The Investigate Midwest team just wrapped up an incredible few days in Columbia, Missouri! As a remote newsroom, we know how important virtual collaboration is, but there's nothing like coming together in person to connect. This past week, we talked about:

Ag Secretary Vilsack deflects on future career plans, regulatory ‘revolving door’, via @jmcjmc451 & InvestigateMidwest investigatemidwest.org/2024/10/08/ag-…

RAPID provides direct service to the Arena stop at the Paycom Center on all home Thunder gamedays. Full buses can be part of the Thunder game experience! 🏀🚍 PSA: If you have to stand on a full bus, just hold on tight & we’ll get you there safely and on time. ⚡#GoThunder

Looks like EMBARK is adding the arena to the BRT route on game days. This is a big move to service Thunder games. Now get rid of the 10 min hold at the transit center on the way home and we are really moving!

Unsealed: Syngenta spent decades attempting to quiet health concerns about its profitable herbicide. investigatemidwest.org/2024/10/23/her… via InvestigateMidwest

Shout out to EMBARK for extending the Rapid BRT line to the arena on game days. Also, the bus isn't holding for several minutes at the transit center on the way out of downtown, which nearly brought me to tears. 🤣 Full bus of happy Thunder fans! 🚍🌩️

Frustrated with poultry pollution, east Oklahoma candidate takes on incumbent and Tyson Foods investigatemidwest.org/2024/11/01/fru… via InvestigateMidwest

The best addition to the OKC Thunder this season might be this local BBQ joint open.substack.com/pub/okbbq/p/bi…

On a night when the nation swung significantly to the right, Trump’s 49.7% in Oklahoma County was 1.3 percentage points lower than his national popular vote average of 51%. He became the first Republican to underperform here since 1948. okcist.substack.com/p/amidst-a-rep…

ICYMI - Trump won Oklahoma County but underperformed the national Republican average for the first time since 1948. okcist.substack.com/p/amidst-a-rep…

Here's how we plan to cover the Trump administration. investigatemidwest.org/2024/11/08/her… via InvestigateMidwest

Thurnder Up!

The evangelical effect on Oklahoma County elections open.substack.com/pub/okcist/p/t…

SCOOP: Tyson Foods has subpoenaed two news organizations, demanding they turn over notes and contacts with local farmers whom Tyson Foods put out of business. I've never seen such aggressive subpoenas issued by a major corporation to news media. investigatemidwest.org/2024/12/17/tys…

This is actually just a map of where they have snow plows (blue).

Carolina BBQ tour, by Ben Felder open.substack.com/pub/okbbq/p/ca…

New slogan just dropped! #RootedInTruth

I've always found the elevation thing to be a weird flex.

Tomorrow night: "Now, the visiting Denver Nuggets, from a whopping pollen count of 12 grains per cubic meter ..."

It even comes with its own halftime (10 minute wait at the transit center)