Oklahoma News Oklahoma, other states look to new future for marijuana: In the Sooner State, a vote has been scheduled for March on whether adult recreational marijuana use should be legalized. With about 2,500 licensed dispensaries already in operation in the state, and about 380,000 people – nearly 1 in 10 Oklahomans – legally allowed to grow, buy, or consume medical marijuana, the state already has a robust industry rooted in cannabis. [Journal Record] Gov. Kevin Stitt comes under fire for claiming 'every square inch' of Oklahoma for Jesus: Gov. Kevin Stitt is under fire from local and national individuals and groups for saying that he has claimed "every square inch" of Oklahoma for Jesus. [The Oklahoman] State Government News Oklahoma to receive $6.8M in Google location-tracking settlement: Oklahoma will receive nearly $7 million as part of a multistate settlement with Google over the company's location-tracking services. [Tulsa World] Three commissioners. Multiple proposed plans. Zero agreement over OG&E rate hike: Bob Anthony, Todd Hiett and Dana Murphy listened to hours of testimony and questions this month about OG&E's plans to charge Oklahomans $463 million to recover fuel costs the utility incurred this year. [The Oklahoman] Federal Government News Running out of time: The child tax credit filing period closes Tuesday night: Families who have yet to file for their expanded 2021 Child Tax Credit under the American Rescue Act are running out of time to file. [KOKH Fox25] More legislation filed to restrict transgender people this year than ever before: This year, more than 150 bills were introduced that aim to curb the rights of transgender people across the country. Oklahoma is home to 10 of these bills. [KTUL] US to keep COVID public health emergency through January: The COVID-19 public health emergency will remain in effect until at least mid-January, after the Biden administration did not notify states and health providers of any plans to lift it. [KFOR Oklahoma City] Rep. Kevin Hern looks forward to greater influence in next Congress: First District Congressman Kevin Hern wasn't tipping his hand Monday afternoon just before Republicans began the process of choosing top leadership and likely the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 118th Congress. [Tulsa World] Tribal Nations News Cherokee Nation opens $20 million immersion facility where English becomes a foreign language: Officials wanted literally everything to be written in Cherokee at the tribe's new $20 million language center — restroom signs, office names, even the "wash your hands before returning to work" posters next to the sinks. [Tulsa World] Voting and Election News New state legislators to be sworn in Wednesday: House members will take the oath of office at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the lower chamber, followed by senators at 3 p.m. in the upper chamber. [Tulsa World] Who was behind fake mailers? An Oklahoma judicial election is over, but mystery remains: A first-time judicial candidate overcame a bizarre attempt to derail her campaign and easily beat the incumbent last week. [The Oklahoman] Health News Medical association to continue political push through lobby for abortion exceptions: The Oklahoma State Medical Association says it will push during the next legislative session for exceptions to Oklahoma's strict abortion laws. [Public Radio Tulsa] Criminal Justice News Religious leaders call on Oklahoma to stop executions: Religious leaders from several Christian denominations called for a moratorium on the death penalty in Oklahoma, even as another execution is scheduled for Thursday. The clergy's plea, which cites scripture in its argument against capital punishment, went unanswered on Monday by Gov. Kevin Stitt's office, though the governor recently claimed "every square inch" of Oklahoma "in the name of Jesus" during a public prayer he recently delivered at the Oklahoma Capitol building. [Journal Record] Economy & Business News Old Century Center becomes OKC media hub: Downtown Oklahoma City has a new media hub at 100 W. Main St. at a time when the national media landscape is changing dramatically. The former Century Center – which the company bought, renovated and renamed 100 West Main – also houses The Oklahoman newspaper and the nonprofit news organization Oklahoma Watch. The Oklahoman occupies a fraction of the space that it did when it first moved into the building seven years ago. [Journal Record] Column: Oklahoma Joe: Businesses set low bar for workers – 'Just show up': The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently published a story about the "unprecedented challenge" that companies and businesses face in filling jobs. It said the U.S. has about 10 million job openings but "only around 6 million unemployed workers." [Journal Record] Education News An audit, a slur and an investigation: Tense times at Talihina Public Schools: Residents in this rural McCurtain County town had already been waiting more than three years for the state to complete an investigative audit of Talihina Public Schools when Amber Stepp, the mother of a fifth-grade boy, posted on Facebook that a teacher had been bullying her son and using homophobic slurs. [NonDoc] Union school board to send $152 million bond package to voters: Without debate, Union Public Schools' Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to send a $152 million bond package to voters on Feb. 14. [Tulsa World] Changes are coming to OKC school board boundaries. Here's what you should know: The district Board of Education unanimously approved a new map on Monday that designates which neighborhoods, schools and parts of town that seven of its board members represent. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Local News What's next for downtown OKC? The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer answers readers' questions: Lackmeyer will be doing live chats each Friday at 10 a.m. Readers can log in to their Oklahoman.com account and add questions and comments about the happenings in and around Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman] Body with gunshot found in search for Tulsa massacre victims: A second body of a possible victim of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre has been found to have a gunshot wound, according to the city. [Journal Record] | 
