KWGS-FM (Tulsa, OK)

KWGS 89.5 FM serves as the primary National Public Radio station in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It holds the distinction of being the first FM radio station in the state and is one of two stations managed by the University of Tulsa. Founded in 1947 by Ben Graf Henneke, a speech professor at TU who later became the university's president, KWGS was made possible thanks to the financial support of Tulsa oil magnate and philanthropist William G. Skelly, whose initials inspired the call letters. The University of Tulsa also operates another station, KWTU, which focuses on classical music.

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Marianne Faithfull's posthumous EP is a return to her folk and pop roots

1 day ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Mary Kelly |Kathryn Fink |Christopher Intagliata
Advocates decry AG Drummond’s letter calling for removal of Afghan refugees

1 day ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Ben Abrams

Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond sent an open letter Thursday demanding Gov. Kevin Stitt deport refugees from Afghanistan living in the state. Many Afghans fled their home country after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Around 1,800 Afghans were resettled in Oklahoma. In the letter, Drummond said the refugees were "poorly vetted" before being resettled. Veronica Laizure-Henry, executive director of the Council on American–Islamic Relations of Oklahoma, refuted that claim.
Air traffic overhaul obstacles

2 days ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Joel Rose

The fragile state of the U.S. air traffic control system was easy to see during the recent outages in Newark. But it will be a lot harder to make up for decades of underinvestment and other mistakes. Copyright 2025 NPR
Tulsa mayor says city should consider changes to highway over Greenwood

3 days ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Ben Abrams

Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said the city would “behoove ourselves” to talk about modifying or removing a section of Interstate 244 that crosses over the Greenwood neighborhood. The mayor made those comments shortly after announcing a major reparations plan Sunday. That effort will open a $105 million charitable trust aimed at addressing the legacy of harms from the 1921 Race Massacre.
Oklahoma enacts fines and fees reform, tougher sentencing laws

1 week ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Keaton Ross

Bills aimed at reducing fines and fees that burden criminal defendants and boosting statewide participation in a county-level mental health and diversion program have become law. The Legislature also approved tougher sentencing laws for crimes including child sexual abuse, accessory to murder, shooting into a dwelling and drunk driving before wrapping up business early on Friday morning. The latter two required veto overrides. Gov.
Oklahoma lawmakers overturn vetoes on dozens of measures, including mammograms, records transparency

1 week ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Emma Murphy

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House rose for a standing ovation Thursday after overturning the governor’s veto of a bill expanding access to mammograms for early breast cancer detection. Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, the bill’s author, said the standing ovation was “powerful” and a reminder that people are humans before they are politicians. She was battling breast cancer for the length of the legislative session.
City moves forward with transfer of parks to Muscogee Nation

1 week ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Max Bryan

After a ceremony last year, Tulsa officials are still working to give Council Oak and Stickball parks back to the Muscogee Nation. The two parks are on either side of 18th Street at its intersection with Cheyenne Avenue. Council Oak was where the Muscogee Nation reconvened after they were removed from their original homeland, and Stickball Park is where tribes played the sport the park is named for.
Legal challenge expected after Oklahoma governor approves initiative petition restrictions

1 week ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Barbara Hoberock

OKLAHOMA CITY – A legal challenge is expected after Gov. Kevin signed a measure that puts more restrictions on the process voters use to get issues on the ballot. Critics said Senate Bill 1027, by Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, is an unconstitutional effort to limit Oklahomans’ ability to utilize the state’s initiative petition process, while supporters said it is necessary to ensure more input from rural counties and to prevent fraud.
Thousands of hungry people in Gaza overwhelm food distribution site

1 week ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Aya Batrawy |Michel Martin

The start of a Israeli plan backed by the U.S. to control aid distribution in Gaza was mired in chaos on Tuesday. Dozens were shot by Israeli gunfire as crowds surged to where food was distributed. Copyright 2025 NPR
City: As many as 30 graves still in Oaklawn Cemetery

2 weeks ago | publicradiotulsa.org | Max Bryan

City officials believe there are still Tulsa Race Massacre victims’ remains to be found in Oaklawn Cemetery. A team of archaeologists and forensic analysts commissioned by the city have found more than 50 unmarked graves in the cemetery, which was used as a mass burial ground for victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. In July of last year, searchers identified the body of C.L. Daniel, a World War I veteran killed in the massacre when he stopped in Tulsa. His grave was first found in the search.