/Local Life: Oklahoma City fire officials say a west-OKC blaze Thursday is suspicious; Minco approved temporary outdoor water restrictions amid pipeline limits. Public Safety Tech: OKC leaders are set to consider changes to the city’s Flock Safety contract after privacy concerns. State Politics: Gov. Stitt threatens to invoice Tulsa and OKC for Operation SAFE encampment sweeps on state land.

Oklahoma Arts & Culture: Belladonna’s Garden, a new online literary journal founded by Cherokee Nation citizen Shari Wilder, is giving Northeastern Oklahoma writers and artists a fresh place to publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art. Film & Local Connections: Seattle art director John Lavin discusses his Oklahoma-set work on Matthew McConaughey’s “The Rivals of Amziah King,” a genre-bending story that blends music, a honey business, and suspense. Live Entertainment Calendar: Oklahoma City’s Civic Center Music Hall hosts “Hamilton” Aug. 11–23, while CatVideoFest 2026 lands Aug. 13 at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and comedy options include Dave Attell Aug. 14 at Riverwind. Sports on the National Stage: The NBA schedule release is driving big TV buzz, with OKC’s Christmas Day matchup highlighted and multiple Oklahoma teams stacking national appearances for 2026–27. Golf Spotlight: At Merion, Logan Reilly advanced in the U.S. Amateur after a marathon win over OU senior Ryder Cowan, and the quarterfinal field is set. Community Sports: The 2026 Oklahoma Senior Games are underway in the Tulsa area, with events like bowling, tai chi, tennis, and pickleball.

NBA Retirement: Russell Westbrook officially retires after 18 seasons, ending a career defined by 209 triple-doubles and a Michael B. Jordan-narrated farewell video. Local Education Watch: Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics faces fresh scrutiny after multiple staff resignations, with critics warning it’s not just isolated turnover. Oklahoma City Schools: OKCPS opens $116M Capitol Hill High School on the south side, aiming to ease overcrowding and boost outcomes for a community still battling absenteeism. Film & Music Buzz: Matthew McConaughey returns to the big screen in the honey-themed thriller “The Rivals of Amziah King,” while No Cure drops a new “Ironclad” video and tour dates include an Oklahoma City stop. Sports Schedules: OSU announces three 2026 exhibition games, including a Homecoming matchup vs. Tulsa. Weather/Outdoors: Perseids peak conditions look promising for Oklahoma, but heat advisories keep Magnolia dangerously hot through the weekend.

NBA Farewell: Russell Westbrook officially retired after 18 seasons, closing out a career defined by 209 triple-doubles and a long Oklahoma City Thunder legacy, with his announcement video narrated by Michael B. Jordan. Sports & Local Interest: Oklahoma’s Inola High School is tied to T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights, which returns with bigger prizes and a $1 million football field upgrade—last year’s champ was Inola, Oklahoma. Arts & Culture: Tulsa’s Cherokee National Treasures Mentorship Program is keeping traditional Cherokee crafts alive through hands-on training in basketry, pottery, beadwork and metal smithing. Entertainment & Community: Edmond’s Icehouse Project welcomed back Spunkie’s soul food, reopening inside the venue after a hiatus and a move that’s become a new chapter for the Crawford family. Oklahoma Spotlight: A new Midtown Tulsa sober living house is now open, offering wraparound recovery services for residents who qualify.

Music Drops: LP teases “Room 12” with the new single “Mi Corazón,” a coming-out-and-becoming-a-musician ballad, while Oklahoma City noise-rockers Chat Pile follow up earlier “Who Loves The Sun” previews with “Same Rules,” ahead of a Sept. 4 release. Native Education: The Osage Nation Congress is pushing back after the Osage language immersion school Daposka Ahnkodapi shut down, calling it a threat to language sovereignty and urging Principal Chief Joe Tillman to reopen it. Local Arts & Nightlife: Wilk & Sons is set to open in Oklahoma with a football-coach Bud Wilkinson-inspired speakeasy cocktail bar and a menu built like a playbook. Sports Buzz: LeBron James’ 76ers debut vs. the Knicks headlines the NBA’s opening-night slate, and Oklahoma’s college football playoff talk heats up with debate over whether a three-loss team could sneak in. Community & Safety: A big rig crashed through backyards in Oklahoma City, damaging homes and killing some chickens; no injuries were reported. Housing/Utilities: Tenants say landlords are failing to provide essential services, with limited legal recourse under Oklahoma’s landlord-tenant rules. Power & Rates: Summit Utilities is seeking a rate increase in Oklahoma after reviewing 2025 spending, sparking concern online.

NBA Schedule Buzz: The NBA’s first look at the 2026-27 slate spotlights LeBron James’ 76ers debut vs. the champion Knicks on Oct. 20, plus Christmas Day matchups that include Oklahoma City vs. Minnesota and Oklahoma City’s rematch energy. Local Sports Drama: Tulsa National Little League remains disqualified after a Texas judge vacated a temporary restraining order, sending Boerne to the Little League World Series instead. College Wrestling Rivalry Watch: Oklahoma State coach David Taylor says he’s “saving one date” every year for Penn State, ready to schedule the Cowboys’ biggest challenge if Cael Sanderson wants it. Native Arts & Culture: The Cherokee Nation’s Cherokee National Holiday Inter-Tribal Powwow returns with grand entry, gourd dance events, and prize money—set for Sept. 4-5. Film Spotlight (Oklahoma Pride): Matthew McConaughey’s “The Rivals of Amziah King,” an Oklahoma-set honey-and-bluegrass crime drama, opens in select theaters Aug. 14. Oklahoma Music Moment: Green Country singer Loni Licciardello lands at Graceland for Elvis Week Aug. 12 and releases her “Suspicious Minds” cover the same day.

NBA Spotlight: The league’s 2026 Christmas Day slate is set, including Spurs at Knicks and Heat at Celtics, with the holiday matchups built around big-name rivalries. NBA on NBC: The NBA tips off Oct. 20 on NBC/Peacock with a rare triple-header, featuring LeBron and the new-look 76ers vs. the Knicks, plus OKC vs. San Antonio. Thunder/Spurs Talk: ESPN insiders also flagged under-the-radar concerns for top contenders, including what OKC may need to overcome to win again. College Football Money: A new look at what Power 4 starters earn shows the gap between “good” and “elite” programs is widening. Oklahoma Sports Local: Tulsa National’s Little League run got thrown out over an ineligible player—then a Texas judge reinstated the team, sending the Southwest title game back on. Oklahoma Arts & Community: Goodspeed Musicals marks Annie’s 50th anniversary by announcing Laiken Jules as Annie and Scotty as Sandy, with the show running Oct. 30–Dec. 27. Oklahoma Music: Arcadia’s Elm Tree Concert Series welcomes Tulsa’s The Variables for free outdoor Americana/Red Dirt-style music on Aug. 23. Business/Jobs: Hapco broke ground on a new 270,000-square-foot Oklahoma City facility, aiming to add 80+ jobs and expand aluminum lighting pole production.

Little League Drama: Tulsa National was removed from the Southwest Region baseball tournament after Little League International ruled an ineligible player was used, turning Oklahoma’s Sunday win over Louisiana into a forfeit and reshuffling the path to the Little League World Series. Local Arts & Entertainment: The Toy & Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley is permanently closing at the end of August after 20 years, citing lost billboard funding. OKC Entertainment Growth: Oklahoma City leaders unveiled a downtown transformation plan that includes an entertainment loop and a possible conversion of the Oklahoma County jail into a film studio. Theme Park Fun: Myriad Gardens’ Pumpkinville returns Oct. 1-25 with a Route 66 centennial theme featuring Oklahoma landmarks. Venue Closures: HeyDay Entertainment is shutting down its Norman location after the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority buys the property for highway construction, with events continuing through late September. Sports Spotlight: Oklahoma’s football buzz continues as Brent Venables and the Sooners land in new preseason rankings, while Oklahoma State’s QB Drew Mestemaker is getting high praise ahead of the season.