Oklahoma News 'It's clearly unresolved:' Lankford requests solution in hearing on Five Tribes' Freedmen: During a U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing this afternoon regarding the descendants of slaves formerly held by the Muscogee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole and Cherokee nations, representatives from four of the Five Tribes expressed consternation at the idea of federal intervention that would pressure the tribes to recognize Freedmen as full citizens who would be eligible for tribal benefits. [NonDoc] - U.S. Senate panel delves into tribal freedman issue [Tulsa World]
- State's largest tribes split over status of descendants of their former slaves [The Lawton Constitution]
- Freedmen tribal citizenship debate at heart of US Senate hearing [The Oklahoman]
- (Audio) Headlines: Senate Tribal hearing, Mooreland fire & OKC Scissortail Park [KOSU]
Editorial: Evidence of Oklahoma's teacher, staff crisis found everywhere: For anyone doubting Oklahoma is in the grip of a teacher and support staff recruitment and retention crisis, look at your local public school district. With less than a month before school starts, administrators across the state have posted more than 550 job openings with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. [Editorial / Tulsa World] State Government News Oklahoma allows abortions in life-threatening situations, but how much danger is enough?: When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade this summer, it became clear abortion bans like the ones in Oklahoma and Texas were here to stay. In Oklahoma and Texas, the laws don't clarify what counts as life-threatening. That leaves room for interpretation, and has already delayed critical care. [State Impact Oklahoma] Find Out Who Requested Federal Relief Money Using Our New Searchable Database: After months of resisting the release of the applications, the state in May provided details of almost $18 billion in project requests under the 2021 federal coronavirus relief bill, the American Rescue Plan Act. [Oklahoma Watch] Oklahoma Tourism Claims Swadley's Tried To "Mislead" State, Foggy Bottom Kitchen Files Countersuit: The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department filed more robust claims against Swadley's Foggy Bottom Kitchen, which the state had contracted to renovate and manage state park restaurants. [News 9] Voting and Election News Oklahoma one of 10 states without online voter registration: Runoff elections are just a few weeks away, and Oklahoma is one of just 10 states that does not offer online voter registration. In 2015, Oklahoma lawmakers passes a bill that would authorize online voter registration. Seven years later and it is still in the works. [Fox 25] Health News Q&A: How has 988 line worked in first month in Oklahoma?: In nearly a month of operation, Oklahoma's 988 behavioral health crisis line has responded to hundreds of calls and has sent dozens of mobile crisis teams across the state to support Oklahomans. [The Oklahoman] Economy & Business News Fed raises benchmark rate by three-quarters of a point: The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by a hefty three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its most aggressive drive in three decades to tame high inflation. [The Journal Record] White House officials: Gas prices should continue to decline: Gasoline prices, which have fallen for more than 40 days straight, should continue to decline over the next several weeks, barring any supply disruptions, White House officials said Wednesday. [Tulsa World] General News Northwest Oklahoma residents to evacuate as fire burns thousands of acres, relief in sight: As drought and extreme temperatures persist across the region, some residents in Northwestern Oklahoma are evacuating their homes as a wildfire continues to scorch thousands of acres. [State Impact Oklahoma] | 
