Good morning, this is Tulsa Local Pulse for Thursday, May first. We start today with breaking news from City Hall, where Mayor Monroe Nichols has just unveiled a proposed budget of just over one point one billion dollars for the coming fiscal year. The mayor points to tighter sales tax revenues and says the plan avoids layoffs but does scale back unfilled city jobs. He emphasized that new hires over the past three years have boosted city services, and funding remains for public safety recruits, with one fire academy and two police academies slated for the next year. That debate will keep City Council busy as we head toward July.
After yesterday’s relentless rains, many Tulsans woke up to high water and road closures, especially in low-lying areas near Riverside Drive and around the Arkansas River. The Tulsa County Sheriff urges us all to avoid flooded roads today and look out for lingering ponding on the highways. That soaking has paused school buses and prompted Wilson schools to ask parents to pick up students early yesterday. As we dry out, we’re expecting a cloudy morning and a stray shower or two, with clearing in the afternoon and highs near sixty-eight.
Downtown Tulsa takes centerstage this afternoon with its annual State of Downtown event at the Gradient Innovation Lab on North Cheyenne. Leaders will dig into the latest trends shaping our city’s core, from healthcare expansion to education projects, and the ongoing effort to draw more visitors and keep the district vibrant. The last day to register is today, and organizers report steady interest from businesses and residents alike.
On the business front, the energy sector’s eyes are on the GPA Midstream Midcontinent conference, starting this morning at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel. Keynotes and panels will cover everything from energy infrastructure to new tech, plus there’s a strong focus on scholarships for future engineers.
Tulsa’s job market continues to reflect a cautious economy. With retail spending softer, there are fewer new job postings than this time last year, but healthcare and logistics show modest growth. In real estate, home prices have leveled off, with the median price for a three-bedroom house in Tulsa holding steady just above two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
In sports, our high school soccer teams closed out the regular season last night. Booker T. Washington’s girls clinched a playoff spot with a tight win at home. And in feel-good news, Tulsa’s Edison Preparatory School was named a finalist for a statewide academic award, drawing praise from teachers and students.
The crime report today includes the arrest of three teenagers after a fatal shooting at a home party on East 41st. Police responded quickly, and the suspects were taken into custody without incident. In another case, a man is facing charges following a series of attacks and a standoff with police near South Peoria; officers report no serious injuries.
Looking ahead, May Day rallies are planned downtown as part of nationwide protests focused on workers’ rights. Expect some road closures and extra foot traffic this afternoon.
This has been Tulsa Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates.
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