Good morning, this is Tulsa Local Pulse for Thursday, August 14, 2025.
We start with breaking news out of Tulsa County. The resignation of the Emergency Management director, Joe Kralicek, has been officially accepted by the Tulsa County Board of Commissioners after his arrest on child pornography charges. Tony Roda, who has served as the deputy director for the past seven years and played a critical role during the 2019 floods and the 2023 storms, steps in as interim director. City officials assure us that public safety remains their top priority, and the search is on for a permanent executive director, with Mayor Monroe Nichols and the Commissioners promising a thorough process to restore trust.
In other city hall news, Mayor Nichols is pushing forward with a major initiative aimed at reducing homelessness in Tulsa. The city plans to transition around 300 people from the streets and shelters into long-term housing, hoping to cut unsheltered homelessness by about sixty percent. The city council is scheduled to take action on this proposal next week, and this could mark a significant shift in how Tulsa addresses homelessness.
Turning to the weather, after a mild start this morning, we're headed toward a high near 95 degrees this afternoon. Humidity will push the heat index over 100, so if you are planning any outdoor activities near River Parks or along Brookside, make sure to stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade. Looking ahead, hot temperatures will stick around through the weekend, with highs near the upper 90s and heat advisories likely. Not much relief from rain is expected, so water your gardens and watch out for heat-sensitive neighbors.
On the job front, Tulsa continues to show resilience. Local listings remain steady, with several hundred positions available in healthcare, education, and logistics, especially in the industrial district near Pine and Sheridan. Tulsa Public Schools has made progress hiring teachers and staff, reducing job vacancies compared to last year. That means a smoother start for students when classes resume next week.
The real estate market in Tulsa is holding steady, particularly in the Midtown and South Tulsa areas. Average home prices remain just under three hundred thousand dollars, with homes near Woodward Park seeing quick sales.
For our cultural calendar, tonight the Guthrie Green will host another installment of their free summer music series, featuring Tulsa’s own Red Dirt Ramblers. On Saturday, the Tulsa Arts District throws open its doors for the third annual Black Wall Street Festival, celebrating history, art, and music with food trucks and family activities.
In sports, the Drillers came out on top in a close win last night at ONEOK Field, and local high school football teams are wrapping up preseason scrimmages. On the education front, Edison High just received a state-level award for STEM achievement, bringing pride to students and staff alike.
On the business beat, Main Street welcomes a new farm-to-table café this morning, while a longtime bookstore on Peoria announces it will close its doors at the end of the month. Local business leaders say these changes reflect Tulsa’s evolving downtown scene and the challenge of balancing tradition with growth.
Crime in the city remains mostly routine but with one heartbreaking exception this week. Tulsa Police have charged Tyrice Williams, a 24-year-old man, with first-degree murder following the tragic death of his infant son at an apartment near 71st and Sheridan. The case is ongoing, and authorities emphasize support is available for anyone in need of help. Elsewhere, officers recently made several felony arrests and recovered multiple stolen vehicles, which they partly attribute to the ongoing downtown youth curfew now in its sixth week. Police credit the curfew with removing more than 150 guns and reducing crime.
For something uplifting as we start the day, residents of Maple Ridge organized a neighborhood cleanup along Riverside Drive this past weekend, collecting over one hundred bags of litter and raising funds for local animal rescues. This spirit of togetherness is part of what keeps Tulsa strong and united.
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