6 things to know for Monday, July 14, 2025

From a deadly crash and officer-involved shooting to a growing school lunch debate and Route 66’s upcoming centennial, a lot is going on to begin the new week.

Here are six top stories to know for July 14, 2025:

1. One person killed in overnight crash in Tulsa

Tulsa Police say one person is dead following a crash that happened just before 10:30 p.m. Sunday under the Highway 169 bridge at 21st Street. Investigators say the crash involved two vehicles. The driver of one car died at the scene, and the driver of an SUV was taken to the hospital.

Police have not released the name of the person who died or shared details about what caused the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

2. Officer shoots suspect during domestic violence call

Tulsa Police say a man was shot multiple times after attacking an officer with a shovel during a domestic violence response near Pine and Sheridan Sunday night.

Officers were called just after 7 p.m. after a woman reported her estranged husband had shown up at her home, violating a protective order. Police say when they tried to arrest him in the backyard, he began swinging a shovel at one of the officers. A taser was used but was ineffective, and one officer fired a weapon.

"There is a domestic relationship between the suspect, so it’s a domestic violence situation. He was subject to arrest for violating that protective order — we take those very seriously," said Tulsa Police Capt. Josh Showman.

The man’s condition has not been released. Police say the woman was not injured, and only one of the two responding officers fired a weapon.

3. Bartlesville boil order lifted after E. coli detection

The City of Bartlesville says its water is safe to drink again after the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality lifted a boil order issued over the weekend. The order was enacted Saturday after E. coli was detected at one of the city's 40 testing sites.

City officials say updated results from multiple locations confirmed there is no longer a risk, and residents can resume normal use of water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

4. More school districts raise concerns over lunch directive

Catoosa Public Schools has joined the growing list of districts pushing back on State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ new order requiring all Oklahoma schools to fund lunches for all students using their own budgets.

Catoosa officials say the unfunded mandate would cost the district nearly $2 million annually. They say they’ve received no formal plan, funding support or operational guidance from the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

“Unfunded mandates of this magnitude place real strain on our ability to maintain classroom staffing, programs, and student services. While we support initiatives that reduce barriers for families, we must be mindful of the financial impact on our district’s long-term stability,” district officials said in a statement.

Broken Arrow, Bixby and other Green Country districts have also voiced concerns.

5. Route 66 turns 100 next year; Oklahoma prepares to celebrate

Communities across Oklahoma are getting ready to celebrate as Route 66 turns 100 in 2026. A new beautification initiative is offering grants for projects like butterfly gardens, fresh paint, litter clean-up and tree planting to help the iconic highway look its best.

“With Route 66 turning 100 next year, you’re going to have people from all over the world coming to Oklahoma on Route 66,” said Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. “It’s an opportunity to put our best foot forward and make sure these communities are ready.”

Applications for grants opened earlier this month and the “Keep Route 66 Beautiful” initiative runs through December 2026.

6. Two Oklahoma teens go top 5 in MLB Draft

Oklahoma baseball talent made history Sunday in the MLB Draft. Fort Cobb’s Eli Willits was selected No. 1 overall by the Washington Nationals, making him the youngest player ever drafted in that spot at just 17 years old. Just three picks later, Stillwater native and OSU commit Ethan Holliday was selected fourth by the Colorado Rockies.

Both players come from major league lineages. Willits’ father played in the pros, and Holliday is the son of Matt Holliday, who was also drafted by Colorado back in 1998.