​A black Tulsa Sheriff's Deputy appears to have slammed Attorney Ron Durbin's skull with a metal door, Wednesday morning. Durbin was trying to surrender to law enforcement (for the second time in 2 days), but wanted his clients and supporters to be allowed orderly access into the court house, for his arrest. Deputies told other citizens they were not permitted inside (neither was the assembled legacy media).
That's when Durbin said he's stay outside. Immediately, and without words, a deputy grabbed Durbin and pulled his arm behind his back. Durbin attempted to go to the ground, and not resist.
That's when several other deputies rushed outside, and swung a metal door into Durbin's head.
Durbin immediately called for an ambulance and began screaming franticly.

Two years ago, Oklahomans lamented the seemingly inevitable death of the Big 12 college athletic conference. OU & OSU had been the heart of the Big twelve and it's predecessor, the Big 8; since their inceptions.  What OU didn't count on, was what the depth of that Big 12 loyalty and  identity meant.
  Right now, if OU started pitching the supremacy of the South Eastern Conference, there might be effigy bonfires in every county seat across Oklahoma.  But let's set aside the topic of selling out, and focus on the Big 12's bright future, and the change of fortunes in the Big 12 since that dreaded abandonment.
The Texas Longhorns should have been expelled from the Big 12 when they created their own Television platform and severely harmed the Big 12's capacity to create a media package for the whole conference.  

Last weekend, the Oklahoma Republican Party(OKGOP) held their biennial convention and election of new leadership. The week began with two candidates for state chair. On Monday night, the last major candidate forum was held by 3 county GOP organizations. 
Sitting in the audience was Senator Nathan Dahm. Nathan knew his announcement was going to be made the next morning. But he waited. He listened. He said nothing to the crowd or the audience watching on live social media streams.
Before the week ended, he was the winner of the race, on the 2nd round balloting.
​How did that happen?

The state convention of the OKGOP met this past weekend, to select leaders for the next two years. They also approved a fresh platform of policies for the Republican Party.
Senator Nathan Dahm, of Broken Arrow, was selected on the 2nd ballot, after both he and former lawmaker, Sean Roberts of Fairfax gained over 40% of the first ballot, Defeating incumbent, AJ Farate'. Farate's 16% is the worst showing in decades, for an incumbent chair seeking a new term.
The Vice Chair race which preceded, was settled quickly, when Wayne Hill captured nearly 60% of the 1st ballot voting. Hill was endorsed by both Ferate' & Roberts. Others in the Vice Chair race were Michael Stopp & Paula Price, who each captured about 20%.
The convention was held on the campus of Union High School, in Tulsa. Nearly 1000 delegates were registered, representing the 77 county parties and Young Republicans Clubs.

With the Oklahoma legislature preparing the final text of a school choice funding formula, SoonerPolitics undertook the task of compiling a couple of interactive maps, indicating the established private schools across the state. Some of this institutions are accredited by the Oklahoma Private School Accreditation Commission(OPSAC), but several dozens are decidedly not accredited, even though some are over 125 years old. 
 Current legislation provides families an advance tax credit between $5000 to $7500 per year for OPSAC accredited schools. 
If a family chooses a non-accredited education by 'other means' to educate their child, the tax credit drops severely. Perhaps just half the tax credit, and only after providing actual receipts. The current senate bill could drop the credit to a few hundred dollars, because of a household cap on credits.

  The era of forced public schooling is over. The behemoth system which dominates the spending of our state taxes, will soon have to earn the continued patronage of Oklahoma families. 
  Currently, public schools spend about $10,000 per year, per child enrolled in a school district.
 The Oklahoma legislature is now poised to return the common education choices back to parents, by allowing them to direct thousands of dollars of their child's portion of state education spending toward a private education institution.
  Even homeschool expenses will qualify for modest reimbursement, in a timely manner.
​  The net result will be a massive competition between private sector educating, and the statewide network of 500+ public school districts.

In the 3rd day, and eighth round of deadlocked voting, Lauren Boebert of Colorado just made a pitch and first vote to make Tulsa's Kevin Hern the Speaker.
 Just moments later, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma's 2nd district, added his spontaneous support for Hern.
  Both Brecheen & Boebert have been staunch anti-McCarthy members of the 20+ faction of Republican detractors. Most of the anti-McCarthy faction are also tied to the House Freedom Caucus.
Boebert's speech was made as her rollcall vote was asked for. Eventually she was shut down from continuing her lauds of Hern.
  Among the points made for her admiration of Hern include; coming from humble beginnings, working with all conservatives, demonstrating great skill in his role to make a plan for a balanced budget, & leading the Study Committee.
Hern has continued to support the McCarthy leadership team.

Shortly after congress was disrupted by violence, while certifying presidential elector reports, Congressman Markwayne Mullin spoke to KFAQ radio host, Pat Campbell. We carried that interview.
​Almost immediately, Mullin decided not to do anymore interviews on the topic. Until this month.
Mullin's former colleague, Trey Gowdy, asked Mullin to talk about what happened, and Mullin decided to tell Gowdy's Fox Nation audience even more than we've ever previously heard. 
The January 6th details Mullin shared include.

• Actually watching Ashley Babbitt being shot. 
• Planning to confiscate a sidearm from a capitol police officer.
• Creating a 'choke point' to impede the storming of the House chamber.
• Contesting the capitol police strategy, and prevailing, leading to members evacuating via the back stairs.
• Debriefing and consoling 50 injured capitol security personnel.

Dean Summers is a creative artist who travels a few states, going to swap meets and flea markets, to sell his wildlife art. His MosaicSkulls.com is growing a fanbase. Some of his more popular pieces are from recovered road-kill deer & elk. His commerce helps clean up the roads and make them safer, while providing customers with wall pieces for lodges & cabins. He recovers antlers which animals naturally shed annually, and he decorates them with his signature gems or other colorful accessories. Summers says he finds these items, or others just drop them off for him. But he also finds them on nature hikes and drives.
​
Govt. Piracy
Section C of the statute authorizes the State Wildlife Dept to sell the art and keep the procedes for the govt. agency.

  While the mentally ill, as a whole, are no more violent than the general population, folks suffering acute psychosis may, in their confusion, harm themselves or others.
​  Mr. Kunzweiler's young adult daughter likely suffered just such an episode. We are not able to discuss a diagnosis at this time, but the good news is that neither dad nor daughter were critically wounded, when she apparently assaulted her father and herself.
 A last report, Dad was home recovering, and daughter was receiving inpatient hospital care, but facing felony assault & battery prosecution. 
Another district attorney, Jack Thorp; is assigned to handle the criminal law matter, by directive of AG John O'Connor.

Editor's note: As an Oklahoma leader in advocacy & training professionals & families on how to better care for those with serious mental illness; I highly commend the leadership of D.A. Steve Kunzweiler on this issue. Steve & I have discussed the challenges at length, multiple times. 
As a past president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI)-Tulsa, I can confidently recommend their free;

• Services to families facing mental illness challenges.
• NAMI also trains law enforcement, faith communities, and consults to govt. leaders. 
• NAMI provides supportive services for individuals in recovery from acute mental illness conditions.

 NAMI Tulsa can be reached through their website or by phone: 918-587-6264. They have an office at 7th & Boston, in downtown Tulsa.
 NAMI Oklahoma has several other  local affiliates, like the Edmond chapter, which the Costello family has been deeply involved with.
  The Mental Health Association of Oklahoma is also a great organization with resources for housing needs, as well as learning, support groups, & a vast array of connective links for the mentally disabled.

Tulsa Public Schools has a new board member, and she's bringing ne accountability to the community for how the school district spends about $700 million each year, and what kind of education results are happening for that money.
 E'lena Ashley sat down with SoonerPolitics and FreshBlack.coffee for a discussion of her first 4 months in office.
Elena's not the only TPS board member seeking answers and reforms. She's quickly building consensus with other veteran board members for answers to the money issues.
This summer, the governor called on the State Auditor to audit the TPS records and provide recommendations as merited. 
​Listen to the interview, here.

  Last week, in Oklahoma City, Attorney R Kyle Alderson was confronted with serious allegations in a civil suit he has been litigating for nearly a year. Candidates for District Court Judge have limits on their professional behavior, which include some involvement with political parties.
​  Yesterday we learned that Alderman withdrew his name from a race for District Court Judge. It's not yet clear if last week and this week are connected?
  Alderson has been a municipal judge for Pawnee, OK, as well as Tulsa, OK. The law firm of Titus Hillis lists Alderson as a part of their law firm while concurrently presiding as a municipal judge.
  Alderson represents a defendant in a case brought by a member of the Oklahoma Republican Party, against the party leadership, claiming violations of the OKGOP charter bylaws.
  It's not clear if the members of the OKGOP's presiding authority (the State Committee) was even notified of the lawsuit, but the 4 Central Committee members were named in the lawsuit.
  Judges (and judicial candidates) have certain rules prohibiting their actions in certain groups, because it could present appearances of bias, especially if an association expects their members to give preference to fellow members (i.e. Fraternal groups, secret societies, & groups with political agendas).

  The August runoff election is very tight in many races, and the ballot is bigger than most previous years.

  Click here to go to the very latest official state results, as well as links to every county election board and the municipal, county and school district results.

  2022 is a big year in electoral politics and the impact can direct national policy and global impact.
​
  Both of the state's seats in the US Senate are impacted by this election. Many statewide offices are also on the ballot.

Tulsa's perennial political operative, Paul Tay, has been released from the Tulsa County Jail, this week.
8 months ago, the District Attorney's office dropped some of the charges related to his August 2021 arrest. At the time, law enforcement claimed he's kidnapped, beaten, and sexually assaulted an Oklahoma City woman.
It appears that his 12 months of confinement have totally cost the man everything. 

•  His home
• His belongings
• His reputation

A research into his legal records show that Mr. Tay has once again showed more intellectual skill than most members of the Oklahoma Bar Association; in legal filings and advocating his legal rights.
Mr. Tay has some unique personality traits. Some suspect a chronic mood disorder is at the core of his outbursts and bizarre political tactics.
A few years ago, Mr. Tay reached out to Sooner Politics within a few hours of his release from jail. He'd already filed for the mayoral race in those hours.

​ Oklahoma historian, John Dwyer, has published his 2nd volume of Oklahoma history. ​SoonerPolitics now carries Mr. Dwyer's latest narratives in our Oklahoma History Blog. His media site has some great articles taken from the pages of his great literary treasury.
 This story features the mastery of the young prodigy lawmaker, in his legislative prowess.
It is perhaps the best state history textbook we've ever reviewed. Every high school student should be studying state history from this text.

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