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McGirt v. Oklahoma: SCOTUS turns Tulsa, OK, into Tulsa, MCN

Hello from Tulsa, M.C.N. We're not in Oklahoma any more. This morning, in a 5-4 decision, America's permanent super-legislature voted, in the case of McGirt v. Oklahoma, to liberate convicted child molester Jimcy McGirt by ruling that all the lands within the 1866 boundaries of the Muscogee Creek Nation...

Posted by Michael Bates on July 9, 2020 11:18 PM

Muscogee (Creek) Nation to Tulsa: No money for Jenks dam

Here is a timeline of statements made by Muscogee (Creek) Nation (MCN) elected officials regarding their financial involvement in the low-water dam. When you clear away the wish-casting statements being made by city officials, you'll notice that there aren't any MCN officials offering money to the project. Instead, MCN officials...

Posted by Michael Bates on March 23, 2016 12:19 AM

Dead Dam Vision: Fox23's spiked story

Last week, a local TV station spiked a well-researched news story about funding problems for the proposed south Tulsa / Jenks low-water dam and the awareness of Tulsa elected officials of the problem before they voted to put the proposal on the ballot. The story's sudden withdrawal hints at pressure...

Posted by Michael Bates on March 19, 2016 9:09 PM

Does the Muscogee Creek Nation own the Arkansas River bed?

I speculated a couple of days ago about the possibility that the Muscogee Creek Nation owns the Arkansas River bed and could build a dam there if they pleased (with Corps of Engineers permission). On Facebook, attorney Greg Bledsoe called my attention to additional information that clarifies the status of...

Posted by Michael Bates on December 18, 2013 8:17 AM

Arkansas River dams, again

Here we go again. Officials, led by an alleged fiscal conservative, are pumping us up to raise our taxes to pour concrete in the river. [Tom] Dittus is the managing partner of the Blue Rose Café at 19th and Riverside, and wishes he had some neighbors. "Hopefully people will see...

Posted by Michael Bates on December 16, 2013 11:57 PM