Oklahoma News Gov. Kevin Stitt delivers State of the State, kicking off 2023 legislative session: Stitt said his legislative priorities included eliminating the state sales tax on groceries and lowering personal and corporate income taxes. He also renewed his call for school vouchers and proposed creation of a $1 billion state "legacy" fund that would generate revenue for the future. [The Oklahoman] - Oklahoma Gov. Stitt, reelected and emboldened, will call for tax cuts and school choice [The Oklahoman]
- State flush with cash, Oklahoma GOP expected to push tax cuts [Journal Record]
- Stitt agenda: 'Business-friendly, family-friendly' Oklahoma [Journal Record]
- Governor proposes tight budget, $1 billion investment fund [Tulsa World]
- Gov. Kevin Stitt touts school vouchers, tax cuts in kicking off legislative session [Tulsa World]
- What three taxes does Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt want to cut? Here's what to know [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Gov. Stitt proposes $130M school voucher program. Will rural opposition sink it again? [The Oklahoman]
- Stitt Emphasizes Private School Vouchers as Top Education Priority [Oklahoma Watch]
Behind Stitt's 'Democracy is Doomed' Remark and Other Election Issues Raised Monday: Oklahoma lawmakers have introduced more than 90 election and voting-related bills this session. Some would restrict absentee voting or the initiative petition process. Others aim to boost pay and legal protections for precinct officials. [Oklahoma Watch] State Government News Listen Frontier: Oklahoma's new attorney general says he's working to 'right the direction' of the state: New Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has wasted no time in making his mark on the state. [The Frontier] - Oklahoma AG to examine legality of Veterans Commission made up of Stitt appointees [Tulsa World]
Banning guns for marijuana users ruled unconstitutional: A federal judge in Oklahoma has ruled that a federal law prohibiting people who use marijuana from owning firearms is unconstitutional, the latest challenge to firearms regulations after the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority set new standards for reviewing the nation's gun laws. [Journal Record] Oklahoma lawmaker seeks to eliminate 'corporate welfare': A Republican state lawmaker from Inola has filed a bill to repeal legislation passed in 2022 intended to enhance economic development by making it easier to offer companies incentives to locate in Oklahoma. State Rep. Tom Gann said House Bill 4455, also known as the Large-Scale Economic Activity and Development (LEAD) Act, passed last year, might actually do more harm than good for state taxpayers. [Journal Record] Photos: Transgender rights protesters gather at Oklahoma Capitol ahead of State of the State: Several Republican lawmakers are seeking to limit gender-affirming care for transgender Oklahomans through a slate of bills LGBTQ advocates say are extreme. Ahead of the legislative session starting Monday, GOP lawmakers pre-filed at least four bills that would ban gender-affirming care for many transgender Oklahomans. [Tulsa World] Criminal Justice News Oklahoma death row inmate claims dad confessed to 1996 murder of OU ballerina Juli Busken: A death row inmate claims he has new evidence that he is innocent of the 1996 murder of University of Oklahoma ballerina Juli Busken. Anthony Castillo Sanchez, 44, claims his father confessed before committing suicide last April. [The Oklahoman] Phil Albert charged with tax evasion, faces March trial: Phil Albert, the former University of Oklahoma regent and former Tulsa Regional Chamber chairman who once was a top political donor in the state, is facing a federal jury trial in March after being charged with tax evasion Jan. 23. [NonDoc] Economy & Business News Nonprofit saying it represents 'thousands of ratepayers' barred from PSO rate hike case: An organization advocating for competition for Oklahoma's utilities has so far been excluded from participating in a rate increase case brought by Public Service Company of Oklahoma. [Public Radio Tulsa] Education News 'Protecting kids from further trauma': State lawmaker aims to change sex education classes: An Oklahoma lawmaker wants to change the way sex education is taught in school. Amanda Swope says children would benefit from learning about what's legal in a relationship. [KTUL] Column: Getting back to a more educated America: The combination of America's education firepower and our system of free enterprise created a heady mix of innovation and productivity. But the talent side of our equation is waning. Other countries are now catching up (or passing us) in education attainment, and we still leave far too many young Americans behind in our public K-12 system. [Guest Column by Anne Wicks / Tulsa World] Oklahoma Local News - Early voting begins Thursday for City Council, sales tax, school bond [Stillwater News Press]
- Coalition seeking national monument status for Black Wall Street, Greenwood District [Tulsa World]
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