While Patrick and Louis take time off to mentally reset for the coming year, I've been tasked with taking a look back at our best, dumbest, and most clickable stories of 2025.
We call it the TLO 69 – a free, curated and chronological countdown of our favorite TLO stories; ones the reminds us how nutty this state can be, and how damn good of a job we do covering it.
Free for all readers, the first batch of the countdown begins today. I'll be back tomorrow and New Year's Eve for batches two and three. Enjoy!
1. ONLY ON TLO: OKC Zoo’s New Marine Life Habitat Scaled Back After Massive Budget Overrun
Date: 1/15/2025
What We Wrote: In a hard-hitting TLO-I Team 5000 exclusive, we’ve learned that the "Shore to Sea" project is massively over budget and is being redesigned to no longer include a sea lion exhibit.
This revelation comes from an email sent by OKC Zoo Executive Director Dwight Lawson to staff on Friday.
Related: New Zoo Amp management doing their best to ruin concert experiences…
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2. ONLY ON TLO: Sean Cummings gives special award to Derplahoman lawmaker…
Date: 1/16/2025
What We Wrote: To celebrate Lisa’s achievement—and the dubious name she’s making for herself—our pal Sean Cummings took it upon himself to visit the Capitol yesterday, and surprise her with cupcakes, flowers, and a special certificate honoring her as “The Worst Person in Oklahoma.”
Related: Wedding Ring Politician Shares Historically Bad Plan to ‘Solve’ Homelessness…
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Date: 1/21/2025
What We Wrote: Late last week, I received a tip via The Ogle Mole Network claiming that Rhett Bomar—the infamous OU football quarterback turned Big Red Sports & Imports ghost employee—will be making a grand return to the state as offensive coordinator for the Westmoore Jaguars football team.
Yep, keep stacking, folks! Rhett Bomar is returning to the state where it all… uhm… ended, and will be leading the Westmoore Jags to glory… and/or free test drives on the Mile of Cars in Norman!
Related: Audible Called: Westmoore Sacks Plan to Hire Rhett Bomar
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4. ONLY ON TLO: OKC Fox 25 Meteorologist Fired for Dropping F-Bombs on Live TV
Date: 1/27/2025
What We Wrote: We’d like to wish a fond farewell to former OKC Fox morning meteorologist Elliot Wilson.
He went down in a blaze of glory last week after dropping a pair of early morning F-bombs during a Good Morning Oklahoma weather forecast.
The whole thing started innocently enough…
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5. TLO EXCLUSIVE: Malicious Hackers Shut Down Braum’s Drive-Thrus!
Date: 1/30/2025
What We Wrote: [The Ogle Mole Network] informed me that—for the second time in a couple of months—Braum’s was hit with a ransomware attack by a group of criminals called Hunters International!
This hack has essentially shut down the Braum’s network, forcing the chain to close drive-thrus and—terrifyingly—rely on employees to tabulate payments and orders by hand!
Related: Formerly Gay Lawmaker Boycotting Braum’s Over Pride Sponsorship…
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6. Dusty Deevers Protects His Right To Send Wife Dick Pics…
Date: 2/11/2025
What We Wrote: Over the past couple of weeks, Puritanical State Senator Dusty Deevers—a man who, based on the GOP’s penchant for hypocritical projection, must be into some really kinky smut—has received a heavy dose of national and regional attention for yet another bill he filed that would outlaw pornography in Oklahoma.
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7. Bouncer at The Deli Elected Mayor of Norman!
Date: 2/12/2025
What We Wrote: Yesterday, a loyal circle of hip, cool, and possibly stoned Norman voters flocked to the ballot hot-box and overwhelmingly elected Ward 7 Councilman Stephen Tyler Holman as the city’s new mayor.
Holman—a real estate agent, Friendly Market budtender, and part-time bouncer at the famed Campus Corner dive The Deli—defeated incumbent pastoral grandpa Larry Heikkila and something called a Riley Mulinix by taking home 61% of the vote.
Related: Hipster Norman Councilman hit with felony “drug” charges…
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8. ONLY ON TLO: Aaron Tuttle Aggressively Promotes/Flexes New Subscription Paywall…
Date: 2/13/2025
What We Wrote: Not surprisingly, Aaron has been aggressively promoting the new service. Instead of taking a traditional marketing approach—like a heartfelt plea about supporting independent weather forecasting, or a polite reminder that running a site takes time and resources—he has opted for something a little more… stormy. You know, cutting-edge fear-marketing stuff where he guilt-trips, shames, and straight-up scares his followers into submission. Err, I mean… subscription.
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9. ONLY ON TLO: Paycom Escalates Its Crackdown on Employees
Date: 2/19/2025
What We Wrote: Despite reporting $1.88 billion in revenue and $502 million in net income in 2024, Paycom has intensified its harsh crackdown on employees, creating a workplace culture marked by fear, retaliation, and layoffs. Sources from inside the company describe secretive staff purges—including entire departments—and aggressive moves to silence criticism, like forcing employees to sign agreements banning social media posts about the company after termination.
Related: Update: More Details Emerge on Paycom’s Ruthless Firing Spree
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10. HYSTERICAL: Weatherford Man Mourns Loss Of Treasured Gazebo…
Date: 2/27/2025
What We Wrote: A Weatherford man named Robby is mourning the sudden demolition of a beloved downtown gazebo, a structure that once served as a community gathering spot and featured commemorative bricks honoring residents. City leaders claimed the teardown was part of a new development plan and assured the public that the bricks and a time capsule would be preserved—but the lack of warning left locals like Robby frustrated and blindsided.
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11. Angry Liberal Boomer Women Write Tom Cole a Letter…
Date: 3/4/2025
What We Wrote: After a tumultuous six months fending off a primary challenge by proud Oklahoman Paul Bondar and his scattered legion of MAGA-moron supporters, Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole has a feisty new opponent to deal with – angry liberal Boomer women!
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12. TLO EXCLUSIVE: Edmond Porn Star Arrested on Bestiality Charges…
Date: 3/5/2025
What We Wrote: In a case that somehow manages to top even Oklahoma’s long list of jaw-dropping headlines, Edmond police arrested local amateur porn actress Christina Stokes—known online as “Hafwin”—on bestiality charges after she allegedly posted graphic videos of herself and her Great Dane online. The investigation was prompted by a tip (from someone who clearly had a lot to explain), and officers unfortunately had to confirm the footage’s existence by watching the 15-minute video.
Related: Ryan Walters’ “School Choice” Buddy Exposed as Former Gay Porn Star…
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13. Oklahoma Students Quizzed on Normalcy of Sexual Kinks and Pleasures
Date: 3/6/2025
What We Wrote: Here’s a story that will make you blush… and/or make you question whether you're sexually normal.
Earlier this week, a psychology quiz that asked explorative Waurika High students to answer questions determining the normality of various sexual kinks and pleasures made its way across the Internet.
Related: Ryan Walters’ Pricey New Hire Pops Up on Polyamorous Dating Site…
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14. Oklahoma Forestry Director Fired for Forgetting Rule #1: Protect the Governor’s Stuff First
Date: 3/31/2025
What We Wrote: Let’s all raise a Smokey Bear salute to former Oklahoma State Forester Mark Goeller.
A national expert on enhanced wildfire prediction and response coordination, he was fired by Governor Stitt last week after a 40-year career—apparently for not doing enough to protect Stitt’s hobby farm from burning to the ground during the wildfire outbreak that rolled through the state a few weeks ago.
Related: State Arsonists Laud Stitt’s Move to Burn Down Forestry Department…
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15. Marcuswayne Mullin Shares Drunk History Lesson to Inspire, Uplift… and Threaten Journalists
Date: 4/7/2025
What We Wrote: On Friday night, while most Oklahomans were enjoying a cold beer cruising a dirt road in a pickup truck, Senator Markwayne Mullin was bitterly wandering the halls of the U.S. Capitol.
Apparently called into work late and forced to miss Twin Peaks happy hour with his Bad Boy Mowers buddies, he pulled out his phone and — like a grumpy teenager stuck at a museum with his parents — started filming moody videos for his conservative followers, right-wing bots, and all the journalists forced to document the dumb things he says and does.
Related: Marcuswayne Mullin successfully reinforces dumb Oklahoman stereotype…
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16. The Oklahoman Attempts to Destroy TLO’s Credibility…
Date: 4/9/2025
What We Wrote: Earlier this week, in what can only be construed as a malicious and defamatory attack on this very website’s brand, reputation, and credibility, The Oklahoman issued an editorial that cited the “unorthodox” Lost Ogle as a shining example of journalistic integrity and objectivity in Oklahoma.
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17. Janitor Arrested for Hiding Cameras in KOCO 5 Bathroom Vents…
Date: 4/14/2025
What We Wrote: In a sick and disgusting story—on multiple levels—Miguel Angel Sierra-Meza, a janitor contracted to clean KOCO Channel 5, was arrested earlier this month on 28 “Peeping Tom” charges for allegedly hiding cameras inside bathroom vents to record unsuspecting victims at both the news station and a local private school.
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18. Right-Wing Lackey We Warned You About Appointed to Oklahoma Supreme Court…
Date: 4/15/2025
What We Wrote: Score another win for the holy culture warfighters determined to smash down and destroy that pesky, hallowed separation between church and state!
Yesterday afternoon, Kevin Stitt announced he selected Travis Jett—the baby-faced conservative lawyer we warned you about a few weeks ago—to serve as Oklahoma’s next Supreme Court Justice.
Related: Red Flags Everywhere: OCPA Lawyer Lands on Stitt’s Supreme Court Shortlist
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19. TLO EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Walters’ Pricey New Hire Pops Up on Polyamorous Dating Site…
Date: 4/23/2025
What We Wrote: Seriously, you have to admit it’s a little funny that Ryan Walters – a self-righteous, Trump-loving moralist who campaigns like a Southern Baptist youth pastor – would hire “Swingin’ Steve” to be his right-hand man.
Wait…
As Oklahoma students will soon learn in their revised history class, polygamy was totally fine in the Bible. Never mind.
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20. Ryan Walters hires Duggar Family fixer on $100,000-a-year grift…
Date: 4/28/2025
What We Wrote: According to a recent report by Oklahoma Watch, Ryan has apparently hired Chad Gallagher — a conservative politico and public school grifter from Arkansas who once helped the Duggar family explain away sex abuse crimes — on a $96,000-a-year salary to serve as a “temporary senior advisor” at the OSDE.
I’m not sure what a “special advisor” does, but in this case, I’m guessing Chad’s primary responsibility will be training students who were sexually molested by their teacher, coach, or guidance counselor into sticking up for their abuser. You know, to help the school district avoid a seven-figure settlement.
Related: Ryan Walters silent after players claim coach forced them to exercise naked…
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21. Bob Mills Sky News 9 Crashes at Wiley Post Airport!
Date: 4/30/2025
What We Wrote: It looks like Channel 9 will get to unveil a new chopper… again.
Thanks to a tip via the Ogle Mole Network, we’ve learned that Channel 9’s fancy new Bob Mills Sky News 9 was involved in an accident earlier today at Wiley Post Airport. Pilot Jim Gardner and photojournalist Tim Young were aboard the aircraft during the incident and, from what we’ve gathered, are both okay.
Related: Jim Gardner has been suspended from News 9…
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22. State Lawmaker Who “Suffers from Same-Sex Attraction” Joins Call to Undo Gay Marriage…
Date: 5/8/2025
What We Wrote: As we all sadly know, Oklahoma has a long, proud, and deeply embarrassing tradition of being a national leader in the LGBTQ+-phobia movement...
We were reminded of this opposite-of-proud tradition this week when a pair of Oklahoma lawmakers from the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus filed a resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to claw back freedoms and overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
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23. Jim Gardner “retires” from News 9!
Date: 5/19/2025
What We Wrote: There’s been a major disturbance in the local severe weather force!
Thanks to a tip from the Ogle Mole Network, we’ve learned that Bob Mills Sky News 9 chopper pilot Jim Gardner has "retired" from KWTV News 9.
The retirement comes right in the middle of severe weather season, and just three weeks after he crash-landed the Sky News 9 at Wiley Post Airport on April 30th.
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Stay tuned tomorrow, when we reveal part two of the TLO 69 of 2025...
