State Government News
Latino lawmakers, community leaders respond to rumors of Oklahoma City ICE patrols: Amidst online rumors of federal immigration authorities present in Oklahoma City, Latino community leaders say to stay calm and verify information online before sharing. [KOSU]
Oklahoma lawmakers flood legislative session with income tax measures: State lawmakers filed at least 187 tax-related bills before next month's legislative session. While a state income tax cut is the main course, other credits, cuts and exemptions are also on the menu. [KOSU]
Agency budget requests ruffling feathers ahead of Oklahoma legislative session: State legislators are making their final preparations before they kick off a new session, that includes putting together Oklahoma's budget. [KOCO]
Renewable energy restrictions proposed by several Oklahoma lawmakers: Oklahoma lawmakers have begun filing bills to actively prevent development of renewable energy projects in Oklahoma, specifically targeting wind energy. [Tulsa World]
Effort to change Oklahoma constitution could indirectly fund religion: An Oklahoma lawmaker is pushing a resolution that could change the amendment preventing public funds from going to religion. [KFOR]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Ryan Walters subpoena, Stitt's state militia, Canoo files for bankruptcy and more (audio): The panel discusses an upcoming subpoena from the Ethics Commission to State Superintendent Ryan Walters concerning his run for office in 2022, Gov. Kevin Stitt's call to create an Oklahoma State Guard and bills to watch ahead of the 60th legislative session on Feb. 3. [KOSU]
Federal Government News
U.S. House Republicans roll out bill to restrict birthright citizenship: Falling in line with President Donald Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship, House Republicans on Thursday unveiled legislation that would amend federal immigration law to narrow the scope of citizenship, although the right is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Birthright citizenship: What does Trump's executive order say? Are Oklahomans affected? [The Oklahoman]
- Judge temporarily blocks Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship [Oklahoma Voice]
- Congress clears immigrant detention bill for Trump's signature on his 3rd day in office [Oklahoma Voice]
- House passes immigrant detention bill that would be Trump's first law to sign [AP via Public Radio Tulsa]
Oklahoma Congressional Delegation tapped for committee roles: The Oklahoma Congressional Delegation members received leadership appointments for committees and subcommittees in the 119th Congress. [KOSU]
Opinion: Trump declared there's only two 'sexes.' Here's how he's wrong: In all, about 1 in 100 people inherit bodies that aren't clearly male or female. To suggest that seeking treatment is rooted in a strategy to gain advantage in sports or other triviality is one of the most absurd and evil lies in the history of American politics. The fact that so many people buy it is most disturbing. [Ron Stratton / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Oklahoma tribes intervene in U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against Northeastern prosecutors: The Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations are throwing their support behind a federal effort to sanction Northeast Oklahoma prosecutors accused of violating the McGirt v. Oklahoma precedent. [KOSU]
- Three Oklahoma tribes seek to join federal lawsuit over jurisdiction [Tulsa World]
Opinion: "Excluding Indians": Trump admin questions Native Americans' birthright citizenship in court: In the Trump administration's arguments defending his order to suspend birthright citizenship, the Justice Department called into question the citizenship of Native Americans born in the United States, citing a 19th-century law that excluded Native Americans from birthright citizenship. [Russell Payne / Salon]
- Birthright citizenship of Native Americans questioned by Trump administration [Juneau Empire]
Education News
Oklahoma bills would restrict student cellphone use, social media, sex ed: Oklahoma lawmakers filed hundreds of bills affecting education for the next legislative session. Oklahoma Voice collected some of the top trends and topics that emerged in legislation related to students, teachers and schools. The state Legislature will begin considering bills once its 2025 session begins Feb. 3. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma lawmakers will look at dozens of education bills this session. Here are some to watch [Oklahoma Watch]
Controversial 'Meet Baby Olivia' video could become mandatory in Oklahoma schools by July: "Meet Baby Olivia" could be coming to a classroom in Oklahoma, if a bill is signed into law this upcoming legislative session. The video, which depicts fetal development, was made by an American pro-life organization. Many of the markers of development depicted in the video have been disputed by medical experts. [Fox 25]
Supt. Walters' latest ODSE changes raises questions: It looks like more changes are coming to your child's education. Oklahoma's history standards will now reflect "Gulf of America" instead of Gulf of Mexico, and "Mount McKinley" instead of Denali in Alaska. State Superintendent Ryan Walters wasted no time making the switch following an executive order this week by President Donald Trump renaming both. [KFOR]
Health News
Oklahoma Attorney General files lawsuit against CVS Caremark for 'below-cost reimbursement': Attorney General Gentner Drummond sued CVS Caremark Tuesday in an Oklahoma administrative court alleging that the company is under reimbursing pharmacies for prescription drugs. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma AG sues CVS Caremark for allegedly underpaying pharmacies on prescriptions [KGOU]
Bitter pill: Pharmacy staff shortages, erratic hours are putting Oklahomans at risk: Oklahomans have said they are frustrated with erratic hours, exhausted pharmacy staff and other problems at Walgreens and CVS stores. Some, like Pierce, were able to switch their business to locally owned pharmacies. But others say their choices are limited, often to one of the two chains, by pharmacy benefit managers. [The Oklahoman]
- Locally-owned Guthrie pharmacy provides prescriptions to stranded Walgreens customers [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Abortion saved my life; now Oklahoma women's lives are at mercy of politicians: At my 19-week appointment, my husband and I received devastating news. Our daughter, whom we named Lottie, had anencephaly — a fatal condition where her brain and skull had not and would not develop. There was no hope for her survival. Once we made our decision, getting that care in our home state was impossible. To put it simply, the state of Oklahoma kicked me while I was down — and it happened again and again. [Magon Hoffman / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Judge rips on Trump's pardons as she dismisses Jan. 6 riot charges against Oklahoman: A federal judge sharply criticized President Donald Trump's sweeping clemency decision as she dismissed the criminal case against an Oklahoman who spent almost 45 minutes inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot four years ago. [The Oklahoman]
- Experts worry that Trump's Jan. 6 pardons will legitimize political violence, embolden extremists [AP via Tulsa World]
'Very verbal': Traffic stop escalates after Sen. Regina Goodwin refuses to provide driver's license: Sen. Regina Goodwin is challenging a traffic citation that turned into a half-hour ordeal captured by body camera footage showing the longtime legislator repeatedly arguing with a deputy sheriff, refusing to provide her driver's license and being encouraged to conclude the discussion by an attorney and Tulsa's new mayor. [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma Sen. Regina Goodwin pulled over by Tulsa County deputy (video) [News on 6]
Opinion: Be aware that human trafficking is rarely committed by a stranger: Today, misconceptions around human trafficking persist, with many believing that victims are children and women who have been kidnapped from other states or brought here from other countries. However, it's important to recognize that victims are often trafficked by someone they know. It is rarely perpetrated by a stranger. [Sara Gadd / Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
'Disheartening': Oklahoma lawmaker pushes one-way bus tickets for homeless individuals: State Rep. Dell Kerbs of Shawnee introduced legislation that seeks to allow municipalities in Oklahoma to use general revenue funds to purchase one-way bus tickets out of the state for homeless individuals.[Fox 25]
Homelessness organizations count Oklahoma City's unhoused population in frigid temperatures: Over a 24-hour time period every January, several homeless service organizations count residents experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City. This provides a snapshot of homelessness in the community. This year's Point In Time count data likely won't be available for a few months, but data from recent years has shown a rise in the city's homeless population. [The Oklahoman]
- City, volunteers conduct annual Point in Time homelessness count [KFOR]
Safety concerns lead Oklahoma City to spend $52K on boulders under bridge, add lighting: The city of Oklahoma City recently placed boulders underneath a bridge that was once home to a busy homeless encampment. [Fox 25]
Oklahoma bill would make it a crime punishable by jail time to "possess" a shopping cart belonging to a business: An Oklahoma lawmaker is proposing a law that would make it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail for anyone caught "in possession of" a shopping cart taken from a store. The bill's author says the law is needed after business owners told him they've been losing thousands of dollars worth of shopping carts to theft each year. Others say this is yet again another bill unnecessary targeting the homeless population. [KFOR]
Editorial: Laws that harm homeless people are anti-Oklahoma Standard: An alarming trend of mean-spirited and stigmatizing legislation is popping up that would harm people who are experiencing homelessness and would drive a wedge further between urban and rural communities. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Stardust Power breaks ground on $1.2B lithium refinery in Muskogee: Dirt has turned at the 66-acre site of what will be one of the largest lithium refineries in North America. Stardust Power Inc., an American developer of battery-grade lithium products, officially broke ground this week on its lithium refinery at Southside Industrial Park in Muskogee. [The Journal Record]
Community News
Civil rights leaders push back against coronation of Trump's agenda: As President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders attacking multicultural democracy Monday, Rev. Al Sharpton led a fiery speech defending civil rights and vowing to push back against Trump's far-right agenda. [The Black Wall Street Times]
This new app gives a unique tour of Oklahoma's Black history: The nonprofit Oklahoma Black Living Legacy hope to share that same excitement and pride with other Oklahomans through a new mobile app designed to educate users about the state's rich Black history. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: The Battle for Balance: America at a Crossroads: In an era where conservatism wields unprecedented influence, dominating all three branches of government—the executive, legislative, judicial, and, arguably, public opinion—a critical question emerges: Is this the end of progressivism in America? Progressivism, at its core, is a commitment to reform for the public good, often leveraging government power to advance equity and protect marginalized communities. Its hallmarks include the expansion of civil rights, women's rights, and human rights. [James S. Bridgeforth, Ph.D. / The Black Wall Street Times]
Opinion: Inauguration experience pressed us to find common, fundamental values: Recent polls show that Americans have lost faith in higher education and have come to believe that college fosters indoctrination rather than genuine debate. This is why the University of Tulsa is proud of our designation as a top-ranked "free speech university" and why my College of Arts and Sciences takes so seriously its mission statement of giving students "the intellectual foundation for life in a free and democratic society." [Blaine Greteman / Tulsa World]
Opinion: Don't become willfully ignorant by tuning out news and people: We aren't talking to each other. We aren't connecting at the community levels in ways that are productive. If you're feeling unheard or unseen, don't shrink further into a bubble. Turn your attention to things closer to home. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- In debate, Edmond mayor candidates talk budget trouble, housing, transit [NonDoc]
- Historic Oklahoma City armory set to become music venue [The Journal Record]
- Tulsa City worker raises, Zink Lake construction contribute to $15M city fund deficit [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Bartlesville's Price Tower sale moving forward, owners bankrupt [Public Radio Tulsa]
- US saw 1,800+ tornadoes in 2024, while a record-breaking number hit Oklahoma [The Oklahoman]
