Pedestrian Killed, Audit Findings, Botanic Garden Opens - Tulsa Local Pulse for March 1, 2025

Good morning, this is Tulsa Local Pulse for March 1, 2025. We're starting off with some breaking news from overnight. A pedestrian, a 67-year-old man, tragically died after being hit by a truck near South Delaware Avenue and East 88th Street. The Tulsa Police Department is investigating the incident and urges anyone with information to come forward. In city developments, State Auditor Cindy Byrd presented the long-awaited Tulsa Public Schools audit to residents yesterday. The audit found $29 million in consultant expenses lacking proper documentation and oversight. This revelation has sparked heated discussions at City Hall about financial accountability in our school system. On a lighter note, spring is in the air at the Tulsa Botanic Garden, which opens for the season today. Visitors can look forward to a new exhibit called "Florigami in the Garden," featuring 20 large-scale origami-inspired metal sculptures by Oklahoma-born artist Kevin Box. While we wait for the 175,000 bulbs to bloom, this unique display offers a perfect reason to enjoy the outdoors. Speaking of outdoors, today's weather is shaping up nicely for the garden opening. We're looking at sunny skies with a high of 73 degrees, perfect for weekend activities. However, keep in mind that grass fire risk is elevated due to breezy conditions. In sports, basketball fans are gearing up for an exciting matchup this afternoon. The Tulane Green Wave will face off against our Tulsa Golden Hurricane at the Donald W. Reynolds Center at 2 p.m. Tulane is favored by 2.5 points, but our Golden Hurricane have been known to surprise. For those interested in the local real estate market, we're seeing some interesting trends. While home prices have dipped slightly compared to last year, with the median now at $207,000, the number of homes sold has increased. This could signal a good opportunity for both buyers and sellers in the coming months. Looking ahead to community events, don't forget about the Utah Grizzlies vs. Tulsa Oilers hockey game tonight. It's a great chance to support our local team and enjoy some fast-paced action on the ice. In business news, we're hearing rumors of a new data center campus called Project Anthem in the works. While it's not expected to be completed until 2027, this $800 million investment could bring significant job opportunities to our area. On the crime front, Tulsa police made an arrest yesterday in a disturbing case. A martial arts instructor in Broken Arrow was taken into custody on charges of lewd molestation. As always, we encourage parents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious behavior. Ending on a positive note, Holland Hall High School is coming together to support the families of two students tragically lost in a recent car crash. The outpouring of community support serves as a reminder of Tulsa's strong spirit in times of adversity. This has been Tulsa Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.