AGP Executive Report

Museums & Heritage: Gilcrease Museum has set its grand reopening for March 2027. Actor Jason Momoa also visited Oklahoma City’s First Americans Museum while filming “Copperhead.” Indigenous Culture: The Cherokee Nation committed $470,000 to a UCLA filmmaking exchange, while the Choctaw Nation opened its Chahtapreneur Center alongside McAlester Public Library. Oklahoma Traditions: The National Rodeo Hall of Fame is set to debut in Oklahoma City Nov. 13–14, and agritourism businesses are growing across the state. Food & Local Life: Oklahoma City’s reputation as the birthplace of iconic foods—including the onion burger—joins a wider look at the city’s appeal to restaurateurs.

Culture & Identity: The latest Heavyweight podcast follows Cayden’s search for Andrew, the Oklahoma church-mission volunteer whose openness helped Cayden come out after a tornado cleanup trip. Oklahoma History: A new documentary explores Woody Guthrie’s ties to Manhattan’s Jewish artistic community in the 1940s, including his relationship with Yiddish poet Aliza Greenblatt. Museums: Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum plans to reopen in March 2027 after a $140.9 million rebuild, bringing its 300,000-piece collection into a redesigned visitor experience. Around the State: Jason Momoa visited the First Americans Museum while filming in Oklahoma City, and the National Rodeo Hall of Fame is set to open in OKC Nov. 13–14.

Museums & Native Culture: Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum plans to reopen in March 2027 after a $140.9 million rebuild. Its collection spans more than 300,000 items and 12,000 years of history, including Indigenous art and history. First Americans Museum: Actor Jason Momoa and his family visited the Oklahoma City museum while he films “Copperhead,” exploring exhibits and stopping at its restaurant and store. Community: Oklahoma City nonprofit Pivot is preparing nine more tiny homes for young people leaving foster care, bringing its community to 50 homes; more than 200 people are waiting for housing and support. Oklahoma Traditions: OSU Homecoming’s roots reach back to its first official celebration in 1920, when 90 alumni returned to Stillwater for a game, dinner and dance. The National Rodeo Hall of Fame is also set to debut in Oklahoma City Nov. 13–14.

Schools & Elections: Oklahoma voters choose a new state superintendent on Nov. 3. Republican Robert Franklin and Democrat Jennettie Marshall both say they want stronger academic results and more support for teachers. Tulsa Public Schools, meanwhile, plans to close or consolidate 17 schools in 2027–28. Charter School Dispute: The state charter board scheduled a third vote on Ben Gamla, a proposed Jewish charter school, after a 4–3 vote failed to approve it; the attorney general says another vote would be illegal. Arts & Heritage: The Oklahoma History Center will host organist Clark Wilson accompanying the 1927 silent film “My Best Girl” on Nov. 9. Other upcoming local draws include a western-themed weekend in Stillwater and a Choctaw historic preservation event featuring Indigenous archaeology.

Route 66: More than 40 Airstreams rolled into downtown Miami for a rally celebrating the Mother Road’s centennial, with live music and food trucks Thursday night. Oklahoma Music: Norman rapper S. Reidy says intimate house shows helped build a close-knit audience and made him feel part of the city’s music history. Indigenous Culture: The Choctaw Nation opened a new entrepreneurship center alongside McAlester Public Library and honored elders for preserving culture; Cherokee Art Market winners were also announced this week. Community & Craft: Stillwater’s Cowgirl Market brought more than 90 small businesses to the Payne County Expo Center for its fourth western-themed weekend. Education & Religion: Oklahoma’s attorney general says the charter school board cannot take a third vote on the proposed Jewish charter school after its application failed twice.

School Shake-Up: Tulsa Public Schools’ plan to close or consolidate 17 schools is prompting a public forum on school funding, vouchers and the future of public education. Separately, Oklahoma’s new higher-education funding formula sent Oklahoma State more than $350,000 in additional funds, with student access, retention and workforce outcomes among its measures. Campus Life: Oklahoma State’s “America’s Greatest Homecoming” is in full swing, with students spending months building elaborate, tissue-paper-covered displays for Walkaround. Student Support: Northwestern Oklahoma State’s LASSO Center helps students navigate academic challenges, while its Teacher’s Closet offers free professional clothing for interviews and other needs. Literacy: State Rep. Mike Lay has launched a bipartisan Oklahoma Reading Caucus to support long-term implementation of the Strong Readers Act. Oklahoma Stories: Four OU Daily alumni, including Tulsa professor Quraysh Ali Lansana, will discuss their careers at a campus panel Nov. 6. Local Flavor: Love Hibachi has opened its first Oklahoma service base in Edmond, bringing private-chef events to four metro-area counties.

Governor’s Race: Oklahoma’s leading candidates both back teacher pay raises, but differ on the path: Democrat Cyndi Munson prioritizes public-school investment, while Republican Mike Mazzei proposes eliminating the state income tax and expanding career education. Tulsa Schools: The school board voted 6-1 to close or consolidate 17 schools in 2027-28, despite community opposition. Culture & Community: The Choctaw Nation opened a Chahtapreneur Center alongside McAlester Public Library, while Cherokee Nation elder Carolyn Allen was honored for decades of education and cultural service. Arts & History: A documentary featuring South Vietnamese and diaspora stories screens free at the Oklahoma History Center on Nov. 7. Food Scene: Oklahoma City restaurateurs say the city’s room to take creative risks is fueling a growing dining scene—and the Depression-era onion burger remains its signature dish. Inclusive Careers: A new $30 million Piedmont campus will offer hands-on job training for Oklahomans with intellectual disabilities and autism.

State History: The Oklahoma Historical Society’s “A Very OK Podcast” won a 2026 Signal Award silver for an episode on The Grapes of Wrath, exploring the Sallisaw family’s story, the Dust Bowl and Route 66. Schools & Families: Tulsa’s school board voted to close 17 schools amid falling enrollment and a budget shortfall, leaving families to weigh difficult choices and raising questions about the district’s future. Indigenous Culture: Tulsa’s 10th Native American Day celebration honored Indigenous heritage and achievements; the Cherokee Nation also introduced a school period-poverty initiative, and winners were announced for the 21st annual Cherokee Art Market. Community & Immigration: Reporting on Oklahoma’s Diamondback detention center raises concerns about detainees’ medical care and access to lawyers, while questions remain about the state’s oversight role. Route 66: The Oklahoma History Center is hosting a book signing and documentary screening ahead of the highway’s centennial, and invites families to an Oct. 29 Halloween event.

State Education: Oklahoma schools superintendent Lindel Fields says he is working to steady an agency shaken by his predecessor’s political battles and return attention to day-to-day education. Tulsa State Fair: Attendance held near 1 million, but vendors said steep admission, parking and concession costs hurt sales and put the fair out of reach for some families. Arts & Film: Tulsa’s inaugural Black Wall Street Nation Experience showcased the local production network, bringing filmmakers, educators and entrepreneurs to the historic Greenwood District. Agriculture & Youth: The National FFA Convention opens in Indianapolis, with outgoing national president Trey Myers of Oklahoma reflecting on a year of leadership and service. Native Health: OU researchers received more than $5 million for maternal-health projects, including culturally responsive care and work with tribal communities. Community & Culture: Tulsa celebrated Indigenous heritage at its 10th Native American Day, while the 21st annual Cherokee Art Market announced its winners.

Family Support: Cherokee Nation opened a $22 million child development center in Catoosa, with space for up to 100 children from 6 weeks to 12 years old—helping address childcare shortages in the region. Oklahoma Art: OU’s Westheimer Airport will feature plane-spotters’ photography in November as part of a program showcasing Oklahoma artists. Indigenous Culture: Tulsa’s 10th Native American Day celebration brought hundreds to Dream Keepers Park for a parade, tribal song and dance, and community gatherings. Route 66 Heritage: The Oklahoma History Center is hosting a book signing and documentary screening ahead of Route 66’s centennial.

City Life: Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt told New Orleans leaders that decades of downtown investment helped attract residents and businesses, arguing that quality of life is key to a city’s growth. Marshallese Stories: A new documentary, 67 Bombs to Enid, follows Marshallese families who settled in Oklahoma after U.S. nuclear tests devastated their homeland, exploring health concerns and the next generation’s sense of identity. Two-Spirit Voters: Tulsa’s Drag the Vote event on Oct. 25 will pair performances with voter outreach for Indigenous Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ communities ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Native Arts: Winners of the 21st annual Cherokee Art Market were announced after the Tulsa event brought together 175 artists from nearly 50 tribal nations; Seneca-Cayuga artist Arla Marquez took Best of Show. Oklahoma Traditions: Hmong New Year celebrations in Inola and the Choctaw Nation’s fall festival put Native and immigrant heritage in the spotlight across the state.

Student Well-being: The Cherokee Nation’s new Period Project will provide menstrual products in 85 public school districts across its reservation, aiming to ease period poverty and open up conversation. Route 66 Spotlight: An Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission float, “Past, Present, and Full Speed Ahead,” is set for the 2027 Rose Parade. Cultural Celebrations: Inola welcomed Hmong families and visitors for a New Year gathering featuring traditional food, music, dance and sports. Cowboy Culture: OKC’s Stockyards Stampede brought Western heritage to the city.

Community Traditions: Oklahoma’s Hmong New Year celebration brought families to Inola for traditional food, music, dance and cultural activities. Organizers describe the holiday as a chance to honor heritage and welcome the new year. Immigrant Advocacy: Demonstrators from an Oklahoma City church gathered outside the Watonga detention facility, calling for detainees’ freedom and raising concerns about conditions, including access to food, medical care and lawyers. Native Culture: The Choctaw Nation’s fall festival kicks off a busy season of community events, with a powwow planned in the coming weeks. Oklahoma Heritage: The Stockyards Stampede brought cowboy culture to Oklahoma City, while a landowner’s 130-acre pollinator refuge shows how one family farm is helping monarch butterflies.

Choctaw Culture: The Choctaw Nation’s Fall Festival in Durant welcomed visitors for traditional cooking, dances and Native artists’ work, kicking off a busy season of cultural events. Community Action: About 100 people gathered outside an Oklahoma City church for a “No Kings: Vote Early” rally, urging participation in the Nov. 3 midterms. In Watonga, demonstrators showed support for people held at Diamondback Correctional Facility as advocates raised concerns about conditions inside. Land & Wildlife: Johnston County landowner Patrick Bell has turned 130 acres of his family’s former cattle farm into habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators, using native grasses and flowering plants.

Choctaw Culture: The Choctaw Cultural Center’s Fall Festival brought visitors to Durant for traditional cooking, dancing and Native artists, kicking off a busy season ahead of the Nation’s upcoming powwow. Oklahoma Outdoors: Johnston County landowner Patrick Bell has restored 130 acres of his family’s former cattle farm as pollinator habitat, after noticing monarchs and other pollinators dwindling. Western Heritage: Oklahoma City’s Stockyards Stampede celebrated cowboy culture Saturday with longhorns, chuckwagon cooking, live music and a Made in Oklahoma market. Arts & Entertainment: Bette Midler accepted the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize at Tulsa’s Cain’s Ballroom, performing a rewritten version of Guthrie’s protest song. Tulsa-set crime dramedy The Lowdown is back for season two, with Tommy Lee Jones joining Ethan Hawke. Education: Oklahoma CareerTech is seeking a $73.37 million budget increase to expand job training and adult education programs.

Food & Culture: Oklahoma City chefs Andrew Black and Andre Fowles are bringing Jamaican flavors to Grey Sweater and Dougla in a two-day dining collaboration celebrating how food connects people. Community Care: Sunbeam Family Services is accepting adult mental-health clients in Oklahoma City, offering support for concerns including anxiety, grief, trauma and postpartum well-being. Cherokee Nation: The Nation has opened a 33,600-square-foot child development center in Catoosa, expanding early-childhood services for local families. Heritage: Spiro Mounds, near the Arkansas River, preserves a major Indigenous Mississippian site, with 12 mounds, a museum and reconstructed traditional homes open to visitors. Tulsa Music History: Legendary music manager Jim Halsey has been honored with a downtown Tulsa street. Fall Outings: Families can trick-or-treat at the Oklahoma History Center on Oct. 29, while OK!toberfest brings food and brews to Oklahoma City.