Oklahoma News
Owasso awaits answers in death of nonbinary student as officials warn of misinformation : A community in the Tulsa area is waiting to learn more details in the death of a 16-year-old Owasso High School student who died Feb. 8. The student's mother said the family is expecting a report from the medical examiner to learn more about how her child Nex Benedict died. In a short interview with Public Radio Tulsa, Sue Benedict said that Nex collapsed at home after seeking medical attention for injuries sustained in a fight at school on Feb. 7, but that she is not certain yet how much that altercation contributed to Nex's death. [ Public Radio Tulsa]
State Government News
Oklahoma panel passes judicial age-limit bill: A Senate panel on Tuesday passed a bill that could give Gov. Kevin Stitt five appointees on the nine-member Oklahoma Supreme Court. Senate Bill 1672, by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, would require appellate and district court judges to retire when they turn 75. [Oklahoma Voice]
Sex education opt-in legislation narrowly advances out of Oklahoma House committee: An Oklahoma House committee narrowly advanced a measure that would only allow a student to receive sexual education if their parents opt in. House Bill 3120, by Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, also removes a requirement that students be taught about consent during sexual encounters. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma bill would shift sex education to opt-in, limit teaching HIV/AIDS or contraception [The Oklahoman]
- 'Why would we not want anyone to understand consent?': Oklahoma lawmakers debate sex ed [KOKH]
- Sex ed would become a tougher topic with proposed law [Tulsa World]
Judge Sides With Defendant in Lawmakers' Open Records Lawsuit: State Reps. Justin Humphrey and Kevin McDugle did not personally request communication records from District 06 District Attorney Jason Hicks and therefore are not entitled to relief under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, Stephens County District Judge Brent Russell ruled on Friday. [Oklahoma Watch]
Long Story Short: Bill Would Ban Ranked Choice Voting in Oklahoma (Audio): Keaton Ross reports on a bill that would ban ranked choice voting throughout Oklahoma, Jennifer Palmer discusses Gov. Kevin Stitt's second failed attempt to sue ClassWallet, and Paul Monies explains how much money the Legislature has to spend this year. [Oklahoma Watch]
Voting and Election News
Bill preventing foreign contributions to ballot initiatives, now going to Ethics Commission: Last fall, state Rep. Mickey Dollens held an interim hearing on Oklahoma's initiative and referendum process. Dollens said he was worried that other lawmakers would make the process more difficult. This year, Dollens' filed several measures that would expand access and, he said, better protect the process. [The Oklahoman]
Proposal changing initiative petition process advances in Oklahoma House committee: Proposals advanced Tuesday in the House Rules Committee for stricter requirements on initiative petitions, reforming the clemency recommendation process for death row inmates and a new lottery game benefiting veterans in Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]
Health News
Would this Oklahoma bill actually ban IUDs, Plan B? What we know about HB 3216: Authored by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, the bill would allow lawsuits for those who help women obtain abortions and would allow the state to identify women who obtain them. It also targets contraceptives that induce an abortion or prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma bill that would require schools to provide free menstrual products moves forward: Authored by Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, HB 3329 would require public and charter schools with 6th through 12th grades to provide free menstrual products in female, gender-neutral and standalone handicapped bathrooms, as well as a neutral location, like a nurse's office. [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Sue Ann Arnall's resignation leaves lingering questions about jail funding problems: It is too soon to gauge what the fallout from Monday's resignation of Sue Ann Arnall from Oklahoma County's Criminal Justice Authority will be on efforts to reform Oklahoma County's jail. But Arnall's decision to leave the trust that runs the jail delivers a gut punch to reform supporters who might question how involved she will remain in financially supporting many of those efforts. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity
Impending Michelin closure inspires tax credit bill in Oklahoma: A state representative hopes a bill that would incentivize manufacturers to hire laid off manufacturing employees will keep skilled workers in the state if it were to become law. [Journal Record]
Does Oklahoma have some of the lowest wages in the nation? (Fact Brief): Oklahoma is ranked 10th lowest in average income and eighth lowest in median income, according to analysis of the latest 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The state was found to have an average income of $54,998, and a median of $55,826. [Oklahoma Watch]
Economy & Business News
Forbes released Best Midsize Employers for 2024. See which Oklahoma companies made the list: Forbes released its list of America's Best Midsize Employers for 2024, after a survey of workers at U.S. companies with 1,000 to 5,000 workers. The results shone a light on which companies were most favorable to those who work for them. [The Oklahoman]
Report shows Oklahoma has fewer producers, but some counties had an increase of farmers and ranchers: The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture shows overall Oklahoma has fewer farmers and ranchers, but not every county saw a decrease in producers. [KOSU]
Education News
Facing Walters' accreditation threat, Edmond Public Schools asks OK Supreme Court to block OSDE book rules: Facing a purported threat to the accreditation status of Edmond Public Schools, the district's Board of Education voted unanimously at a special meeting today to file a petition asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to determine if standards enacted by the State Department of Education last year prohibiting broadly defined "pornography" and "sexualized content" in library books are valid under state law. Attorney General Gentner Drummond has already issued a non-binding opinion saying the blanket authority cited to create the controversial agency rules was inapplicable, but EPS' filing could force a court to adjudicate the question. [ NonDoc]
- Edmond Public Schools challenges Oklahoma State Department of Education's attempted book ban [Oklahoma Voice]
- Edmond School District Files Court Petition Against OSDE Amid Potential Accreditation Demotion [News 9]
Oklahoma Supreme Court will hear arguments in Catholic virtual charter school case on April 2: The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday set a date to hear oral arguments in state Attorney General Gentner Drummond's lawsuit to stop the creation of what would be the nation's first public religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Charter School. [The Oklahoman ]
Oklahoma Local News
Planned downtown Edmond brewery faces delays, questions on city's Request for Qualifications process [NonDoc]
If OKC's new NBA arena goes over budget, who foots the bill? [The Oklahoman]
Hollywood mogul bringing movie business to Norman [Journal Record]
Tulsa LGBTQ+ center optimistic about future after outpouring of donations [KOSU]
