The north Tulsa staple offered free meals for all veterans and their children to celebrate the holiday. We talked to some to hear their stories about their service.
Author Archives: Ismael Lele
Ismael Lele is the business reporter at The Oklahoma Eagle. He is a Report for America corps member. Ismael has been reporting since he was in high school, where he channeled his interest for writing into the school newspaper. While at the University of Oklahoma, he wrote for the OU Daily as a sports and city reporter and, finally, as a news editor. Ismael found his passion for community journalism while attending city council meetings in Norman. He went on to spend a summer in Phoenix, Arizona as a Carnegie Knight News 21 fellow and researched the state of American democracy. Before joining The Oklahoma Eagle, he interned at The Tulsa World. Now, his reporting highlights Tulsa’s Black community and the north Tulsa area.
Posted inBusiness
Failing to break even, Gravity Bear Bouldering Gym shuts its doors 15 months after opening
Gravity Bear Bouldering Gym opened in August 2025, but in the 15 months since opening it failed to break even. A GoFundMe fundraiser asking for $400,000 netted less than $3,000.
Posted inNews
Mother Randle, last known survivor of Tulsa Race Massacre, celebrates 112th birthday
The night was part celebration and commemoration for Randle’s century long fight for justice. She was 6 years old during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Posted inBusiness
‘It’s a really bad problem’: Lollipops owners raise concerns over safety, trespassing
After opening the Tulsa restaurant in May, the family operating Lollipop’s say they’ve been attacked — and disappointed by the city’s response to the violent incidents.
Posted inNorth Tulsa
‘I will be back’: Corinice Wilson vows return after District 1 defeat
Tulsa City Council candidate Corinice Wilson said her fight for advancing District 1 will continue. She also plans to run again in two years.
Posted inGovernment
Vanessa Hall-Harper secures 6th term on Tulsa City Council in tight runoff race
Vanessa-Hall Harper defeated Corinice Wilson by a 216-vote margin Tuesday. Hall-Harper said she hopes everyone in the district can agree north Tulsa is worth fighting for.
Posted inNews
820 people rehoused: Safe Move Tulsa eyes final stretch toward taking 1,300 people off the streets
The city’s $11 million initiative to end street sleeping has rehoused 820 people and closed 25 encampments since it launched last year. It still needs hundreds more to reach its goal.
Posted inBusiness
‘It’s just not making enough money’: Greenwood’s Silhouette Sneakers to close
The sneaker shop is the latest in a series of closures amid worries over foot traffic to Greenwood. But owner Kellen James says he believes in the area’s potential.
Posted inBusiness
From morning lines to meatballs, Tulsa welcomes its first IKEA
More than 60 Tulsans traveled by bus to a Texas IKEA as part of a campaign to attract the retailer to Oklahoma. Hundreds showed for its opening in Tulsa Friday.
Posted inGovernment
Downtown Tulsa juvenile curfew will remain in place another year. How has it been enforced so far?
Black youth have received the majority of citations issued so far. It prevents unaccompanied minors from being downtown between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Posted inBusiness
Oklahoma’s first IKEA set to open Friday in Tulsa, with 5,000 products on display
Tulsa’s IKEA officially opens at 10 a.m. Friday. The Swedish retailer is estimated to bring more than $100 million in indirect economic impact.
Posted inBusiness
Tulsa State Fair attendance holds steady as vendors cite high prices, weaker sales
Tulsa State Fair attendance was about the same as 2025, with an estimated total of 1 million people showing up over the course of 11 days.