Oklahoma News
Governor reveals 'Make Oklahoma Healthy Again' plan with RFK for bans on soda, red dye: In a move quickly panned by licensed health care providers, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Thursday that he planned to "Make Oklahoma Healthy Again" by urging state agencies to stop supporting public water fluoridation, removing red food dyes from school and prison meals, and by asking the federal government to approve a request that bans food stamp recipients from purchasing soda and candy. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to visit Oklahoma to launch 'Make Oklahoma Healthy Again' campaign [The Oklahoman]
- RFK Jr. Brings MAHA to Oklahoma [Oklahoma Watch]
- What is 'Make Oklahoma Healthy Again?' What to know about new campaign launched by Stitt, RFK Jr. [The Oklahoman]
- RFK Jr. and Gov. Kevin Stitt announce Make Oklahoma Healthy Again initiative [The Journal Record]
- RFK Jr., Stitt announce water fluoridation review, waiver request to ban junk food from SNAP [KOSU]
State Government News
Oklahoma health agency scrubs mention of fluoride in water as Stitt orders review of its use: The Oklahoma State Department of Health scrubbed all mention of its Community Water Fluoridation Program ahead of Gov. Kevin Stitt's order to review the state policy on recommending water systems add fluoride to prevent childhood tooth decay. [The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Supreme Court Roundup
- US Supreme Court says parents can pull kids from classes with LGBTQ-themed books [Oklahoma Voice]
- Supreme Court allows states to cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood [KFOR]
- SCOTUS ruling on Medicaid, Planned Parenthood, could impact Oklahomans, lawmaker says [KGOU]
- US Supreme Court limits injunctions, allows Trump to act on birthright citizenship ban [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump administration sues entire court bench in Maryland over pause in deportations: The Department of Justice in an unusual move has filed a lawsuit against all the judges in the federal court in Maryland, in an attempt to block the court's two-day pause on deporting immigrants who challenge their detention in the state. [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump administration intends to deport Abrego Garcia to third country, DOJ lawyer says: The Trump administration plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a third country once he is released from federal custody, a Department of Justice attorney disclosed during a Thursday emergency court hearing. [Oklahoma Voice]
'No time to plan' for fallout of potential Medicaid cuts in Oklahoma, hospital officials say: Cuts to Medicaid being considered by Congress will affect access to health care for "all Oklahomans" and harm the state economy, state hospital leaders warned Friday. Members of the Oklahoma Hospital Association said the proposed federal cuts to Medicaid could eliminate nearly 15,000 jobs and over the next decade reduce federal reimbursements to Oklahoma hospitals by $8.7 billion. [Oklahoma Voice]
GOP mega-bill stuck in US Senate as disputes grow over hospitals and more: U.S. Senate Republicans appeared deeply divided Wednesday over how to establish a fund for rural hospitals to offset the budget impacts of Medicaid cuts in the "big, beautiful bill." [Oklahoma Voice]
US Senate GOP mega-bill suffers major blow with ruling on Medicaid cuts: U.S. Senate Republicans suffered a significant setback Thursday when the parliamentarian ruled several changes to Medicaid in the "big, beautiful bill" don't comply with the complex rules for moving a reconciliation package — which means billions of dollars in savings are no longer available for the GOP to offset the cost of tax cuts. [Oklahoma Voice]
The paperwork trap: A sneaky way to cut Medicaid in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill'?: So how can they cut Medicaid while sheltering themselves from the political fallout of cutting Medicaid? Their answer: work requirements. [KOSU]
Gun silencer provision dropped from GOP mega-bill in the US Senate: Republicans cannot exempt gun silencers, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns from being classified as firearms under a federal gun regulation law from the 1930s, according to the Senate parliamentarian's latest ruling on the "big, beautiful bill." [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump drive to defund NPR, PBS resisted by Republicans from rural states: The Trump administration's request to claw back $9.4 billion in previously approved spending on foreign aid and public media ran into significant opposition Wednesday, potentially dooming its path forward in the Senate. [Oklahoma Voice]
'None of us are tired': Democratic AGs pledge extended court fight against Trump: Democratic state attorneys general vowed Monday on Capitol Hill to continue legal challenges against President Donald Trump's "outrageous overreach" through executive orders to strip birthright citizenship, impose staggering global tariffs, thwart lifesaving medical research and more. [Oklahoma Voice]
Dems, GOP members of US House panel split on solution to high cost of child care: Republicans and Democrats on a U.S. House Education and Workforce subcommittee agreed at a Tuesday hearing that child care affordability was a problem, but proposed different solutions. [Oklahoma Voice]
Federal funds for Oklahoma migrant students, English learners in doubt: Schools nationwide, including across Oklahoma, are still waiting for federal funds supporting English learners and migrant students while the Trump administration seeks to eliminate both programs. [Oklahoma Voice]
Lawmakers Don't Know Why Trump Keeps Denying Disaster Mitigation Grants: The Trump administration has repeatedly denied disaster mitigation funding to states hit by extreme weather events, another step in President Donald Trump's plan to downsize and phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and lawmakers aren't sure why it keeps happening. [Oklahoma Watch]
US House approves resolution denouncing Minnesota shootings, political violence: The U.S. House unanimously adopted a resolution Wednesday condemning the June 14 attacks on former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, who were killed by a gunman, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, who were wounded. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Congress has forgotten the meaning of reconciliation, instead sowing division that harms Oklahomans: Congress is trying to push the so-called "Big, Beautiful Bill" into law through a legislative shortcut known as reconciliation. At its root, reconciliation means restoring harmony, mending what's broken, and finding common ground. In our personal lives, it's a path toward healing. But in Congress, that word has been twisted. [Tiffany Tagbo / Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Stay granted in tribal jurisdiction cases involving district attorneys: A judge has hit pause on two federal lawsuits aimed at deciding which governments can prosecute tribal members for crimes committed in Indian Country but outside the accused's home tribal reservation. [Tulsa World]
Settling lawsuit, Tulsa 'will not exercise criminal jurisdiction over Indian defendants' in Muscogee Nation: Nearly a year and a half after the Muscogee Nation filed suit against the City of Tulsa for prosecuting tribal citizens within the Muscogee Reservation, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols and Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill signed a settlement agreement today where "the city agrees that it will not exercise criminal jurisdiction over Indian defendants on the nation's reservation." [NonDoc]
- Jurisdiction agreement announced between city of Tulsa, Muscogee Nation [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma energy executive pledges tribal collaboration, regulatory balance in EPA nomination hearing: Oklahoma energy executive Usha-Maria Turner pledged Wednesday to strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency's global and tribal partnerships if confirmed as Assistant Administrator of the EPA's Office of International and Tribal Affairs. [Gaylord News]
River of No Return: How the Nez Perce Tribe stepped in to save wolf reintroduction in Idaho: Nearly 70 years after the U.S. government drove the wolf population to near extinction in the U.S. Rocky Mountains, that spiritual connection is what led tribal members to work to bring the himíin back to Idaho, Yellowstone National Park and the West. [Oklahoma Voice]
Citizen Potawatomi Nation unveils FireLake Casino and Hotel: The Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) celebrated the opening of its newly constructed and reimagined FireLake Casino and FireLake Hotel, which will open to the public Friday, June 27. [The Journal Record]
OU hosts panel on Tribal sovereignty and research: The Native Nations Center for Tribal Policy Research, in collaboration with Tana Fitzpatrick, University of Oklahoma associate vice president for tribal relations, and the OU Center for Faculty Excellence, hosted a continuation of its Ethical Tribal Engagement Series on June 17 at the OU Health Sciences campus. [The Journal Record]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma GOP leaders say open primaries are a bad idea: As an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling looms on whether voters will have the chance to open state primary elections to all, the state Republican Party is working to convince its members that State Question 836 is a bad deal. But political rhetoric differs from the argument in court. [KOSU]
Fake AI Audio Used in Oklahoma Democratic Party Election: Just days before the Oklahoma Democratic Party Convention, a political storm erupted over a controversial audio recording. The voice in the clip sounds like State Rep. John Waldron making racially charged remarks about Black leadership in Tulsa; it was a fake AI. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Sherrill, Stice join Judicial Nominating Commission, Stitt appoints 3 judges, 3 more vacancies in pipeline: Attorneys in southern Oklahoma elected two former judges to represent members of the Oklahoma Bar Association on the state's Judicial Nominating Commission. [NonDoc]
Education News
Walters wants teaching of Israel's 'fight to rightly exist in the world' amid Israel-Iran conflict: State Superintendent Ryan Walters released a memo to Oklahoma school districts Tuesday to follow his guidance on teaching the Israel-Iran conflict. In an accompanying press release, Walters said there would be "zero tolerance for a liberal, pro-terrorist agenda." [KGOU]
- Ryan Walters outlines how he wants Oklahoma educators to teach Israel-Iran conflict [KFOR]
Oklahoma State Board of Education admits error in student transfer vote: The Oklahoma State Board of Education has conceded that it erred when overturning the rejection of student transfers last year. The board voted Thursday to approve a joint agreement to resolve and dismiss lawsuits with two school districts that sued over similar transfer issues. [Oklahoma Voice]
- State Board of Education approves joint motions to dismiss transfer lawsuits [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma State Board of Education members request more review time before votes: Members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education said Thursday that they are not getting enough time to properly prepare for board meetings. [Tulsa World]
- State education board members ask Ryan Walters for more advance time on agenda items [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma State Board of Education members ask for more time with materials before meetings [StateImpact Oklahoma]
Nex Benedict's family files wrongful death lawsuit against Owasso schools: What we know: The family of an Owasso teen who died of suicide last February has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Owasso school district. Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old Owasso High School sophomore, died the day after a fight with other students in the school bathroom. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as suicide. [The Oklahoman]
Over a dozen Oklahoma colleges and universities request tuition hikes: Over half of Oklahoma's public colleges and universities on Wednesday asked a state governing board to approve increases in what students must pay in tuition and fees for the upcoming school year. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Governing board approves tuition hikes for most Oklahoma colleges and universities [Oklahoma Voice]
- Higher ed presidents cite rising cost of health insurance while asking for tuition hikes [The Oklahoman]
University of Oklahoma Athletic Director weighs in on college athletic changes, challenges: University of Oklahoma athletic leaders said Wednesday they are adapting to a new normal in a rapidly changing college sports environment. Joe Castiglione, University of Oklahoma vice president and director of athletics, said athletes "are bigger, faster, stronger than ever before" and have multiple options even as the university works to recruit the best athletes to compete for championships. [Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics report reveals emerging drug trends in state: A surge in cocaine use, a rise in methamphetamine deaths and a worsening fentanyl epidemic were all among the top concerns identified in the most recent threat assessment released by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. [KOSU]
$300K grant fuels united opioid recovery in Creek County: In Creek County, a $300,000 opioid abatement grant has sparked a collaboration of five organizations uniting to tackle the region's opioid crisis. CREOKS Health Services, Family & Children's Services, Youth Services of Creek County, Lifegate Freedom Recovery Mission and Human Skills & Resources, Inc. have joined forces to share resources, referrals and expertise. [The Journal Record]
Oklahoma reports five new measles exposure locations in Edmond: A measles update issued Tuesday by the Oklahoma State Department of Health listed five new risk-of-exposure sites, all at businesses in Edmond. [The Journal Record]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma joins a growing number of states cracking down on shoplifting rings at the urging of retailers: After a push from big retailers and law enforcement, a new Oklahoma law will give the state Attorney General the power to prosecute crime rings that steal retail goods to sell online for profit. But a provision to lower the dollar amount to charge shoplifters with a felony didn't survive. [The Frontier]
Oklahoma County Jail Trust embarks on 'self evaluation' amid calls for its end: On Friday, members of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority voted unanimously to embark on a performance review process to assess the body's long-term viability and effectiveness amid calls for it to disband and return day-to-day jail management duties to the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office. [NonDoc]
Over 40,000 plants seized in Oklahoma illegal grow operation: Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced that a large-scale bust of an illegal marijuana grow operation in Mayes and Craig counties led by his Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) has resulted in the confiscation of 40,723 marijuana plants and more than 1,000 pounds of processed marijuana. [The Journal Record]
Is Oklahoma's homicide rate among the top 20 states?: Yes. 2022 homicide data from both the CDC and FBI consistently place Oklahoma's homicide rate among the top 20 states. [Oklahoma Watch]
Judge rejects stay request in lawsuit involving former Oilton police officer: A judge has rejected a request by a former Oilton police officer to stay a lawsuit filed against him until a criminal case he faces for the same underlying reason is resolved. [Tulsa World]
'We cannot legislate our way out of this': Dozens gather to protest gun violence after Juneteenth shooting: Six days after a 22-year-old man was killed in a shooting during a Juneteenth festival, more than 100 people gathered at Vernon A.M.E. Church on Thursday evening to honor his life and to protest gun violence. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: A Youth Curfew Won't Stop the Bullets: Tulsa Needs Smart Gun Policy: At Wednesday's Tulsa City Council meeting, leaders voted 7-1 to enact an emergency youth curfew requiring anyone under 18 to be home by 9 p.m. in response to a Juneteenth shooting that left one person dead and several others injured. But let's be honest: this policy may make some feel safer, but it doesn't address the real threat of gun violence. [Nehemiah Frank / The Black Wall Street Times]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Alley's End will add quality, affordable housing in OKC: A downtown development intended to provide affordable housing to lower-income renters is expected to begin leasing next summer. It's a first-of-its-kind development in the downtown area. Rose Rock Development Partners teamed up with Belmont Development Company to make the largest affordable housing development in the urban core a reality. [The Journal Record]
Economy & Business News
State leaders face lawsuit over creation of business courts: Two Oklahoma attorneys have sued state leaders, arguing that the state's newly created business court system is unconstitutional. The lawsuit contends the legislation is unconstitutional in part because of the high $1,565 filing fee and because lawmakers are attempting to bypass the Judicial Nominating Commission, a voter-approved board that helps fills judicial vacancies by screening potential applicants and submitting a list of finalists to the governor to choose from. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Attorneys sue governor, legislative leaders over law that created Oklahoma business courts [The Oklahoman]
Debunking the 'yuck factor': Research shows Oklahomans support affordable wastewater reuse: Survey answers and an associated study illuminate the attitudes and beliefs of residents statewide on water supply and climate issues. Across political leanings in all Oklahoma counties, the researchers found residents largely cared about the leadership that would handle reuse programs, underscoring a need for communication and an understanding of water supply challenges. [KGOU]
Oklahoma counties to receive millions in federal funding in lieu of property taxes: Oklahoma will receive more than $4.5 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes funding from the Department of the Interior in 2025, according to the federal government. The Payments in Lieu of Taxes program was created in 1976 to offset losses in property taxes because of non-taxable federal land. [KOSU]
Community News
LGBTQ+ Pride festivals, performers in Oklahoma City resist so-called drag ban law: As the state's largest Pride festival prepares to host thousands of Oklahomans, drag performers are grappling with a new GOP-backed law that opponents call an attempt to chill free speech. [The Oklahoman]
Downtown curfew for juveniles takes effect tonight, Tulsa mayor's office confirms: A new downtown curfew for individuals under the age of 18 will take effect Thursday, the Mayor's Office confirmed. [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa City Council changes downtown curfew hours for juveniles [Tulsa World]
- Police explain how new downtown Tulsa juvenile curfew ordinance would work [Tulsa World]
City Council authorizes $700,000 payment for civil rights settlement in Trump rally case: Tulsa City Councilors voted unanimously Wednesday to authorize a $700,000 civil rights lawsuit settlement payment in a case against the city three weeks after it was approved by a judge. [Tulsa World]
Vigil held for gun violence victims, community involvement encouraged: The gathering came after the city on Wednesday passed a Thursday-through-Friday curfew for people 17 and under in the downtown area. The move is in answer to a spate of shootings involving youth, including the killing of one at Greenwood's Juneteenth festival. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Local Headlines
- Edmond moves ahead with $7.2M Pelican Bay renovation project [The Journal Record]
- Edmond says 'unclean hands' took it to court over multimillion-dollar job bidding dispute [The Oklahoman]
- Why a task force is bringing reform to Edmond's city finance and budgeting processes [The Oklahoman]
- City of Norman resolves to join age-friendly community initiative [KGOU]
- Cushing planners vote against wind blade decommissioning facility [KOSU]
