Oklahoma News
Immigrants fear, labor experts worry: How would Trump's mass deportation promise impact Oklahoma?: In Oklahoma, fears over a pledged mass deportation extend beyond the immigrant community. The state is home to 245,600 immigrants — 96,200 of whom are undocumented, according to the American Immigration Council. Many work in-demand jobs, pay income taxes and buy groceries at local businesses. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Veterans experience identity crisis. Do more than 'thank you for your service': So, this Veterans Day, let's do more than say "thank you." Let's pause, listen, and reflect on the real people behind the uniform — those who gave a piece of themselves for our collective safety and freedom. [Robert Fabich / The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma Utility Customers May Face Even Higher Costs From 2021 Winter Storm: Oklahoma utility ratepayers could be paying even more money from a huge winter storm almost four years ago after cities questioned if the Oklahoma Corporation Commission could waive franchise fees or municipal taxes from the storm charges on monthly customer bills. [Oklahoma Watch]
'Who is paying the franchise fees?': Supreme Court ruling could hike bills further from Winter Storm Uri: The total fiscal impact of the new decision is unknown, but OCC Commissioner Bob Anthony — who dissented in the August 2022 final order — said about $60 million to $100 million is owed to cities and towns from unpaid franchise fees and municipal taxes. [NonDoc]
OTA blames inflation on $3.2 billion Access Oklahoma overrun: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is blaming inflation after announcing this week its ongoing 15-year Access Oklahoma Project will cost $8.2 billion rather than the $5 billion initially projected. [KFOR]
- Oklahoma will say goodbye to its last toll booth before Thanksgiving [KOSU]
After elections, Oklahoma lawmakers prepare for challenging 2025 legislative session: The 2025 Legislative session, many observers say, will be difficult. Debates about tax policy — and the possibility of reducing taxes — are expected to take center stage, along with more calls for immigration reform, changes to the judiciary and a new set of spending priorities. [The Oklahoman]
Shelley Zumwalt reflects on time in public sector: By the time she was tapped to lead the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation in October 2022, Shelley Zumwalt had already served the state in a number of capacities. [The Journal Record]
Political notebook: Slapout no longer only a place in Oklahoma: State tax revenue continued to drift lower following the repeal of the 4.5% grocery sales tax and weak oil and gas collections, State Treasurer Todd Russ reported. Gross revenue to the treasury in October was $1.38 billion, or 1.2% less than for the same month a year ago. Sales and use taxes were off $44 million, or 7.5%, and gross production taxes were $28.5 million, or 28.8%. [Tulsa World]
Opinion, Capitol Update: General election brings little change in Oklahoma legislature: The general election is over, and the Oklahoma results will be certified by the state election board Tuesday. There were no real surprises and nothing much changed in the state legislature. [KGOU]
Opinion: Oklahoma is conservative but must prioritize solutions to poor national rankings: The dust has settled, the ballots have been counted, and Oklahoma remains a stronghold of conservative politics. This outcome invites a moment for us all, regardless of political affiliation, to reflect on the priorities and policies that will shape our state's future. [Kati Mailicoate / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Federal judge rejects Biden policy shielding immigrant spouses, children from deportation: A federal judge late Thursday struck down a White House policy that created a pathway to citizenship for people in the country lacking permanent status who were married to a U.S. citizen. Eastern District of Texas Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled that the Biden administration overstepped its authority and the program "stretches legal interpretation past its breaking point" of U.S. immigration law. [Oklahoma Voice]
Immigration groups brace for a second Trump administration: Immigration advocates and civil rights groups are preparing to take on President-elect Donald Trump's campaign promises to crack down on immigration, from reviving controversial policies of his first term to enacting mass deportations. [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump's Win Poised To Empower Oklahoma Lawmakers, Pave Way For Tax Reform: The ramifications of Donald Trump's re-election, for the country, won't be clear until he's in office and has had some time to govern. But the ramifications for Congress and specifically for Oklahoma's delegation are already taking shape. [News on 6]
D.C. Digest: Congressional leadership battles entangle Oklahomans: Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is stepping down as the longest-serving leader of either party in a long time. Three senators are vying to replace him in the next few weeks, and U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin could be an important player in the process. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Choctaw elder, WWII veteran to be commemorated in Belgium for service in Battle of Bulge: GM "Choc" Charleston is a former tank driver in the 739th Tank Battalion. He's received recognition from past presidents and tribal leaders for his service in World War II. In December, the king and queen of Belgium will honor him during a Battle of the Bulge commemoration. [KOSU]
Quapaw Nation still cleaning Picher Superfund site, but progress is evident: The Quapaw Nation has spent 11 years remediating Oklahoma's well-known ghost town Picher — which is on an EPA Superfund site that covers 80% of its reservation — in an effort to give the tribal land an agricultural future. [Tulsa World]
Cherokee Nation Entertainment sues Arkansas over passage of anti-casino amendment:
The Pope County casino license holder sued the state of Arkansas Friday after voters approved a statewide ballot initiative that repealed the license and requires countywide elections for future casinos in the state. [Oklahoma Voice]
Ownership of Council Oak Park in Tulsa returned to Muscogee Nation: Every Nov. 9, Muscogee Nation leaders and tribal citizens meet at the Council Oak and Stickball parks in downtown Tulsa to commemorate the tribe's successes over the past year. Council Oak Park shelters the Council Oak Tree, a historical monument that marks the site of the first settlement of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's Locv Pokv Tribal Town. [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma Latino leaders react to Trump win: As Donald Trump celebrates an election win, Latino community leaders in Oklahoma have had mixed reactions. Some worry about the hate and fear that may come, others look forward to economic recovery. [KOSU]
The 2024 election is over. Who's already running in Oklahoma in 2026?: Five Oklahomans are already running for office in 2026. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahoma says it was an election well-done. But we actually came in last place for voter turnout: Both sides of the aisle celebrated victories and hard-fought campaigns, and our Oklahoma election officials expressed their gratitude for an election that they said saw "heavy" turnout. But even as everyone was prematurely patting themselves on the back for a job well done, some dire election results were still coming in. Just over 50% of all Oklahoma eligible voters didn't vote. To put it another way, about 1 out of 2 voters sat it out. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Editorial: Elections are just beginnings. Governance comes next. Stay informed: No matter how Tulsans are feeling at this moment, disengaging and shutting down aren't the answers. Take a moment, recharge and keep the conversations going. Be part of ratcheting down the tone and insisting on civility. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Education News
Ryan Walters Pushes For Local Control Over Education Funding: The Oklahoma State Superintendent has announced plans to reduce federal control over education by shifting funding to a more flexible block grant system, empowering local communities and school districts to make decisions based on their needs. OK Policy's Shiloh Kantz shared why moving to a block grant scheme for federal funding is a bad idea for our nation's schools. [News 9]
Stitt, Walters urge U.S. Supreme Court to take up St. Isidore lawsuit: Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Ryan Walters are urging the Supreme Court to take up a case involving what would be the nation's first taxpayer-funded private school. [KGOU]
- Wave of Supreme Court filings support proposed Catholic charter school [Tulsa World]
- Gov. Stitt. Ryan Walters back religious charter school with Supreme Court brief filings [The Oklahoman]
'Essential to understanding our history': OSDE cancels Bible RFP, previews another to come: On Friday afternoon, the Oklahoma State Board of Education held a special meeting to approve legal services and enter into a closed-door executive session to discuss a court challenge filed against a Bible instruction mandate in public schools. [Fox 25]
Oklahoma State Board of Education hires new outside attorney: In light of the lapse of its previous attorney's contract, the Oklahoma State Board of Education voted Friday to retain the services of an outside lawyer. In a 5-0 vote, the board voted to retain Joel Wohlgemuth, who works for Tulsa-based Norman Wohlgemuth, as independent legal counsel. Wohlgemuth is already representing State Superintendent Ryan Walters in a defamation lawsuit filed against him in his personal capacity by Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller. [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma education board hires lawyer who already represents Ryan Walters in defamation case [The Oklahoman]
- State school board hires new legal counsel, allows lawmaker in executive session for first time in months [KFOR]
Langston students look to mend strained relationship with historically Black town: Langston University stands as the only historically Black college or university in the state, and compared to the 12 other historically Black towns in Oklahoma, Langston has a younger population. [NonDoc]
New documentary on Oklahoma education part of Tulsa World's focus on the topic: Education just so happens to be about the biggest issue in Oklahoma: the state of public education and all the forces at play, from the classrooms to the school board to the floor of the Legislature to the state agency with the largest budget to the U.S. Supreme Court and soon a new White House. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Higher Education, Career Tech partner to expand nursing pathways: To address Oklahoma's nursing shortage, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and Oklahoma CareerTech have signed a new statewide Nursing Articulation Agreement. This partnership allows students in practical nursing programs at technology centers to earn college credit toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at public universities, simplifying their path to a nursing career. [Duncan Banner]
Opinion: Legislators found Steve Brill's arguments persuasive. Now teachers are disempowered: In 2010, I attended an Oklahoma legislative committee meeting where most lawmakers were reading a New Yorker article, Steve Brill's "The Rubber Room." It was full of attacks on teachers. Legislators found his narrative persuasive, and it contributed to the passage of the most destructive education bill I ever witnessed. [John Thompson / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Health fair in downtown Oklahoma City offers vaccines, health services at no cost: Oklahoma City's bus system, EMBARK, will host a health fair on Thursday, November 14. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the downtown transit center, vaccines and health services will be available to the public at no cost. [KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
Black students in Oklahoma receive racist texts sent across nation: As authorities investigate racist text messages that were sent to Black students and others across the country, Black students in Oklahoma have also reported receiving the messages. The messages, which vary slightly, usually contain the person's name and demands them to report to a slave plantation to pick cotton. [The Black Wall Street Times]
- FBI investigating racist text messages sent to Black students in Oklahoma, other states [The Oklahoman]
OKC police release bodycam footage of use-of-force incident involving 70-year-old man: An Oklahoma City Police Department officer is on paid administrative leave while an internal investigation into a use-of-force incident involving a 70-year-old man continues. [The Oklahoman]
- Vietnamese community calls for transparency after police incident with 71-year-old [Fox 25]
Online petition calling for judge's resignation draws support based on DA's concerns: More than 1,700 people had signed a petition on change.org as of late afternoon Friday, calling for District Judge Sharon Holmes to resign. The petition was launched one day after Holmes came under fire in late October from District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler when the judge gave probation to a man convicted of two counts of child sexual abuse after jurors had recommended that he be sent to prison. [Tulsa World]
Are pardons coming for Oklahomans charged in Jan. 6, 2021, US Capitol breach?: Donald Trump talked throughout his campaign about pardoning those charged over the storming of the Capitol. At various points in his campaign, Trump called jailed Jan. 6 attackers "hostages" and promised to "free" them on Day 1 of his presidency. [The Oklahoman]
Slap fighting is a combat sport subject to state regulation, Oklahoma Attorney General rules: Slap fighting is a combat sport subject to state regulation, according to an opinion released by the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office. [Oklahoma Voice]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Opinion: Regional Housing Forums focus on housing needs assessment: Oklahoma's housing future will take center stage this winter as a series of six Regional Housing Forums are scheduled across the state from November 2024 through February 2025. These forums will provide essential insights into the 2024 Oklahoma Statewide Housing Needs Assessment, a key report that will influence housing policy and development for years to come. [J. David Chapman / The Journal Record]
Economy & Business News
Era Solutions provides veterans path to tech roles: Stirling Smith was working as a bartender and serving in the Army National Guard when she was selected for an apprenticeship with the Oklahoma City-based startup Era Solutions. Today she earns six figures as a front-end software developer and UI/UX designer in the rapidly expanding technology industry. It all started with Era Solutions, an Oklahoma City-based employment training and placement company for veterans. [The Journal Record]
- Veterans face challenges starting small businesses but there are plenty of resources to help [AP via Tulsa World]
Planned convention hotel's success will ride on cleaning up downtown Tulsa, hotelier says: A planned 650-room hotel next to the Cox Business Convention Center could be a game-changer for downtown Tulsa. But it will not be a panacea for that area of western downtown, a longtime local hotelier said. [Tulsa World]
Community News
Remembering 17 Marines: Tulsa filmmaker's documentary coming to PBS on Veterans Day: A Tulsa filmmaker has made a documentary featuring his brother, a Marine Cpl. Anthony Marquez. Marquez was deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan, in 2011. His unit — the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines — suffered 17 casualties. Marquez was among those who came home, albeit with survivor's guilt. Why did I get to live when so many others died? [Tulsa World]
Transgender Oklahomans, all, catharsisies look to music for community: Oklahoma Action Chorus — a choir of trans Oklahomans and allies — the group opened up its membership to people of all gender identities who support the choir's mission. The director told the audience the night's concert was "not just about music — it's also political education." [KGOU]
Tulsa Becomes 'Shining City on a Hill' Electing Its First Black Mayor: Tulsa makes history with Monroe Nichols' election as first Black mayor, marking a transformative step forward for unity and progress. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Survivor of Israel festival massacre talks about trauma, healing during Tulsa visit: Michal Ohana, who was wounded and lost several friends in the Hamas attack on a film festival in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, was in Tulsa to participate in a Jewish Federation of Tulsa program at the Circle Cinema. Ohana presented her harrowing firsthand account at the event, following a screening of the documentary "Screams Before Silence" and a discussion with local mental health professionals about trauma. [Tulsa World]
Civil rights attorney Sherilyn Ifill to speak at John Hope Franklin event in Tulsa: Noted civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill will be the keynote speaker for the annual John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Dinner, 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Greenwood Cultural Center. [Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Prague under boil order after E. coli found in water supply [KOCO]
- Safer crosswalks are in the works for downtown Edmond. Why one banker is especially glad [The Oklahoman]
