Latest news with #TulsaWorld
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thunder Ownership Could Follow Celtics' Lead By Selling Team After Winning NBA Title
Thunder Ownership Could Follow Celtics' Lead By Selling Team After Winning NBA Title originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA championship in 2025, but the team could soon be under new ownership. Tulsa World's Berry Tramel revealed why the Clay Bennett-led group would be interested in selling the Thunder. Advertisement "A source close to Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett told the Tulsa World that the rising value of NBA franchises makes it quite likely that the Thunder's partners will want to sell soon. "And now that a championship parade has come to downtown OKC, there is one fewer reason for the ownership group to retain the franchise. Apart from bringing an NBA franchise to their home state, the owners have achieved the ultimate goal, winning the O'Brien Trophy. ''Soon' is a variable. The owners could wait until the Thunder's new $1 billion arena opens in 2028, which will be another landmark event for the franchise, city, and state." Bennett's Professional Basketball Club LLC had purchased the Seattle SuperSonics for $350 million in 2006. He had promised to keep the team in Seattle, but failure to secure public funding for a new arena meant he moved the team to Oklahoma before the 2008-09 season. Advertisement The expectation is that the new ownership group would keep the team in Oklahoma City. There would be a heavy penalty for moving, as per the lease with the new arena. Relocation within five years of playing there would incur a $1 billion fine, which would drop to $850 million if the exit comes in years six through 10. As for how much the Thunder would go for, Forbes valued them at $3.65 billion in 2024. The price might have gone up, though, based on some recent sales. The Boston Celtics, the 2024 NBA champions, were sold for $6.1 billion earlier this year to a group headed by Bill Chisholm, the managing partner of Symphony Technology Group. The Thunder's ownership would be following in the Celtics' lead if they sell the team right after winning it all. More recently, the Buss family agreed to sell the majority stake of the Los Angeles Lakers at a $10 billion valuation to Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of diversified holding company TWG Global. Advertisement Now, the Thunder are not the Celtics or the Lakers, so it's unlikely they'll be sold for more than $5 billion. Still, Bennett and his group would get a great return on their investment. The James Harden debacle aside, Bennett has proven to be a good owner for the Thunder. The team has a 793-565 record under his leadership and has made the playoffs 12 times in 17 seasons. The Thunder finally won that elusive championship this year, and the future is extremely bright at this point. Related: 10 Greatest OKC Thunder Players Of All Time This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
News18
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Gailard Sartain, Hee Haw And Mississippi Burning Actor, Dies At 81
Last Updated: Gailard Sartain, known for his roles in Hee Haw, Ernest films, The Buddy Holly Story, and Mississippi Burning, has died at 81. Veteran actor Gailard Sartain, whose career spanned decades of television, stage, and film, including a 20‑year run on Hee Haw and memorable roles in Spider‑Man and Mississippi Burning, has passed away at the age of 81. His wife of 36 years, Mary Jo Sartain, shared the news with The Hollywood Reporter, saying he died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 'Actually, he died of silliness," she added. His friendship with Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts stood out as one of his most long‑lasting bonds; they lived together until Roberts's death in 2016. She even directed his play Screen Test: Take One, based on his love for soap operas. Sartain first captured attention on local Tulsa television as Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi, he hosted the spooky The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting—before finding fame on Hee Haw in 1972. He stayed on the show for nearly two decades, playing everything from Orville the cook to rambling clerks. His film résumé is vast and varied: he debuted in Nashville (1975), portrayed Jerry 'The Big Bopper" Richardson in The Buddy Holly Story (1978), and dabbled in spaghetti Westerns. On TV, audiences loved his cameos on shows like Seinfeld, Frasier, and Friends. A key turning point came with his chilling depiction of a racist sheriff in Mississippi Burning (1988), a role he felt broke his comedy mold. 'Nobody likes to be typecast as a barefooted hillbilly… that kind of turned things around," he told the Tulsa World in 2017. Sartain's film career included nine collaborations with director Alan Rudolph (Choose Me, Songwriter, Love at Large, and more), as well as roles under Carl Reiner in The Jerk and All of Me, Francis Ford Coppola in The Outsiders, Stephen Frears in The Grifters, and Michael Mann in Ali. In the 1980s, he teamed up with Bill Byrge to play Chuck in Hey, Vern, It's Ernest!—a role born from local commercials and later featured in Ernest films like Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Saves Christmas, and Ernest Goes to Jail. He even took on Broadway, starring in Dracula beginning in 1977, and lent his voice to creating Leon Russell's album art in 1975. But by 2005, with Elizabethtown, Sartain quietly stepped away from acting. Survived by his wife Mary Jo, their three children – Sarah, Esther, and Ben- along with granddaughter Chloe and great‑grandson Teddy, Sartain leaves behind a legacy. The Beverly Hills Playhouse paid tribute to his memory on Instagram, writing: 'There was only ever one like this, and we are the richer for having his presence in our theatre. Rest in peace, Jack." May his soul rest in peace! First Published:
Perth Now
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Actor Gailard Sartain dead aged 78
Gailard Sartain has died aged 78. The actor, comedian and artist, best known for his roles in The Outsiders, The Buddy Holly Story and Fried Green Tomatoes, has been remembered as a 'beloved' and 'one-of-a-kind' performer after his passing on 17 June came to light on Saturday. (21.06.25) Tributes have poured in for the actor, with one fan saying online: 'I owe much of my warped sense of humour to watching his Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting in high school and college. 'His wacky comedy will always make me smile. What a legacy!' Gailard's death earlier this month was confirmed by his family and the Tulsa World, though no cause of death has been made public. His passing comes just months after that of his Ernest co-star Bill Byrge, who died in January aged 89. Among the other tributes to the star, one fan said on Facebook: 'Rest in peace, Gailard Sartain.' Another added: 'Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Gailard Sartain — beloved actor, comedian, and artist. Gailard brought warmth and heart to every role he played. A proud Okie and one-of-a-kind talent, he'll be dearly missed and always remembered. Stay gold, Gailard.' Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gailard began his entertainment career on the comedy and country music variety show Hee Haw, appearing for nearly two decades from the early 1970s. His breakout on screen led to more than 70 film and TV credits, including Mississippi Burning, The Grifters, Elizabethtown and Ali. His first credited film role was in 1978's The Buddy Holly Story, in which he portrayed musician Jerry 'The Big Bopper' Richardson opposite Gary Busey. He later appeared in The Jerk with Steve Martin and in Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders, where he shared scenes with C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise. Gailard also featured in the Jim Varney-led Ernest film franchise, including appearances with Bill Byrge, whose character Chuck was paired with Byrge's Bobby. The Church Studio in Tulsa, where Gailard would visit after filming his late-night show Mazeppa, also issued a statement on his passing. It said: 'We are saddened by the loss of Gailard Sartain, an extraordinary actor, artist, and comedian. 'Gailard's artwork is showcased on the cover of Leon Russell's 1975 album Will O' the Wisp. Our condolences are with Mary Jo, Gailard's wife and a committed volunteer at The Church Studio.' Misty Rowe, 75, who appeared alongside Gailard on Hee Haw Honeys, said: 'God bless you, Gailard Sartain. You were my brother on Hee Haw Honeys and my friend on Hee Haw for 19 years! I will never forget you.' After retiring from acting more than 20 years ago, Gailard was frequently asked about his long career. In a 2017 interview, he reflected: 'Not every single thing I did (made me happy.) 'But, for the most part, I'm happy about it.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Governor Stitt quietly signs several Education bills
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – There are now a handful of bills still on the governor's desk this week, after he quietly signed several that brought funding to Oklahoma education. The state has one of the highest teacher turnover rates in the nation. While many lawmakers argue that rhetoric at the top needs to get better, it's funding that needs to get better as well. Tulsa World found earlier this year in their reporting that Oklahoma has one of the lowest per-pupil spending rates in the nation. This last session saw some of the biggest funding for education the state has seen in a while, like expanding teacher pay opportunities or putting money into math proficiency screening for students. 'These bills are great and all, but what do we do now? I mean, you can still look regional, we are lagging in teacher pay overall? I mean, we're last. So, in the region, if you look at that, it's kind of an arms race that we're losing,' said Representative Jacob Rosecrants (D-OKC). 21 bills still waiting on decision by Gov. Stitt Two major bills that many educators have had their eyes on include House Bill 1087, which would extend teacher pay raises by 10 years, and House Bill 1727, which expands Oklahoma's Promise, a program that gives scholarship opportunities to educators. 'We want young teachers to come into the system, but we don't want to have such a turnover rate like the one we have now,' said Representative Dick Lowe (R-Chickasha). Rep. Lowe authored HB 1087 and said it came with a catch. As of right now, teachers' pay raises go until 25 years of service, but now that 1087 is signed, they will receive it until 35 years of service. 'The second part of this bill came from the Senate, and it was a compromise where we had one more day of class for every school in the state of Oklahoma of instructional time,' said Rep. Lowe. HB 1727 was praised by many educators, and ones we spoke with were hoping the governor would sign it. Others had questions about it. There is a website that answers most of them here. 'It's great for teacher retention, absolutely, but this doesn't include all teachers and not even all school employees,' said Rep. Rosecrants. Other education bills that have been signed include SB 140, which ensures students in grades 2-5 are screened for math proficiency three times a year and identifies students in need of intervention. Then there is House Bill 1287, which creates a high-dosage tutoring pilot program through the State Regents for Higher Education, aimed at boosting student learning with targeted interventions. The initiative is a research-backed program that uses strategic funding to help students close learning gaps to better prepare them for the future. As of Thursday afternoon, there was a total of three bills left for action to be taken on. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
‘Like a bomb went off.' Strong superbolt lightning shakes city, OK residents say
A rare and powerful form of lightning struck Tulsa, Oklahoma, during a storm and was felt by residents across much of the city, leaving some wondering what they just experienced. The 'superbolt' was 228,000 amps and struck southeast Tulsa at 10:10 p.m. Sunday, May 25, according to the lightning tracker, which categorized the bolt as a 'wild house shaker.' An average lightning bolt is about 30,000 amps, according to the National Weather Service. Superbolts are also unique because, unlike most lightning, they carry a positive charge, the Tulsa World reported. 'Did something explode? Probably the loudest thunder I've heard in my life,' a Reddit user said in a Tulsa thread. Another user said they felt their home shake for more than 30 seconds after thunder clapped in the wake of the superbolt. 'I honestly couldn't tell if it was an earthquake or just thunder lol,' said another. Some Tulsans questioned local weather experts for answers. 'Any info on the supposed 'super bolt' that struck around 10:10pm last night near the Promenade? Looked and sounded like a bomb went off,' a Facebook user asked Fox 23 meteorologist James Aydelott. 'Yeaaaaah. There were two or three. Loud, and forever thunder,' Aydelott replied. The lightning tracker on shows there were multiple strong bolts around the same time near the Tulsa area, but they were still much weaker than the 228,000-amp bolt. Experts don't fully understand how or why superbolts are so powerful, according to NASA, and the most potent strikes are 1,000 times brighter than typical lightning. The vast majority of superbolts occur over water, only occasionally striking on land.
