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This Oklahoma Church is Hosting Some of the Biggest Names in Republican Politics

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oklahomawatch.org – Em Luetkemeyer – 2025-03-20 10:35:00

A nondenominational church in Oklahoma has become a political hot spot for President Donald Trump’s inner circle.

FBI director Kash Patel promoted his book in the church. Lara Trump phoned Trump on stage. The lawyer Alina Habba talked about Trump’s New York trial. And this month, Eric Trump met there with some of Tulsa’s top CEOs.

The 1,700-member Sheridan Church, which has campuses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, is led by the pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, an unsuccessful 2022 Senate candidate who has backed Trump since 2015. Lahmeyer, who also founded Pastors for Trump, a coalition to engage the evangelical Christian voter base during Trump’s 2024 campaign, has turned all of that early support for the president into a new role in the White House. He said he’s now part of the White House Faith Office and was in the Oval Office when Trump signed the executive order creating it on Feb. 7.

Lahmeyer said his long relationship with the Trumps has made it so his congregation can hear directly from these high-profile guests.

“They love Oklahoma. They get to come here and they don’t have to feel like they’re going to get attacked,” Lahmeyer said.

He first met members of the Trump family on the campaign trail a long time ago.

Lahmeyer said they’ve come to the church because he’s asked them to.

The president has not attended an event at the church, and the White House did not respond to a request for comment.

But Sheridan Church’s events have become something of a hot ticket for Republicans from the state.

“They’re doing a really good job with outreach, and Oklahoma is always hungry to hear anybody with the last name of Trump,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin said. “You can always fill a venue if they’ve got that last name.”

Mullin said the church invites him to join events every time there’s a political guest, but he has yet to be able to attend due to scheduling conflicts.

But plenty of other political figures are using Sheridan Church as a place to reach an audience of conservatives.

Melissa Myers, the newly elected chair of the Tulsa County GOP, said Lahmeyer invites local Republican candidates to speak at the church. That included Myers during her unsuccessful campaign for county commissioner last year, with the church serving as an easy forum to get a message in front of a large audience.

“Even though … all 77 counties in Oklahoma voted for Donald Trump unanimously, we still have to get the information out,” Myers said.

She pointed to the church’s location as a middle-ground hub in the country as reason it has more reach than appears at first glance.

At the start of the month, Sheridan Church hosted a networking luncheon with Eric Trump, attended by some of Tulsa’s top CEOs, as well as Ryan Walters, the superintendent of Oklahoma schools who has been vocal in his support for Trump, to tell business owners about what they can expect from the new administration.

In a written statement, Walters, who has also spoken at the church, said he was proud to support the church and excited to work with Lahmeyer.

“It is an honor to be a guest whenever a member of the Trump family attends,” Walters said. “The shared conservative values that the church and the Trump family have is the core of Oklahoma’s community.”

Lahmeyer was already brainstorming possible future events, indicating that he’s hoping to keep the church as a hub for Republicans in the state.

“Loyalty matters, especially to the Trump family, because they’ve been stabbed in the back by so many in the political world,” Lahmeyer said. “We’ve been through battles. They’re great people. I like them. I hope to think maybe they like me a little. I think that’s probably why they come … and both Don and Eric tell me they’re coming back.”

This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS, a publication of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute, and Oklahoma Watch.

Em Luetkemeyer is a NOTUS reporter covering the federal government for Oklahoma Watch. Contact her at emmalineluetkemeyer@notus.org



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The post This Oklahoma Church is Hosting Some of the Biggest Names in Republican Politics appeared first on oklahomawatch.org

Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.

News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed

Woman honored for 50 years of giving back

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www.youtube.com – KFOR Oklahoma’s News 4 – 2025-08-01 07:17:19

SUMMARY: Janice Barba was honored for 50 years of dedicated service with Oklahoma Home Community Education Group Number 15, a nearly century-old organization focused on community education and involvement in Cleveland County. Since joining, she has actively contributed to various programs such as bread making, canning, and arts and crafts, fostering fellowship and learning. Janice was recognized through Channel 4’s Pay It Forward program, receiving a $400 award, nominated by a friend for her selfless commitment. She values the friendships and learning experiences, considering the group like family. Janice embodies five decades of giving back and community spirit.

News 4 and First Fidelity bank are honoring a woman for 50 years of helping those around her.

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News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed

Commissioner says Juneteenth omission was a 'clerical error'

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www.youtube.com – KFOR Oklahoma’s News 4 – 2025-07-30 22:53:40

SUMMARY: A county commissioner, Miles Davidson, is addressing a controversy after a resolution he proposed omitted Juneteenth from the county’s observed holidays. Davidson explained that the omission was a clerical error, not intentional. He supports adding Juneteenth back to the list, noting he originally proposed it as a holiday last year. Other officials, including Commissioner Jason Lowe and Oklahoma County Jail Trust Member Derrick Kobe, reacted to the omission on social media, initially criticizing it. Lowe has since acknowledged the mistake and plans to make a motion to reinstate Juneteenth at the upcoming commissioners’ board meeting, aiming to correct the error.

Commissioner says Juneteenth omission was a ‘clerical error’

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News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed

Colorado governor questions students’ readiness in K-12 plan | Colorado

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Esther Wickham | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-30 17:30:00


Colorado Gov. Jared Polis unveiled the “Education Roadmap for Governors,” addressing a major gap in how student readiness is measured post-graduation. The roadmap, part of the National Governors Association’s bipartisan “Let’s Get Ready” initiative, calls for redefining student readiness beyond academics to include emotional, psychological, and character development necessary for lifelong success. With over 4 million youth aged 16-24 neither in school nor working and employer shortages rising, the report criticizes current education metrics for failing to capture comprehensive readiness. Governors are urged to align systems to better prepare students for future social and economic challenges.

The Center Square) — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis released an “Education Roadmap for Governors” this week, highlighting a measurement mismatch found within education, questioning student readiness post-graduation.

The road map outlines recommendations for governors. Among them is defining a vision for student readiness and assessing how their states are measuring it. According to the report, it was discovered that there is a measurement mismatch, a gap between what’s taught and the skills, knowledge and traits high school graduates need when they walk across the commencement stage.  

The National Governors Association, in a cumulative effort, created a report: “Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success” initiative to improve public education’s success rates, due to the ever increasing American education crisis, as many call it.  

“To be truly ready for life after high school, students need more than academic skills or career pathways; they need the emotional and psychological grounding and character to thrive as whole people,” the report stated. “Governors can align systems and supports that help young people build this strong foundation for lifelong well-being.”

Polis, the chair of NGA, promoted the initiative that was launched by bipartisan governors in 2024.  

“For too long, our definition of ‘readiness’ has been narrowly focused on basic academic indicators that only scratch the surface of what a student needs to be successful throughout their lives,” Polis said. “The Let’s Get Ready! Initiative is a call for governors to demand better.”

“Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, you want the best education for your kids,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt, R-Oklahoma who is the NGA vice chair. “So how do we get there? We have a saying in Oklahoma: classrooms to careers.”

More than 4 million young people ages 16 to 24 are not in school or working a job, with half of them failing to receive a high school diploma, the report added. 

Employers are even struggling to fill positions and keep qualified employees. 

“It’s 2025, and we don’t yet have a clear way to view how our states’ education systems … are really preparing students for their long-term futures while building resilience and competitiveness for the social and economic changes that are already underway,” the report added.

In many states, data doesn’t exist to show which students actually are prepared and fully understand what they are learning. Not only within education, the report highlights, but also life-long habits that will lead to a stable physical and mental well-being. 

“The discrete metrics we currently use to assess education in our states don’t add up to a clear picture that can inform Governors, policymakers, and educators of how well their education systems are driving toward a clear vision for student readiness and success,” the report states. “Put simply, our measurement systems do not consider the more complete definitions of readiness that we heard from experts throughout the Let’s Get Ready! convenings.”

The post Colorado governor questions students’ readiness in K-12 plan | Colorado appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents a factual report on Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’s “Education Roadmap for Governors” and the National Governors Association’s bipartisan initiative to redefine student readiness. It neutrally conveys viewpoints from both Democratic and Republican governors without promoting a particular ideology. The language is straightforward, focusing on education metrics and workforce challenges, avoiding partisan framing. The inclusion of quotes from leaders of both parties further supports balanced reporting. Overall, it reports on policy proposals and the current education situation without exhibiting ideological bias, adhering to neutral, informative coverage.

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